Another week gone by. This one was crazy busy and saw me go out almost every night of the week, which most of you know that I do NOT normally do. However, Florence makes me feel free and I'm not worried about being home at a certain time or worried about work the next day. I am here for my summer, my last college summer. And I am going to enjoy it to the best of my ability! And oooh we are. Yaires, Ali and I have been basically inseparable since last Thursday and I love it. We all get along so so well and it's not like it's just us three. Well during the day it is but at night we go somewhere together, meet with some people we know and proceed to make about 20 more new friends. It's amazing. Last night I went on my first ever Pub Crawl, organized by some of our awesome British friends. Quite the experience if I may say so myself.
But I digress. If you're also looking at my Facebook pictures, you will see a lot of pictures from our evening adventures. But I swear I'm also going to class haha. And learning so much, so fast. We learned the past tense this past week and now I know more italian than my dad. Well grammatically speaking. Which is huge and fun =). OH and good news for me. I got my computer fixed and for super cheap (well sort of). I get to pick it up on Monday and then I will be able to resume daily posts of these. It's a very exciting thing.
Oh and World Cup has begun. It's going to get a little crazy. Italy is defending and tonight USA plays England...which should be fun. More on that later =). Off for now. More later. Later loves
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
One Week
It's been exactly one week since I've ben in Florence and like I said in my last post, I LOVE it here. Seriously. I love the sights, I love the people and I love the people that I'm with. To recap the week, here we go: Monday was the first day of school and wandering through the mercat (biiig street vendor market that goes on forever). Made new friends and was out til 1 because I could (nothing crazy). Tuesday, more school, went to dinner at a darling enoteca right near the Palazzo Pitti (huge castle that the Pittis and the Medicis lived in way back when). Tuesday night had my first ever club experience at a place called Twice. SO much fun. Stayed out til 5 in the morning (and now know that I am so not cut out for that on a regular basis haha). Wednesday: woke up at Jasmines and spent the day wandering in the rain and just relaxing. It was a national holiday so school was closed, along with a lot of other businesses. Thankfully, it's a big city and it's summer so most of the things we wanted to do were still open. But it rained allll day. Thursday, more school. More wandering. Bought a purse (thank you Nani...silly me left my big one at home thinking I'd be ok with a little one) and now I have a genuine leather Italian purse. Had a homecooked meal at Robyn's. Walked home and finally all the walking I've been doing caught up with my poor foot and a nasty blister formed. Friday, wore tennis shoes (real ones) to try to alleviate the damn blister. Walked around so much that it burst (gross I know but it's important lol). Spent the night wandering with Ali and Yaires and made dinner at Ali's. Saturday, finally slept in a little bit and met up with Ali, Yaires, Adrienne, Sara and Chantall for a tour of the city with a tour guide that told us some really fun facts about the mnuments of Florence and why they are the way they are.
Fun Fact #1: Cosimo Medici's wife was of noble Spanish birth and decided that the palace that the Republic was housed in and where they were living was "too small" (it's monstrous) so she bought the Palazzo Pitti across the river with her own money. Plus it has it's own gardens.
Fun Fact #2: Cosimo built the Uffizzi for offices for his cabinet after taking over Florence officially.
Fun Fact #3: He also built the passageway aboe the Ponte Veccho that connected to the Uffizzi because he was afraid of getting attacked by one of his many enemies while walking from the Palazzo Pitti to the Republic. Also the windows are small and high so that on one could see him walking.
Fun Fact #4: The passageway in the middle of the Ponte Vecchio has large and lower windows becuase when Mussolini was in control of Italy, he wanted his good friend Adolf Hitler to enjoy the view from the Ponte Vecchio from up above. Also, no one but noble Italians had ever been allowed up there until Hitler.
Fun Fact #5: The fact that Mussolini built those windows FOR Hitler is the reason that the Germans didn't bomb it when retreating from the Americans. They bombed every single other bridge in Florence so that the Americans wouldn't be able to cross. Instead they destroyed all the houses on either end of the bridge to block it. Didn't matter the American troops has floating bridges.
Those are just a few fun facts from Louise, our Danish-Italian tour guide. Oh and the Feragammo family still owns the building that the store is in. It looks like a fortress.
