On Saturday night, I was invited out by one of my housemates to go to a concert with her and her boyfriend. And I was also told that a friend of her boyfriend wanted to meet me. So, at 10pm we headed out to Prato in the boyfriend’s car, and after some time clenching my teeth and gripping the seats in fear, we safely arrived at the club. Upon entering, I realized that I was not going to fit in. It was a death metal show, filled with Italian death metal/goth kids. I felt like I was surrounded by vampires-the kind of vampires that like to spoon their blood over a nice plate of spaghetti.

I was either over or under-dressed, though I’m not sure which. I was literally the only person wearing a color other than black, in my yellow and brown striped sweater. The music was not really what I listen to, being bands whose singers scream into a microphone in a very Darth Vadery way. It was loud, and the drinks were too expensive at 5 euro a cocktail. I resigned myself to a lost evening and tried to make the most of the people watching.

A couple of hours later, the friend who wanted to meet me showed up. I was relieved to see that he was not dressed fully in black with long hair and leather/chain pieces hanging off of his clothes. He was actually kind of cute, but I don’t think I could go out with someone who listens to death metal and hangs out with vampires, even if I was ready to start dating again. But the thing that was the biggest turn off was the blond girl that was hanging around this guy, at a bit of a distance, and glaring at me. I got the whole ex-girlfriend feeling from her. I later found out that they had indeed dated, for about 8 years, and he had broken up with her about and year and a half ago. She wasn’t planning on coming to this event, until she found out that he was coming to meet another girl. Me. If I wasn’t just freshly out of a relationship, I might think she was going a little crazy. But instead, I felt sorry for her. This stuff is hard.

Yesterday was good. I ended up going for coffee with another roommate, to a place he often frequents. It had an enclosed outdoor patio, with heat lamps. We had a really nice time, and I was proud that my Italian was good enough to have an entire conversation. After coffee, we walked around a little and I made a wish on the pig fountain next to the market. We were out and about laughing and chatting, and I tried to help him pick out some cologne. When we got back to the house, I read in his room for a bit (which is much bigger and warmer than my room) and then we went out and got pizzas, and brought them home to eat. This is the first time I have hung out with him outside of the house, and it was really lovely.

Today, I am going to the gym. I have been going pretty regularly since I joined last week. I do a few of the total body workout classes that are taught by this beautiful, muscular Italian man with wild, curly hair. He has these great pecks and when we workout he does this thing with his hips that is divine. If there is one thing to keep me going to the gym, it is a beautiful instructor with arms the size of tree trunks.

In other news, I bought a bike today. A friend of V’s actually gave me a bike for free, which I promptly traded for a nicer bike with a discount, from my neighborhood bike repairman. I’m going back today before I catch my 4:30 film in English, so that he can put a basket on the front, for free. It’s a blue bike, and it’s mine. I have fulfilled one wish, even while many others have fallen to the ground. If not floating in a bubble of happiness, I am at least, content.