Counting Down!

Nothing significant to report, but I thought I would tell you all about my upcoming plans for winter break!

Only 9 more days!

It is only 9 days from today until I get to see Victoria!  I can't even begin to express how excited I am to see that girl!  Never since I was born have I been away from her for more than 2 months.  It will be so wonderful to see what her life is like; where she lives, who her temporary family is, where she goes, what the Middle East looks like, all aside from the wonderfulness of simply being with her!

I will be there from December 23rd to December 30th and then I leave for Paris, France where I will meet up with Erica and Lizbeth who are coming all the way from the United States to spend a week in Paris with me!  God was so good in orchestrating this trip and truly making this a New Year's that will be unforgettable!  We will be in France from December 30th to January 6th staying in Bria's cousin's apartment...one more of God's provisions for us!

A photo of yours truly as I write this entry and shiver.

How refreshing it will be to see familiar faces after 4 months in a foreign country!  I love you all and thank you all for loving me so much in return.  I am truly blessed to have all of you in my life!  That's all for now cause my frozen fingers aren't obeying my typing.  It has been a long time since I have lived somewhere this cold and let me just say, it is a lot easier when you live with you parents and don't have to worry about the heating bill!

Everyday Life

I was talking to my sister Amanda the other day and I realized as she was telling me about what is going on in her life at home, I don't ever tell you about my day to day life.  This year I have done so much out of the ordinary, but there are many things that are not so very different that I don't often mention.  For instance...eating.

Grocery shopping is a part of every day life here.  Although I hate grocery shopping, it is unavoidable with a fridge shorter than me and one shelf of cabinet space for the rest of my food.  I usually limit my trip to the big grocery store, Coop, to once a week, but waiting this long makes the long walk home very long with such a heavy backpack full of groceries and often a bag in each hand.  Don't buy more than you can carry.  Something I never thought about until moving here.  With this kind of grocery shopping I have gotten into such a routine of selecting the same amount of the same items, knowing just how much I can carry home, that I don't have the kind of variation in my meals as I had when I first arrived.  I feel that this is the case even in the United States, that we get into a routine of always eating the same thing, but it is easier to break out of that box when you are familiar with the food can read the labels and directions on the products.

School...yes, I am actually enrolled in 15 units of school while I am here despite the lack of mention.  No, 15 units here is not the same as 15 units at San Jose State.  Either there is not nearly as much homework, or I should actually be doing the assigned reading.  I will let you know next week when midterms start if I am in over my head with senioritis.

I have class Monday through Thursday, some in the classroom, and some out in the city:
Italian Conversation
Italian Grammar
Early Renaissance Art History (on site in the city a lot)
Museum Studies and the Uffizi Gallery (on site in the city a lot)
The History of Italian Opera (We just went to an opera for this one!)

The Italian classes are really the only ones I am interested in taking, but as I said before, the others haven't been too bad with homework (I say this as I commence on a 7 page paper).  If it were up to me I would only be taking 12 units this semester, but the minimum requirement is 15 units (to ensure that students don't goof off all year I suppose).

Well...that's really the normal life of a student in Italy, in the U.S....everywhere, I suspect.  Eating and studying.  And working usually, but seeing as I don't have a work visa that's not an option.  Now that I have enlightened you all with the logistics of my life as a "normal student," you can anxiously await my next post and I assure you I will try to make it more exotic and European.

Bria's amazing box of December happiness!

Meanwhile, if your heart so desires...because I know mine does.... ...You can send me letters!!!
Here is my school address, the most reliable place to send me mail:
Caroline Dennis
Via G. Leopardi 12
50121 Firenze, Italia

(U.S. to Italy is 98 cents for a letter)

America in Italy

Buon Ringraziamento!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Despite being on the other side of the world for this all-American holiday, my roommates and I (Ilaria and Valentina included) managed to celebrate Thanksgiving with a traditional Thanksgiving meal.  There were a total of 11 people at dinner and enough food for twice that number.  I loved being able to share our American holiday and traditions with Ilaria and Valentina and they loved it too!  I feel like each time we have a dinner party (although this is only the second one) I get to know them a little bit more.

