(Parma, Italy) - Ciao Ragazzi!

Whenever a DJ comes on the radio he says this, and it's very memorable for me, I think it's just a much cooler way of saying "hey guys!"

Anyway, I am in Parma for about a month, in Italy. I had never heard of it before, but selected it because of it's North-Central location and proximity to many other sites of interest for weekend trips. I made a great choice. The people, that speak a little english at least, are awesome, the food is amazing, and there is so much to see and just think about. The Italian version of the FDA is located here in Parma, and many very original foods originate from here. Formaggio parmagiono (parmesan cheese, which does not come in a green shake can, it is cut out of a huge wheel that has been aged for at least 24 months). Prosciutto-- ham which is most often served crudo, or raw-- I was skeptical of eating raw food after MICRO, but they do it all the time: ham, salami, even carne equina (horse) which I have not yet tried. Many of you may have heard of one of the largest milk companies in the world: Parmalat. I think their most famous export is from the University where I am doing basic molecular bio research. Hundreds of years ago the Universita degli Studi di Parma crafted the legendary neurologist we now know simply as Dr. Rustioni. I brag about this to my Italian amicos and they all sigh and say I wish I could go to America...

I got here on May 30th. Unlike Ronnie I was smart enough not to schedule my layovers too far apart. I gave myself a healthy hour at JFK. Of course my flight from RDU sat waiting for the runway to clear for 30min, so by the time I navigated through the maze of JFK (I exited the plane onto the tarmac then was corralled through a network of boot-legged fences and finally entered the building through what used to be an emergency exit only...) my plane was halfway done boarding. I made it on board the flight to Milan, I think my bags went to the Philippines because I didn't see them for 4 days. At least I got some cool, original Italian t-shirts and got to wear some of the tightest undies ever for a few days (most Italians are size Med or Small, but very generous, I didn't have to buy any clothes, at least). I was most upset that the airport told me my bags would be there in 4 hours, so I waited, hungover from the fantastic trans-Atlantic sleep while that flight's arrival was delayed and 7.5 hours after my plane had arrived, I still had no clue where my stuff was.

Besides this my trip has been great! I go on excursions on the weekend (check fb for photos if you want), and wonder why skype does not charge anything for its basic service, since it is so utterly awesome. That's enough for now though, can't give it all away here or no one will want to talk to me next year.