whirlwinds of medieval towns, birthday celebrations, purple, and soccer.

As im laying in bed long after I should be asleep listening to overly gushy Italian music, parts of how lucky I am are beginning to sink in. I have always been overly fortunate in my life, mainly in fact to the amazing family and friends that I am blessed to have in my life and the opportunities that have been presented to me. This experience of being here in Italy and showing me so many different ways of life, and people is continually reenforcing this fact. Little by little as the days rush past, and the more real this whole experience is becoming I am becoming more and more aware of how fortunate I am to be here and experiencing such a  life changing opportunity. Every day I try as hard as I can to take as much as I can in of the constantly busy city, the shuffle of people, and the complete emersion that we are going through. While sometimes overwhelming still, I am beginning to adjust to some parts of Italian life and wondering why they were not always like that. On the other had though there are some other things I still think I may never get used to. All in all however, the good the bad the somewhere in between is being logged somewhere in my subconscious. I dont think I have a full grasp on the entirety of this experience yet, and i might not until it is over but im trying to take it as it comes and make sure not to miss out on one minute of it.

After a very eventful weekend, Monday came with the thought that if I saw chocolate anywhere close to me I might indeed have to run fast the other direction. It also brought the third full week of classes, as hard as that is to believe. I really am beginning to believe that time is traveling at faster intervals over here, even though Italy seems to be on a slower time schedule all together. Granted I dont know how this can be the case, but when I figure it out I will give you a holla. The week itself spun past my eyes in a blur of classes, outings and a slew of other amazing things. Monday and Tuesday came and went more or less normally with classes and readings and misspoken italian (on my part).  For some reason I think both my english and my italian are getting much worse. I no longer can speak correct english and continually make grammatical mistakes that would make sense if it were translated into italian and the same with italian. Its as if my language wires got switched somehow... yet they desperately need to go back into place very soon because not being able to speak any language very well is getting a little frustrating.  So please excuse any grammatical incorrectness or awkwardness that might occur from now on. My brain is on overload and is not wanting to process correctly.

Wednesday however was a whole other story. While usually the day most hard to get through in a week because the weekend is in your sight and you can no longer say it is the beginning of the week, wednesdays tend to drag on. We however opted to not let this happen mainly in part by just starting our weekend Wednesday night. Before you go off thinking that Italy has turned me into a wild party animal who goes out in the middle of the week I must preface this by saying it was my friends birthday, and how often to you get to celebrate birthday's in Italy. Once a year to be exact - so something needed to be done in celebration. (see Ali and I psyched to birthday it up to the right) Wednesday apparently in Italy means that you can get into most places - ie movies, theaters, and discotecas - for a significantly lower price. This worked out well for the group of 25 we accumulated to celebrate Alessio's birthday. We went to a discoteca called YAB (short for You Are Beautiful - no I am not kidding).  It had just reopened for a various number of reasons all of which are still unclear because ever Italian I asked gave me a very vague different reason. But nevertheless it was packed so tight you could barely move through the disco-balled dance floor flooded with smoke from a smog machine ever 4 feet. The whole night a collection of popular American music, techno, and popular Italian music blasted through the speakers as the dj sang along and yelled things to the crowed in Italian that I could barely hear or understand over the defining crowd and music. All in all a incredibly fun night. even if I did have to wake up at 9:30 for my class the next morning...

Despite staying up way past my bedtime, Thursday was a very productive day starting with art history and followed up by a day filled with homework. Every new art history class I've taken throughout my college career so far, takes a while to adjust to the new environment of the class. I find this more true with art history classes than any other, mainly because I think of the drastically different approaches that every given professor can teach in, and the always extremely different points of views of the students in the classes. With other classes I have found that there is more of a regularity between the teaching of  courses and within the class the students have more of the same opinions because it is not usually a personal opinion based class. Here too I feel we are still in the weird adjustment period where we are trying to figure out our professor, each other and what the class is going to be like. A sorta of limbo if you will.