To continue with Saturday, or back track, we had lunch at this restaurant that Ali loves and has been to so much that the owner and staff love her and call themselves her big brothers and treat us like family. So much fun. Also met some guys from Indiana University who just graduated and are on a EuroTrip in celebration. They were fun. Also met Jez (met him Monday through Bri, adorable British guy) and his equally adorable looking British friend Neil. They helped direct us to where we were meeting the tour guide. After the tour, we wandered through the gold shops on the Ponte Vecchio (dangerous waters my friends...dangerous) and had a bit of gelato because well you just need to. Delicious. Then we wandered back to Ali's to rest for a few minutes before heading out again. This time we headed to the Fish Pub, a mainly American style pub with cheap drinks but good. Stayed there for a bit and met a group of recent grads from San Deigo State and chatted with them for a while. Ali made friends siwth some Italian guys who gave her 3 roses just cuz she's so pretty haha. She swears it's because of her hair. After we went back to the family restuarant and drank some amazing wine after hours and just goofed around. Then I went home and talked with my roommated for around 3 and a half hours, finding songs for him to play on his guitar and talking about life in general. Couldn't ask for a better roommate and a better week. I live a good life. And I know it and I appreciate it. Amo Firenze. That's all for now. oh and a quick computer update...it's getting fixed. Turns out I need my own laptop for a possible internship position (haven't interviewed yet but my advisor doesn't see why they wouldn't take me on) SO just being safe and getting my sanity back on that little note. Ok more in a few days. I miss you all so much and wish you were here to experience it all with me.
oh and HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDY TO MY BABY SISTER!!! ahhh how did that happen already?!
Fun Fact #1: Cosimo Medici's wife was of noble Spanish birth and decided that the palace that the Republic was housed in and where they were living was "too small" (it's monstrous) so she bought the Palazzo Pitti across the river with her own money. Plus it has it's own gardens.
Fun Fact #2: Cosimo built the Uffizzi for offices for his cabinet after taking over Florence officially.
Fun Fact #3: He also built the passageway aboe the Ponte Veccho that connected to the Uffizzi because he was afraid of getting attacked by one of his many enemies while walking from the Palazzo Pitti to the Republic. Also the windows are small and high so that on one could see him walking.
Fun Fact #4: The passageway in the middle of the Ponte Vecchio has large and lower windows becuase when Mussolini was in control of Italy, he wanted his good friend Adolf Hitler to enjoy the view from the Ponte Vecchio from up above. Also, no one but noble Italians had ever been allowed up there until Hitler.
Fun Fact #5: The fact that Mussolini built those windows FOR Hitler is the reason that the Germans didn't bomb it when retreating from the Americans. They bombed every single other bridge in Florence so that the Americans wouldn't be able to cross. Instead they destroyed all the houses on either end of the bridge to block it. Didn't matter the American troops has floating bridges.
Those are just a few fun facts from Louise, our Danish-Italian tour guide. Oh and the Feragammo family still owns the building that the store is in. It looks like a fortress.
To continue with Saturday, or back track, we had lunch at this restaurant that Ali loves and has been to so much that the owner and staff love her and call themselves her big brothers and treat us like family. So much fun. Also met some guys from Indiana University who just graduated and are on a EuroTrip in celebration. They were fun. Also met Jez (met him Monday through Bri, adorable British guy) and his equally adorable looking British friend Neil. They helped direct us to where we were meeting the tour guide. After the tour, we wandered through the gold shops on the Ponte Vecchio (dangerous waters my friends...dangerous) and had a bit of gelato because well you just need to. Delicious. Then we wandered back to Ali's to rest for a few minutes before heading out again. This time we headed to the Fish Pub, a mainly American style pub with cheap drinks but good. Stayed there for a bit and met a group of recent grads from San Deigo State and chatted with them for a while. Ali made friends siwth some Italian guys who gave her 3 roses just cuz she's so pretty haha. She swears it's because of her hair. After we went back to the family restuarant and drank some amazing wine after hours and just goofed around. Then I went home and talked with my roommated for around 3 and a half hours, finding songs for him to play on his guitar and talking about life in general. Couldn't ask for a better roommate and a better week. I live a good life. And I know it and I appreciate it. Amo Firenze. That's all for now. oh and a quick computer update...it's getting fixed. Turns out I need my own laptop for a possible internship position (haven't interviewed yet but my advisor doesn't see why they wouldn't take me on) SO just being safe and getting my sanity back on that little note. Ok more in a few days. I miss you all so much and wish you were here to experience it all with me.
oh and HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDY TO MY BABY SISTER!!! ahhh how did that happen already?!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Amo Firenze
I love Firenze. No way around it. It amazes me at how comfortable I already feel here and walking around. It's not that hard to get around. You walk everywhere and use the Fiume Arno (River Arno) as a guide and you just need to know where the Ponte Vecchio (sooo amazing) is. I wanted to write about Monday afternoon but now after being out and about I know that I can't, because then I would be gushing about every afternoon in every post. No, here it is. I walk past the Uffizzi, the Duomo, over the Ponte Vecchio on a regular basis. I live in a city that has more culture and history than the whole United States smashed together. I live here. Some of my friends have already decided to extend their stays and see where they end up. I wish I could do that. But I do want my degree, so have no fear, I will be back in August. But I may leave again. Already we have friends who are locals. It's amazing.
