Explorations

Ciao,
Yesterday Brooke, Christy and ventured over to the other side of time in an attempt to find the free shuttle that runs to Ikea. We wanted to get some bigger comforters for our beds, a rug, and a lamp... the bus station that we were directed to, however, was not only impossible to navigate, but we're pretty sure the shuttle only runs on Sundays. So after a lot of asking around (in our best italian) we decided to ditch the Ikea idea and explore the part of the city we haven't been to yet. We walked for about three blocks and ended up running into the Duomo and Baptistry. It was the most amazing sight- the highest cathedral and most ornately decorated facade I've ever seen. It was definitely a high point during the day. I didn't have my camera with me (which was a huge mistake) so we vowed to come back in a few days and take a whole album worth of pictures. After we got our fill of the Duomo we walked a few blocks north and ran into, believe it or not, a McDonalds. Although we were surrounded by the best restaurants and italian food in the world, we couldn't help but go in and try french fries from another country, which were, to my surprise, really good! After lunch, we wandered around and ended up finding a store that sold these amazing light fixtures, plugs, hair dryers, and other appliances that we were in desperate need of. We couldn't go another day without a straightener so we split one of those as well. The owner was this really sweet italian man who had actually lived in the states a few years ago so he gave us a list of some local spots that he said was a good place to meet italian college students, and not just americans. It's so crazy that so many americans are studying abroad in Florence. I'd say everywhere we walk we hear English-- or see american students our age.
Our last stop of the day was at Coin, which is the big department store in Florence. We got some wine glasses for our apartment and a few things for our kitchen. Brooke, who I'm learning will stop at every store and every leather market if we gave her the chance, bought make-up and shoes and probably would have gotten more if we didn't pull her away! I know she'll be a great shopping partner when I decide to actually get some leather, which is EVERYWHERE! Every bag, jacket and glove is literally beautiful and smooth and so impossible not to touch. I want to buy everything I see, so it will be really difficult to pick my favorite.
Anyways, after the day of walking around we had to nap a little before we made our first dinner in our apartment, which was... of course, pasta. We bought the most incredible parmagiano from the market next door, which for anyone that knows me, is my weakness. YUMMMM

More details on the food later. I'm off to lunch and another day of wonderful explorations.
Ciao for now!

Giorni Due e Molti Pizza

Day two of my Italian adventure began with our program orientation as a hotel off right Arno river about 10 minutes from our apartment. Needless to say, the orientation was the least exciting part of my day. After the presentation I ventured downstairs to the bar and ordered a cappuccino with Brooke. We ended up meeting a women named Kate who is studying at our adjoining culinary school. We sat down together and ended up talking for almost an hour. Kate, who is 35 and abandoning her career as a landscape architect to become a chef, was so sweet and offered to cook us dinner once she learned some good meals! We were so surprised that she continued to chat with us for so long, but we realized that we were all in the same boat. Scared, excited, and nervous to be living in a brand new place. After the orientation ended we split up and walked around the historic district of town for a while before lunch. Passing the Santa Croce, we ventured farther into the city. Brooke and I went into Prada and Gucci and other amazing shops to explore and drool over the italian fashion and leather. We passed the Ponte Vecchio bridge and found it was a great place for people watching as everyone just hangs out around the entrance. The city already felt small to me as I started passing recognizable shops and restaurants. Everything I passed I wanted to try on, or eat, or look at. Explore! That was the name of the game for today! Brooke and I ran into Kate again outside a little pasta shop and went in to get some lunch. Paying in euro was getting easier and ordering in Italian, though choppy, got us the most incredible little meal ever!
Later we finished orientation with a meeting as the FUA school, which, as luck would have it, is right across from our apartment building. In fact, all my classes are within 15 feet of my front door! Here I came thinking I'd be walking all over the place to go to class and I live right next door!
I took an Italian placement test and was put in Intermediate. Hopefully I'll be challenged enough to really learn the language, both in class, and in speaking it outside of class with locals. Not only are classes close to me, but we have a little food market right next door, the computer store where we get our cell phones and computer fixed is across the street, and a bar is right on the corner to get our morning dose of caffein! I could stay on my block all day and have everything I need! I would never do that though-- there are too many exciting things to see!
Later that night, FUA and it's adjoining schools had a welcome reception in a Hotel a little farther into the city. We drank red wine and had little appetizers which is the Apperitivo (meal/drinking before dinner). I ended up meeting a lot more people on my program and ran into Katie again!
The end of the night was a big party at this club called Cavalii on the other side of the river. A bunch of people from my school, as well as other americans studying abroad were there so the crowd was pretty english speaking. It was nice to meet other people who spoke the language and were going through what I was. Brooke, Christy and I didn't get home until 5 in the morning and let's just say : Never wear heels in Florence, or try running home as 5 am. Very bad combo- but great second day!

