so my friend laura is finally here! yesterday we wandered about and shopped a bit; i got to try on exciting clothes that i could never afford haha. we also went inside the duomo and saint justine's basilica, and i had never been in either before so that was cool. there was quite a bit of trouble talking the hotel staff into letting her live in my room with me, but we figured it out. we had a conversation with one guy at the hotel who spoke to her entirely in french and me entirely in italian, and although most of it was debate, it was still linguistically awesome.

lots of work for class and such, finals are next monday and tuesday.

more updates to come! today i'm taking laura to saint anthony's and venice!