I love my school. Again, I will state that the teaching style here is superb. And I am SO excited to explore even further. But for now, the rain is keeping us indoors. Yes, it rains in Florence, and thunders too. But it's still gorgeous. ok I just wanted to throw that out there. Being in this wonderful city has made me not want to sleep. Unfortunately my body disagrees. Time for an early evening nap. Ciao a tutti e bacci
I love my school. Again, I will state that the teaching style here is superb. And I am SO excited to explore even further. But for now, the rain is keeping us indoors. Yes, it rains in Florence, and thunders too. But it's still gorgeous. ok I just wanted to throw that out there. Being in this wonderful city has made me not want to sleep. Unfortunately my body disagrees. Time for an early evening nap. Ciao a tutti e bacci
Monday, May 31, 2010
First Day of School
Yesterday was not your typical first day of school. I mean how many people can say they had their first day of school at a language school in one of the busiest parts of Florence (and this whole city is always busy)?? It was an amazing day. Mostly because I finally got out and met some new people outside my two roommates (don't get me wrong they're great but sheesh I needed some girlfriends). I started the day with a workout...the beginning of a LOT of walking. Francesco has a little workout room in the apartment and I got on the bike for a bit. Oooh I am out of shape. I knew that but jeeeez. Oh well with all the stairs I'll be climbing that will soon change. Showered and left for my school at 8:45 for a 9 am start. Got to the office and was directed downstairs to a table of 10 other equally nervous looking girls. YAY! We're a mix. Most of us are American but we do have a girl from England, who I ended up spending most of the day with along with a few others, and a girl from Puerto Rico who studies in the States. Awesome. We got checked in and got our notebook and books (thank goodness they gave us books) and were sent right away to our first lesson with Elisabetta. She's our morning teacher and later I found out she's my roommate Omer's afternoon teacher. Cool! She's hilarious. Native Florentine and you can just tell she has a real passion for teaching her language. Which is totally awesome.
The best part of it all? 10 of the 11 of us are all in the beginner's course. Boy did I feel better about that. I was so nervous that everyone else would be fluent and I would be sitting there with no one. And as the day went by, the Italian that I learned my first semester of college (fall 2006!!! eeeek) slowly came back and I was understanding it so well. I'm sure by later today I'll reach the point of where everything is new (we move fast...it's only a 3 week course with TWO books). I just kept getting more excited as the day went by. Mainly because of my new classmates. I seriously love them already. By the end of the night (which was literally the end of the night...I got home at 1 am) 5 of us commented on how it felt like we had known each other forever, definitely not less than 24 hours. We had a morning break and headed across the street to get a quick snack (well I got water) and then back til 12:30. By then I was hungryyyy. Slice of the most flavorful pizza later on the lawn of the Stazione Santa Maria Novella with Jasmine and Mary Ellen and I was set.
In the afternoon, we have our lesson with Luigi and two other students, one girl from Brazil and a guy from Switzerland. Poor guy was in a room with 11 girls and one male teacher (note the sarcasm? haha). No but he's a really nice guy. Shy but we're all so not shy so he'll come out of his shell by oh today. Luigi is another amazing teacher. I love the teaching style of this school. Because we have such a small group, it's all about interaction. Most of the time we are going around the room asking our neighbor a question (in Italian of course) and answering to each other. Great way to learn the language AND learn about each other. The second best way is when we leave the classroom and (try to) speak it to the locals, trying to find out way around Florence. We all know "dove de la...." ( where is the...) VERY well already haha. And scusa (excuse me) because man is this place crowded. And it's only the beginning of June, barely into tourist season and summer abroad programs. I saw and heard SO many Americans yesterday, mostly students, which is cool.
After our lesson ended with Luigi (1:15 to 2:45....my shortest school day since like kindergarten), Jasmine, Mary Ellen and I headed back to my apartment for a little rest and to drop off our heavy books, because we wanted to explore. But first we had to meet with our social coordinator, Cassandra and our internship organizer, Anna. After that meeting I am STOKED on this summer. In addition to the day "field trips" that Linguaviva has planned for us, Global Experiences has 3 weekend trips and two socials (apertivo, the Italian style happy hour and the end of the summer goodbye dinner). So with Linguaviva, I am heading to Lucca on Wednesday (tomorrow or domani) because it is the Festa della Repubblica, which is the celebration day of Italy's unity. Lucca is supposed to be gorgeous. And Saturday, with GE, we're touring the Salvatore Feragammo factory (Italian SHOES!) to see how it all happens. Seriously can't wait. There's more but I don't have the schedule in front of me.
