I have more to say about my trip to Berlin, but first: a brief update on the hell I’m doing and where I am. After Germany, I flew back to Torino with the intention of studying Italian and exploring the city.

I spent exactly one night living with a crazy artist in the apartment above. I have a knack for finding the sketchiest places in which to live and my tolerance for dodgy bullshit is quite high–but only if it’s economically advantageous. I, however, was living in the ghetto and paying top dollar (found this place on AirBnB, a site my friends swears by) and nearly moved back to London before Francesca’s mom took me in. Since then, her whole family has adopted me and they’re treating me ridiculously well. 

Dinner at Aunt Agata’s (also seen here: cousin Paolo and his girlfriend). I feel like I’m in one of those movies in which a stranger posing as a distant relative arrives to a hero’s welcome. I’m waiting for the part where everyone realizes I’m actually not their long-lost daughter. “Wait, who the hell are you and why are you living with us?" 

Lunch with the grandparents. 

Francesca’s mom and I are BFFs. She calls me to say, "What’s up?” and we’ve been hanging out every night.

I was taking Italian lessons w/Agata’s husband, but I’ve stopped that because I’ve been having so many conversations in Italian that formal study hasn’t been necessary. For me, the best way to improve my language skills has always been to chat with people in an informal setting (though school is a great way to meet new friends from around the world).