I was proud that my first Thanksgiving cooking for people other than my family, both of my dishes were a hit.  I made a cold broccoli salad and sweet potatoes, which I learned are NOT the same as yams!  All these years I thought that yams and sweet potatoes ("patate dolci" or more commonly known as "patate Americani") were the same thing!  I felt my first Thanksgiving disaster coming on when I cut open my cooked potatoes and they were white inside! (dramatic, I know)  My mom came to the rescue and gave me a recipe that pleased a crowd.  So I suppose I didn't do it ALL by myself.

I find it a bit ironic how there are those times when you can get around a market using all Italian and don't look too out of place...and then you buy "patate Americani" and whatever cover you fooled yourself about having is surely blown. "Aaahh...Patate Americani!" says the vendor with a smirk when I ask for patate dolci.

Yes, those are strawberries.

There are a few things this weekend that I am missing back at home that have been Christmas traditions for almost as long as I can remember, but I am doing better than I thought I would on homesickness.  The day after Thanksgiving is always reserved for putting up Christmas decorations and we kept that going here in Italy with a tree and decorations we found in the closet.  Florence, apparently, has the same tradition because a giant Christmas tree (no, it doesn't compare to the Rockefeller Tree in New York, but still) was going up next to The Duomo as I was walking to dance, and when I came out there were Christmas lights sparkling here and there on the walk home.

Alasdair and Madelaine, 30 minutes till party time!

Another of our annual traditions is The Gingerbread Party.  Some of you  have been, some of you have heard about it, and some of you can just take a look at this picture to see how anxiously children await this Christmas party!  (Ok...how anxiously EVERYONE awaits this Christmas party.)  Candy and Gingerbread all afternoon and delicious, warm chili and cornbread after each family has decorated their house.  This was Amelia Josephine, my youngest niece's, first Gingerbread Party and she is a little young to decorate, but when I am there next year I imagine she will be in it and sticky!

(Thanksgiving pictures to come later...they are not on my camera.)

Roma

Yes, my blogs are getting fewer and farther between.  Sorry about that.  Don't give up on my, I'll keep going!

The Colosseum from a distance

Last weekend I went to Roma with my school on a field trip and we stayed in a 4 star hotel!  Man, it was so nice!  Not that my apartment isn't nice, but who knows how many years ago it was built and there are some things that you just can't clean or you just can't fix.  This hotel room had spotless hardwood floors, towels that went down to my calves and a huge breakfast every morning.

Inside the Colosseum with a partially reconstructed arena floor.

We left Thursday morning and made stops along the way to Roma, were in Roma for 2 days, and left Sunday morning and saw different things all the way back to Firenze.  The things we saw were amazing, but there was just so much on our itinerary.  We went to the Roman Forum first and then the Colosseum.  They were amazing.  I have to say though, when we were in the Colosseum I didn't really know how to feel.  It was so cool to be there, but at the same time, I felt bad to think it was "cool" thinking about how many people were murdered there for spectacle.  I wanted pictures in the Colosseum, but what was I supposed to do?  Do you smile?  It was just weird.  I am so glad that I was able to visit though!

Ruins of the Roman Forum

By the time I got home I never wanted to see another museum again for months and months and months.  We probably went to more museums in 4 days that I have been to in 3 years.  There are certain aspects of Rome that are so strange though...like the ruins that are on practically every block.  You turn the corner and, "Hey look.  More ruins."  It was all much more exciting if you thought about it in Biblical terms too.  There are so many people, like Paul, who spent time in that city, in places that I have now been to!

While I was in Rome I really made a conscious effort to spend time with different people than I normally do back in Firenze.  I really enjoyed being with new groups of people and I'm glad I did.  One night when we went out we were talking about the differences between Rome and Florence and certain things that I hadn't thought of before.  Obviously Rome is much bigger than Florence, that is not a surprise, but I never thought before about the necessity of a financial district in every big city.  So much of what is in those districts is what keeps cities alive and growing financially.  Florence does not have a district like this and instead survives primarily on tourism.  It is surviving for now, but does this mean that Florence is a dying city?  It seems to be turning into a living museum and nothing more.  What happens if interest in Art goes south?  Just thoughts we discussed.

The trip was good, but a little to go, go, go for my liking.  I understand that they had to do it that way since it was a school trip and there were only a few days but I think it will be better when I go back in April.  My parents and I are going to Rome in April!!  They bought their ticket!  THEN we will have a wonderful vacation!

Londra e Irelanda! Wait...they speak English!