And that was my first day of school. I'll leave the afternoon adventures for a separate post or this one would be longer than long. Plus I have to get ready for another fun day =). Miss you all so, so much and wish you were here with me. Ciao e bacci a tutti.
The best part of it all? 10 of the 11 of us are all in the beginner's course. Boy did I feel better about that. I was so nervous that everyone else would be fluent and I would be sitting there with no one. And as the day went by, the Italian that I learned my first semester of college (fall 2006!!! eeeek) slowly came back and I was understanding it so well. I'm sure by later today I'll reach the point of where everything is new (we move fast...it's only a 3 week course with TWO books). I just kept getting more excited as the day went by. Mainly because of my new classmates. I seriously love them already. By the end of the night (which was literally the end of the night...I got home at 1 am) 5 of us commented on how it felt like we had known each other forever, definitely not less than 24 hours. We had a morning break and headed across the street to get a quick snack (well I got water) and then back til 12:30. By then I was hungryyyy. Slice of the most flavorful pizza later on the lawn of the Stazione Santa Maria Novella with Jasmine and Mary Ellen and I was set.
In the afternoon, we have our lesson with Luigi and two other students, one girl from Brazil and a guy from Switzerland. Poor guy was in a room with 11 girls and one male teacher (note the sarcasm? haha). No but he's a really nice guy. Shy but we're all so not shy so he'll come out of his shell by oh today. Luigi is another amazing teacher. I love the teaching style of this school. Because we have such a small group, it's all about interaction. Most of the time we are going around the room asking our neighbor a question (in Italian of course) and answering to each other. Great way to learn the language AND learn about each other. The second best way is when we leave the classroom and (try to) speak it to the locals, trying to find out way around Florence. We all know "dove de la...." ( where is the...) VERY well already haha. And scusa (excuse me) because man is this place crowded. And it's only the beginning of June, barely into tourist season and summer abroad programs. I saw and heard SO many Americans yesterday, mostly students, which is cool.
After our lesson ended with Luigi (1:15 to 2:45....my shortest school day since like kindergarten), Jasmine, Mary Ellen and I headed back to my apartment for a little rest and to drop off our heavy books, because we wanted to explore. But first we had to meet with our social coordinator, Cassandra and our internship organizer, Anna. After that meeting I am STOKED on this summer. In addition to the day "field trips" that Linguaviva has planned for us, Global Experiences has 3 weekend trips and two socials (apertivo, the Italian style happy hour and the end of the summer goodbye dinner). So with Linguaviva, I am heading to Lucca on Wednesday (tomorrow or domani) because it is the Festa della Repubblica, which is the celebration day of Italy's unity. Lucca is supposed to be gorgeous. And Saturday, with GE, we're touring the Salvatore Feragammo factory (Italian SHOES!) to see how it all happens. Seriously can't wait. There's more but I don't have the schedule in front of me.
And that was my first day of school. I'll leave the afternoon adventures for a separate post or this one would be longer than long. Plus I have to get ready for another fun day =). Miss you all so, so much and wish you were here with me. Ciao e bacci a tutti.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
A Day of Highs and A Disappointing Low
Today started off amazing. I woke up at 8:30 and felt tons better than last night. I was beat last night and desperately needed sleep. So since I felt good, I decided to put on my not nearly used enough running shoes and go for a walk around Florence to figure out exactly how long it would take me to get to my language school. Well, it only takes me around 8 minutes so I decided to wander. I ended up in Piazza Santa Maria Novella where a Nike sponsored race/walk was about to begin. So I started as a bystander and then figured I would just follow them as some of them were walking. It was the best thing I've done here yet. Not only did I get (another) good workout in but I also got to really walk around Florence. Since I was in the safety of a group, I felt more comfortable walking around. Now I know that everything really is as close as my books say. Firenze is only 39.8 square miles, so not very big at all. After about 5K the walkers reached the piazza again and I headed off on my own back to my apartment. On the way I met up with a few guys from South Carolina and Tennesse who were in Florence for the weekend while studying at a school north of Venezia (Venice). After walking with them for a while and exchanging pointers, I went back to my place, grabbed some money and headed to the grocery store to finally get some food. After that I took another nap. Jet lag really kills you, huh? The afternoon was going good. I talked to my parents on skype (8 am their time) and said we'd talk later. Then something that I am really not happy about happened.
