Parma Bound! (And counting down the minutes!)

Tomorrow I'm going to....
PARMA!
Yayayayayayayayay!
A few weeks ago my sweet, southern, polished grandmother Lollie introduced me to her dear friends, Theresa and Joe Brown, who are currently in Italy visiting their daughter who lives in Parma. They invited me to come join them to see Parma while they are here.
Oh my GOODNESS, I just got off the phone with "Aunt Treat." She is the sweetest, easiest to talk to woman! She made me feel so comfortable and told me how excited she was about getting to spend time together. We are going to eat dinner, tour the town with the kids, and play cards and chat when they go to bed. Hearing her sweet southern accent literally made me tear up a little. I can't wait to spend time with her and her husband and their two grandchildren.
We only made plans this afternoon, and tomorrow after class I'm hopping on the train to arrive at 17:07! I am going to spend the night tomorrow night in their adorable restored barn house in the countryside. I can't wait. I'm giddy. Ask my roommates. Leyla has already assisted me in picking out what I will wear. I've already packed. Tomorrow's outfit will be: my Joe's jeans rolled up twice, dark gray converses, black scoop neck long-sleeved shirt, corduroy blazer, tan belt, and pink scarf. European and sophisticated.
Mrs. Theresa makes me smile. She's already sent me secondary emails to confirm/give contact info and so on. Can I tell you I'm pumped?
Tomorrow I will wake up and buy a housewarming gift at the pasticeria, meet my partners to work on my Calvino presentation, give the presentation, leave class five minutes early, and catch the train to Parma!
Housewarming gift suggestions? I'm thinking the closest thing to banana bread or another sweet loaf.
Tomorrow's presentation on "Invisible Cities" will be a feat. I love the book; every line, every simile, every odd city out of Calvino's imagination brings out some sort of universal human truth. The reader brings himself to the book and will identify with it. He will be changed after contemplating the facets of the human mind, our self-deception, our potential for a life of thanks if we would only look closely at the world around us.
According to his wife, Calvino lived entirely inside of his own head which makes the book and his opinion on relationships all the more fascinating.
Read it. It has officially become one of my favorite books, if it is not my favorite. But read it with a pen in your hand...everything links. SO GOOD.
Brief recap of the day: went to the Cascine Market with Olivia and had a deep chat...I feel like I know her so much better. Then, I ran to class; it was a fortyfive minute walk and I barely made it on time! Then, I signed up for GRAPE HARVESTING AND CRUSHING AS WELL AS A WINETASTING at a professor's castle and vineyard this saturday with Olivia, Sabrina, and Meredith (only twenty euro!). Then, met my presentation mates for lunch (at three...I had a turkey, smoked cheese, spinach, sundried tomato, and pesto sandwich on focaccia. best sandwich I have ever eaten. ever.), talked about "Invisible Cities," worked on our presentation, came home. Helped Leyla cook a little bit and then ate delicious ginger chicken with rice noodles and a salad. Super healthy AND yummy. THEN I corresponded with "Aunt Treat" and we chatted on the phone. Now, I have to finish the details of my presentation so I can wake up early tomorrow to be ready for a packed, fantastic day! Buona serata!