This limbo continued all throughout Friday. Most noticeably was I in some parallel universe when Giovanna and I went to the Uffizi library to have a meeting about a possible internship for me. Every step I took that morning was filled with excited energy and disbelief. As we entered the Uffizi - through a special, high priority door, while the extra long line of tourists gave us dirty looks- my stomach began to turn in excited and nervous knots. We entered the library and I tried with all my might to not stop in my tracks and stare with my eyes wide open. The huge stacks after stack of beautiful books in a room perfectly constructed. A domed, coffered ceiling with tall with columns and pilasters, a huge glass window at the end of the extensive room - everything was more perfect than I could have imagined. I could almost see the excitement radiating off of Giovanna as she announced we were here for an appointment for a possible internship. As we walked down the long important hall (well Giovanna more bounced than walked - she might have been more excited than I was - which mind you was pretty hard to do) the stacks of books continued and a important silence was infiltrated by our footsteps. We met with a man and a woman (I dont remember their names as horrible as that is... I was in a daze) who welcomed us eagerly and jumped right into the descriptions of what I would be doing with them. I dont think I spoke more than 7 words total the whole time,  and whereas I thought I would be entering an interview they sat me down and told me what I would be working on with them. Giovanna paused them to tell about my art history background and interest. They told me I could work on two projects. The first
helping go through and digitalize the book collection in the library. The second looking through hundreds of medieval manuscripts that were damaged during the flood and seeing what the collection contains. ummmm?? YES! I am still in disbelief that I will actually being to look at all these incredible things that normally I would only get to see in a picture, first hand! I am so excited. I start next Friday!!
 I attempted but failed miserably to do work at the Sede the rest of day with Sera, and Ali. Some how more important things kept getting in the way of very long one page papers and readings that were not understandable in the least. Finally giving up and giving into the unproductiveness we left the Sede late in the afternoon to go and accomplish more and exciting things.

Saturday we got off to a very early start (although I almost didn't thanks to my alarm not going off..) to take a mini trip to Pienza and San Gimignano, both
small cities in Tuscany. We arrived in Pienza and were given a few hours to explore the small cobble stoned city, seeing the one main piazza with the city hall building, the church and a fountain. The main street was lined with small shops selling everything from hand made linens to moth watering cheese. Pienza is known for its pecorino cheese and Im pretty sure the entire town smelled like it - it was fabulous.  (picture of me and sera on one of these said side streets- via dell'amore) The views of the Tuscan valley's from various points throughout the city were unbeatable and breathtaking. After exploring for a while, Sera, Ali and Alayna and I decided to find a place for lunch. We ended up in a restaurant of a side street through a tiny little doorway with no more than 5 tables and where the smell of strong cheese and truffles hit you like a brick. The food was amazing and hit the spot after wandering for so long in the slightly chilly air.
We then took off for San Gimignano, about an hour away from Pienza, which is a fortresses city known for the towers. Again, we aimlessly wandered through the city taking in the amazing architecture and when we found them the spectacular views. Here too the main street was lined with tiny little stores selling wine, food and random other things and most of which had wild boar heads in the windows.


Sunday was yet another day filled to the brim with activity. In the morning Sera, Lenora, Victoria, Chrysanthe and I went over to Alessio's house for a birthday brunch/lunch. We walked through
the door and were hit over the head with delicious smelling foods that filled up every inch of air space. In normal italian style people overflowed each room, and were talking loudly over one another while stuffing their faces with perfectly made home cooked traditional italian food. After filling ourselves literally until we were going to burst we had to leave early to make sure to get to the Fiorentina v. Napoli soccer game. Purple (Fiorentina's team color naturally) overflowed the stadium pouring out into the streets. As we rushed to find the right door, the cheers of hundreds of fans echoing throughout the stadium. We walked into the stadium the cheers got louder, the purple was even more intense, and the Fiorentina soccer pride was ever present. The entire stadium was cheering for Florence. Because of the intense rivalry between the two teams Napoli was only allowed to have one small section of the stadium (see side pic - the yellow is the row of police dividing the small Napoli fans from the rest of the stadium). The Florence soccer patrol banned Napoli fans from coming to prevent huge brawls. It was a good thing to because unfortunately after a very exciting game Fiorentina lost to Napoli 1-2.

life is like a box of chocolates - seriously you never know what you are going to get.