(DISCLAIMER...VERY LONG BLOG)
I'm home!...That doesn't sound quite right.  I don't think Firenze has earned that title quite yet, but I am back in Italy, "the real world," and I have finally made time to blog about my first experiences of traveling while abroad.

Let me just say that I have been seriously blessed my whole life with vacations that are true vacations.  Not to say that this wasn't a vacation...but it was a very different experience to be staying at hostels in rooms with 6-10 strangers and living out of a small school backpack for 8 days in UK fall weather.  With that said, I was still so happy I got to go.  I traveled with five other girls who graciously invited me to come along when they found out I had no one to travel with, and there were a lot of personalities to mesh and a lot of different plans to try to accommodate in one week with so many people.  It was a growing experience in many ways, just as this whole school year has been so far, but I realized that even though there are somethings that I would like to change about myself, I am, overall, pleased with the person I am and how I live my life.

Anyway...
London.  I loved it.  When I moved to Firenze I was wondering what appeal I ever saw of living in a big city but when I got to London I remembered!  There are so many reasons why London was so different from Firenze...
1. They speak English
2. They speak English
3. There is theater and dance!
4. There are huge parks to escape to where you forget you are in the city...and they are easy to get to...
5. You can get around the city in a matter of minutes with the RELIABLE public transportation (The tube)
I am not bashing Florence, just highlighting London's positive attributes.

The first day in London (after getting to the hostel at 3am) we saw most of the classic tourist attractions...Big Ben/Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square. SO MUCH. Go, go, go.  Then I met up with my British friend Jo, who was studying abroad at San Jose State last year and we had dinner.  It was so wonderful to see someone from home!  It was also a nice break to get away on my own.  After a couple hours to catch up, Jo walked me over to the Royal Haymarket Theater and I saw Sweet Charity...my first West End show!  It was strange to be there by myself but the show was wonderful!


Sunday we went to King's Cross Station and saw the "real" Platform 9 3/4 and attempted to catch the Hogwarts express, but we decided we should probably stay on this side of reality.  From there we headed over to Regent's Park were I could have spent all day.  It was absolutely beautiful with all of the fall colors and afternoon sunlight.  I was so excited when we got to The Queen's Gardens and went into the rose garden...there was a rose there with a name that made my day:


Monday, our last day, the girls all had plans to go to The British Museum.  Anyone who knows me well knows that I dislike museums and since it was my last of only three days in London I decided to do my own thing and told them I would meet back up with them for afternoon tea.  I got up and got out (since it was just me) and spent my day in Covent Gardens after a first stop at Grosvenor Square.  My time in Covent Gardens was wonderful and what I considered to be my best day in London!  I listened to a string quartet playing near a restaurant, went inside the Royal Opera House, walked around where most of the theaters were, sat in a garden behind a church...with no one's agenda but my own.  It was wonderful.

Legos Anyone?

After afternoon tea we all went over to Tower Bridge (which had a striking resemblance to one of our first lego sets).  At dusk I left the girls and headed over to Covent Gardens to see Chicago, my last hurrah.  Tami and Jessica joined me and we had the classic dinner of fish and chips before I headed over to the theater.  Chicago was amazing and...I need to take more jazz classes!  I had great seats and loved it, but again I would have loved it even more if I had been there with someone!


 IRELAND...

St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin

St. Steven's Green, Dublin

We left our hostel in London at 4:00am and by the time we arrived at our hostel in Dublin it was only 11:00am.  Our first stop was St. Steven's Green, a park that my good friend Bria told was a must see.  It was so beautiful!  I know that I keep going on and on about the parks I visited, but it was just such a perfect time of year for the trees and everything was beyond exquisite.  We had dinner in the Temple Bar area that night where I had my first pint of beer ever (Smithwick's).  I'm glad I went to Dublin just to say that I have been, but the city was nothing spectacular.

The next morning we took a 4 hour bus to Galway.  Because of all the stops it was twice as long as it would have been by car, but the Irish countryside scenery was breath taking.  Quite different from Dublin, when we arrived, Galway was about as cold as London but had bone chilling winds to go with it.  I was glad that I knew how to dress and pack for cold weather!  Some did not.

I ate vegetable soup two times of my own accord while in Ireland and my family can tell you that this is completely unlike me!  Let me tell you though, the Irish know how to make soup.  It was thick and hearty...more like stew, which is the most common Irish dish. (Turns out the Irish don't eat corned-beef and cabbage...that was an Irish-American immigrant meal.)

