The Way to My Heart is Through My Stomach

As Monday approached the dread that I normally felt at the end of the weekend was replaced by excitement and readiness for the week ahead of me. Did I really just say I was excited for Monday? Anyway, my first class Monday morning was a site visit with my History and Culture of Italian Food class to the Central Market. On our way, our professor had us taste authentic Italian street food, but said he wouldn't tell us what we were eating until after we tasted it. Hmmm... As I glanced back and forth between the mystery meat and the expressions of the troubled tasters around me, I had no idea what I was about to eat. Even after trying it I had no idea what I had just consumed. I wasn't even sure if I liked it or not. Moments later our professor revealed that we had just tasted tripe, otherwise known as cow stomach. Well, nothing like a little cow stomach at 9:00am! I don’t think I’ll be eating it again anytime soon, but I’m glad I at least tried it.

Right around the corner was the market. Everyone had been talking about how good and inexpensive the food is, but we hadn’t yet visited. Inside, it almost resembles a warehouse where vendors sell cheeses, meats, fish, bread, fresh fruits and veggies, dried fruit, and pastries. As our mouths watered, I was trying to make mental notes on what we should come back for and frantically trying to convert kilograms to pounds and euros to dollars. It is hard adjusting to such different measurements: shoe sizes, clothing sizes, weight, length, money, temperature. Needless to say, Google has become my best friend. What did we do before Google?? 

Despite such an interesting class, Lacey and I were frozen from spending most of the morning outside so we grabbed a quick cappuccino and croissant before our next class. I don’t think cappuccinos will ever get old. In my next class, we visited the Medici Palace. The most interesting part of the tour was the seven minutes spent in the Medici’s personal chapel. The room is quite small, but covered from floor to ceiling in colorful golden frescoes portraying a procession of three men on horses. I loved listening to my professor explain the story behind it, even the smallest details! Just beautiful! 

Wednesday night the roomies and I went to the library to hang out and do some homework. The place seemed deserted except for the cafe on the third floor where people were sipping on cocktails and partaking in an appetizer buffet. The cafe, which looks and feels more like a mod bar, offers an amazing view of the Duomo, and a "chill" environment. I wasn't very productive since I couldn't connect to the Internet, but I took the time to relax and write some e-mails while sipping on a cappuccino. The next day in Italian class the teacher was talking about how no one in Italy drinks cappuccino at night. Whoops! Live and learn. 

Today I had a site visit to one of the Medici Villas, built in the 1400's. It was gorgeous and it didn't rain (which is always a plus)! The rooms are decorated with ornate moldings and frescoes. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take pictures inside. This afternoon we got tickets to a ballet for Sunday and stopped on the way home for some gelato. I had chocolate and coffee. It was yummy as always, then again, is there such thing as bad gelato? For dinner, my roommates and I decided we'd walk down our street and find a place to eat. It took longer than we expected, but we finally found a small place whose aroma had our mouths watering. We all got pizzas. I ordered one with ham, mushrooms, artichokes, and olives (go big or go home, right?) Oh my gosh! It was absolutely delicious! It my first Italian pizza and it definitely won't be my last! The owner came over and had us in stitches. On our way home we couldn't stop raving about the meal we just had, so we decided this was going to be "our spot" and that we'd go there every Friday. Tomorrow, I'm going to Pisa and Lucca. I am staying busy (my aching feet can attest to that!) but I am loving every minute. I decided I can rest May 7th on the plane ride home. So until then, let the journey continue!

Hey, I've Been There!

The roomies and I decided to stay in tonight. We had a long day of traveling and site-seeing in Sienna and San Gimignano (minus Meaghan :( because the trip filled up super fast). We had to meet at the train station, a 20 minute walk from our apartment, at 8:00am. Luckily, we found the only breakfast sandwiches available in Florence at a McDonald's in the train station. As I guiltily devoured a days worth of calories in minutes, I gazed out of the window on a bus of 40 other students going to Sienna, a beautiful medieval city full of character and stories. Many of these stories we heard from Marcello, a professor at Palazzo Rucellai and our tour guide for the day. He is not only a good laugh, but a wealth of knowledge.

