Random Observations Due!

• Why does milk here taste different from milk at home? I get skim milk but it still tastes funny. It's super sweet. Too sweet for milk, in my opinion.
  
• Everywhere I turn I swear I see a relative. Cousin Susan, Auntie Debbie, Auntie Ida, Gram, pretty much all of the relatives I have seen at least once. I think they've all just migrated.
  
• So tonight, my roommate and I walked our friend home, and I was in sweatpants, a hoodie, my coat, and my nice black suede boots. Some how I get hit on. I just don't understand this- when I dress cute I don't get attention. If I walk down the street looking like a bag lady the men come crawling.
  
• And again, today we went to this chocolate festival (AMAZING), and again I saw two people I know from the E. All of my friends here make fun of me because I can't go two days without seeing someone from home. I guess I'm just that popular. :)

Random Observations and Thoughts

1. Everyone is uber stylish and Americans are way to easy to spot.
2. I am obsessed with the equivalent to Kraft singles. Its not cheddar or american but some type of white formaggi and I am obsessed.
3. The guy at Webpuccino (where we got our internet and cell phones) says my bro (I have a pic of him in my passport... dorky I know) looks like this Milan Calcio player named, "Kaka." I think it's a compliment. He looks pretty cute.
4. I'm really sick of the heat being regulated. Italy imports all of its resources so we don't get much time with the heat on. It gets super cold.

More later...

Classes begin!

This week was the first week of classes, and it has been quite interesting. I don't have class on Friday so I've been to almost every class. I haven't been to Italian Cinema yet, but I have taken Italian style, history of 20th century fashion, art history of the renaissance and of course Italian class. I had a little bit of a meltdown after the first day because of my Italian class. The issue is that I have completed Italian grammar (over a semester ago) and it was reeaaallly difficult for me and brought down my gpa. Adesso, I wouldn't mind just sitting in on the class for review (i obviously need it) but I'm not going to get credit for another grammar class at IU. Soo I'm talking with the academic coordinators and directors, etc to figure something out. But as of right now I'm more relaxed.

We have been having a great time this week. The other night my friend threw a dinner party and we all had a great time. I have met some pretty fantastic people here. Last night I hung out with Will from back home and his friends. We went out to a discoteca called Merecana. It was weird because they played a lot of hip hop/American music. Normally its more techno.

Before we went out last night we found a supermercato that sells mac and cheese, oreos, cake and brownie mix, salsa, etc. IT WAS GREAT. We had mac and cheese for dinner, it was amazing.

Today I went to the Basilica di Santo Spirito. I went there with my art history class and it is really an amazing place. I have been to many churches in Europe and Italy, for that matter, but this church really stood out to me. I felt a connection there.

Overall its pretty crazy how well I've adjusted, especially considering it rains almost every day. (That can get to you!) I guess I just realize how lucky I am to be here. :)

ciao for now!

So It's Been A Crazy 5 Days....

I don't really know where to begin. My travels to Florence were very easy. Not one flight was delayed nor any baggage lost. I started my trip out right. My program brought me to my housing immediately, which exceeded my expectations. I was in shock of my apartment. I am literally a block and a half away from Il Duomo and I am right in the city's center. My apartment is huge. There are 3 bedrooms (for 5 girls) a large living and dining room, medium sized kitchen, and two terraces. We are on the highest floor so we can look out on to the rooftops of all of the appartaments around us. It's incredible.

The girls in my apartment are really nice. My roommate is from Purdue and we are very similar. Two of them are from Trinity in Texas, and the other is from Arcadia. I was really lucky to have such great roommates.

So the second two days consisted of orientation at school, and getting acclimated around the city. We walk everywhere, I swear one day we walked more than 8 miles just going around the city. (Mom thank you for those amazing boots they have saved my life!) I really like my school because it is actually an Italian school, with Italian students and other international students. I think that is better than only being with Americans.

The back end of the second day we went to this vineyard about 45 minutes away called Tenuto Il Corno and we did wine tasting and had a few amazing meals. We saw where they made the wine and how. They also make olive oil, and have a hobby of making white wine. The family who owns the property acquired it in 1912 from the family that were rivals with the famous Medici family. (I'll find the name later.) The matriarch, Maria Giulia, was very knowledgable pretty much on everything. I loved her. She taught us a lot about wine and food, and how to handle ourselves in the city.

I came back yesterday and K and I had a few of our friends over for dinner, which we made ourselves, and then we went out to a club. Now that is culture shock haha. It was very different from what I expected. It was fun but really expensive.


I actually have been using my Italian which I was shocked about. I think if I continue using it all the time I might actually become fluent.


The only bad thing is that I haven't gotten better yet from my sickness from Christmas break. I wake up not feeling good everyday. But I'll be able to get more sleep now, I think, maybe that will help.


I'm sorry for everyone I haven't been able to talk to, its been crazy. I'll get better.


I need to go get a cappucino, so ciao for now!