The next morning three of the girls and I woke up and took a bus tour to The Cliffs of Moher (and other places along the way), and the other two girls went back to Dublin to go to the Guiness factory.  The Cliffs of Moher...the same caliber as Niagara Falls, for those of you that have been there.  Absolutely astounding.  I was so in awe of God while I was there.  One of the girls I was with asked, "You have to wonder what happened to make this!?"  For her The Cliffs were a mystery of science, for me they showed the magnificence of God and His creation!

Musicians in an Irish Pub

That evening we were exhausted from a day in the intense high winds up on the Cliffs of Moher, but after the rest of the girls left for Dublin, Tami and I went out to hear some more Irish pub music.  We brought along some new friends from the hostel and had a fun night of music, dancing and socializing (I finally had a Guiness and I really liked it!).  While in Galway I met people from Ireland, Italy, Germany, Canada, Australia, England, Spain...It was pretty neat!

A stop on the way to The Cliffs of Moher...I forgot it's name!

Our last day in Galway and our last full day in Ireland, Tami and I spent just walking around the city.  We ate scones and hot water (It really hits the spot and good for students on a budget! Bria taught me this one!) and warmed up after walking in the rain all day.  We left for Dublin at 6:30 that night and left for "home" (Italy) the next morning.  After eight days I was ready to be home especially after traveling from 8:00am-10:00pm for a trip that was only from Ireland to Italy (bus, airplane, bus, train).

There it is folks!  You lasted until the end of this ridiculously long blog and now you have heard a few of the stories of your friend, daughter, sister, granddaughter and niece, the new-found wold traveler!

Cioccolato e le Vacanze

Liz and me with our cioccolato caldo.

Yesterday I made my first venture out of Tuscany and traveled to Umbria to the famous Eurochocolate festival in Perugia.  We got to enjoy the gorgeous city during our 50 minute walk from the train station to the festival.  There isn't much to say other than that chocolate is still as delectable as ever and that Italians have the right idea of hot chocolate.  Instead of being a hot chocolatey beverage it is more like drinking a melted chocolate bar.  It is delectable.  After having a sample, I bought a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top and I thought I had died and gone to heaven.  Once the whipped cream was gone I added a bit of the cioccolato liquore di caffe sample they gave us and it just made a good thing better.

Although each day may pass slowly, overall, time is sweeping past like the wind on a blustery day in the city.  Tomorrow will be our last day of the PLP (Preparatory Language Program) and then we will have oral and written exams at the end of the week.  And then...I leave for London!  I will only be in London for 3 days, but I am extremely excited for it.  I booked a ticket for Sweet Charity on Saturday night and Chicago on Monday night and I just can't wait!  Two Fosse shows in one vacation!  It would be more fun to see them with someone else, but hey, how can you complain.

After a full three days in London I will fly to Dublin where I will be spending four days.  I haven't planned out my trip in Ireland yet, but I have ideas and suggestions from Irish friends that will have me well on my way.  It will be so wonderful to spend some time in the beautiful open countryside after being in a city for the past couple months.  I am also looking forward to a break from foreign language.  It will be so nice to be able to understand everything.  I'll be able to read the bus schedules, order food, ask for help...so many things that I used to take for granted.  I can't wait!  I will try to blog once more before I leave.  We'll see if it happens.

"And we're dancin', and it feels alright..." ♫♫♫

I have been taking a few dance classes over the past couple of weeks at a studio called Florence Dance Center.  I don't know what it is about dance, but it makes everything in life so much better.  It is not just the scientific links to exercise and emotions either, it is more with dance.  It has also been amazing to see how dance is such a universal language.  My teacher speaks absolutely no English, however, I am still able to take class and understand her instructions even when she is speaking and not even demonstrating.  She reminds me so much of my teacher Luba Gulyaeva from New Jersey!  I enjoy reminiscing about my time at North Jersey School of Dance Arts while I am in class.

It is also nice to go somewhere and have some individuality rather than always being associated with a group of people.  Dance is something that is all mine, just for me.  As selfish as it sounds, it is nice to not have to worry about making people happy...I go when I want, do what I want when I'm there, and I do whatever I want on the way home.