Our first stop was Sanctuary of Santa Caterina, or St. Catherine, who is known as a feminist of her time as she openly talked about war and peace (unheard of at that time and for centuries after). We didn't stay long, but we did see the finger and head of St.Catherine herself, which is on display.Can you imagine having your finger, your head, or any other part of your body displayed in a cathedral named after you and still standing centuries later? That's what I was thinking of as I gazed at the remains of Catherine. After we visited the Cathedral of Sienna. Wow! Each inch of the cathedral was covered either in gold, carved sculptures, vibrant paintings, or black and white marble. I will post a few pictures because I know that my words cannot do it justice.

We also visited the Piazza Del Campo. This town square is actually more of a semi-circle shape divided into nine sections of brick laying to represent the nine people who designed the piazza and ruled Sienna in the medieval times. For lunch, we stopped at a restaurant on the main road. Trying to be adventurous, I ordered the veal with mushrooms while others at the table ordered pizza, tortellini, and chicken. When I got my platter, it looked like it had been eaten and spit out. I daringly dug in and found myself trying to decide if I liked it or not. As others at the table tried not to look at my dish for fear of losing their appetite, I decided that maybe a good pasta or pizza might not be so bad next time. After lunch, I went for a no-brainer: gelato! I got a huge cone dipped in chocolate with coffee, chocolate, and stracciatella. Yum!

We boarded the bus and journeyed 45 minutes back towards Florence, stopping at San Gimignano on the way. San Gimignano is small and quiet and when we arrived it seemed almost like a ghost town. Many shops were closed and people were seen here and there, but it was nice because I felt like we were taking a glimpse into their lives, not a stroll through a city centered around tourism. No, this place was definitely not centered around tourism. Our group was yelled at by a pharmacy owner, carrying on that he didn't want us standing outside of his store (which is how Marcello translated it, anyway). Trust me, we weren't the one scaring people away. Then again, we have just as many (if not more) crazy people in America, so don't worry San Gimignano, I'm not writing you off just yet. We reached a point at the end of the main street that overlooked the countryside which offered a great photo-op. What I found most interesting about this town was the town hall, the cathedral, and the loggia (an open space for formal ceremonies). They were all right next to each other (talk about separation between church and state). In Florence, and in Sienna, the town hall (usually owned or built by wealthy families that ruled the city) and the Cathedral (grand, elaborate odes to the Roman Catholic religion) are very separated from one another. Before coming to Italy, I thought that they were all connected, but San Gimignano was the first time I'd seen the closeness I was expecting.

After getting in from a long and VERY cold day, we vegged for a while. My roommate Meaghan and I watched Letters to Juliet, a romantic chick flick that takes place in Verona, Italy. The movie was about a 65 year-old woman looking for her long lost love, while her grandson falls in love along the way. As they travel all over Italy to find Lorenzo, they stop in Sienna. I found myself saying "That looks so familiar!" But was most excited when I saw the Cathedral of Sienna (there's no mistaking it). I excitedly yelped "Hey, I've been there!" Which got me to thinking, all of these places I am visiting and photographing (praying I will later remember what the hell that building actually is) are places that I will be able to explain, and connect with so many people for the rest of my life. I also found myself missing my "Lorenzo" back home in the States, but that's a completely different post that I won't get into now.

On the line-up tomorrow? Laundry, grocery shopping, and homework. Ugh. Well, I must get some much needed rest. Ciao!

This Isn't Poppop's Wine Cellar

I can still remember the potent smell of wine and how my feet used to stick to the cement floor of the 8x8 foot wine cellar in my Poppop's basement. It was small and dark, but it did the job and I always thought it was the coolest part of the house. He made wine for years and drank it with every meal up until he passed away. My dad, and brother, Dave, helped Poppop in the long wine making process and now make their own wine. Needless to say, wine has always played an important role in my family.

Today, Lacey and I traveled with our school to Chianti (a region in Tuscany known for its red wine) to tour the 700 year old Villa Vignamaggio vineyard. It was a little over an hour away from Florence. All I could say when I stepped off of the bus was "Wow." The rolling hills went on for what seemed like forever. Rows of olive trees, grape vines and tall cypresses spread across the 100 acres of land with villas tucked here and there (like I said, wow). Now this isn't your average gorgeous wine vineyard (hah).  This vineyard was once home to Lisa Gherardini. Do you know her? What if I called her by her more popular name: Mona Lisa? Now do you know who I'm talking about? Thought so. She was married off to make money for her family and Leonardo Da Vinci painted the famous work of art as a wedding gift. Unfortunately, Da Vinci died before he finished the painting which is why it remains in France.