I noticed that I had never shut my computer off, so I opened it to shut it down. The screen froze. So I restarted it and...nothing. Blank screen with a flashing folder with a question mark. I knew that symbol. The same thing happened to me last February, shortly after getting to school. It means that my hard drive crashed. Maybe it was from all the traveling, or maybe it was from all the use (yes Mom, I know I'm on it a lot). Panic hit me. Again for the second time in two days. Yesterday was when my converter went caput. Both times my mind went to my computer. I know my parents think that I am way too attached to it, but it really is a big part of my life. Silly I know but it has so much of ME on it. All of my work, music and photos. I have most of it backed up on my external hard drive but that's not the point. Oh and right now I'm using my housemates old desktop that he keeps for any students who come to stay with him. My first thought was buy a new computer. Way too expensive here. Second thought was to buy a cheap netbook. Also still out of my price range. So now I am going to go buy a converter (I still need to charge some things) and second I am going to buy a few more memory cards for my camera. It holds over 3,000 pictures but still. If I can't upload those at all until I get back, I'm going to have to keep them on disks. Delete unnecessary ones as I go but sheesh, 3 months in Italy with only 3,000 pictures? Not going to be possible. And when I get back in August, I can use my parents computer until I get a new one. I had planned to buy a new one anyways and I'll just have to buy one sooner than later and use the payment plan. And I have come up with this plan as fast as I wrote it.
So it comes to this. This summer will be a true test of my independence. Partial independence. On my own without my family, a real phone (i have a simple international phone with an italian sim card) and no computer of my own. We'll see how this goes. Any advice on the computer situation is appreciated. Thanks!
I noticed that I had never shut my computer off, so I opened it to shut it down. The screen froze. So I restarted it and...nothing. Blank screen with a flashing folder with a question mark. I knew that symbol. The same thing happened to me last February, shortly after getting to school. It means that my hard drive crashed. Maybe it was from all the traveling, or maybe it was from all the use (yes Mom, I know I'm on it a lot). Panic hit me. Again for the second time in two days. Yesterday was when my converter went caput. Both times my mind went to my computer. I know my parents think that I am way too attached to it, but it really is a big part of my life. Silly I know but it has so much of ME on it. All of my work, music and photos. I have most of it backed up on my external hard drive but that's not the point. Oh and right now I'm using my housemates old desktop that he keeps for any students who come to stay with him. My first thought was buy a new computer. Way too expensive here. Second thought was to buy a cheap netbook. Also still out of my price range. So now I am going to go buy a converter (I still need to charge some things) and second I am going to buy a few more memory cards for my camera. It holds over 3,000 pictures but still. If I can't upload those at all until I get back, I'm going to have to keep them on disks. Delete unnecessary ones as I go but sheesh, 3 months in Italy with only 3,000 pictures? Not going to be possible. And when I get back in August, I can use my parents computer until I get a new one. I had planned to buy a new one anyways and I'll just have to buy one sooner than later and use the payment plan. And I have come up with this plan as fast as I wrote it.
So it comes to this. This summer will be a true test of my independence. Partial independence. On my own without my family, a real phone (i have a simple international phone with an italian sim card) and no computer of my own. We'll see how this goes. Any advice on the computer situation is appreciated. Thanks!
travel post #5: My first day in Italy
I’m here. I am in FLORENCE. In MY room. And so far my roommates (I have three til Monday) are perfectly nice. Thank god Omer (roommate from Israel, totally cool guy) is a strong guy because the stairs up to our apartment are STEEP. Like scary steep. And I was about to collapse. But let me start from the beginning.
I left the U.S. at 5:45 p.m. EST. I arrived in Italy (Roma) at 7:35 a.m. local time. I got lucky and got my second flight with a group of about 35 “older” Americans who are headed on a week long tour of tuscany. All from the Boston area. Woo! And they helped. Saw that I was alone and let me tag along with them. Because let me tell you..Rome’s airport is frigging confusing when you’re trying to get to Terminal B from the arrivals terminal. It was a nightmare. Thank god we had almost 2 hours of a layover. Oh and the flight over from JFK was horrible. Well not horrible but definitely not the most comfortable. Like I said before, I know I’m short and don’t need a lot of leg room, but still, a girl needs to stretch out once in a while. Plus the cushions on the seats had a weird slant to them and my poor little booty kept going numb. (all from Saturday)
Sunday ----
Ok so continuing... After the 8 hour flight from JFK, we landed in Rome and went through security again and then went through passport control (first point of entry to the country). By this point, I had introduced my self to a woman traveling with her parents with the big group (they were older. she was older...I just tagged along). They were so nice. The older man had been studying Italian with a tutor for a few weeks so he was pointing everything out in Italian. Helped me a little. Then we got on the bus to get us to our plane to Florence, since it was just a jumper plane. I wish we had had that plane from JFK. The seats were way more comfy and it felt like I had more room. I fell asleep on that flight but seriously it was a 45 minute flight and I woke up to us hitting the ground.