Ciao for now!

Corso dei Tintori 6

Buon Giorno a tutti!

I'm sorry I haven't been updating since I arrived, but as you can imagine, it's been incredibly busy and hectic. My semester began on my plane ride over when I met a girl named Katie, who was on my flight all the way from Chicago, and accompanied me through my layover in Zurich, and the small little plane that took up to the Florence airport. Surprisingly enough, a group of 3 boys from the Chicago area were on our flight as well and they ended up being my neighbors here!

Anyways, after the flight, which I was able to sleep through most of, I packed all my luggage (which is WAY too much) and got on the program shuttle. We were dropped off in a piazza on the Arno river and proceeded to check in at the SAI offices, get our apartment keys, and student cell phones.

After a lot of intense luggage maneuvering I was dropped off in front of my building on Corso dei Tintori. My front door, which is about 12 feet, heavy, and wooden, took me fifteen minutes to open, and when I finally did my roommates Emily and Christy were there to help me up the stairs. I live on the 2nd floor of the building, which is seriously amazing. It's from the 17th century and has a gorgeous little courtyard in the center where everyone's window looks out onto do. When I walked into my apartment my jaw dropped. The ceiling are 12 feet high, and each room has an ornately hand painted ceiling. The apartment seemed to go on for miles as I dragged my bags through hall after hall. We have three bathrooms, three bedrooms, a lovely little kitchen and dining room, another sitting room, and every room is tiled and unique in its own way. I was so surprised with out enormous the apartment was. I was thinking I'd get a small little european apartment, and instead I got an incredible 6 person suite!

After I settled in me and my roommate Danielle, Emily, Erika, Brooke, and Christy went out into the streets to explore a little. I can't even describe how amazing I felt walking out that front door into the Italian street that is quickly becoming my home. Corso dei Tintori is right off the Arno and around the corner from the Santa Croce cathedral. The cathedral is the burial place of Michelangelo and a seriously gorgeous building. I still can't believe I live right around the corner from it! The piazza that accompanies the church is always filled with people and shops.

After walking around, we met up with a few other girls from our program that go to school with Emily in Nashville and all went to dinner. My first authentic italian meal was a little hole in the wall pizza place which amazing servers who didn't laugh when we attempted to order in Italian. We got the house wine wine and lots of yummy pizza with great toppings. The restaurant ended up being a short walk from our apartment on Corso dei Tintori so when we walked back after dinner it was still relatively early. The rest of my first night was spent unpacking and getting to know the roommates- who are all amazing.

Each of us are SO different, but I think we'll live well together. We were all nervous about sleeping our first night in a strange place, but with all the traveling and jet lag we passed out. I couldn't have asked for a better first night in Firenze.

Ciao for now...

14 days and Counting

These next two weeks couldn't go by any slower... and it doesn't help that I'm on a supposed vacation in Florida and it's a frigid 38 degrees outside! However, as soon as I touch back down at Midway Airport on Saturday it'll be a full week of packing--not to mention freaking out-- before I depart for my semester abroad. Hopefully I'll have more exciting things to talk about than the FL weather, and hopefully I won't have too detailed of a post everyday. I'd much rather be out experiencing the Italian culture than sitting in my apartment writing about it... BUT to give the funders of this trip/study abroad/vacation/what have you enough peace of mind that I'm not out galavanting mindlessly with Italian men, this blog will serve my parents, and hopefully friends, with ample exciting details of my time in Firenze. Enjoy, and check back in a couple days.

Ciao for now ;)