and this is only the beginning...

With sore blistered feet, twenty something bug bites, and a greater appreciation for the smell of leather, my first

week here, as incredible as it is to say, is over. Im still waiting for someone to come and pinch me or shake me awake from this dream. To think I get to be in one of the most beautiful, and exciting cities in the world for an entire year is overwhelmingly astonishing. Everywhere you look there is something different, distinctive, and

dazzling. The beauty is everywhere here from the crooked little alleyways, the alters on street corners, fruit and vegetable vendors stands,

(some of) the graffiti on the walls (note: I am not condoning graffiti on buildings just remarking that somehow Italians have found a way to not just do the standard tag graffiti over used in Los Angeles but have left their mark with some artistic feat I could only dream of producing) and so much more. Every step you take there is something new to discover, so dont be too jealous that I get to walk by the Duomo ever day on my way to school, it just happens to be the fastest route.

We started our week moving into our host family's house. I am living with a family of four, and one other girl, Claire, from Smith. The parents are named Lucia and Fillippo, and have two children a 13 year old boy, Vieri, and a 16 year old girl, Maria Chiara. They own a bicycle shop which is down the street from the apartment we are all living in ( yes it is one of those that has old stone on the outside, a huge wooden front door that is impossible to open, but once opened - after many failed attempts I might add - its a pretty modern two story apartment). So far they have been nothing but welcoming and overly nice. Im sure with time and getting to know one another, and once we are more well adjusted to each other and living together (not to mention my italian bit improved) it will become even better.

The first week of orientation was a blur of all things Italian. Cooking, art history, language, history, and conversation classes kept me busy and excited about each new thing. Learning about a city that has buildings older than my country and then actually being able to go and see them on the same day will never cease to amaze me. After learning and lusting after so many pieces of art, cathedrals, and worldly monuments for so long, to be able to see them in person, and not having to squint at a slightly off focus projector, fills me to the brim with happiness. The tastes and smells that fill the air of the Italian streets seep their way into my already full senses and will, Im sure, permanently remain there. Cheese, bread, salami, olive oil, gelato - will never be the same for me after this year, I can already tell even after only one week.

When in our cooking class, the sent of basil that filled the kitchen was so strong I most likely still smell like it, yet when combined with other things probably picked that morning was so discrete it made you wonder where it all went. Cooking in Italy is a truly sensory experience. With the recipe we received for the class there was not a single measurement or direction of what to do, only a list of the things we would be putting in each dish. Everything was done by memory, feel and taste. And yes it all tasted amazing. We made Pappa al Pompdoro, a soup like dish the main ingredients being bread and tomatoes, and vegetable broth, and let it become a nice thick consistency. Next, Panzella, a dish made with bread soaked in water, which you then squeeze out so it becomes a cous-cous like consistency, (see picture to the side for a Vanna White like demo-pic of Lenora and myself) then add vegetables and basil. After was Pollo in Friscassea, in which we covered the chicken in flour and cooked it in olive oil, later adding in the left over broth from the papa al pomodoro, an egg and basil of course. Lastly, we made Tiramisu (see picture).

Normally I do not like tiramisu, but when it is had made with hand- soaked biscotti in the liquore, and fresh mascarpone how could you not?

With our art history class we explored the San Miniato al Monte church which rests on top of a little hill overlooking the central part of Florence. While climbing the steep stone stairs, the eagle-toped church begins to appear followed by marbled facade and finally its arched doorways. It is yet another breathtaking church in Florence. Intricately laced and patterned marble floors fill the center nave of the church while colorful frescos of saints line the walls. In every detail truly breathtaking.

Wandering and exploring the city this past week have been filled with adventures. Finding new places to go to, restaurants, shops and everything in between there is never a dull moment. While leisurely wandering in the general direction of my house one afternoon, I came across the Duomo Museum hidden between tourist shops. You would never know from the outside that it opens up to a four storied building, filled to the brim with all of the original artwork and statues found in and on the Duomo. Most everything was in remarkably good condition for being place on the facade of the Duomo so many years ago. As I walked up the stairs I began to salivate as I saw Michaelangelo's Pietà. Originally intended for his own tomb, it depicts Michaelangelo himself as Nicodemus, one of the two men that took Jesus of the cross. It remains unfinished because he died before he was able to complete it and therefore was never placed on his tomb. I think i spent about 45 minutes alone just staring at this statue taking in its beauty. Unknowingly tears formed in my eyes, and in broken italian/english I tried to explain to this older German woman that indeed everything was alright, I was just overcome by the statue. I dont think she really understood me, or if she did why it was having this effect on me, but she was content enough that I was not going to have a melt down so she went on her way. The drastic contrast between the very defined figure on the right of the statue and the rougher statues on the right are incredible. To be able to see the midway process of how someone might get from a hunk of marble to something so incredible is fascinating to see.

After only a week I am already in complete love with this city, and can hardly wait for the coming weeks and moths to continue to discover more of the absolutely amazing place.