Life in Siracusa...

...moves at a very strange pace. I don't want to say life is slower here, but I can definitely feel a sense of... relaxation?... that I don't in the US. It's really kind of essential, I suppose, because of the heat here. We're getting the winds off of North Africa, so it's freaking scorching here every single day. Riposo, the two or three hour long break (read: state-sanctioned naptime), is a lifesaver. Our apartment gets pretty warm, but cools off fairly quickly as well, and the beach is always an option. It's finally starting to cool down (a very little bit), which is very much a good thing.



So, what can I say about Syracuse? I like it, that's for sure. There is no ugly part of the island, there is no bad food, and, for the most part, the people are friendly and want to help (though there are far fewer English speakers than in Rome). The place feels kind of touristy occasionally, but's a distinctly Italian tourist destination rather than an international one. Thankfully, I've noticed that a lot of these tourists, as well as some Siracusans, wear board shorts instead of the usual speedos, so I can retain some dignity while not standing out too much (however, even though I've got a slightly olive skin tone and am darker than many of my American friends, I still glow like a freaking lighthouse compared to the Italians).



I've heard multiple views on the amount of weight we're going to gain/lose while we're here. I can understand either view, really. Obviously, the food is excellent, but, since it satisfies quicker and since I'm paying for each meal, I eat less. I actually walk a little bit less than I would at school, and it's still obscenely hot, so it's not hard to imagine.

So, apparently, I can cook, and have evidently been designated as ''the one who can cook'' by my friends here. While this does have it's downs, it also means that everything is cheaper, since we're splitting it. I also don't do dishes, which is very nice. I've made penne with clams and these weird little fried Sicilian rice balls (filled with meat), and they both turned out pretty good. This is really a fortunate development, because I can't afford to go out every night.

I'm gonna cut this entry short because I've got a lot of stuff to do. The entries are going to sort of change in nature after this, and I'm gonna be doing more topic-based stuff. This is mostly because I'm pretty much out of orientation and getting into daily life. As great as daily life here is, it's still daily life, and it might get boring to read about. I do have excursions almost every weekend, though, so there will be plenty of new stuff to document.


PS. Apparently I have a whole week off in October. Where should I go?