Catching Up!

Ciao!
This past week has been busy, so let me catch you up.

On Monday, Hayley, Julie, and I went to lunch and then went in search of a famous gelato place called Vivoli. My mom told me that she is renaming semester abroad to "semester of wine and gelato." I can't help it that the gelato is so delicious and the wine is a part of the culture you just can't pass up. Anyway, the gelato place is closed until the 18th. We'll go back and I'll report in.
Since the three of us don't have class on Mondays, we have declared Mondays to be "Zetas in Italy Mondays." Hayley doesn't live with us so we miss seeing her; it will be good to have a designated time for the three of us to spend some quality sister time.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were busy with classes. Three of the four roomies (Julie, Ellen, and I) are sick, so we tried to lay low and go to bed early. The laying low part worked, but we are bad about going to bed early! We stay up sitting around the kitchen table talking, blogging, doing homework, and laughing. I guess that isn't so bad. I love my roommates! We get along really well.
My classes are going well. I really enjoy my Global Business class. Momma and Daddy would have been so proud of me when I correctly answered a question about stocks and bonds. Maybe their little girl will like finance like them after all!

On Thursday, there was no way to forget it was Valentine's day. Italians are passionate about love on a normal day; a designated holiday for love took it to the next level. Girls carried around roses and flowers were for sale on every corner.
The TCU group went to the opera. It was a performance of La Boheme at a local church. We were excited to get dressed up and act fancy. After about 5 minutes of the performance, it was very clear that most of us just aren't opera people. I have no shame in saying I must not be sophisticated enough to enjoy the art of opera. While the singing was beautiful, I had no idea what was going on. Apparently it is a very moving story because the lady next to me was crying and singing along. Maybe one day I will learn to appreciate it. Probably not though.
After the performance, Julie, Ellen, Janette, Trey, Chris, and I went to dinner. I love the long, leisurely meals here. It is also nice that most places don't have wifi. Phones are away and we all grow closer over two or even three hours.

Friday was our first day trip with TCU. We went to Lucca, the city of 100 churches. Lucca is an old medieval town with the walls surrounding it still intact. The morning was spent on a guided tour where we went in some churches and then got to climb on top of the walls. The town is pretty, but I like Florence better! After the tour, Trey, Julie, Ellen, Laura, and I ate a long lunch outside and enjoyed the sun. We walked around the town and then sat on the wall for a while before leaving. This was my favorite part of the day. I loved relaxing and taking in the mountain views surrounding us.

View from the walls of Lucca

Lucca

When we got back to the Florence train station, we were right across from Burger King and Ellen insisted we stop in for some American food. She wore the BK crown and ate a burger while the rest of us watched. I did sneak a bite and it was so good! Reminded me of home. I don't even like burgers!

I don't know if I have ever seen her this happy

After Burger King, we went to the chocolate festival. I think I am going to start one of these in Dallas when I get back. Never-ending booths selling artisan chocolate...now that is a little slice of Heaven right there! I bought some macaroons and truffles and am savoring them as I write this.

Saturday we had a roomie day and hiked to my favorite place in Florence, Piazzale Michelangelo. I have talked about this before, but I mean it when I say: if you ever go to Florence, you must go here. This time I took my zoom lens for my camera and took beautiful pictures!  

Looking out over my favorite city

So happy to be experiencing this beauty with one of my best friends!

Frogs in Florence! 

How beautiful?!

I live here!

My sweet mom comes in on Thursday and I cannot wait to see her! Plus, she is bringing me everything I forgot to pack. I am excited to show her around my new home. 

Ciao for now!

Sarah

24 Hour Blitz

About a week ago someone mentioned going to Carnevale di Venezia, but when we looked around for hostels they were all booked. The decision was made to go anyway and do a "24 hour blitz." At 12:15 on Saturday 13 of us boarded the train to Venice. We got in around 2:15 and walked around the town taking in the unique beauty of the city.

Photo Cred: Julia Peebles

One of our first tasks once there was to buy masks so we could fit in. We didn't want to spend too much money but still wanted them to be flashy! I found one that I love; it is purple with feathers and sparkles. This mask will be such a fun souvenir to have and remind me of all the good times we had.

People said the mask fits my personality. I wonder what that means?