We walked up a steep hill to the main building that had a platform overlooking the gorgeous view. All of the students (myself included) jumped into American tourist mode and started snapping pictures. After our Tuscan photo shoot we checked out the fermenting room where the crushed grapes sit for a week while temperature and CO2 is closely monitored. After fermenting, the wine is put into wooden barrels for at least a year before bottling. The "cellar" where the wine aged was all brick with wrought iron chandeliers and arched ceilings. Even though it was much larger and older, I sensed the charm and tradition that I remember from my Poppop's wine cellar.

The tour was followed by a delicious lunch and, of course, wine! We sampled two wines from the vineyard. One was more fruity with cherry undertones and the other was a spicier, full-bodied Chianti Classico. I personally liked the sweeter one more, but that didn't stop me from finishing both glasses over yummy cheese, salami, and risotto. After lunch we were free to walk around, but the bitter cold temperatures kept us from exploring too long. The forecast showed rain and possibly snow all day. Sporting my rain boots I waited all day for the arrival of the rain forecasted for today. Instead it was just cold and I learned that rain boots are not meant for walking all day.

On the way home I stopped and bought a wool hat. I am happy with my purchase, considering I wasn't cold on the long walk home. We are almost all out of food, but decided to postpone our supermarket trip until Sunday because no one wants to leave our warm apartment! Tomorrow we are traveling to Sienna and San Gimignano. Can't wait to keep exploring this beautiful country and continue my exciting travel-filled weekend.

Life is Good

I have to be honest with all of my readers out there (I know that there must be millions). Six days in, I got homesick. It's not that I missed my dirty, carpet stained apartment or the glamorous town of Middletown, I just missed my family, my friends and my boyfriend. It took a small meltdown and the sweetest e-mail from my boyfriend to finally get me over my emotional (and maybe a little silly) breakdown.

The next day, feeling refreshed, I ventured to the river to get school supplies. Everyone has been talking about the river, the Arno River, that is. Wow, the view is absolutely breathtaking. When you cross the river there is a more quiet feeling, while still very much a city. On the way back, we took a bridge lined with fine jewelry stores. I held my backpack on my front and extra close to my body while I oohed and ahhd since I heard that this is where many gypsies hang out. We ended up walking for the rest of the day (which meant extra pasta for dinner!). Later that night we had a meeting at school and after they took us to a local public library that Palazzo Rucellai (the school I am studying at) students have access to. It is called bibliotheque della oblata and was named after oblata nuns. The library is centered around a courtyard. On the first and second floor there are books and computers like a normal library. On the third floor, however, is all open with an amazing view of the Duomo (the church in the heart of Florence). There are a bunch of tables and even a small panino shop. The place was occupied by other students who looked around our age. Finally! Kids our age that aren't hitting on us at shady clubs! At one table sat a group of five guys sitting smoking cigarettes and sipping beers, just hanging out. Well, the next time I'm craving a cigarette and a cold one, I'll know to just go to the library! Gosh, I love this place.

 

This is the Arno River. On the right you can see the stores that line the bridge. So pretty!

Today it rained. Unfortunately, it started while I was in class and I was caught 20 minutes from my apartment totally unprepared! After passing about 15 people trying to sell me umbrellas on the street, I made it back to my apartment (when I went out later, you bet I was proudly wearing my new polka dotted rain boots, trench coat and umbrella). What's extra special about the institute I am studying at here in Florence are the site visits. Today, for my Gardens and Villas class we examined the exterior facades of Palazzo Rucellai and Palazzo Strozzi (both palaces dating back to the 1400's!) While they were neither a garden or villa, our professor explained how these structures were used as self propaganda, like gardens and villas of the time. 

On another note, as great as it is, I have a bone to pick with Florence. I have been looking in shops ALL over and I cannot find a watch! In a city so centered around fashion, you would think it would be easy to find a watch, but this is not the case. I have been in and out of stores all over and cannot find any (that won't break the bank at least)! Anyway, the hunt for a watch and boots (the staple of Italian winter fashion) will continue on. I only have 2 classes tomorrow so I will have some extra time to shop and study (that was for you, Mom). After shopping with my roommates, Lacey and Meaghan, we came back and had chicken, broccoli, and noodles. It was good, but I think we need to invest in some spices (like pepper). Now, I am sitting at our counter drinking cheap wine and eating chocolate. Man, life is good.

This is the view from our balcony. Sweet, huh??

