A Peacock with It's Feathers Out

Victoria came to Firenze for a couple of days and I felt a bit like a proud mamma showing her around my city and finally being able to share my life with her.  She and three or her friends arrived on Thursday night and we didn't waste any time getting out into the city.  I decided to be a tourist for the weekend and do many things that I had been waiting to do until people came visit me, the first of these being Michelangelo's David.  I took the four of them to Il Museo Di Belli Arti and let me tell you, there is no way to miss David!  Victoria and I estimated that we think he is probably about 16 feet tall.

Another day we went to the very, very, tipity-top of The Duomo.  We were all a little flabbergasted by the price but the view was beautiful and well worth it!  There is no way I can live in Florence for an entire year and not climb to the top and there is no one else I'd have rather gone with..."Aaawww."

FOOD!  Another thing that I haven't really been indulging in here that I definitely indulged in this weekend!  Our first night we went to a restaurant I'd been to once before called Acasa Mia, where I ordered ravioli in pumpkin cream sauce (MMmmm!) and Victoria ordered a very tasty risotto...and of course we can't forget the red wine we shared between the five of us!
 The next night Victoria, Sharla and I went out again and shared three dishes between us...Rhibolita (A thick, Florentine vegetable soup) , ravioli in a cheese and pear cream sauce, and spaghetti with a spicy ragu sauce.

Tirimisu literally translates to "pick me up."

For lunch we went to a wonderful Enotecha and Sandwich shop two days in a row.  I came here within my first week in Florence but hadn't been back to since.  It was such a good feeling to revisit somewhere that I come knowing absolutely no Italian and then return months later, ordering everything in Italian with no stress.  I also loved being able to cook for Victoria a couple nights...not to mention the Tiramisu we made together with Ilaria's help and her grandma's recipe!  I suppose I shouldn't list every item of food that we ate over the weekend, but I just thought I'd name a few. (Oh!  Can't forget the gelato and cioccolato caldo and the french toast we made and, and, and...)

I also got a fair share of practice with my tour guide skills and I must say, I was surprised with how well I have gotten to know Florence.  It is something you don't think about until showing it and talking about it.  This was also a great way to get a refreshed outlook on this beautiful city I see day after day.  Being with people new to the city reminded me, through their awe, how blessed I am to live here and how much I need to remember to appreciate it every day.

Victoria and I spent Sunday afternoon in Fiesole and were able to have the quality time that I have missed so much over the past couple of months!  Yes, we were together over Christmas, but we both felt like we were in a bit of a funk and didn't really get back into the groove of "being" together until the last couple days I was there.  In fact, we just had great quality time the WHOLE time we were alone together from Saturday night to Monday afternoon!  It was short, but as Valentina told me, "Meglio di niente." Better than nothing.

Psalm 51.  A verse Victoria and I were able to ponder on our morning out at the American, Mama's Bakery, before she left on Monday.  I love reading this verse and listening to Jon Foreman's "White as Snow."  Youtube the song and sit down with your Bible and a cup of coffee tomorrow morning!

Bonne Année!

The Tower Sparkling

France.  Well, it was an adventure.  I arrived in Paris and made my way to the apartment where I was supposed to be staying with my two friends, Lizbeth and Erica, who had “arrived” that morning.  When there was no answer at the door I figured that their flight had been delayed so I made my way to an internet café to find that not only was it delayed, but that they would not be arriving until the next day, New Year’s Eve.  I followed the instructions to get the key and there was no great catastrophe.  Lizbeth and Erica arrived the next day, exhausted from days (literally) of traveling.

That night we headed to the Eiffel Tower to wait for it to sparkle on the hour, marking the change from 2010 to 2011.  Bonne Annee!  The fireworks that we were hoping for were not seen, but hey, we were in Paris and it was the New Year! 

The days to come were filled with sight after sight that we wanted to see.  The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre (just the outside), The Arch of Triumph, The Alexander Bridge, Notre Dame, The Latin Quarter, Champs Elysee and probably more that I am forgetting.  We all learned that it is extremely hard to vacation in the dead of winter.  We were constantly looking for a place to go instead of just being able to go sit in a park for a few hours and read a book or play cards, or take a snooze.  It was so cold that if we sat outside for even the shortest period of time to simply eat a sandwich our toes and fingers would scream with painful numbness.

Notre Dame was beautiful at dusk!

On Sunday we went to Hillsong Paris, a church that is all over the world.  Although the teaching wasn’t anything groundbreaking, it was so neat to see a service that was completely bilingual.  It really made me wish there was a church like that here in Florence.  It was so refreshing to spend two weeks being spiritually refreshed by the people I was around though.  God knew I needed some recharging even though I didn’t realize it.

