Well the event we all have been waiting for, The Palio, has come and gone. Pazza. This build up for excitement for months was over in about a minute twenty seconds and then you either cry or celebrate for a week. The two most important things are 1) winning or 2) not allowing your rival to win. This is done by paying off jockeys and other scandalous things. Yesterday, Oca (the goose) won the Palio. Oca was the contrada that was involved in the big fight at the horse lottery with torre (who did not even run). At least now everyone in Oca can have there sins resolved at the church, just because they won the race. Maybe if the Cleveland Browns win the superbowl one day, we can go get our sins resolved too. We all know all remaining Brown's fans could sure use that as a reward for being so patient. The craziest thing about the race yesterday was that Bruco was in the lead and then the horse rammed up against a fence line pool. The jockey fell off and I'm pretty sure he was stepped on by the horse in second...ahhh. By the end of the race, about 4 horses had lost their jockey's but still ran to complete the race. Soon after, people of Oca started screaming and sprinting towards the painting that is given as a reward the the winner of the Palio. I took a video of it but they literally rip this painting down from the side of the building and parade around with it all night long. This was of course with drums and singing and of course the painting. Crazy. I left town at like midnight but Oca's were definitely partying and parading around the city all night long. Only nine of the horses competed yesterday because the shell contrada's horse died. Purtroppo its leg was hurt at the prova on Friday, and it had a heart attack and died. Imagine... 50,00 - 60,000 inside the campo and 10,000 on the outside if the gates, approximately 80,000 people total.
Sorry to back track, but Friday we attended the Bruco (the caterpillar) Contrada dinner. It was fun and held at the most beautiful garden of the city. We helped ourselves to appetizers since dinner was not even served until 11:00 p.m. No 5:00 p.m. cena qui, dinner is served at 7:00 p.m. or later in Italia, so 11:00 p.m. is no big deal at all. We also ran into Tim Basi Thursday night. He just graduated from Ohio State's Italian graduate program and is from here in Siena. I had him for two of my classes at Ohio States and he is such a doll. We are going to se him again for gelato soon.
My roommate Hannah left today, and the house is definitely quieter with out her. Her leaving means I have more access to the internet and more time alone with Maura, but I would still rather have her here. Like I said before, she is very inspiring and adorable. Other than that everything is going great except that I think people in the program are finally being very honest with each other and my Italian is getting better but I feel like it is getting worse. I think I'm am finally realizing all the mistakes a make when I talk and feel less confident. Just got to truck though and keep blabbering I guess. Take care and talk to you all soon :)... Ash
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