In which I finally get to meet my partners in Italian crime

We have a regular Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants set up here in Italy: four very different girls from very different backgrounds all getting along splendidly. 

There’s CJ, the gorgeous purple-streak-haired Italian from New Jersey:

CJ with her first real Italian pizza

Michelle, the twelve-times-tatted Mississippian party girl:

Look at how cute my apartment roomie for the month is!

Liz, the horse loving Catholic from Illinois:

Liz after she got proposed to by a random gladiator man.

And then me, the… well, whatever I am. I already love them all. We’re staying in a nice hotel right in the center of historic Rome, so by simply walking out the front door and through some cobblestone streets, we were able to experience marketplaces, giant sculpture fountains, and all sorts of cafes. We’re going on a legit tour of everything tomorrow, but it was fun to get out and explore a little on our own. My first Italian espresso was a much needed success, and the sunshine did me major good.

3 of the 4. Hopefully tomorrow we'll get some pictures of the whole gang.

Hello, grotesque fountain faces.

Tonight, our study abroad program directors took us out for a HUGE authentic Italian dinner. I’m talking four courses of massive portions—caprese salad, cold cuts and bruschetta, pasta, veal (which I managed one bite of), and tiramisu. Parts of it was good, but I'm very much looking forward to being in charge of my own meals from now on.

My Tuscania girls about to embark on course #1.

Next up: Monument tour and the Colosseum!