ITALIA!!!! part 2 (new format)

Okay, so I know I've been slacking with the blog posting. LET ME TELL YOU....it is so hard for me to try and juggle everything I want to do and need to do: write my thesis, keep up with Drexel grad work, attend class and do work for classes on SAS, enjoy the amazing places I am visiting, organize the "future teachers" group I started onboard, get together with my ship 'extended family' (8 undergrads I have adopted during the voyage), tutor 3 of the kids onboard the ship, socialize with all the wonderful people I have been lucky enough to meet, AND keep up with my blog.

I know you must be feeling very sorry for me. What an awful situation I've got going on. :) JK I am so lucky to have all of these wonderful things going on. But... I am SUPER STRESSED right now, especially about my thesis. In fact, I've written a message on the whiteboard outside my cabin (room) letting people know that I AM alive, but will be in captivity for the next few days until I finish my data analysis for my thesis.

I've also decided to adapt the format of my blog to listing what I do each day and posting one or two pictures per day with short captions about the pic. Writing just takes me too long.

I just posted pics from the ITALIA (part 1) post, too.

After this, all I need to do is post about my time in CROATIA, which was more amazing than I could have ever imagined :). Then I'll be caught up.....for now, anyways....

Greece tomorrow!

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!! Thanks for being patient :)

-Ashley

July 5 Arrive in Civitavecchia, Italy (the port closest to Rome)..

July 6 Republica dei Ragazzi (group home) visit/Train to Venice!

Group home visit: On the far left is Gary (the other Teacher at Sea participant). The girl to my right is Maria, a sweetheart, whose dreams in life are to go to Venice & New York. She's a great artist, too!

Me arriving in Venice (after 6 hrs on trains from Civitavecchia to Rome then Rome to Venice)

July 7 VENICE!!!/overnight train back to Civitavecchia

In a Gondola with Ashley, Kristina, and Jenni(not pictured) Alejandro is our gondoleer :)

Craziness on the overnight sleeper train on the way back from Venice to Civitavecchia. This pic is the view from my top bunk down to Ashley & Kristina. What an interesting night (Kristina has a video to document the craziness...if you are lucky enough, perhaps I will share it with you :)

July 8 Depart Civitavecchia....MEET THE MAYOR OF CIVITAVECCHIA & THE PRESIDENT OF THE PORT AUTHORIY :) :)

Left to right: Not sure, Melissa, Mayor of Civitavecchia, President of Port Authority of Civitavecchia, Me

Me and Melissa with the MV Explorer's Captain :)

July 9....at sea... Class & WORK, WORK, WORK! Start tutoring Rebecca, Wiley, & Alexander :)

July 10...at sea...Class, work, and tutoring. JORDA'S BIRTHDAY! My extended family challenges Melissa's extended family to a game of 'ham chunk'. soooo much fun!! :)