The Latin Quarter

That night we went to the Latin Quarter.  I had no idea that this even existed in Paris!  We wandered around looking for this area for quite a while, but there is no missing it once you stumble upon it.  The Latin Quarter was so different from the rest of the city that it felt like we weren’t even in Paris anymore.  There were bright colored balloons, lights, shouting people trying to pull you in to their restaurant for dinner…it felt more like Italy than Paris.

The Gardens of Versailles

On Tuesday we went to The Palace of Versailles outside of Paris.  And believe it or not, it was even colder there than in Paris!  It was definitely not the ideal time to see the gardens, but I am glad we were able to go.  The statues were covered and the fountains were all off and frozen over.  I can’t even imagine living in a building that big...a castle.  It is basically having a small town inside one building.  I don’t even know how many people lived there.

The view from the first terrace of the Eiffel Tower

Speculoos!  Cinnamon Teddy Grams in a jar!

While in France Erica, Lizbeth and I experienced our fair share of cafés, shopping, bakeries, frustrations, joy, French stereotypes, Speculoos, Lizbeth’s iPod Touch, movie quoting and lots of laughter.  What a special time this was to get to know my friends even better in a country completely foreign to all of us.

Christmas with My Best Friend!

I finally saw her!!!  Victoria and I were together for Christmas after four months apart and it was absolutely wonderful to be together!  When I first saw her I felt like I was in a movie.  I was standing inside and I saw her get off the train and walk down the platform, waiting for her to catch sight of me.  We were beyond happy to see each other, but at the same time it was just so normal and so right that it didn't feel that exceptional.

I love that I can now picture where Victoria lives and that I know the people who are a constant part of her life.  I was also able to help, tag along or look in on some of the work they did while I was there.  I felt so welcomed by all of her roommates.  I can't lie that it was very hard to have to share Victoria with work and friends, but it was still just so wonderful to see her that I can easily overlook all of that.  And now she is coming to see me in less than two weeks!  What better way to part!

Christmas Eve was so strange in that it didn't feel like any special day.  Now, I know that I am in my twenties, but that doesn't mean that I don't get just as excited as a little kid for Christmas and the days leading up to it.  I think it started in Italy; the lack of Christmas excitement.  We are so used to everything centering around Christmas during December back in the United States.  Number one, it is different when you don't go home because family is such a huge part of the Christmas season.  Number two, it is different when you don't get out of school until December 22 and spend December 23 traveling.  I expected the focus to be so much more on Jesus' birth since we wouldn't be so distracted by the consumerism we see in the U.S. but instead Christmas almost came and went so fast that I feel like I almost missed every part of it.

The Christmas morning look. What? Is that me drinking coffee?!

We had a great Christmas morning though ...despite the lack of hype I am used to.  We made breakfast with Victoria's roommates and friends (gingerbread pancakes, cinnamon rolls, fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee, eggs...) and spent the morning opening stockings and exchanging gifts.  We also tried to do incorporate everyone's normal Christmas traditions and in doing so, I think I found one to bring home.  "Sharing" was a tradition of someone's that I think I would like to take home.  Everyone has to come up with something to share and it doesn't matter what it is.  Someone played guitar and sang a song, someone showed a comedy video, another showed a youtube video, and another read a story.  It was a great way to get a laugh or just enjoy something other than only opening gifts together.

Şirince, an old Greek town.

After a few days Victoria had a day off work and we were finally able to have some time for just us!  It was strange, but we both felt like it took a little bit of time to get back into the swing of just being us.  I think sometimes we get so caught up in the idea of how much we did or are missing each other that we forget that we are together and don't have to think about that for a while.  Anyway, we went to Şirince for the day and stopped by Ephesus on our way out.  The town was quiet and away from the hustle and bustle of city life that both of us have been caught up in since we have gone abroad.  In fact, it was so quiet and empty that Victoria said it was a little eerie compared to the last time she was there.

Nothing to exotic here.  Coffee and cheesecake.

I tried quite a few different types of Turkish food while I was visiting and Victoria was surprised by how much I liked.  Actually...come to think of it...I don't think there was really anything that I disliked, but "House Food" was my least favorite (a type of meal where you choose 4-5 different small dishes).  Believe it or not, I am starting to like tea a little bit more too...chai is served constantly there!

We were able to do some of our normal sisterly things together too.  We went to cute cafes, watched movies together, had a few long conversations, cuddled a lot, cried over both significant and insignificant things, ate lots of junk food and squished into a small bed together for that time of just "being" and not having to talk that we miss so much.

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!