I am FREEEEEEE!! (almost) This morning I took my last exam and then immediately afterwards I recycled all the notes from the class. It was a french style course with a french professor and a french exam on subject matter that none of us had any background information on, so it was a disaster and torture but I don't care, it's over and I think I passed. I just have to write up my thesis and hand it in and then I will swiftly receive my master's degree in December with the graduation ceremony next May. Life moves so quickly here in Italy.

It's been a sad month though, one by one people are leaving for their home countries, as always it's hard to say goodbye knowing that I may not see many of these people who have become fixtures in my life this year for a long time, or maybe (though I hope not) never again. It's not exactly easy to visit some of my friends, because many of them come from those few countries whose governments are not exactly on spectacular terms with mine. My good friend Zahra went back to Iran today, and I couldn't help feeling sad knowing that it will be nearly impossible for me to visit her there (especially if Dad can help it, haha). I went to dinner with her and three other Iranians last night to say goodbye, and it's so strange that such nice people who I have so much in common with - decent, kind and enjoyable people can be represented in the world by those terrible men running their country (another thing we have in common...or had in common until this year...idiots running our countries). I hope that their protests are succesful, the last thing the world needs is more Ahmadinejad.

I said goodbye to my friend Anggi from Venezuela when I left France last month, to Suhaib from Palestine left for Abu Dhabi a few weeks ago, I will say goodbye to my friends from Pakistan, Colombia and the rest from Iran shortly. Why do so many of my friends have to come from such difficult places for me to visit...I just hope that things can change in the world, and I think the chances are better with the administration change back home. Luckily I have a lot of friends in more easily visitable countries also to visit until that change comes.

Luckily everyone seems to want to come to the US for PhD's or postdoctorates so my friends can come to me, and since we are all in the same field, I am sure I will run into many of them at seismology and earthquake engineering conferences (if I don't decide to become a painter) So all is not tearful, though it is sad knowing that we will all never be in the same place together again. I feel like life has been a string of such farewells. I guess that's just what happens when you spend your time jumping from one place to another, it is inevitable.

So I have six days left to enjoy Europe, but I am tired of riding in Italian trains, not the most pleasant experience in the summer time, so I think my plans for going to visit the ever erupting volcano of Stromboli have been postponed. I will just enjoy my friends who are still remaining and maybe go on a day trip or two.