running through the park

Women in spandex pants...

Couples making out in the forest.

*N Sync and Hanson blasting through my head phones. (I take them out of my ears and check to see how loud my music is, so I know whether or not I'm disturbing all the cute. old couples strolling...who all stare at me as I run by in my shorts and bun on top of my head...and red ipod case in hand. Is it strange that I'm in shorts, or that I have a red case, or that have a bun on my head? Or maybe it's the "Colorado College" emblem on my shorts... Whatever it is, even the little kids seem to know that I don't fit in as an Italian, as one kid's wide eyes take me in, as I jog by... and he even gets distracted from his game of futbol with the other kids in the play ground area... Hm.)

Regardless, I jog in zig zag formations, and sometimes just make a loop around the park.

So many people own dogs in Italy, but they all seem very possessive of their dogs. Each dog owner reels in his dog as I pass, and even dogs passing each other do not stay to snif each other, but are each reeled away by their owners. For such a friendly country, this behavior with dogs is strange. I mean, shops close for 2 hours a day here, people are seen chatting all up and down the streets-- being social is SO important. Why is it so weird to want to share your dog with strangers? Allow the strangers to pet your dog, show it off, maybe? When I went to the beach with Abby over spring break, we met Zara, an adorable pup...and her owner walked her right up to us. Maybe that's cause we were in the North? But why?! I don't get it. Hm. Interesting to observe cultural norms, and see how they change depending on the part of the country.

A friend sent me a cool quote, which I think represents my life, in general...and which I really relate to.

Sometimes we need to stop analyzing the past
Stop planning the future
Stop figuring out precisely how we feel
Stop deciding exactly what we want
And just see what happens...

It's good for me to realize that I need to stop reflecting and over analyzing everything. GO WITH THE FLOW. That's the way to live. Just see what happens. I know everything works out in its own way.

Also, if you're reading this, go listen to "Grace Kelly" by Mika. I love it. LISTEN. Now. Go.

OK i'm out. time to write a papier. FUN FUN FUN. (first real paper of the semester!! haha.)

Ciao belli,
Anna

ps: I'll send out a mass email soon.