As always, school is getting in the way of dance.  I have finally registered for classes for this fall, which will start November 2nd.  It looks like I will only be able to take 1, maybe 2, ballet classes per week.  However, I will be able to take modern and contemporary classes as well.  In a way I suppose it is good that these are the only options in my schedule on some days, because I would never opt to take them over ballet and I know that I need to become a more versatile dancer.
One of the directors of the school is an American and I have been speaking with him about financial aid for tuition at the school.  He has been very generous and is willing to work with me as much as is possible and in exchange, he is thinking of what I could do in the office to utilize my English for their school's benefit.  I am so thankful that God has always provided a way for me to continue dancing through the years at so many different schools.

I am sure you will soon hear more about my dancing aspirations as I will be coming back from my trip to London on a high from seeing a musical or two.  Then you won't hear me talking about ballet...it will be musical theater all the way.  Ah, how I miss performing!!!  It has been far, far to long since I have been on stage.  Until next time...DANCE!

Fiesole!

Last weekend I took a bus to Fiesole with a couple other girls from the program for a few hours.  It was gorgeous!  I found that quiet place that I have been looking for over the past 6 weeks!  The 2,40 Euro round trip bus ride was definitely worth it.  To my family...we will definitely be going here for a day away from the crowds when you come to visit.  There were very few people around and those who were there were mostly locals.

We wondered aimlessly around the city, walking up and down very steep roads and steps, getting glimpses of breathtaking panoramic views.  I think this will be my place of escape...

A God Blog

Before I left for Italy I had some friends and family who were worried for my spiritual life and relationship with Jesus, that it could become stagnant and meaningless.  I also had others who were extremely optimistic about how studying abroad would grow my relationship with Jesus and my reliance on Him.  I definitely feel like the later of these is true.  Although I have not had as much fellowship with other believers as I would in San Jose, my reliance on Jesus and my trust in him has definitely grown and my relationship is changing from only talking about God to talking with God.  I am being stretched to trust Him more than ever as my protector, my comforter, my friend, my father (knowing what is best for me) and my teacher.

I also have found that I am growing because of the need to rely on myself for spiritual feeding instead of relying on others to spoon feed me...at church, at Campus Crusade for Christ, at Bible study.  I definitely haven't been spending as much designated time with Jesus, but I feel like he has become more a part of my everyday life than only during my quiet time, as it was at home.

Since the day I left the U.S. I have been listening to and pondering the words of the Jon Foreman cd's Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer.  If you are ever at a loss of what to talk to God about, what to praise Him for or simply words of encouragement from Him...listen to these cd's!  They have been my constant companion these past 6 weeks.

I am not saying everything is hunky dory all the time or that I don't need a church or fellowship with other believers, but all in all, I am drawing nearer, not further away from my Savior.

I couldn't leave you without a beautiful picture, now could I?

For those of you who are praying for me while I am away, I do have a prayer request.  Homesickness and loneliness have been knocking at my door this week as the weather begins to change here.  I have not let them in, but they know where I live and are sure to be back.  I have 8 more months here and I cannot begin to feel this way yet.  These next 3 or 4 months will be the hardest for homesickness and I hope you will pray for me!

Catching Up

Do you ever get to that point with friends where you haven't talked in so long that you feel like you just don't know where to start and because of this, you just don't talk.  I feel like I have been doing that here.  But I am back and will try to catch you up on my life in Italy without rambling like I sometimes tend to do.

Let's see...where did I leave off?  The Chianti Wine Festival?  My that was a long time ago.  I think I will just give you the highlights of life since then.
Last Saturday my roommate Becca and I decided to go to the calcio (soccer) game.  Fiorentina v. Lazio.  We went with four other girls and very excited to have one of our first real cultural experiences.  We all stuffed ourselves onto a bus with the rest of the calcio fans who were headed to the game.  When I say stuffed, I mean stuffed...like sardines.  We had to shove against each other to make room for the doors to open.  I was so glad that I left my purse at home and only brought the necessities in my pockets.  When we got off the bus we found that Lauren, with her oversized purse, had been pickpocketed.  Her purse was unzipped and her wallet was gone.  This all turned out to be in vain when Lauren, Becca and I found out that we could not get a ticket to the game without an ID.  Copied passports were insufficient.
If nothing else, I found out from this night that Becca and I both love to play games!  It turns out that she is just as obsessed with Banana Grams as my family and some of my best friends!  Of course, we didn't have Banana Grams here in Italy so we played cards and drank some cheap 1 Euro wine instead.  It's a rare find to find someone who doesn't think that games are a bore...in my age group at least.