Cut to getting out of there. Grabbed my way too heavy luggage and booked it. Then I got outside and called my roommate (praying feverishly that my international phone that my aunt had given me would work). Confirmed that he was at the apartment. The began my real journey. I got on a bus for 5 euro (way cheap compared to the 22 euro taxi drive) and got dropped off at the Santa Maria Novella Stazione (Florence’s main train station). And started my trek to my apartment. Now, its really like a 7 minute walk, maybe from the station to my apartment. But when you don’t know where you’re going and you have nearly 100 lb in suitcase plus another (and I’m guessing cuz I didn’t weigh it) 20 lbs on your back....it’s a really long walk. I can definitely feel it today. My upper lats and upper back are sooooore. So are my thighs. Oi but that’s from the going up and down the stairs and the 6K walk I did this morning (more on that later). Finally, hot, sweaty and tired as hell (I barely slept. Airplanes are NOT conducive to sleeping comfortably), I finally got to my apartment. That is after using the little Italian that I DO know to ask where I was and how to get to my apartment. Then I saw the stairs of doom (they’re not that bad...but at that point they were). 40 quick steps heading nearly straight up. Again, thank you lord for giving me a strong roommate who wasn’t tired as hell.
I was delirious. I was so thirsty that my throat was dry and the water hurt going down when I finally got a glass. And man was I red. And sweaty. Totally awesome first impression right? Got my stuff in my room and changed. Nearly fell asleep. The owner got home and we did introductions. Toasted my arrival with a shot each of Lemoncello (you don’t take it like a shot....it’s delicious. lemonade liquer). Then Francesco (landlord) invited us to this charity festival thing that his friends were working. It involved cheap, good food. I was all ears and the only one who went along. That was fine. Had delicious thin crust authentic margherita pizza (I ate the WHOLE thing by myself....but I had only had a breakfast sandwich at like 7 am on the plane). Met some of his friends, and was surprised at how many of them spoke English. The fact that SO many foreigners know English along with other languages, makes me as an American feel lazy. Sure we take a language in high school but these people learn at least 2 all throughout school. I have a cousin who is quadralingual (I think). Oh side note....all of my roommates speak English. In Israel (Omer) you have to along with in Brazil (Fernanda). Again, being American = culturally lazy.
Anyhoo, got back to the apartment, chatted with my friend Dana in Canada (it’s very strange being AHEAD of her in time now...) and then hit the hay. Out like a light the second my head hit the pillow. And there you have my first day in Italy. My second day is half over and I’ll update you later on that. =)
I left the U.S. at 5:45 p.m. EST. I arrived in Italy (Roma) at 7:35 a.m. local time. I got lucky and got my second flight with a group of about 35 “older” Americans who are headed on a week long tour of tuscany. All from the Boston area. Woo! And they helped. Saw that I was alone and let me tag along with them. Because let me tell you..Rome’s airport is frigging confusing when you’re trying to get to Terminal B from the arrivals terminal. It was a nightmare. Thank god we had almost 2 hours of a layover. Oh and the flight over from JFK was horrible. Well not horrible but definitely not the most comfortable. Like I said before, I know I’m short and don’t need a lot of leg room, but still, a girl needs to stretch out once in a while. Plus the cushions on the seats had a weird slant to them and my poor little booty kept going numb. (all from Saturday)
Sunday ----
Ok so continuing... After the 8 hour flight from JFK, we landed in Rome and went through security again and then went through passport control (first point of entry to the country). By this point, I had introduced my self to a woman traveling with her parents with the big group (they were older. she was older...I just tagged along). They were so nice. The older man had been studying Italian with a tutor for a few weeks so he was pointing everything out in Italian. Helped me a little. Then we got on the bus to get us to our plane to Florence, since it was just a jumper plane. I wish we had had that plane from JFK. The seats were way more comfy and it felt like I had more room. I fell asleep on that flight but seriously it was a 45 minute flight and I woke up to us hitting the ground.
