Day 2: P.2

As can be seen with the photos below, today was quite an adventurous day. It started out with a lot of paperwork in the local cafeteria, where we met Sylvia- our pool manager- and Randy-her boss. After breakfast, the half of group 2 that had arrived (my group) went with our director and turned in some more paperwork to the Red Cross. After that, we checked out the base thrift store ans a few people picked up DVDs and Italian-to-English dictionaries. Then Sylvia took us out to the Aviano market where I picked up an awesome Italia shirt for 5 Euro (!!!) as well as some awesome souvenirs for my roomies back in the states. Then we sat down in a cafe and Sylvia bought us some amazing pastries. Apparently Italians like their pastries soaked in liquor--not something any of us were expecting. After the market, we went back onto base and ate at the cafeteria yet again. Everyone on base so far is really nice, random military people will see our Camp A uniforms and ask where we're from, how we're enjoying Aviano, etc. After lunch the 2nd part of our group had gotten to base so we went together to get checkout sheets for our dorm rooms. As my roommate unpacked, I brushed up on my reading and then we all walked to the other side of the base to the pool. In the pouring rain. Tomorrow we've got some kind of scenario skills test thing so we had to prep. Then we went to the ITT, which is the place on base that facilitates trips to places out and around western Europe for reduced rates. There are a few really awesome things coming up, but working out traveling with our complicated schedules is kind of overwhelming at this point. Most of the people here have 1-3 things that they *HAVE* to do while they are here in Italy, but really I'm down for traveling wherever. This Friday is our Bienvenuti tour and a group on base takes us out and teaches us how to haggle and do other fun Italian things. Then Saturday is our first day of work. For dinner tonight we went to this place called The Western House because they offer a special deal from 5-7 where you can pay for a 8 euro meal with 8 dollars, a 7 euro meal for 7 dollars, and so on. The restaurante was decorated with "vintage" photos of American Indians and John Wayne, as well as random US license plates. While waiting for our food we were served a basket of bread wiht a bowl of mozzarella cheese, and while I never would have eaten bread with dry shredded cheese, it wasn't too bad. For dessert we got gelato, of course, and I'm pretty sure that 1Euro banana gelato trips are going to be the end of me. Tomorrow is more swimming and probably more boreientation.