First Day of School

Yesterday, The 5 girls down the street, Kristina, and I all wandered around Florence again to become more familiarized with the area. It's starting to feel more and more like our territory every day. We managed to work our way into Il Duomo or The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore which was just as big on the inside as it looked on the outside. It was completed structurally in 1436 and is the largest mason dome in the world. We were all able to light a few candles and say a prayer, however, the 5 o'clock mass was reserved seating and there was a dress code. We figured that one day we could do that and plan ahead. Everything was breathtaking though, I don't even know where to start describing it. It was like something out of a movie the way it was crafted- too good to be true. 

When we left, we headed over to the Ponte Vecchio again because the girls hadn't seen it yet. Coincidentally, we ran into three English girls that we had previously met that weekend, Ana, Rose, and Olivia. It was their last day in Florence before they headed to Venice for 3 nights and then back to London for school. It really is amazing how many students are out here, not only from the states but other european countries as well. More and more people I meet either have or are going to study abroad. Traveling is just really such a rewarding experience.

Today was our first day of classes. I'm taking: Women in the Medici (A sociology class), Contemporary Italy and Italians (history/cultural diversity), Beginner Italian, Flamenco Dancing, and Wines of Italy.

I wouldn't say today was my most challenging classes, Flamenco and Wine. The Flamenco was my first class and it was SO much fun! It felt good to be back into a dance class again since high school. It is such a different style then any class I have ever taken. Plus it's Sevillian Flamenco which is studied more in Sevilla, Spain- so it was all very new and fun. There seemed to be a small language barrier with our teacher, but she is really sweet and tries very hard to help us all understand her. Most teachers are very good at English. It is not hard to understand what they mean even if they are speaking incorrectly. I can't wait to start Italian classes though so I can practice with the teachers. I think it will be a lot easier learning another language in the country rather than back in the US where you can walk out the door to the classroom and forget about it for a week.

At 6 o'clock I had Wine's of Italy. Yes we sat around and tasted different wine, but I ended up taking 4-5 pages of notes on how to understand what I was tasting. The different colors and smells, viscosity and flavors. It was really very interesting. We get to go on a field trip to a vineyard in Oct. to learn about production. He talked to us about the aging of the wine and what years were acceptable for each type. I'm clearly not going to be a pro at this but I think it's going to be a really interesting class- as well as fun ;).

Tomorrow is Italian and Women of the Medici so it's bed time, Ciao for now! haha

Free Champagne!

Today I probably got very little done of what I was hoping to accomplish. Kristina and I spent the day (after we slept in) to start wandering around Florence. Turns out we live around the corner from the San Lorenzo market and only a few blocks from Il Duomo- which has got to be the most beautiful building I have ever seen! I have yet to go inside it, but that is definitely on the list. We wandered through endless side streets filled with Gucci, Zara, Burberry, Tiffanys, Prada, but also Gelaterias, pharmacies, and all sorts of beautiful restaurants and "mom and pop" shops. We wandered  just as far as the Ponte Vecchio, which I didn't realize I was standing on until I was actually on the bridge. Soon enough we had to turn  around so we could get a bite to eat before we had to meet our landlord.
He was a cute little old Italian man with a very charming wife. They were very nice and showed us how to use all the appliances in the apartment. They even showed us how to change Fox News on the TV from speaking Italian to speaking English. So we can at least stay caught up on hurricane Earl.

We ate at a little restaurant around the corner from our apartment called Ristorante Regginella. The food was incredible (as usual) and the waiter gave us free champagne!! For lunch he continued to give us two more rounds of Regginella homemade red wine (famous in Australia) with our pizza and WONDERFUL greek salads! The balsamic vinegar probably made the salad.

Later that night, Kristina and I met up with a few girls we met from all over the US. Jessica, Lauren, Kara, Kate, & Beatrice. We all went to a free dinner hosted by our school. Then later we were offered flyers to a bar called the "Fish Pub". There was free champagne AGAIN for all International Students. We had some and came home because we have an official orientation tomorrow morning at 8:45.

Lots to do tomorrow and a good weekend ahead!!

Food for Thought

Tonight I had probably the BEST dinner of my life. Lorenzo De' Medici set up a dinner through EuroAdventures at La Spada in Florence. There was a ton of students at dinner and it was 20 Euros each for all you could eat/drink family style. yummm red cab with dinner and lemoncello for dessert! It was so much fun! A good relaxing first night w/o the partying and clubs, etc. Florence is already SO much fun and I have already been able to meet lots of people I will be spending the semester with. I haven't even begun my adventures in Europe and it's fantastic over here. I know that when the time is right, I will be ready to move back home, but right now, I LOVE FLORENCE! Good wine, good food, good company. I honestly can't wait to start classes and learn more about Italy as a whole on Monday. Tomorrow I have to get necessities for the apartment with my roommate and some kind of cheap cell phone to use. But for now, If you have my number, I'm allowed a few texts per month and SKYPE is ALWAYS and option. let me know.

Florence is WONDERFUL

Arrival In Florence

Tonight is my first night in Florence! It is beautiful! After a suuuuper long flight, I'm so glad to have made it with my HUGE bags! It turned out to be really easy to get from the airport to the school. Everyone is very helpful and welcoming. I didn't have any real idea of what to expect in Florence before I left home, so everything is pretty exciting and new! The apartment is gorgeous. It's in an old building but its clean and redone with a somewhat modern style. We have a huge private back patio that came with the apartment which has to be my favorite feature. Everything is pretty much perfect, I have nothing to complain about....well maybe except for the fact that Europe needs to invest in some dryers. But other than that, Hang drying laundry will be apart of the whole experience! ;)
Wish I could share more but I haven't been here for more than about 6 hours and I am about to go to a dinner for the entire study abroad program through Lorenzo de' Medici.

Very exciting!

and yes Dad, I'm okay. :D