Oh wait, I have to go to school in Italy?

Heres an update on the rest of my weekend and my first day of classes:

Saturday night I went out with my roommates and some new friends.  It was really fun to get to know them and hang out with the Pablos again.  We ended up at one of the same clubs that Kaylen and I had been at the night before and the bouncer actually recognized us... I'm kind of a big deal in Italy haha.  This one group of Italians kept taking our picture from the balcony above which was weird, but again, we're super cool.  We got them to do the "go frogs" symbol though which was definitely a highlight of the night!  Were pretty much gonna spread Frog Fever all over Europe! Here are some pictures from Saturday night

Saturday night I couldn't really sleep and started feeling like I was getting a cold, so by Sunday I really wasn't feeling well.  I tried to go to the pharmacia but everything is closed on Sundays... good job Italy.  I ended up sleeping and trying to find my shows to watch online.  Side note: Hulu, Pandora, and a lot of other websites won't let me use them because I'm in Italy! I'm having major withdrawal.  Also, google changed my language to Italian and I can't figure out how to change it back.  Basically the internet is not my friend right now!  

Sunday night, my roommate Reynolds boyfriend came over and cooked for us.  He is a chef and doing a culinary internship in Florence this semester so he's pretty legit! Here are some pictures of the dinner!

appetizers 

main course... all homemade and AMAZING

Today was my first day of classes and I still don't feel good which is a bummer! I decided I couldn't skip the first day though and headed out of my apartment at 8:20, giving myself 40 minutes to find the school.  Unfortunately, as many of you know, I am pretty directionally challenged and ended up asking random Italians to look at my map as I pointed to where I wanted to go.  After an HOUR of walking around in 30 degree weather I finally found my building and was only 20 minutes late.  My first class was Italian cooking which I think I am really going to like! She lectured for a little and then since we don't have aprons yet, she showed us how to cook whats called Pappa al pommodora.  It was so good! I am seriously going to be an Italian chef when I come back... or at least know how to make more than easy mac and chocolate chip cookies! After that class was my Italian class which I am so glad I am taking! We learned all of the phrases one needs to know in an introduction conversation like "how are you", "where are you from" etc.  Hopefully I will soon be able to walk into a grocery store and know what the labels say! 

After being inspired by our home cooked meal, Kaylen and I decided to try some cooking of our own.  We looked up "easy soup recipes" and found a tortellini soup that turned out pretty good! 

One last thing that I think is kinda funny... I hate the doors in Italy! Although this is pretty minor, its something I never thought would affect my daily life so much.  In America, most doors going into restaurants, stores, etc. are pull.  In Italy the like their push doors.  I am constantly making America look super smart with my door problems and its got to stop! I now understand why America has such a bad rap in other parts of the world.  I mean if they think we can't even figure out how to open doors, I can only imagine what they think of our foreign policy, pop culture etc.  

ANYWAY... I have my second day of classes tomorrow! Hopefully I don't get as lost and just maybe I will be early? Who knows, anything could happen :)

Buona Notte, or for all you stupid Americans, Good Night!!

Discoteccas, Museums, and Saldis!

Okay, in my attempt not to have to blog a novel every time I get on here, I'm writing again today! Last night Kaylen an I had our first night out in Italy! We decided to get an early start because we were bored and already dressed so we left our apartment at 9:30.  After walking around for a while and not finding anywhere to party, we started asking locals where the bars were.  This is how our convos went...

me: "scuzzi"
Italian Pablo: "si, bella chao!"
me: "english?"
Italian Pablo: "ah American! California, yes?"
me: "no, done va vino o discotecca?"
Italian Pablo: "ah discotecca, come with me!"
me: "uh...no, chao"

Anyway, after several of these conversations we ended up following a nice group of Pablos and they took us to the Florence version of 6th street in Austin.  We started bar hopping and ended up becoming part of the "pub crawl" which meant we got free shots and drinks at certain places (for the adults reading this, they were shots of orange juice!).  Talking to the locals was so much fun, especially because Italian guys are so friendly.  Definitely a nice change of pace from frat guys at TCU! Around 1 am we decided we were discotecca-ed out and started trying to make our way home.  Unfortunately we didn't really pay attention when we were being lead to the piazza with the bars so then we had to start asking other Pablos where the Ponte Vecchio was because our apartment is right next to it! 30 minutes later we FINALLY made it home (oh and Kaylen convinced me not to take a jacket so I was freeeeezzzinnnnggg... the Pablos said I was crazy!) and were starving.  Unfortunately for us, Florence is not like Fort Worth and there is not a Fuzzys, Waterburger, or 1873 to go to for late night cravings.  Just another reminder that I am NOT in the states anymore! Here are some pictures from our night out!

Karaoke at one of the bars, apparently Britney Spears is popular in Italy too! 

I ran into Julie in the pub crawl... small world!!

Today we woke up around 1:30 which was weird because I realized my parents were probably getting up around the same time! Then we headed out to be tourists for the day and check out some museums. The Italian government provides all American students studying in Italy with a Museum card which is awesome, so we can get into any museum in Florence for free!  We went to the Piazza de Pitti (which is right by our apartment) and has an old Medici mansion that has been converted into several museums.  Unfortunately, we couldn't take pictures inside, but I took some cool exterior shots:

one wing of the museum 

me and my new Italian boyfriend!

My favorite thing in the museum was a display of old jewlrey from royals and the Medici family.  Little did we know, but David Yurman totally knocked off the medici jewelry.  There were bracelets that looked almost identical to Yurman bracelets! Its funny how things come back into style 700 years later!

