much awaited pics!

So, if you find yourself wondering why I have not posted in several days it is not because I have been so busy having fun that I have not had time. Thought I have been very busy having fun as you will see from this post. It is because our internet and phone have been down since Thursday. Thanks to the Center I know have a local phone number. It is an international call for you but a free for me so let me know if you want the number and I will give it to you. I can also give you my skype number (which is free for both of us if you would like it).

Rome has been great the last few days. I am getting use to living in a city that has between 3-5 million people, but I don't think you have to worry about me wanting to move here predominantly. I like it here but my heart still, resides in Fayetteville with a little piece in Memphis. We began orientation here today. It was nice to have something we had to do and get familiarized with the Rome Center. The faculty is great and I am excited about all the adventures the semester holds.

So without further ado here are the pictures...



my living room




My bedroom



the kitchen and laundry room.

For those of you thinking "HA Megan will never use that room" You are wrong! My roommates and I cooked dinner last night, and I have already done laundry once.



THe bathroom

More pictures can be found at


Sorry they are side ways I will figure out how to turn them for the next blog maybe!

My New BFF and Air Conditioning

Ok so I hate to disappoint you but I don’t have a new best friend nor do I have air conditioning, but I do have 2 things that come very close. My TomTom and a new fan. TomTom, my gps, is perhaps the greatest item I brought on this trip. It is far better than any map or tour books. While he is not perfect, he allows me to navigate easily from wherever I am to wherever I want to go without any trouble! He talks to me and tells me which way to go. It is impossible to get lost because if I make a wrong turn it just gives me a new route to my destination. Basically like I said before it is the greats thing ever, and if you are travelling anytime soon you should acquire one too!

In case you did not pick up of the fact that it is very hott here and I don’t have AC, it is and I don’t. I do however, now have a fully functioning fan. After a lot of searching, a very Under the Tuscan Sun shopping adventure, and some assembly without the proper tools I now have a fan that has cooled my apartment down tremendously. My two roommates from KU, Theresa and Stacy, arrived today and they plan to purchase a fan very soon as well. So basically I feel as though my apartment is now air conditioned!

For those of you wondering what an Under the Tuscan Sun shopping adventure is I encourage you to rent the movies. In short I speak basically no Italian, and the people at the store spoke basically no English, but after a lot of gesturing and grunting I managed to purchase a fan!

I had this whole long blog with my days adventures and lots of photos planed but the internet is less than reliable right now so it will have to wait until it gets fixed. Over all I am having a great time and am very happy to be here.

Tammy dont worry you could never be replaced, esp by a machine!

Day 1 Down

I apologize that I don’t have the pictures of the apartment download yet but they are coming. I spent much of the day trying to catch up on sleep and getting settled in. My apartment, like most in Rome, is not air conditioned. It is very warm and humid, so I am in great need of a fan. I a few hours this afternoon looking for one, but did not find any shops that sell them. I am going to email the school and the people at Your Place in Rome to see if they have any ideas on where I might be able to purchase a fan.

I hate to complain about the weather, but I feel that it is justified for 2 reasons:

1. It is hott enough that the Romans are complaining about it. And in my opinion is the locals are complaining about it the visitors can too.
2. I spent 6 of the last 12 weeks living in a TP and Kamp and was never really this hott.

It is as hott and humid and Memphis and Central Arkansas in mid-August and I know that those of you reading who have been there before wouldn’t dare part with your A/C.

All and all I am doing well. My neighbourhood is great. There are lots of restaurants, and shops. Everything I need (except and fan) is just right around the corner.

Thing I have Learned Since I Arrived:
1. 5 minutes= 15 minutes and 20 minutes= 45 minutes
2. Bubbly water is gross and all water has bubbles unless it is coming out of your sink or says mineral water on it.
3. Despite what travel books say, Italians do where shorts. They are just longer. In other words the travel books should say "Italians don’t where booty shorts"
4. There is no reason to sleep-in in a city that takes siestas. Just take a nap while they do whatever it is they do during siesta.
5. Restaurants and bars and open late but nothing else is.