Perfect weather mixed with a perfect traveling companion made a perfect day in Lucca!

The next day, Domenica (Sunday), Becca and I went to Lucca for the day.  It was about an hour and a half by train and ended up being an incredibly refreshing day.  As I talked about in my last blog, I have been missing the quietness that city life does not accommodate.  Lucca definitely had that peacefulness about it that I have been missing.  We didn't do much of anything while we were there but that was the nice part about it.  Neither of us had an agenda and we just wandered around, went into shops and markets and just sat and watched the whole day.  It was also here that I bought my first cappuccino!  Mmmm, it was good!  We paid 1,20 each and sat inside instead of falling into the tourist trap and paying 2,70 each sitting outside.  Besides, this way we were surrounded by locals.

A self portrait in Piazza Anfi Teatro in Lucca.

First time I've been able to do this since arriving.  Ah, it felt nice.

Tuesday, I finally had a real conversation with Victoria for the first time since arriving in Italy!!!!  That is almost a month that we really didn't know any details of each others lives!  Needless to say, we talked for 2 1/2 hours and probably could have gone on for another 2, but we both needed to get back to the real world.

My goal this past week has been to make myself get out and do things that it would be easier to pass up.  I went to a scavenger hunt on Monday for study abroad students and met people from Italy, Spain, Belgium and Sweden.  I have also been stretching myself by saying "yes" to going out and doing things with people when I would be perfectly content to be by myself.  Today I am going over to someones house to have omelets with an entirely new group of  people from my school.  And last of all...I AM GOING TO ENGLAND AND IRELAND OVER FALL BREAK!!!!!  This is also with an entirely new group of people who were gracious enough to invite me to join when they found out that I had no one to travel with over break.  I will tell you more about this trip another time.  Besides flights and hostels this is all still very much in the planning stages.

The past week and a half has also been a whirlwind of emotions.  The ups and downs that come with living in a new place with people who don't really know the real you, getting familiar with apartment dynamics, dealing with a new culture of men here in Italy, and lastly but most of all about 20 emotions all at once of life back in California.
On that note:

"I will praise you , O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.  I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."..."The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.  Sing praises to the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done." Psalm 9:1-2 & 9-11

Noticing Quietness

Well, I officially live here.  I know you already know that but I am still realizing this fact.  Salvo, our landlord, has left for his home in Sicilia and the apartment is ours for the year.  I did one load of laundry this weekend and for some reason this really confirmed the fact that I will be here for a long time.  Maybe because I never even did laundry in San Jose but brought it home instead (Thanks for the free water Daddy and Mommy!).  I still don't feel completely comfortable here, and I'm not sure why, but hopefully that will change over time.

Salvo left us a little drawing, a note, two bottles of wine and beautiful sunflowers upon leaving.

I have had the opportunity to visit a few cities outside of Firenze this week and it has been a very welcome and much needed break from the city.  From these day trips I have realized that being outside in a quiet place is extremely relaxing and refreshing to me.  I haven't found a quiet place here in Firenze and I think this will be a goal over the next week or so.  It also contributes that American college students are extremely loud as well and and I seldom spend time alone when I am out lately.

Volterra was a beautiful city.  Extremely medieval and much more quaint than Firenze.  I know it sounds like I am just bashing my city, but in actuality I think a lot of my frustration is due to tourists oozing out of every crack.  I think things will be a lot different in a month or so when the tourists are chased away by the brisk autumn weather and the students come back for school in October.  The only thing that would have made this visit a thousand times better would have been if the sunflower fields were in bloom.  Unfortunately they were brown and crunchy for fields and fields as we drove by, leaving it up to the imagination to picture the hills covered in yellow.

Volterra on a beautiful day.

San Gimignano was another city I visited and it was by far the most beautiful place I've seen in Italy since arriving.  Although the piazzas were swarming with tourists the outskirts of town were quiet enough to hear the laundry flapping in the breeze.

San Gimignano was breathtaking!

This captures the peacefulness on the outskirts of the city.  It was as quiet as it looks.