Since we got a late start, the museum closed around 4 and we were kicked out.  I did learn the Italian word for "exit" though since the guards kept saying it to us! Then we headed to check out some saldis (italian for sales)!!  I don't know if its a European thing or what, but literally every store has a saldi right now.  We went to H&M, the leather market and a boutique but didn't find anything worth the euros (especially since I can get H&M in North Park for the dollar not euro price)!  Then as we were coming out of the stores, we started hearing yelling and chanting... it was an Italian protest! I asked the guy working in the Tabaccaria what it was and he said it was "commies" but I'm not really sure. Here are some pictures: 

I want to translate this sign, but haven't yet!

Were about to head and get some Gusta Pizza again (I know... I'm a fatty!) and then go out tonight with some new friends! I'll let yall know how it goes! Heres a picture of Gusta Pizza to make yall jealous :)

TONS AND TONS of love from Florence! xoxo

First few days in Florence... mi gusto!

Hey Everyone!
My first few days in Florence have been a crazy mix of culture shock, sleep depravation, and absolute awe of the city I am now an official resident of! Heres a breakdown of what I have done so far:

Day 1: After 4 planes and about 20 hours of travel I FINALLY made it to Florence.  It was kind of fun because I met up with a lot of other students (from TCU and other schools) who were headed to Florence for study abroad on all of my different flights.  Unfortunately, I didn't think to get last names of any of my new friends from Clemson etc. so we'll see if I can find them at the University or something! Once in Florence, the first thing we had to do was go to the ACCENT center (the program organizing our study abroad) and turn in paperwork to become official residents of Florence.  This means the police now have my passport, visa, address, etc. so if I get in trouble they will have no problem finding me! That rules out stealing the David... DARN!  Getting to the center was hard because Florence is a maze of winding streets and the cars don't stop! We learned that we need to cross the street with confidence and commitment and we will not be run over.  I've been practicing and haven't been hit yet! Fingers crossed this continues! Anyway, after turning in paperwork and getting paninis at Gusta Panini (SO GOOD) I slept for about 2.5 hours and then took a shower.  I wish I had taken a picture of the bathroom because the shower so crazy! It was not separate from the rest of the bathroom and the floor had one central drain that drained by the toilet.  Also, the water pressure was about 4 drops coming out at a time so it took 30 minutes just to wash my hair! Quite an experience... it actually made me miss the gross showers in the Zeta House! Around 7 all the TCU students went to dinner with our ACCENT sponsor at this amazing restaurant.  They served us 4 courses... but didn't tell us how many there were.  We all stuffed ourselves with the first course and then started freaking out when they kept bringing food! I had never tried tiramisu before and I LOVED IT! This new found love is NOT going to help my weight gain.  After dinner I put in my ear plugs, put on my eye mask, took a benedryl and went to sleep... thank goodness!

FLORENCE IS SO PRETTY!

The Duomo, I cannot get over how amazing it is!  I get to walk by this every day!

Day 2: opps day 1 was kinda long.. I'll try and keep this short.  Around 8:30 we met in our hotel lobby and got broken up into our roommate groups and taxied to our apartment! Its soooo nice and my roommates are awesome!  Here are some pictures:

living room/ dining room... Oh hey Kaylen!

Kitchen

Mine and Carrie's room

Mine and Carries bathroom... ITS HUGE

After moving in we had a bunch of orientations with ACCENT and a walking tour.  The walking tour was good because they showed us things we need like pharmacies, doctors, grocery stores, ATMs etc.  Also, they warned us of cultural differences we need to be mindful of... like eye contact.  Apparently the Italian men think when you make eye contact with them and smile (like when walking by on accident) that it is an invitation to flirt.  Its totally true too.. I accidentally did this and got an enthusiastic "Chao Bella!" and a whistle!  While a total ego booster the first time, I can definitely see how this could get annoying.  They told us to walk on the streets like "ice queens" and not make eye contact with anyone!  So much for southern hospitality!  After all the orientations, tours etc. me and my roommates went and got phone, check how high tech this thing is!

this thing is better than the Iphone! 

Then me and my roommates went to Gusta Pizza which is a famous pizza place in Florence. It was AMAZING! Although once again, those Italian men are something else.  After accidentally flirting we got heart shaped pizzas (which no one else in the restaurant had) and then when I tried to get to go boxes, they were passing them around the counter playing keep away... its entertaining, but will definitely get old after a week or so!  We also got our first gelato which was sooo good! 

Day 3: We had orientation with the University today (LdM) which made me realize that yes, we do have to go to school here.  I kept forgetting that I wasn't here just to have fun and travel!  I'm actually looking forward to my classes though because I am taking all electives, surprisingly you can't do nursing clinicals in Florence haha.  Then me and my roommate Kaylen went grocery shopping.  The grocery store is so tiny and really only has one option for each product you wish to buy, except wine! We are all stocked up now, about time right?! The grocery boy, who did not speak english kept asking me to translate what one of his friends had written on facebook which was "Scared in your pants".  I told him this might have been translated incorrectly but he didn't really understand.  He told us to come back and winked at us on the way out, oh those Italian men.  Kaylen and I have generalized all cute Italians into "Paulos", like in the Lizzie McGuire movie.  The Italians don't seem to get the joke, wonder why?!  We are going out tonight to wine bars, discoteccas etc. which will be fun! I'll keep yall updated on what happens and try to post more often so that these aren't so long! I miss you all so much, and please keep me updated on everything going on in Texas through facebook or email! 

Heres one more picture from today.. cappacinos and the ponte vecchio bridge! Could it get more Italian than this??

Lots of love from Florence!! xoxo

\