Cut to getting out of there. Grabbed my way too heavy luggage and booked it. Then I got outside and called my roommate (praying feverishly that my international phone that my aunt had given me would work). Confirmed that he was at the apartment. The began my real journey. I got on a bus for 5 euro (way cheap compared to the 22 euro taxi drive) and got dropped off at the Santa Maria Novella Stazione (Florence’s main train station). And started my trek to my apartment. Now, its really like a 7 minute walk, maybe from the station to my apartment. But when you don’t know where you’re going and you have nearly 100 lb in suitcase plus another (and I’m guessing cuz I didn’t weigh it) 20 lbs on your back....it’s a really long walk. I can definitely feel it today. My upper lats and upper back are sooooore. So are my thighs. Oi but that’s from the going up and down the stairs and the 6K walk I did this morning (more on that later). Finally, hot, sweaty and tired as hell (I barely slept. Airplanes are NOT conducive to sleeping comfortably), I finally got to my apartment. That is after using the little Italian that I DO know to ask where I was and how to get to my apartment. Then I saw the stairs of doom (they’re not that bad...but at that point they were). 40 quick steps heading nearly straight up. Again, thank you lord for giving me a strong roommate who wasn’t tired as hell.
I was delirious. I was so thirsty that my throat was dry and the water hurt going down when I finally got a glass. And man was I red. And sweaty. Totally awesome first impression right? Got my stuff in my room and changed. Nearly fell asleep. The owner got home and we did introductions. Toasted my arrival with a shot each of Lemoncello (you don’t take it like a shot....it’s delicious. lemonade liquer). Then Francesco (landlord) invited us to this charity festival thing that his friends were working. It involved cheap, good food. I was all ears and the only one who went along. That was fine. Had delicious thin crust authentic margherita pizza (I ate the WHOLE thing by myself....but I had only had a breakfast sandwich at like 7 am on the plane). Met some of his friends, and was surprised at how many of them spoke English. The fact that SO many foreigners know English along with other languages, makes me as an American feel lazy. Sure we take a language in high school but these people learn at least 2 all throughout school. I have a cousin who is quadralingual (I think). Oh side note....all of my roommates speak English. In Israel (Omer) you have to along with in Brazil (Fernanda). Again, being American = culturally lazy.
Anyhoo, got back to the apartment, chatted with my friend Dana in Canada (it’s very strange being AHEAD of her in time now...) and then hit the hay. Out like a light the second my head hit the pillow. And there you have my first day in Italy. My second day is half over and I’ll update you later on that. =)
Saturday, May 29, 2010
travel post #4: My Best Friends
Ok I promise this is the last post in one day...I think. It’s about my best friends. Some I’ve known for years, one I’ve known for only a year. But I love all of them equally and care about them enormously. Samantha, Kristen, Heidi and Dana...you are my rocks. I love you all. And I just need to share how special you are to me.
Sam, I’ve known you since birth. Our dads were in diapers together and grew up together and are still friends, even though they need our nudging once in a while to contact each other. I have a binder in my room with a photocopy of every letter I ever sent you from age 6 to 16. You sent it to me for my 16th birthday. I love it. Sometimes I’ll read through them and laugh hysterically at how ridiculous we were as adolescents. We’re even in a book! Remember that alphabet book that my parents (I think) had made for me when I was little? In it, you and I go on an alphabet adventure one rainy day in Bay Shore. I love it. And these last four years of college. We knew they would be tough but my god we didn’t know they would be this tough. I’ve leaned on you and you’ve leaned on me and I know now that no matter the distance, our friendship is one for the ages. I love you and I know you know that, because I tell you all the time. I can NOT wait for our adventures when I get back in August.
Kristen, we started out rough haha. But over the years you’ve become like family and one of my closest friends. I can count on you to tell me when I’m being an idiot (which is quite often....sadly) and to tell it to me straight. You can always come to me and tell me about your adventures you don’t really tell anyone else. I love that about us. I can literally say anything to you and we can just laugh about it. Our families are like one big family. They’ll always be like that. You’re stuck with me biotch. You were one of the first people I met out in California and have remained steadfastedly in my life since. Even when you leave for a summer in Bolivia (crazy) and I leave for the next summer to Italy, we’ve always got each other. And we can always catch up like no time has passed.