Ellen and I in the middle of the huge crowds

Piazza San Marco was crowded but the energy was great! People dressed in elaborate costumes were throwing confetti everywhere, singing loudly, and dancing. We met a group of guys from Spain, and when they found out we were from Texas they wanted to sing Johnny Cash; so we had a Johnny Cash sing-a-long in the middle of Piazza San Marco. We also met some people in the Air Force stationed in Italy. I love meeting people in the armed forces and having the opportunity to thank them for all they do. I am also glad they got to get off the base for the weekend and have a little fun!  

Some of the girls in our masks

Around 3 in the morning we were tired of wandering the city so we went into a 24 hour restaurant by the train station and sat there till about 5. We were all deliriously tired, but that certainly made for some entertaining conversation. 

Our original train didn't leave until 10:25, but we got our ticket switched to a 5:30 train. When we went into the train station we didn't see our train on the board and realized that it left from a different, smaller station in Venice. Oops! We saw that a train was about to leave for Bologna, which is about 35 minutes from Florence, so we made a quick decision to jump on that train since it was in the general direction we wanted to go. Once in Bologna we waited 10 minutes before we found a train going to Florence. For those of you who aren't aware, you aren't exactly not allowed to get on a train without a ticket. We were so tired (and out of money) that we really didn't care. Off to Florence we went!

The 24 hour blitz was fun and as an added bonus I crossed some things off my bucket list:

-Carnevale in Venice (the original Mardi Gras)

-Illegally jumping on a train in Europe (okay well this one wasn't on there before, but now I can say I did it)

-Watching the sunset and then the sunrise the next morning

All 13 of us made it through the adventure alive and well! Plus, we have some great memories and funny stories to tell. 

Ciao! Ciao!

Sarah

"Is this what a heart attack feels like?"

Ciao! (I promise I am working on expanding my Italian vocabulary)
Thursday night we celebrated the end of the first week of classes with dinner at the boys' apartment. Chris made delicious chicken while the rest of us drank some wine and bonded.

Some meat was a nice break from the pasta diet

My roommates and two of the three boys

After dinner we went out for a little while and then returned home to try to get some sleep. Four hours later we woke up and headed to meet some other girls for a Tuscan wine tour. 

When we arrived to the Tuscan countryside, we were given bikes and helmets and headed off to San Gimignano. We were all a little worried about the biking part of the tour; when we saw that these bikes were not cute little beach cruisers but instead intense road bikes, we started to question our choice. About two minutes into the ride, we encountered the first hill and then the doubts really started. Picture thirteen sorority girls running on four hours of sleep biking five miles uphill. Misery loves company and we were feeding off of each other. I am sure the tour guides loved the drama we added. My personal favorite remark was from Mary Kate who asked the group, "Is this what a heart attack feels like?" 

Part of the group

The ultimate destination, San Gimignano, is on a hilltop and I'm pretty sure it is an optical illusion. No matter how far we rode, the town never looked closer. Feeling discouraged and out of shape, we finally made it to the town. 

When we parked our bikes and looked out over Tuscany, the dramatic complaints fell silent as we took in the stunning views. The picturesque panorama was truly overwhelming. Words cannot describe the feeling I got looking out over God's creation. The vibrant colors seemed to be painted onto the horizon to make what I believe is the most beautiful place in the world. Of course I took pictures, but I am hesitant to put them on here because they do not even begin to depict what we saw. 

When we finally recovered from the shock of seeing these landscapes for the first time, we entered the medieval city to explore. San Gimignano is a quaint, sleepy town with a lot of history. We are going back with TCU, so I will learn more about the history then. We rewarded ourselves for making it up the hills (well, more like mountains) with some gelato. 

The inspiration for the original Twin Towers in NYC

 

Three of the four roommates

Zeta Love from Tuscany

  I had such a great time with these girls!

The bike ride down from San Gimignano was easier but still had hills. This Texas girl is used to flat terrain! We went to a farm where we had a traditional Tuscan lunch of meats and cheeses. The farm makes their own honey, so we got to try some. New favorite thing: put honey on cheese; all the Italians are doing it. I bought some of the honey and am hoping I can save it to take home, but we'll see. 

