Earthquake

Just so everyone knows up front and foremost, I AM ALIVE AND A. OK. Hope this clears up an initial questions you may have. Oddly enough, my roomates and I slept through the whole thing. And to be completely honest, you all probably know more about what's going on than we do. News is not readily accessible (in english) here so that makes things a little difficult. As far as we know the death toll is over 200 but in a small town outside of Rome, L'Aquila. Yes, the effects were felt here. Many of my classmates said they awoke startled and udderly befuddled. A friend of mine stated that it was a similar sensation to being completely and overly intoxicated, but he hadn't had anything to drink that evening. Just today, believe it or not, there was a aftershock wave that occured roughly around 7.30. I had just returned home from a run and a small, forshortened (will explain later) yoga session in Circo Massimo. I had taken a seat at the kitchen table with my computer, contently checking my email, facebook, and whatnot when the table began to sway. I though at first it was my roomate typing or writing causing the table to shake, but I look over and she was doing neither and the shaking continued. I thought too that maybe I was a little dizzy from my run, but then realized that the clothes hanging to dry were swaying and I was moving slightly to and fro. It was as if I was on an old suspension bridge and someone on the other side started to swing it back and forth. Make sense? It didn't last more than 5 to 10 seconds, but even within that short period of time, it made me feel nauseus. It was not a pleasant experience to say the least. A little nerve-wracking as well when I suddenly heard concerned voices in the stairwell. Did the neighbors know something we didn't? Either way, it was a thrilling experience and nothing bad came from it. We're all still in one piece.

Just a quick aside about the shortened yoga session... I was minding my own business, did a lap or two around Circo Massimo, and picked a grassy spot to do a few sun salutations (yoga series of stretches). After about three rounds in, a dog comes three feet from where I stood, squated, and took an enormous crap. I couldn't help but laugh about it. I packed up my sweatshirt and did a couple more rounds around the circus and headed home.

Tomorrow we are once again heading out of Rome. More to come. Goodnight for now.