First can someone explain to me how it is already Sunday night. Last time I checked Im pretty sure it was Wednesday. Ohi. Such a week of randoms to report.

Well retracing my steps and bringing us back to Wednesday (the real one) brought with it a few more classes, heavy wind, and the thought that perhaps I should have brought warmer clothing with me. You would think I would have realized that Italy is not always warm and su

nny as it was pictured in my head while packing. But sure enough I chose sun dresses over sweaters, and yet the warm sun left about a week ago. This is going to be fun.

Thursday brought up the end of my school week at a very late 12-noon. Its very hard to have a 3 day weekend starting at noon on Thursday. After our long day of classes Sera, Olivia and I decided to finally get some of the books we will be needing for class. Well, trying to find a tiny little book store according to Italian directions -"oh just right down that street (as they point in the direction of 6 intersecting streets ) After much effort, and a few missed turns we found the tiny book store which happened to be right next door to a chinese food + pizza place. Naturally it had to be tried. I have been craving chinese food since May yet its finally satisfied in Italy - something doesnt sound right about that. Nonetheless it was amazing. Thursday night rolled

around before I knew (that has been happening a lot I see...) and a few of us decided to go out after dinner to listen to some live music at a bar called The William near Santa Croce. What I would have assumed would have been a traditional Italian "coffee house" band proceeded to only play American music all night long.

Friday, day 1 of weekend. Although the weekend did mean that we had homework.

Being good students Sera and I decided to spend all day doing work so that we could fully enjoy the rest of the weekend. Pausing only to have lunch and be continually pestered by some of the boldest most annoying pigeons ever, (no seriously I dont like birds, but Italian birds are somehow more bold than others. Maybe its just in the air here...) we plowed through all day.

After dinner, a group of Smithies -

Sera, Victoria, (pictured with me to the left), Chrysanthe, Julie and I - accompanied by a group of Italianites (via conversation class) to a "music festival". Well not many music festivals, at least in the US of A are held in a 16th century fortress with a moat. Then again I could just be going to the wrong ones at home... Anywho. Arriving at this moated fortezza -Fortezza da basso to be exact-, we first waked around outside through the biting cold looking at the stands of food and drinks from around the world. Wandering upstairs (yes its a multi leveled fortezza) to a cultural exposition of different food, drinks, fabric and art ( strangest mix ever). As we got further inside the strong beat of heavy t

echno music seeped its way though the entire building. Following the pull of the music we made our way downstairs to the "festival" aka rave. Cigarette smoke swirled around in the air tinted green and pink with flashing lights, while hundreds of people's heads bobbed and jostled in "time" with the music. Minus the cigs, we all joined up the rest of the crowed and danced until they flipped on the overpowering florescent lights signaling it was time to leave.

(picture of everyone after a long night of dancing and fun times.)

Waking up Saturday morning with no plans I took my time getting ready and decided to finish the last bit of my homework. While finishing the last few sentences, Vieri ( my host little brother) knocked oh my door at least 5 times making sure I was still at home, that I was not going anywhere, and that I was still wanting to and planning on coming to his soccer game that he had invited me to the night before. Overexcited, he sand songs from Mama Mia throughout lunch while taking breaks only to do quickly do some soccer warm- ups. Driving to his game he continued breaking out in song and dancing in his seat. Running ahead once we got there, we called minutes after we finally found a parking spot to inform us that he would not in fact be playing today cause he did not have enough training (so said the coach) to be goalie against this team. Heartbroken for him, knowing the extreme amounts of excitement that proceeded the game, I returned home promising to come to the next one.

That night some of us decided to go out for apparativos across the Arno. After filling up with delicious food, we wandered back to the William to see if we could find some more live music there, but sure enough it was heavy metal night. So we sat for as long as we could, yelling back and forth to each other while 'enjoying' the death screams and guitar screeches.