The farm where we had lunch

Lunch was followed by a wine tasting at a local vineyard. We tried ten wines, olive oil, and truffle oil. Talk about some happy girls! The man who led the wine tasting was so informative and entertaining. 

At the end of the day we all agreed that this was the best day of the trip so far and even one of the best days of our lives. The tour guides were funny, smart, and joys to be around. If you ever go to Tuscany, use Fun in Tuscany for tours! You don't have to do the bike tour; they offer horse tours as well as moped tours. We are already planning on going back when it gets warmer. 

I still can't believe I am lucky enough to be here. I count my blessings everyday and am excited for this journey to continue. 

Love from a very happy girl!

Sarah

p.s. GO FROGS! TCU basketball beat the #5 team in the country, Kansas. Always cheering on my school, even 5,000 miles away!

School aka The Boring Stuff

Well, classes started and I feel like a freshman again. Tuesday began with a trip to a cafe for some cappuccino and a croissant with Julie and Janette. The waiter called me JLo and patted my head; I don't know if we will be going back there. People weren't lying when they said watch out for the Italian men!

My first class on Tuesday is Italian 101. The last time I took an introductory language class was in 1st grade, so I am excited to have basic worksheets and exercises. I am also eager to be able to speak the native language, even if my understanding is very rudimentary.

After Italian I walk to a different building for International Law. My professor seems intense, but I am looking forward to the material we will study.

International Law is followed by Pairing Food and Wine. My professor's name is Giancarlo and I love him! One of the first things he told us was: "I married an American woman studying here, so ladies watch out for the human mosquitoes." He used to be the marketing director for Nivea Europe but quit his job to follow his passion and teach classes on pairing food and wine. Italians really value happiness over material things; I am making it one of my goals of the semester to become more Italian in that way. We made spaghetti alla carbonara and paired it with a white wine. Everyone be nice to me and maybe I will prepare a feast when I return to the states.

 Spaghetti alla Carbonara

After classes we went to Gusta Pizza, a pizza place that many people have called "the best pizza in Florence." It was really yummy, but I am still on the hunt for the best pizza...stay tuned! I got to FaceTime my Uncle David and Grandad after dinner and went to bed pretty early.

Wednesday morning I went on a run along the Arno river and ended it trying on jewelry along the Ponte Vecchio. Now that is a great day right there! Oh wait, I am trying not to value material things...

World Religions started at 3:00 on Wednesday. I don't really have anything to say about it except that after three hours of the class I knew I deserved some gelato.

Thursday mornings I have Italian again and then go to Global Business and Society. I think I am really going to like my business class. The professor is visiting from Marist in the US but was born and raised in Germany. She will definitely have a global perspective! 

The school, Lorenzo de Medici (LdM) is more of an urban campus than I am used to. The classrooms are in old buildings and the rooms are so pretty. A lot of the students are from the Tri-State area; my monogrammed Longchamps don't exactly fit in...

Enough of the boring stuff! Stay tuned for a post about one of the best days of my life.

xoxo

A Penny for Your Thoughts

If I had a penny for every thought I have had while here, I would be buying a lot more gelato. Here are just a few of my thoughts/observations thus far:

1. "Wow, this city is beautiful."
2. "My feet hurt."
3. "Gelato is dangerous."
4. "I really wish I knew Italian."
5. "I hope those postcards get to the US since the guy didn't speak English."
6. "Asians are taking over the world."
7. "Can I stay here forever?"
8. "This food is the best."
9. "Get away from me creepy Italian man."
10. "What? Cheap wine tastes good here?!"
11. "I can't believe I live here."
12. "A cappuccino a day keeps the doctor away."
13. "There are a lot of northerners in my classes."
14. "I want to meet someone from the Medici family."
15. "What do you mean I have to write a 10 page paper? I'm studying abroad!"
16. "School in Florence is way better than school in the US."
17. "So much history. I love it."
18. "Wow."
19. "I'm lucky."

And here are some pictures of this magnificent city!

Streets of Firenze

Baptistry Doors

Cathedral of Florence

 Rainy day outside the Cathedral

Julie and me on the Ponte Vecchio

View from the Ponte Vecchio

I walk past this EVERY day!!!

Roommates on the Ponte Vecchio

Piazza della Repubblica

Duomo

Cathedral

Abbracci e baci!

Hugs and kisses!