Yesterday, Sunday, I went to the Chianti Wine Festival in Greve with five of my new friends and was able to enjoy the same tranquility in some areas of the city.  We paid 10 euro for a glass and sampled wines and walked around for a couple hours.  Who knew there was such an enormous array of wine flavors even within the same colors of wine!? (Probably everyone except me.)  At one point we were all feeling like we should take a break from sampling for a while and decided to rest on the steps.  Two men walked over and started talking to telling us how we all had beautiful feet and that most Americans did not have very nice feet.  Then they gave us a Touring Tuscany book they had won at an auction and obviously didn't need since they were Italian.  This gave them the brilliant idea to also break open the bag of make-up each of them were carrying and hand out each piece of make-up to the five of us individually..."This one is for you. And this one is fooorr...you." Ect...  After all their cheap cosmetics were distributed they realized they had also won a poetry book, pulled it out of their bag and began reading to us poetry in Italian and then trying to translate it into English (which proved quite comical).  Well there ya go, if that isn't the Italian stereotype I don't know what is! Two men performing poetry and giving out gifts and compliments to five women with wine glasses seated on the steps in front of them.  It's a shame the men were so unattractive!

Ballet classes all over the city should be starting back up this week so I am looking forward to being in my own little world and speaking that universal language of dance very, very soon.  I feel like it will help to bring me out of this funk that I've been in since I've arrived.  I'll let you know how it goes because no doubt it will still be a different experience than I'm used to.
(Some of you may know that I absolutely hate proof reading so I apologize in advance if there are any typos.  I did not want to re-read this time around.)

Tourist Alert!

My U.S. roommates, Becca and Maleesa, on the terrace of The Duomo.

I have finally participated in some tourist activities in the past two days, but in my mind, I like to think of the first as more of a "cultural event."
Wednesday night, we watched out Valentina and Ilaria's window as a parade proceeded to the end of our street to down our street to Piazza della Annunziata.  People held lanterns on long rods with candles inside, children shot pea shooters (Or something like it.  This was not so pleasant as I was shot in the cheek while standing in the window.) and bands played; some in t-shirts and others in medieval costumes.  The parade was to commemorate a pilgrimage of some sort of a group of people who came to Firenze down our street, Via Dei Servi.  Clearly there was a language barrier when being told about the significance of this parade or I wouldn't be so vague.  I think it has something to do with the Virgin Mary.
In the Piazza there was a concert being held, candy being sold and children dancing around as nuns walked by and a statue centuries old stood watch in the Piazza.  It is so strange to see modern day society meshing with hundreds of years of history.

Yes, that really is The Duomo down the street from our window.

Event number two, which I would classify as a definite tourist event, but not a frivolous one, was climbing to the veranda of the famous Duomo on Thursday.  It is only open to the public once a year and it is entirely free!  We were afraid that is would be closed off due to the rain and the risk of slipping but everything here (including walking on the sidewalk) is much more "at your own risk."  The line was relatively short and the view was amazing!  By the time we got to the top the rain was petering out and the sun decided to drop by.  It was absolutely perfect.

Surely the closest you'll ever get to The Duomo.

What a view!

Language Exchange

Ilaria and Valentina moved in on Sunday and neither of them smoke!!!  What a rarity that is here!  For the past couple of days it has been a bit awkward as we pass each other with a polite, "Scusa" or "Ciao" since we don't speak each other's language.  Yesterday the awkwardness was finally broken when Valentina started to quietly hum Ci Vuole un Fiore, a famous Italian children's song.  She was surprised when Maleesa and I got so excited but understood when we whipped out the lyrics to the song and explained in extremely broken Italian that we learned it in class the day before! 
After this we began to communicate more with the help of Ilaria's generous knowledge of English.  We added each other on Facebook and showed each other pictures of our family.  One of the funniest moments of the night was when Maleesa showed Ilaria and Valentina a picture of her "ragazzo" (boyfriend) and Valentina excitedly said without hesitation of a language barrier, "Ah!  He is a nerd!"
After Becca, Maleesa and I studied for our test (or at least tried), Valentina and Ilaria invited us to go get gelato with them.  They took us to their favorite gelateria and we walked around exchanging language..."Como sei dice"..."How do you say"...