Bright and early Sunday morning I awoke with a start as my phone was ringing with Sera telling me she would be at my house in 7 minutes for us to catch our train to Perugia for the chocolate festival.

Leaping out of bed, grabbing the first thing in my closet and hoping it matched I ran out the door to meet her as we booked it to the station for our train that would be leaving in 10 minutes.

Meeting up with Julie and Alessio(see awkward picture of people crunched together to 1. fit into a camera small frame and 2. extremely crowed by the rest of humanity) at the station and literally running to leap on the train.Catching our breaths only once seated and on our way. 2 hours later we arrived in Perugia, along with what seemed like the rest of Europe. Smashing ourselves like sardines into a bus that would take us to the city center and to the festival. Never in my life have I seen one type of food in so many different forms and in such a small radius.

The small medieval walled city of Perugia every year is taken over -literally- by everything chocolate. The City itself already known for its chocolate opens up to chocolate makers all over Italy and Europe to sell their sweet treats.

The smell of chocolate literally floats through the air.

On raised platforms sculptures carve out 'frescos' in huge hunks of chocolate that are most likely bigger than I am. Every inch of the city if covered in chocolate and filled with people. At times it was impossible to move do to the swarms of people crowded at one point.

Elbowing pushing and at times just having to stand still in a tight box of people until someone moved we made out way through the city.

However right now the last think I want to see, eat or smell is chocolate for a very long time.

and so the REAL stuff begins...

Sunday came with the realization REAL classes and REAL life in Italy was about to begin the following day. The time warp I have been in suddenly let me off into real life before I could realize it. Not wanting to face reality, Claire and I headed out for a day of wandering the city and discovering new things. Wandering to the center and up and down the streets crowded with tourists looking into the closed store windows, we spend the day discovering things we had seen many times before but failed to notice.

Finding our way to Santa Croce we happened upon a cabaret style marionette show

(and for once i was not creeped out!). Surrounded by many happy children who looked on, and danced eagerly with the marionette's swayed too and fro to classic italian music. I always enjoy watching how much kids get into things like this. They were mesmerized by these beat up wooden dolls on strings and how they moved, interacted with eachother and with the audience. Every time a song would stop, inevitably at least one kid would protest until it started up again while others cheered egging on the rest of the show. When they have to leave however is a whole other story. Kicking, screaming, desperate not to leave behind their new puppet friends (both human and wooden), parents, literally in some cases, must drag them away shat

tering all of their hearts. Yet as soon as they were leaving the Piazza their cries stopped and their marionette's forgotten, while excited about the next thing.

After our marionette show, we wandered home the long way. Giovanna had told us about an event on her street, which happened to be on Sunday, that happened once a year when artists take over the street, selling, showing off and in some cases creating new works on the spot.

Already mobbed with Italians and tourists alike (this I see is where all the Italians were this particular Sunday),

Claire and I dodged our way through the crowd while admiring the countless number of artists and their works. Aimlessly walking down the street and finding ourselves at the end, we made our way home after an eventful day of wanderings.

Monday morning came with a start and we all were hurled into classes before any of us realized. Starting out semester with Survey di letteraturea italiana (italian literature but im sure you all got that). Rapid italian word whirled around us as we learned about what the class would entail, what it would be about and just for review a brief overview of Italian literature from 1300-1500. Dazed, and with fifteen minutes to recover I took my seat in Storia del costume e moda aka history of costume and fashion Italian style. Basically Im getting credit to learn about clothes. Be jealous. When the first couple of words our of our overly Italian professor, Costanza, were Ferragamo, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana (no mom not the gardening store), I already knew this was going to be an awesome class. Not to mention we get to go to a leather factory, the Ferragamo shoe museum, and some of the only clothing and costume museums in Italy... for class. We finished the day with Stylistics. I originally thought it would only be about grammar, words and other useful but annoying things but it seems like it will be much better than originally thought. While I am still somewhat unclear as to what the class actually entails, I believvve its how to use colloquial Italian, learn about modern Italy and to get us talking more. Yet I could be mistaken. Updates will be given.