Settling In

I have been in Florence for five days now. We are starting to get settled in: buying groceries, getting around without a map (okay, we still do need a map for places we haven't been), and picking up on local customs. That being said, I don't think I'll ever be fully settled in here. Florence has so much richness that, while four months is a while to stay here, it would take a lifetime to grasp everything it has to offer. Museums, churches, people. I am so excited to continue learning about this great city.

Tomorrow is our first day of school. I am beginning to get that little nervousness in my stomach wondering about my teachers, my classes, my peers, and most importantly not sleeping through my alarm!  My first class starts at 9:00am. Even though I'm nervous, I'm even more excited, especially to start speaking Italian!

Last night, my roommate and I went to the discoteque. There were a lot of students from our program there. Being the first time at a club, it was definitely a good time. The music was mostly American, but it was mostly from the 90's and early 2000's. Songs like "I Like Big Butts and I Cannot Lie," "Drop it Like it's Hot" (personal fav) and "Up in Here" blasted through the speakers and had my ears ringing long after we left. After dancing the night away we came home and slept. We didn't get up until 1:30pm! It was good to finally sleep in though. I just lounged around for the rest of the day. I e-mailed my boyfriend and Skyped with my brother and my parents. It was so good to see them and chat (gotta love Skype)! Then, I chatted with one of my best friends who is traveling throughout Italy with University of Delaware for the month of January. I found out she was in Florence and told her to come visit my apartment. She came over and toured our apartment and we chatted about our Italian adventures (she definitely has some crazy ones). I couldn't believe I was actually hanging out with her across the world! Later, Lacey and I met up with her and some of the people in her program for Chinese food. Yes, there is Chinese food in Italy! It was a lot similar to Chinese food back home and very tasty!

Back home now. Gotta get some sleep. I have a big day tomorrow! Ciao!

Go With the Slow

Ciao! So I've been in Florence for a little over a day and I feel like I could write a novel! We arrived yesterday around 2pm. The weather was surprisingly warm, maybe mid to high 40's with the sun beaming. We were greeted by Palazzo Rucellai (the school I am studying at) faculty members. They put us in a taxi which brought us to our apartment. I would also like to add that this is my FIRST EVER taxi ride. Already I was experiencing something new! When we arrived at our apartment, we found out that we were on the third floor, which is also the highest...great. After cursing every step that I had to drag my 100 lbs. of luggage up,  I finally reached the top which was illuminated by a skylight and was immediately overcome with excitement. I walked in the thick wooden door to a small hallway. When I entered the main living space I couldn't resist smiling. There's a small table and chairs, couch, kitchen, and counter with bar stools. Now this sounds like any other apartment, but immediately I felt like I was in my Italian home. There are two bedrooms with two beds each. Our other two roommates aren't coming until tomorrow because their flights were delayed. My room has a smaller bathroom (I can wash my hands and go to the bathroom at the same time), but it has a balcony. Stepping out for the first time was breathtaking. The view is mainly of other buildings, but amazing nonetheless. We didn't end up eating until 11pm last night. After not eating all day, we were starving (and that's an understatement).

Today we had orientation at a building that dates back to the 1300's. The main room we were in resembled Hogwarts and hosted the 170 students in the program. There are students from UConn, PSU, ASU, and Rodger Williams. We were introduced to the faculty and staff. Definitely an interesting group of people. One woman is from California. Another from Italy, but studied abroad in California and ended up staying for 13 years. All of them are friendly and helpful; I am excited to get to know them more. Which brings me to the title of this post. No, it's not a typo. When the school psychologist spoke about culture shock and different cultural differences she emphasized the theme of Italian culture is to "go with the slow." Take your time, don't rush. Well I can definitely get used to that! We enjoyed a yummy lunch, and I ate everything, didn't know when I'd eat again. We came home and immediately crashed. I slept for two hours. Jet lag is definitely kickin my butt! We went to the store and got some staples: bread, cheese, soda, and frozen pizzas. Can't figure out the gas stove. We have a faculty member coming tomorrow to show us how everything works in our apartment, so hopefully we can use the stove tomorrow night.


I could keep going, but I think this is enough for now. Gotta go with the slow!