Firenze at First Glance

Here I am.  Finally.  I have been here for just over a week now and my what a week it has been.
I arrived Thursday and Friday afternoon began the house hunt.  We were given addresses of open houses and were sent into this foreign city, in this foreign country, with this foreign culture, and foreign language.  It felt like a mad dash to grab housing and roommates before they were all swept up.  Many of us (the students) had hopes of living with other Italian students, but we were quite discouraged after hearing how difficult it is to find a set-up like this.  After the staff spoke on the topic most resigned to U.S. American roommates, and many had already decided on roommates and found housing by Friday night.
Saturday was consumed by aimless wandering in the guise of "house hunting."  We were overwhelmed, discouraged, hot, lost (for the most part) and exhausted from the previous day and from jet lag.  After heading back to the school to sit down and eat lunch, the girls who I had been wandering with decided to head back to the hotel, another 25-30 minute walk.  I felt like I couldn't go "home" without making more progress than just seeing two overpriced apartments.  I checked the board at the school just as an Italian man and woman were posting an add for an apartment with one single and one double room for rent were already two Italian girls set to move in as well!  I was extremely interested and decided to ask Salvo, the owner, a few questions right there on the spot.  Rent and location sounded very do-able so I set up an appointment with him to see the place 3 hours later.
As I was walking home I got the feeling that this was going to be the one.  I really felt like I was going to end up living here but I only had one prospect for a roommate and another girl who I'd barely met who I would have liked to room with.  Maleesa and Becca came with me to see the apartment and after deliberating outside for less than five minutes, we went back in and took the deal.  The place was by no means perfect, but it would almost certainly be our only chance of living with Italians.
After the high of relief over finding a place to live was over, I hit a low where I feel like I've stayed since then.  In buying a cell phone, cashing traveler's checks, choosing an apartment and beginning school  I felt utterly overwhelmed and like I had made so many wrong and rash decisions just because I didn't know what the better option would be in this foreign country where I can't understand the language.  The low point of feeling sorry for myself came when I was alone for the first time in Italy, making the 30 minute walk to the hotel from the bank (after changing $1500 of traveler's checks into only 1135 Euro) and it started pouring rain.  Rain doesn't help raise anyone's spirits and certainly not if you are being soak through for 30 minutes in a foreign city.  I don't think I am feeling quite as discouraged now as I was then, but I definitely don't feel like I was ever in the "honeymoon stage."  I just don't think there was any time to enjoy things or else my trip might have started off differently. 
I was so relieved when Thursday came and I was able to move into my apartment and finally get settled, only to realize that my landlord, Salvo, was going to be staying in the front room until Tuesday.  He is an extremely nice man, but I still feel like I am in that stage of limbo between really living in a place and being a guest in someone's home.  That is where I am at the moment, but I know things will get better with time.  My Italian roommates will move in tomorrow and I can only hope that they are friendly and don't smoke (EVERYONE here smokes). 
At this point I feel like besides the beautiful, old buildings, Firenze is simply another city; swarming with tourists, pigeons and pickpockets and the streets smell like pee and garbage just as they do in New York City.  The men do not pinch your butt or yell "Ciao bella," at every corner as I was told before I came (unless you are blonde haired and blue eyed like my roommate, Becca).  Honestly, I was nervous for this behavior before I came, but hearing "Ciao bella" now might be a nice self esteem boost.  Instead, not  hearing it feels like a self esteem drop.  Today I even had a homeless woman come up and ask us for money while on the street and when we said "No," she snatched the last of my lunch out of my hand, took a bite, and rubbed her belly telling us in Italian that she was hungry before walking away.  I was stunned speechless as were Maleesa and Becca.I haven't even told you everything in this ridiculously long blog.  I suppose I need to practice being more succinct.  Bear with me on this.  I won't always be a Debbie-Downer.

Jeremiah 29:11

Embarking into the Unknown

Hello all!  Here I am with my first blog entry ever.  I am starting Attraversiamo, which means "Crossover" in Italian, to document my senior year while I am away in Firenze, Italy.  I have never kept a blog before so don't expect anything breathtaking out of my writing, but I will do my best to keep you up to date on the goings on of my life in Italy.

I leave in less than a week (August 25th) and I am extremely nervous!  This experience is already stretching me so much and it hasn't even begun.  If you know much about me at all you know that I am always very organized and on top of things in anything ranging from completing papers to keeping track of the last date to return a purchase to the store.  Needless to say, I am feeling quite anxious about leaving for Italy without a roommate, an apartment, or a class schedule (as instructed by the CSU International Program) and being expected to find all three within the first week after my arrival!  I know that the experience of living in another country for a year will be irreplaceable, as everyone (I mean EVERYONE) has told me, but I can't help but have those pre-departure jitters.