After a long day on classes, I wandered home to rest up for day two! Day two came even earlier than the day before, but I was excited because it was our real first storia dell'arte aka art history class. Even though we had art history with the same professor during Orientation, real class seemed like it would be much different. Indeed it was. Instead of a general overview of the different styled found in Italy, we will be focusing on the (you guessed it) Renaissance. I mean really, what better place to learn (well re-learn) Renaissance art than where it began? Im stoked (yes Im a nerd, please forgive me). After art history we had our second and final Italian literature class for the week. Today was even a bigger panorama of Italian literature from 1500-present day. A very rough day ending at 1'o'clock pm I found my afternoon free to explore the very sunny city of Florence yet again.

il fine di parte una!

It's hard to believe that our first three weeks is already over. The strange time warp that Florence has put me in is seriously beginning to mess with my mind. Without a definite schedule these past three weeks I have further felt in a parallel universe where many things have been happening around me and I have happily observed from my post. It feels like I have been in one of those science fiction films where the main character stands completely dead center of the screen, not even blinking, and the rest of the world goes by with lightning speeds and blurred vision without them noticing. While I have been trying to take in everything around me, it feels as if its been a blur of renaissance buildings, classical statues, speeding vespas, and food. With real classes looming in the imediate future (aka tomorrow) it is begining to dawn on me how real this whole experience actually is. I think its going to take me a little while longer to actually be able to call this my home, temporary as it might be, but I am definitely getting slowly by slowly more used to the idea of waking up every morning in a country that does things just a little bit differently.

The end of the week wrapped up our Orientation classes. Wednesday our final art history class taught us about Renaissance art and architecture. The very brief overview gave a glimpse (keywords in this sentence, brief and glimpse) of the countless architectural feats and artistic masterpieces accomplished during this time just in Italy and mainly Florence alone. Having already taking several art history classes that focus on many things in Italy and a great number of them in Florence, I can hardly wait to be taking a Renaissance art class in the place where it all began. After a language class in the late afternoon, the day was given to us to do what we wanted with the knowledge that we would have exams on Friday.

A group of us decided that after studying for a few hours earlier that night, an movie in Italian would help. Granted it was a American movie, Inglorious Bastards or Bastardi Senza Gloria, which already had 4 languages in it(including Italian) and then the rest were dubbed in Italian. Even though I have seen countless Italian movies, seeing an American movie in Italian, in Italy was an entirely different experience. For starters, there is only one screen at the theatre. One large auditorium playing one movie at a time with many times throughout the whole day one following the next. Once you get your ticket after standing in the mass of people that some what resembles a line, meander over to the other large group of people that are attempting to form a second line to enter the theatre. The doors will open letting the last audience out though one set of doors and then you can proceed into the theatre through the other. But that is after you battle your way to the front of the "line" to give the solitary man your ticket stub as what seems like the rest of Italy does the same. If you expect to see any previews or trailers you will be sadly disappointed but instead Italians cut right to the chase and right to opening credits and away you go. Dont be alarmed in the middle of the film with the movie stops and the lights flash on - its only the intermission and will be over as suddenly as it came. For being a movie about things I have never learned the vocabulary for - they dont really teach you the words for beheading, scalping, bombs, and many different ways of killing in class strangely- I was able to understand (more or less) and enjoy the film. Note - if you are offended by a drop of blood I might suggest to skip this movie.

Thursday morning brought our last art visit with our art history class. After taking the wrong bus, getting terribly lost only to find out we were in the right place the first time, Claire and I made it to San Lorenzo. The church itself, from the outside is a simple, unfinished stone b

uilding. Once you get into the church however you realize why no one finished the outside - they were too busy with the inside. High coffered ceilings, frescos, and marble lined the walls from back to front. In the side chapel - Cappelle Medici - opens up a whole different set of wonders. The octagonal shaped chapel holds an overflowing amount of detailed marble work with a range of colors any sculpture would kill to have. In side rooms statues and funerary monuments by Michaelangelo line the walls.