Kickin' it at Gate A4

I'm currently sitting at my gate staring at the plane that is about to take me half way across the world. So many things are running through my head: excitement, nervousness, uncertainty, and a healthy dose of worry. My dad and I arrived at Philadelphia Airport almost five hours before departure. We wanted to be sure to arrive before the snow and long lines that come with snow. Well, we pulled up to the US Airways International terminal and within five minutes both my bags were checked, I had my boarding pass, and directions to security and my gate (thank God for friendly people who actually know what they are talking about!). Man, I’m glad we got here earlyJ! I was happily surprised that I didn’t get pulled aside by security. I did set off the metal detector the first time through with my belt, but luckily I made it through the second time and didn’t even lose my pants! In all seriousness though, I’m glad I had time to get to my gate and relax before boarding the plane.

After arriving at my gate I sat down with not a person in sight, and for the first time in probably a month I actually had nothing to do but wait. A little while later, Lacey got here. (Lacey is my roommate from college who is also going to Florence with me) We hadn’t seen each other since we left for winter break so chatted for a while and exchanged Christmas presents. After a few unsuccessful attempts at accessing the “free wifi” I finally got it to work (ok maybe I had a little help from Lacey). We are killing time right now on Facebook, saying our last goodbyes to friends at home, and blogging (calling myself a blogger still makes me giggle). The gate is beginning to fill up and I think I see other study abroad students at the other side of the gate. Can’t wait to actually get on the plane and take off! Don’t know if there will be wifi in Brussels, but if there is, I’ll post again. ‘Til then, ciao!

Planning, packing, and praying

I leave in two days! Wow, I never thought January 11th would get here! Yesterday was spent doing some serious packing. I'm glad to report EVERYTHING FITS! Now I must mention that I cheated a little because I am checking two bags, but I was able to pack everything I wanted and I have some room to spare! I'm also lucky because my parents are coming in April, so they offered to bring home some of my bulky coats and sweaters which will definitely lighten my load for my return trip (and leave some room for extra souvenirs :)).

In addition to preparing my bags, I also prepared my stomach. My mom made a huge Italian meal consisting of fried shrimp and fried calamari followed by cheese ravioli, hot and sweet sausage, and garlic bread for my brother and sister in-law visiting and my aunt and uncle. And of course no Italian meal would be complete without some homemade wine. We ended the night finding a little extra room in our bellies for some cannolis and making Jersey Shore nicknames for everyone. Mine was JWow-i, along with my sister-in-law, JWow, my brother, Dave the Deal, my mom, Wow, or (Mom upside down), Aunt Clara, Railroad, and Uncle Jim, Vinny D. We definitely had some laughs and it was good to have one last family meal before my trip.

As if there wasn't enough to worry about, yesterday I heard there is a nor'easter that's supposed to hit us Tuesday afternoon. They literally said on the news "This storm should hit us Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday. If you can, avoid all travel during this time." Really? Come on!! I'm hoping it doesn't get here until late Tuesday and we are able to get out on time. I leave at 6:25pm on Tuesday and arrive in Brussels at 8:00am Wednesday. From there, I get on a flight to Florence. So anyone out there reading this, please, say a prayer, do a "no snow" dance, or turn the dial on your weather machine to hold off the snow until I'm in the air. Thanks!

I'm Officially a Blogger! Eeek!

So, I've done it. I have officially joined the "blogging world." I'm not expecting die-hard followers or a movie to be made about this (although I've always thought Sandra Bullock would play me in my life movie ;)). I am starting this blog to document my four month adventure to Florence, Italy, where I will be studying for the Spring semester. All I can think about is the movie Julie and Julia when the only person that reads her blog is her mom. Well, I guess I can at least count on two readers (thanks, Mom and Dad!).

For those of you that don't know, studying abroad is a long process that begins almost a year before you step on the plane to your host institution. The process, for me, started by gathering some general information with my advisor at school. Then, after some research and long discussions with my parents, I applied to a program at the Palazzo Rucallai in Florence Italy. Over the summer I found out I was accepted, along with my roommate, and BFF (yes, I just said BFF) Lacey.

I have a week left until I leave and man, it is crunch time! I just got back from buying a plug adapter, money belt, euros and some last minute accessories (hey, gotta keep up with those European fashionistas ;) ). Later, I am going to shop for a gypsy-proof bag. There are so many things to think about when traveling abroad, especially when your staying for four months. The next week is going to be crazy, but hopefully I will be able to post again before I leave "the States."

I hope this blog will be able to give someone out there some tips about studying abroad, or even traveling abroad in general. If not, I hope this blog can at least share my great experiences with those I love and miss back home.