For those of you who have Google mapped by address, mine is the yellow building second floor from the top on the corner.

Happy Birthday Courtney! I here 23 is kind of let down but have fun anyway!

IM here!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I am here. My appartment is wonderful, and I have had a good italian meal. Seeing as how I have been up for well over 24 hours now. I am going to shower and go to bed, but know worries details and pictures will come tomarrow! (I have already taken many pictures of my appartment)

T-Minus 2 Days!

I leave for Rome in 2 day! AHHH! I am getting really excited about it! I am getting board in Memphis and am very ready to start the semester and my European adventure. I have spent this past week gathering everything I must have to live for the next 4 months. My mom was kind enough to take Thursday and Friday afternoon off and not only run errands with me but also foot the bill for all of the stuff I need to buy! I love my mom and was great-full to have her company (and her wallet), this week. I think I have figured out everything I am taking. Tomorrow I will figure out how I am going to pack it all in my one giant duffel bag and large back pack. For those of you who know me well and I have seen my closet should be impressed that I am only taking about 8 pairs of pants, and about 25 shirts for 4 whole months.

Well the next time I write will probably be from Rome! I cant wait for the adventure to begin!

Small Town Girl

As you all know I am back in Memphis for about 2 weeks before I leave from Rome. While I have only been back about 4 days it is very clear that I am not the big city girl that I once was. Perhaps it is just my deep deep love for Fayetteville, but I am proud to say I am a small town girl. What makes me say that I am no longer a big city girl you might ask? Well let me just share a few stories/ facts about the last few days. While all of you from Fayetteville get a bit nervous about my aggressive driving, I have apparently lost my touch when it comes to driving in the big city. Apparently when you are driving in Memphis you are going to slow if go the speed limit and if you aren't half way through the light the second it turns green you are crazy. Lets just say I have been honked at a lot, and in my opinion for no reason. Second, over the last few days I have had several appointments and lunch dates with friends and family, and lets just say I haven't been on time to a single one. Now, I am typically a punctual person, but I am not use to it taking a half hour to get everywhere. This long travel time is really cramping my style. I mean heck, church is the only place that it took me more than ten minutes to get too in Fayetteville, and that because it is in Rogers! Also, I just hate the traffic and all of the drivers are unfriendly. Thirdly, while North West Arkansas News reporting is arguably sub-par at least it isnt all bad. In Memphis the entire new report is on one of 3 topics; murder, rape, or King Willie (Memphis' crazy former mayor who is addicited to crack, resigned so that he could run for senate but is now running for mayor again to "save the city" as he says).

Anyway, I am definitely not a big city girl anymore and am very excited to move back to Fayetteville one day. (Carter if you are reading this "one day" does not mean the spring)

Fall is Back in Fayetteville...

...and I wont be there to enjoy it! Kamp is over and I am spending a few days in Fayetteville before heading on to Memphis. As I drive through Fayetteville I can just feel the buzz of fall, and while I am excited to be going to Rome, it makes me want to stay here! I love this place. I love the people, the town, the atmosphere, the football, the restaurants, the Dickson Street, the University, my church, and everything else that is great about North West Arkansas. But I know that it is only a matter of time (only a few short years if I have my way) until I return here to live. I can think of no other place I would rather call home and raise a family than Fayetteville, AR.

God has blessed me with an amazing summer. He has used the summer to confirm in both my heart and my head that I want to work in Student Affairs the rest of my life. I loved the internship that I did the first half of the summer. I got to see the business side and the people side of Student Affairs and loved every minute of it. Then I had the opportunity to serve in a leadership role at kamp where I served as a UC. As a UC one of my primary jobs was to work with the counselors by serving them and helping them to do there job better. This further affirmed that I love helping people succeed and feel successful.

That's all for now. T-Minus 18 days till Rome!