After our art visit, a language class followed to further help us prepare for our test on Friday. After language I had my last 'in giro' which showed us all the good places to go to the theatre, a few different music spots, and where the University of Florence hides through

out the winding streets.

While we only saw a few buildings (one of them did happen to be the art history building) I can already tell the Italian educational system varies drastically from that in the United States. Putting aside the fact that one of the classrooms we saw used to be a church and therefore had frescos lining the walls and niches with statues, the laid back attitude Italians have with most everything in life definitely transfers to school as well. While not discounting the educational system, and knowing that it is, and will be a challenge, I think a major part of it has to do with peoples attitudes. You dont walk through the halls and feel the stress radiating off of the walls left behind from students. Then again, this is just a theory and I will have to see once I am actually in the place for real.

Friday brought the unpleasant knowledge that I would soon (aka in about 1.5 hours) having to take two tests in Italian. Generally I do not get that worried about tests (not anymore anyway). Ill get the pretest jitters but nothing too drastic. Friday morning I kept having the feeling that i should be nervous but tests were handed out filled out and handed back in and the nerved never came. What was strange though was taking a test in Italian. Even though I have been taking Italian classes and taking the tests in those, taking a test in Italian in Italy somehow was different. For me especially our art history exam but having to write everything in Italian threw me through a loop. At first I was at a loss of words because I could only think of how to say everything in English (granted I had been tested on all of it before but still). I soon got over it, and the text began flowing, and words that I didn't know that i knew poured out of the tip of my pen.

I spent the rest of the day wandering around with people in the on and off again rain before heading back to my house in the late afternoon. It was one of the girls, Victoria, birthday's on Friday so we all headed out for aparativos that night - literally all of the Smithies + all conversation partners + random friends = large group of fun. Everyone seemed to have a really wonderful time, and through a mixture of italian english and hand signals was able to communicate and enjoy everyone else's company. After aparativos we went to a discoteca to dance the night away.

Saturday brought a much sunnier day than the one before and also two old friends from high school, Lizzy and Brittany. I thought it should be, would be weird seeing them here in my new city but it was completely normal for some unknown reason. We first wandered through San Lorenzo market ( yes same place of earlier mentioned San Lorenzo church) looking at the countless leather, jewelry, and eclectic goods. After wandering for quite a while looking at so many countless things, a new leather purse magically made its way into my possession. Getting a ridiculously good discount just because or so said the salesman, I left with my new dark greyish purplish bluish (no really its pretty) with dark chocolate brown piping, leather bag. Every time I walk into my room the smell of leather engulfs me so pungent I want to swim in it.

In fact it seems to be taking me over right now, so as for right now I must go and enjoy it...

time tricks

For a city that never sleeps especially on weekends, even on Saturday mornings people are bustling throughout the city. Dodging tourists and vespas alike, Lenora, Olivia and I made our way over to the Bargello Museum. Filled to the brim of its old monastic stone walls with statues, reliefs and other assorted stone work and small little trinkets, the courtyard alone is a marvel to look at. Entering into a large open courtyard lined with amazing statue work, it is truly breathtaking. The combination of the old stone fortress- like walls adorned with countless stone family crests lining the top portion, and monumental statues in the corridors is truly a sight. After taking a moment to collect myself and attempt to take at least one thing in we began to make our way slowly through the courtyard constantly in awe of what we saw. When I finally came across the room with Donatello's David I, once again, was struck with a sense of disbelief that a pice that I have been staring at in text books for years was in front of me. The only problem I have with seeing these statues in person is that I have an almost uncontrollable urge to reach out and touch them. I have an extreme desire to be a part of such a monumental and beautiful piece of art and of history. I want to try and feel what the artist was when they created such a work and try and understand how they accomplished such a thing. The desire is deeper even than this and is almost consuming yet so far so good.The rest of the museum continually fascinated me both with the statues it held and the architecture itself. The cube like structure and pathways in between gave a sense that it would go on forever. It indeed might - we were only able to make it through two of the floors before out feet and immense hunger got the best of us.