The Most Sophisticated City in the World

Hello from a tired American in Florence!
We have been so busy since getting here, but everything has exceeded my expectations. Saturday night all of the TCU students met at one of the apartments for dinner. Our apartments are all in different areas, so it is nice to catch up with everyone. After dinner we planned to go to a Discoteca but encountered a wind storm and decided to go home to our warm apartment instead.

Sunday we slept late and then went on a historical walking tour of Florence. Our tour guide, Rocky, is a Rhode Islander who has been living in Florence for 18 years. He is an Architecture Historian and so passionate about the city. I was on Cloud Nine listening to him recount thousands of years of history. I could listen to lectures about the history of Florence for hours. Rocky deemed the city "The Most Sophisticated City in the World" as well as "The Manhattan of the Middle Ages." I could go on and on about this tour.

Two of my roommates, Ellen and Julie, looking like tourists with our ear pieces

We ended at the Galleria dell'Accademia where Michelangelo's David is on display. If you have never seen the David, put it on your to-do list. When I turned the corner and looked down the long corridor, I truly gasped at what I saw. Many people say the David is the most important piece of art in the world, and seeing it in person is breathtaking. The detail in the furrow of his brow, the strain in his lips, and the veins running up his arms tells the beautiful story of David from the Bible. I definitely want to go back and admire the marble statue again. Luckily, I have a museum card that gets me into all of the museums for free! Thank you TCU for helping me be more cultured.

Gelato! Gelato stands are pretty much every other store here, and while they seem all the same, there is a distinct difference. A friend told me before I came that the gelato in mounds is for tourists (or is what Julie calls "fake gelato") and the gelato that is flat in the container is the authentic, good stuff. Chris took us to a place he remembered from when he was here three years ago that is divine. It is called Cafe delle Carrozze and is dangerously close to my apartment. They have a Forrero Rocher flavor that I could probably eat buckets of.

Last night we made our first home cooked meal in the apartment. We made a baked three-cheese pasta, eggplant parmesan, and a salad with tomatoes, mozzarella, and pesto. Everything was so good and we had fun cooking as roommates. I can't wait to keep trying out recipes and making up my own.

Today (Monday) some people started classes, but Julie, Hayley, and I don't have classes on Mondays. We woke up early and the three of us went on a hike to Piazzale Michelangelo. Because it is at a pretty high elevation, this piazza has the most gorgeous views of the city. We met a great artist there and I bought one of his watercolors that shows the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo.

View from the Piazzle Michelangelo

After our hike, we went to the Market Central. This market is huge and the vendors are cheap. I bought some fruit and some olive/truffle spread that is delicious.

 Veggies and cheese at the market

After the market we went to find where our classes are since they are spread throughout the city. We located all of the buildings and headed home after a long day of walking.

The cappuccinos are delizioso 

Salute!

Sorry this was long; we have been doing so much! 
Sarah

Home Sweet Home

Ciao!
I have spent two nights in my new home and am just as happy as can be! Thursday morning bright and early we stood on the sidewalk outside the hotel with all of our luggage as taxis picked us up and delivered us to our apartments. This was the first time we found out with whom we were living and where we would be living. My expectations were low because everyone talks about the different living standards. When the cab dropped us off we walked in and found out that the elevator was broken. We are on the 5th floor, which here is really the 6th floor. Pulling heavy bags up 6 flights of stairs early in the morning was not the way we wanted to start off the three months.

Finally we entered the apartment (with blisters on our hands and aching shoulders) and were all pleasantly surprised. We have a large living room and dining room, a do-able kitchen, and two big bedrooms. My roommate is Julie; Ellen and Janette are in the other room. Julie and I have a room that is downstairs. It is kind of nice to have a place separate from the rest of the house. Our building is steps away from the gorgeous jewelry stores on the historic Ponte Vecchio. Here are some pictures of our apartment! I love the homey feel.

Nice living room

Dining room

Entry way

Living room with stairs down to my room

Excited to make some Italian cuisine in this kitchen

Closet

My bedroom that I share with Julie

Big bathroom

We just planned our first trip! A group of us are headed to Carnival in Venice next weekend. All of the hostels were booked so we are spending 24 hours there with no place to sleep. Get ready for a great blog on that adventure.

Love from Firenze,

Sarah