My Life In Italy: Fair Verona

I’m afraid my story seems a wee bit anti-climatic after a big earthquake but I’ll try my best!

Pearl you might want to put your glasses on… if not it says, “There is no world without Verona walls, but purgatory, torture, hell itself. Hence banished from the world, and world’s exile is death…”

– Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act 3, Scene 3

Verona is quite amazing. Obviously… it’s Italy. Even though Shakespeare had never actually stepped foot in ‘fair Verona’, it is all too easy to imagine why it’s the backdrop to the greatest love story of all time! (I’d say it actually comes 3^rd behind Ever After and Tristan & Isolde). It’s both quaint yet grandiose with its small alleyways and large imposing ancient Roman architecture and structures. People come from all over the world to see Juliet’s balcony and put a lock on the gate with their name and their lovers' name. It’s a little tradition that is meant for those in a relationship in order to keep you together forever and not those seeking a relationship or dun dun dun… you’ll stay single FOREVERRR. As tomorrow is fast approaching all I can think is that the only thing worse than being single on Valentine’s Day… is being single on Valentine’s Day in Verona! I guess I’m buying my own chocolates tomorrow, talk about a nightmare.


Me, Megs & Laura in front of the Arena in Piazza Bra


Ancient Roman Architecture

OK, back to my story. Airport fiasco, earthquake chaos, yada yada yada. The first few days were a little rough. Not gonna lie I shed a few tears (tres embarrassing). Yes, in part I felt a little lost and overwhelmed, but more so because I thought someone would find me in my bedroom congealed to the bed, dead from hypothermia. I had an electric fireplace in my bedroom at home… I feel like a tiny lap dog, ripped away from said lap and thrown outside to sleep. While you laugh just remember to be grateful for your centrally heated homes.

After the first few days of touring around the city with my roommate Chris, I finally got to meet some of the other exchange students at a popular bar near the University called Campus. Chris and I met up with his friend Fraser (Scotland) for a few drinks beforehand and then headed to Campus. It was…eventful. I met a bunch of students from England but unfortunately they were all finished and heading home within the week. I did however get to meet my (now) good friend Emily that night, even though she was too drunk to remember. The only thing I love more than a happy loving drunk is a happy British drunk. Shortly after her rendition of an American sounding “Canadia” anthem, she proceeded to inform us that she really had to pee. Here’s the dialogue (imagine the cutest little London accent):

Emily: Guys I really need to pee.

Me: Don’t worry we’re almost at your house!

Emily: Ya, or I could just pee myself!

Me: Oh geez, no no no

Emily: Ya you’re right. I’ve got my Batman knickers on tonight…

I laughed so hard I almost peed my own not so cool knickers. I almost forgot about the night that a few of us went ice skating at the outdoor rink in Piazza Bra (I gladly just watched). It was worth just sitting there in the cold as I watched Fraser and Chris trying not to fall haha. Even better was the 75 yrs old man techno dancing on skates in the middle of the ice. Fascinating.

Since then I’ve just been going out with the roomies and I’ve read 9 books. Each week one of the roomies has to cook a meal for everyone, normally 10 other people show up and it turns into a mini party… you’d never know the guys are in the midst of exams right now haha. One night we even all played Italian monopoly. It’s pretty much the same except with a lot of yelling and hand gestures lol. Finally the day came when two of my favourite midgets came to visit… none other than Lee and Megs. I made them a big batch of KD and we even got my roommates to try it. They were definitely skeptical that it was bright orange. The next day Chris and I took the girls for a tour around the town. The next day me and the girls did some more touring and we walked up the big hill to the castle that overlooks the entire city of Verona and the views were incredible. We had a few life chats and of course the day wouldn’t have been complete if middle-aged Italian guys hadn’t hit us on. That night we had a big party at our apartment before hitting up Campus. It was definitely surreal to have part of my life from back home come together with my life here in Verona. The funniest part was when Megs came out of the washroom to ask me where the flush was. Of course I forgot that her and Laura were too short to see it since it’s on top of the tank. Don’t even get me started on washrooms here in Italy. Washrooms are unisex so don’t panic thinking you’re in the wrong washroom when you walk out of the stall and a guy is waiting there, or if you walk in to find that the toilet is a porcelain hole in the ground (true story).