We spent the rest of the day people watching, talking and window shopping and before we knew it it was time to walk home for dinner even though it seemed like we had just ate lunch.

Florence on a Sunday is a completely different experience than 24 hours prior. Store windows locked up, noticeably fewer bicycles and vespas zipping around in the streets, the din of italian spoken in the streets is considerably softer, and the only consistent flow of people are the tourists. Wandering around the mostly quiet and closed city for the day I tried and failed several times to picture Los Angels as tran

quil as this on a Sunday.

I woke in disbelief Monday morning to the thought that this was our third week, and final week of orientation. On the one hand it feels as if I have been here for so much longer, on the other as if I have just arrived. Monday was a blurr of language classes and my final history of Florence class. The rest of the day past in a continual blurr of Italian words some I understood and some I am still trying to figure out what it meant.

Today came a little to soon again with the feeling as if some time god was playing a joke on me. Im still asking myself how it can only be Tuesday but already be Tuesday in our 3rd week. I think this is right about the time I was talking about a little while ago when time starts slipping away from me all of a sudden its weeks later and I am still thinking its 2002. Pondering these things I walked to language class which was at Giovanna's appartment. We reviewed our reading and prepared a little for our exam (?!) on Friday. Being at Giovanna's also meant that I got my dog fix for the day with her two toy poodles - Cocco and Sparky. It also meant we got to have our last cooking class with Pam.

Literally bittersweet because although we all were looking forward to today's lesson it also meant we would have to start taking real classes and not be able take such an amazing class for credit.

Today we made not one not two but four different types of amazing risotto. 1 with saffron, 1 with asparagus, 1 with zucchini, and 1 with mushrooms. I believe I could have eaten all four in entirety if there was some way to stretch my stomach to allow such a thing. They all were so amazing. As if that were not enough, we also made a chicken with a spicy mustard caper sauce, and patate fritte aka french fries. And to top it all of Panna Cotta. Every bit I took (and I assure you there were many) was quite possibly better than the last.

I do believe I am still full. Yet if any of it were set in front of me right now I would have no problem eating it. I think I will be dreaming of i cibi italiani tonight...

a few more days, a few more wonders.

It's only been a couple of days but it feels as if weeks have past in between. "They", whoever they might be - if you know can you tell me because I've always been curious as to who these people are and how you become one of "them", I think I would be good at that whatever it is that "they" do that is.. - anyway I digress. They say that time flies while you are having fun, while I certainly do know this to be the case more often than not, as of right now it seems that my days are extended and hours elongated. Perhaps its because everything over here starts later, stays opens later etc and maybe it has something to do with the fact that for the most part, everything is more relaxed. But it feels like a few days pass in between waking and sleeping each night, and no that is not because I have been out to all hours of the morning. Im just waiting for time to start moving at a head spinning pace as I know it will soon and for June to be here before I realize. For right now though I am taking my time walking though the city every day taking in each detail, making sure I look at everything everywhere I go and to make sure I soak up every last bit, not wanting to leave a crumb of knowledge left behind (sorry Hanzel and Grettle you will have to find your own way this time..)

This past week was, like last week, full to the brim of all things Italian. Tuesday rolled round bringing another language class but this time we were at a r

etirement home called "Casa di Riposo San Silvestro" instead of our normal lecture

with Giovanna(one of our director's here in Florence ). Spending a few hours with the residents there we talked with many of them, in Italian of course, which I actually found more difficult than I initially though it would have been. Sinc

e I still have a limited vocabulary especially about certain topics, holding and especially carrying conversations gets to be difficult. It was also challenging because a few of them were very hard of hearing and I dont think ever really understood what we might have been saying to them but you could tell enjoyed the company nonetheless. Also, I have found that when I look directly at the person speaking and try and lip read a little I am able to understand a bit more easily. Not that I might not have otherwise but since things are pronounced so differently in Italian I find it helps me understand and be able to visualize how to be able to say something. This being said, it was difficult to do this here because I found at least with the few people I spoke with, mumbled their words which in any language let alone one that you are not entirely secure with is hard. All in all though the morning was enjoyable for everyone.

