And you thought the STIMULUS package was difficult...

I've come to share the story of a fairly cliche overseas shipping experience.

Coming over here I was impressed with myself and the foresight of my packing for the semester. I didn't go overboard on clothing, had remembered contact solution and had plenty of band-aids for blisters inflicted by new Italian leather shoes. However, after joining a very convenient gym, going to many fantastic musical performances, and missing the comfort of a PB&J, I decided it was time to email home for a package of various things. Just a few workout shirts, my hand-held portable audio recorder and a jar of Skippy was all I really wanted...

Leaving Saint Cloud on February 14th and getting to my school in Florence on February 19th, the five day interval was very smooth in comparison to shipping experiences with friends of mine here. Mine however, had the honor of traveling roughly 4760 of the 4775 miles in its trip, sitting for a day just a 20 minute train ride away, retreating back to the northern outskirts of Milan (over four hours away now), coming back to the same 20-minutes-away spot, and then finally arriving safe and sound. In the process I had to fax a declaration of the contents of the package and a copy of my passport to prove that which was in the box was indeed my own. Getting a new bank card shipped overseas is apparently more trouble than you would expect.

In the end I came away with extra clothing, peanut butter (it's incredibly scarce and expensive over here) some tea, a bag of m&ms, a surprising box of honey bunches of oats (thanks mom), a bank card, and most importantly, my audio recorder. I hope to be able to post audio of not only the music I'm going to here in Florence (I never knew there was such a great jazz scene over here), buy my own open-mic adventures. I'm headed to a club called Bebop this Monday night to play, perhaps Tuesday morning will offer up a bit of music for your ears?

That's all for now, I have a fun and fairly interesting trip planned for tomorrow that has a story behind it as well. Will keep you all posted.

Also, thanks Logan for becoming a blog follower, don't think I didn't notice you. I shall do the same for yours, which I have been enjoying.


Scott