No Class Tuesdays!!

Hi all!!

We're in our first week of school here at Lorenzo de Medici, but lucky me - I have no class on Tuesdays!! And Fridays technically.  No one has class on Fridays, but I still got it pretty good because instead of having a four day class week I only have a three day week!

So today I am getting my life organized and stocking up the fridge haha.  You wouldn't think, but it is actually very hard to find food markets and grocery stores that are actually open when you are ready to go, because usually between 1 and 4 pm a lot of stores close down for their siestas. So either I have to get up early or wait until around four to actually get things done.  I guess it's something I'm just going to have to get used to!

Yesterday, I had my Italian language class at noon and my Web Design class at 6.  Let me tell you, very interesting! I am taking an elementary Italian language course and the 7 of us in our class (yes, only 7 people in my class...) were all in dismay when all she spoke was Italian.  I'm sure she wasn't doing that just to be a snooty professor, but I honestly think she spoke very little English to begin with, so that will definitely take some getting used to.  As for my 2 1/2 hour Web Design class, my professor is NUTS.  His name is Francesco Mugnai and apparently he's worked with Guess, Facebook, and various other huge companies as a Web Designer.  At least that's what he was telling us when he took the first 45 minutes out of our class to tell us about himself.  But it's okay because he's kinda cute :)

As for the next couple of days, the most time I am taking out of my day for class will always be for 5 hours on Thursdays, which isn't terrible.  As for the next couple of weeks, I will still be getting acclimated to the Italian culture while still being a tourist at the same time.  It's funny because some days we will be going to class, stopping at markets, and living the Italian lifestyle while other days we'll take our cameras and travel around the city like crazy excited tourists.  Still in that transitional period I guess!  Also, super excited because my roommates and I have planned to go to the Venice Carnivale next Saturday! I'm THRILLED.  It's when we all wear these beautifully painted masks for the day.  Here's a link!  http://www.carnevale.venezia.it/

As for me, always feel free to contact me in any way possible.  It is always a treat to be able to talk to all of you from home. I hate the days when I feel terribly homesick and stressed, so talking to you guys always is a great pick-me-up!  I'll leave you with some more pics! Love you all. <3

Fresh market.  Closes at 2pm 

The roundabout to the Ponte Vecchio

Arno River

Bellisima!

Ponte Vecchio!

Jewelry Shops on the Ponte Vecchio

Hey there!

Walkway next to the river

Night View!

Finally Here!

My flight to London....so beautiful! 

London!!

The bus that took us to and from each terminal.  Left side of the road! 

Inside of London Heathrow.  

Zurich, Switzerland. Saw at least 3 of these smoking lounges in the airport, alone.

Finally arrived!! Our hostel for the night.

After a very long 15 hour mess of 3 different airlines, 2 layovers, and no real food, standing on cobblestone in the heart of Florence was one of the greatest feelings.  Not to forget that I am ACTUALLY FINALLY HERE!!!  So much has happened so far in the past 48 hours, and I have learned so much.  I actually ordered my entire lunch in Italian at a caffe today!  But one concept I am thoroughly enjoying so far is being completely immersed in the Italian culture.  It is so intriguing. One aspect in particular, the siestas!!! Such a dream.  My jet lag hasn't been as bad for that reason.

Anyways, here are some pictures for you guys to enjoy! I'll be keeping you posted!

Our room in the hostel (sorry, bad view)

Terrace outside the hostel in our courtyard!

Another view...molto bella!

Via Faenza outside our hostel

Cobblestone!

Unknown street.....TBA haha

First view of Firenze during daylight! Molto Bello!

Courtyard view from our hostel window

Magnifico

80 cent bottle of water. GREATEST DISCOVERY thus far!

Writings on the wall in hostel. Hadda do it!

Apartment!!! View from my bedroom!

Vespas! Another view from bedroom

View to the right. VivaHotel Laurus at the very end.

Duomo! A block and a half from apartment

Club TwentyOne! Jayyy Shore

Caffe after Orientation! Yum

Piazza

NBD

First Home-Cooked meal! And first time having any sort of nourishment in are apartment after a day and a half

Yes.

Juice Box Wine...Casual.

Dark Chocolate and Coffee GELATO! Delizioso!

45 Hours and Counting

Buono Sera!

1 week = 7 days = 168 hours = 10,080 minutes = 604,800 seconds.

In retrospect, 1 week is such a minuscule and forgettable part of our lives. Kind of like trying to remember what you had for dinner on this day a week ago: it's practically impossible! 52 weeks come and go every year, and the only ones we find ourselves slightly recalling are birthdays, holidays, or - dare I say - the bitter and depressing memories that haunt us all.

For me, this past week will be a very hard week to forget. The only comparable emotional-roller coaster that I have experienced in my life was those unbearably hot August weeks leading up to my first semester of college; and even that is a hard relation to justify.

Regardless, with this being my first real chance to venture off on my own, I hope it serves as a remarkable journey that sparks many more opportunities such as this. Not many people can say they fortunately grabbed an opportunity of this magnitude ever in there lifetime, and to be given this opportunity, my God am I speechless. It genuinely is an incredible feeling that's so hard to describe.

So to all of you who are reading this, to my close friends and family, WOOOWWIEEE! Grazie! You have all somehow lead me to this point in my life, and it is my great pleasure to share these coming months with you.

And to leave you with another quote:
"All glory comes from daring to begin." - Eugene F. Ware

^^I tell ya what, this better be true, or I'm screwed.

Molto amore,
ktinablondie

Thursday January 12, 2012

Ciao!

Wow.  I'm not sure I've had an opportunity of this magnitude available to me since, well, I was given the gift of life haha.  Nevertheless, I couldn't be anymore thankful.   It started as a mere idea brought up in conversation, and has blossomed into a 4 month opportunity of a lifetime.  

What I'm trying to say is.....

HOLY CRAP!!! I'M GOING TO ITALY?!?! WHERE'S ASHTON KUTCHER?? AM I BEING PUNK'D??  WAIT, THIS IS REAL?? HOLY CRAP!!!!

I can't even believe this is really happening!! Something I always dreamt about is actually becoming a reality! I'm thrilled.  So, as it gets closer and closer to my departure date, (12 days!!) I've decided to start my blogging now.  It'll prove as a way to compile myself mentally and emotionally as the remaining days quickly pass by, but most importantly, it allows me to document the next few months.  That way, I can have you to share my adventures and experiences with, as well as the gift of this resource to look back on years from now as a reminder of this once in a lifetime trip  *cough cough* I mean..........studious, on-task semester of school ;)

Well, anyways.  I leave you with a quote that I am not sure where to categorize my own self in.   Arrivederci!

"Tourists don't know where they've been, travelers don't know where they're going." - Paul Theroux