Heidi, my favorite little squeakers redhead. I LOVE you. And oh the times we have had. And you, also are like family. I even chose your dad as my second godfather. I have to say I talk to him more than I do my first. I know we’re both crazy busy and we may not talk enough but I know that when we’re both home and have free time, we’ll find ourselves at Coffee Bean for hours on end =). Going to college together would have been amazing, but life had other plans. And that’s ok. You are another that I can tell anything. And you the same to me. Even if you think I talk too much about too many things. I will never forget my first memories of you, in fourth grade (yes this story) when you broke BOTH wrists and had bright purples casts on. That is forever ingrained in my memory and yes I am going to bring it up at your wedding. Along with the fact that until lately, you would spill SOMETHING everytime you were my house. Milk, water, ice cream, anything. And like you always do, you would laugh hysterically, til you couldn’t move and then clean it up and joke about it later with the rest of us. =)
Dana, my newest best friend. We truly have become BEST friends, against the most odds. Together for one summer, working on an insanely complicated event then pulled apart because well, you’re Canadian and live clear cross and up one country =). Thank goodness for MSN and facebook. I love you. You also know that because I tell you all the time. I know this has been quite the year for you, but everything will work out and who knows you and I could be traveling the world together someday. We talk EVERY day. I love it. I don’t know how I’m going to get through this summer with a 6 hour time difference. It’s bad enough when I’m 3 hours behind. Sheesh SIX hours ahead? ooh boy. And our friendship is just starting. But it’s one that will last. I can feel it. Here’s to years of friendships, world traveling trips and hanging out where ever we may be. And to endless nights chatting away.
My four best friends. I have a lot of friends, but you four are the closest to my heart. You will ALL be in my wedding and a grand old time will be had. And yes, I know, that so-called wedding is oh maybe 10 years off with a groom who still has no face =). But don’t all of ours? My point is, I would not be who I am today without all of you. And the rest of my fabulous friends.
Sam, I’ve known you since birth. Our dads were in diapers together and grew up together and are still friends, even though they need our nudging once in a while to contact each other. I have a binder in my room with a photocopy of every letter I ever sent you from age 6 to 16. You sent it to me for my 16th birthday. I love it. Sometimes I’ll read through them and laugh hysterically at how ridiculous we were as adolescents. We’re even in a book! Remember that alphabet book that my parents (I think) had made for me when I was little? In it, you and I go on an alphabet adventure one rainy day in Bay Shore. I love it. And these last four years of college. We knew they would be tough but my god we didn’t know they would be this tough. I’ve leaned on you and you’ve leaned on me and I know now that no matter the distance, our friendship is one for the ages. I love you and I know you know that, because I tell you all the time. I can NOT wait for our adventures when I get back in August.
Kristen, we started out rough haha. But over the years you’ve become like family and one of my closest friends. I can count on you to tell me when I’m being an idiot (which is quite often....sadly) and to tell it to me straight. You can always come to me and tell me about your adventures you don’t really tell anyone else. I love that about us. I can literally say anything to you and we can just laugh about it. Our families are like one big family. They’ll always be like that. You’re stuck with me biotch. You were one of the first people I met out in California and have remained steadfastedly in my life since. Even when you leave for a summer in Bolivia (crazy) and I leave for the next summer to Italy, we’ve always got each other. And we can always catch up like no time has passed.
Heidi, my favorite little squeakers redhead. I LOVE you. And oh the times we have had. And you, also are like family. I even chose your dad as my second godfather. I have to say I talk to him more than I do my first. I know we’re both crazy busy and we may not talk enough but I know that when we’re both home and have free time, we’ll find ourselves at Coffee Bean for hours on end =). Going to college together would have been amazing, but life had other plans. And that’s ok. You are another that I can tell anything. And you the same to me. Even if you think I talk too much about too many things. I will never forget my first memories of you, in fourth grade (yes this story) when you broke BOTH wrists and had bright purples casts on. That is forever ingrained in my memory and yes I am going to bring it up at your wedding. Along with the fact that until lately, you would spill SOMETHING everytime you were my house. Milk, water, ice cream, anything. And like you always do, you would laugh hysterically, til you couldn’t move and then clean it up and joke about it later with the rest of us. =)
Dana, my newest best friend. We truly have become BEST friends, against the most odds. Together for one summer, working on an insanely complicated event then pulled apart because well, you’re Canadian and live clear cross and up one country =). Thank goodness for MSN and facebook. I love you. You also know that because I tell you all the time. I know this has been quite the year for you, but everything will work out and who knows you and I could be traveling the world together someday. We talk EVERY day. I love it. I don’t know how I’m going to get through this summer with a 6 hour time difference. It’s bad enough when I’m 3 hours behind. Sheesh SIX hours ahead? ooh boy. And our friendship is just starting. But it’s one that will last. I can feel it. Here’s to years of friendships, world traveling trips and hanging out where ever we may be. And to endless nights chatting away.
My four best friends. I have a lot of friends, but you four are the closest to my heart. You will ALL be in my wedding and a grand old time will be had. And yes, I know, that so-called wedding is oh maybe 10 years off with a groom who still has no face =). But don’t all of ours? My point is, I would not be who I am today without all of you. And the rest of my fabulous friends.
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