Later in the afternoon, I had my "giro per Firenze" or walk through Florence.

This time we went acros

s the Arno to learn a bit about the other side of the city. Since we all live on one side and go to school on the same side, the times I have at least ventured over to the other side of the river before this were few and far between. (granted i have been here 2

weeks its not like i have had a surplus of time yet...)

Wednesday brought another set of art history, cooking and language classes. In our art history class we learned about gothic architecture and the difference between the gothic churches and cathedrals in France and in Italy. Even though I have studied both the types of gothic cathedrals in classes before this I have never done a exact comparison so I found it very interesting. Without much though you/I whoever would think a gothic church is a gothic church more or less anywhere all with the same sort of similar overall characteristics. I found it interesting though that some of the major parts of the church/cathedrals, the windows and roofs for example, differed quite greatly between the two countries.

Once again, our cooking class was delicious. Starting by literally whipping up some chocolate moose from a few eggs, chocolate and a refrigerator.

The serious business began with the home made gnocchi pasta. We

started, obviously, with some potatoes.

With a great deal of arm strength and a nifty contraption I obliterated the potatoes into mushy strings perfect for pasta making

(see picture - and note that this took lots of work).

Mixing in some four, eggs and a few other essential pasta ingredients the dough was ready to to be rolled and cut into our dumpling like shapes and heavily floured.

To go along with the pasta we made two sauces, a butter, sage and parmesan sauce and a tomato, vegetable sauce. As if two different types of pasta were not enough we made turkey as well. Slightly grilled in olive oil and then cooked in a tomato basil sauce we were finally ready to eat everything. finally.

Bright and early Thursday morning,

we met at Santa Croce for our "at sight" art history class.

I found it particularly interesting at Santa Croce because it was under restoration. Since it is something that I am interesting in pursuing for a career, to see people actually working such a monumental structure and artworks inside and for it to be their job was so amazing.

(If you quint you can see a woman in the picture who is ever so carefully repairing the frescos behind the altar- also behind scaffolding so a bit hard to see.)

Friday we had our weekly conversation class for two hours with our "conversation partners" - who are a random assortment people Giovanna knows through her sons, who work in the same office as Monica's (other director of the program) husband, or another long complicated Italian story. Exchanging slang terms, awkward phrases, things to say and not to say, hand gestures in a very oddly assembled group I think both Florentines and Smithies alike are getting something out of the peculiar mix of Italian/English conversations we usually end up having.

The rest of Friday afternoon was spent wandering the other side of the Arno River as we had done in out "in giro" a few days earlier with two other girls from the program, Tyler and Olivia. The sun baking on our necks, we walked in circles but at the time seemed like a logical path to take. We ended up at a vintage store on a side street filled with old forgotten items that at one point were I'm sure were someone's somewhere's favorite whatever it might be.

Friday night however switched gears from the relaxing wanderings of the day to a hubub of activity. We all decided since it was practically our first weekend in Florence that meant we had to celebrate by going to a discoteca. Dressed and ready to dance we headed out to meet up with everyone in Piazza Santa Croce ( yes, one and the same gothic church - its apparently a thing here to sit on church steps at night and drink -- we observed many italianites and others doing so). Once all 15 Smithies, 1 conversation partner (Alessio), and 2 of his friends ( Im so bad with names) had gathered we meandered to a nearby Irish/Italian pub with a live italian group doing covers of old American music. Intrigued and entertained we listened for the rest of their set before heading to the discoteca. The disco, Twice, was already buzzing with people by the time we got there yet all 15 Smithies entered without a problem. Alessio and his 2 friends however were denied entry because they were not "dressed appropriately". Apparently nice jeans - nicer jeans than any boy in the US- and a t-shirt didn't cut it for their "lookin-good" night. So dumb.

3 people down, the rest of us all went in and were overpowered by American music. I think the entire time we were there I heard 2 - at the most- Italian songs. The rest were all from the states, both popular now and 5 years ago. All together good just surprising. After countless songs and one or two new blisters formed we got home exhausted but very happy.