Firenze? But I Thought We Were Going to Florence...

My dad told me right before I left that Italians call the city of Florence, Firenze. I really didn't believe him and thought to myself, "Yeah maybe in ancient times they did but not now. It's called Florence, gosh." Well I got to Firenze and Rob was right (as always) and I shall love the ring of that name froever! Huzah! 

Florence is one neat place. Before I left for my program at the beginning of June people almost always thought I was either going to Rome or Firenze, not Siena. Because I have been in Siena for so long, I found myself missing my familiar Sienese streets and smiles while staying in the rival city for 5 days. I hope someone just caught wind that I called Florence the rival city. Y'all wouldn't BELIEVE the shade that is thrown between the two cities!! They are straight up savage. 

So what was I doing there for 5 days you may be wondering and wanting me to write about already. Well calm down because I'm about to tell you in one word. Firenzecard. That really is one word, not two. Promise. This little beaut you could use to go to 72 places in the timespan of only 72 hours... for only 72 Euro! Wowwowwow! So for three days, we jam packed our day to walk everywhere and see lots of things. We got to go into The Academia where David is, the Uffizi, Santa Croce as well as Santa Maria Novella, The Duomo, The Baptistry and so so SO much more. The main difference between Florence and Siena is that Florence is bigger and "better." They aren't situated on 3 terzi (hills) like Siena is so they have more room to stretch out and put fancy Prada shops in and build onto churches and whatnot. 

After our cards expired on Friday, Saturday was a free day for us since it was St. John the Baptist Day! For those who don't know, practically every city in Tuscany has a/some patron saints and John the Baptist is Florence's. I mostly used the day to catch up on homework since we had buckets of it, but my roommates and I went out in the mid-afternoon to go walk around and see the festivities. Glad we went because lots of people were out that day and we got to participate in a small street performance and watch the fireworks on a bride over the Arno river. Very cool!

But something happened to me in Florence. I had a magical moment. I was taking a stroll though these gorgeous gardens in the Palazzo Piti as the sun was dipping beneath the horizon. The weather was cool (for once) and there was only the echo of an orchestra tuning it's instruments and my footsteps crunching on the gravel. It hit me! I was in Firenze, Italy... walking around a palace... with my awesome roommates who I just met three weeks earlier. I was completely happy. Completely content and wrapped in gratitude. There were lots of things that helped me and prepared me to get to where I was in that moment and for that I am so grateful. That moment will forever remain just as magical and prominent as it was in the gardens. Thanks go out to all who supported and encouraged me! 

Alright Everyone... Take 5

Dear heavenly beings above, thank you for having a day of rest on Sunday. Thank you for teaching me that it is important to rest from labors and relax. Thank you and bless you.

So if you read my previous post, you would know how busy a summer study abroad program can be. Something great happened this past weekend though. We had a break! We had Friday through Sunday to do whatever we wanted and go wherever we wanted to go. What a blessing!!! Part of my group went to Vernazza, one of the popular cities that make up the costal region of Cinque Terre. Man oh man was it a blast. Besides our plans to go to the beach one day and get gelato multiple times every day, we had no plans! May I just say... having no plans is the bomb. I have never enjoyed being "bored" as much as I did there. There was no sense of urgency to do something because we had this chunk of precious free time. We wanted to be spontaneous and I personally wanted to eat some sort of sea food every meal. Everything was so grand. 

For those who have not traveled to Europe, train strikes are kind of a thing though. But it's not how you would think a normal strike is in the US. Just listen to how kooky this is. So our train was supposed to leave in the afternoon but obviously, we couldn't go at that time because the strike was from 9pm Thursday to 9pm Friday.  You could imagine my confusion when my professor just said to leave really early Friday morning and be just fine. She explained that would work because A) The strikers announce the strike to the public like.. 72 hours in advance so people can arrange their travel plans and B) They don't strike early in the morning as to accommodate people who need to get to work. Does any one else think that's hilarious?!?! Because I do!!! They're all trying to be accommodating while also being a pain in the butt! I found the whole situation very humorous haha! 

After successfully navigating the train system to our destination, we checked into our hotel rooms and then changed into our swim suits as fast as possible. Once the sunscreen was safely lathered on (y'all need to be wearing sunscreen. Don't be dumb) I was ready for ultimate relaxation and I wasn't disappointed. Some of us really wanted to hike to another city close by since it would only take a couple hours but we had an epiphany moment. We were walking all day everyday and for a vacation, all we really wanted to do was sit. So we did! I got to read a book by the rocky shore, go kayaking at dusk, and leisurely walking into all the shops on the small main stretch. I truly fell in love with the city. And I got to try kayaking for the first time in Italy! Like... can I get a what what??!! That was probably the favorite thing I did on the break. So to all those studying abroad, make sure you find a trip that gives you as much free time as possible or at least a big break. Sometimes you just need to take 5 and go a beach to build rock towers on your legs for an hour.

Oh, You Were Serious About Studying?

READ THIS POST IF INTERESTED IN STUDY ABROAD AS A STUDENT

When you go to orientation to study abroad, they go through section about not setting your expectations too high before you leave. Many people will have this "perfect" program set list or program group created in their mind and become distraught to find that reality is not what their imagination made it out to be. I tried my hardest to not day dream about what Italy would be like buuutt... how could I not?! This was something I had never experienced so of course I planned out in my head how I thought every little detail would be executed. 

Boy did my little world come crashing down. Now, full disclosure: this next section might sound like I'm complaining or being overdramatic. So stop reading here if you don't want to hear about the finite details of a school program abroad. If you do, great! Brace yourself for some reading.

Doing a summer program abroad for 4 weeks is no walk in the park. I am lucky in that the excursions are included in my tuition fees and those destinations are my quote on quote "classrooms," but its still a classroom. There's still a tight schedule to keep and projects to complete. And since the courses I am taking total 6 credit hours in 4 weeks, it's fast paced. We never take two days to analyze a vast cathedral or even an entire town. We do it in one day! Here's a little taste of the schedule I have found that works for me and how I do all my homework. 

Try (bless my heart, I try) to get up at 6:00am every morning. I can workout, talk to my family, shower, or do reading/ annotating from our online textbooks. Usually get out the door by 10 at the latest to meet with professor. Spend around 3 hours doing a class in the morning time, have a break for about 2 hours (we once got a 4 hour break),  and then spending the late afternoon doing more class time. Our schedules vary with the inclusion of a workshop or excursion to a neighboring city an hour bus ride away.. We almost always have dinner and lunch off to go get something to eat. Not too shabby, right? Right! Now let's throw in the homework.

We have anywhere from 2 long chapters to 6 chapters of textbook reading on food history, history of Siena and Florence, and any art/ architecture information. We are supposed to take good notes on these. We also have to take notes while walking around the town during "class time." Whenever we go to a market or museum or church, we have to do an analysis paper on that thing (on top of all the notes we're already taking). We also have to keep a journal that cites our readings and reflects (meaningful, collegiate level, in-depth reflection) on each activity done each day. Those are due every week. Our group also has 8 Italian lessons spread throughout the 4 weeks here. And lastly, we have a group project and individual project that's food based and art based. Each have to be completed in our spare time and we have to speak about each one for 5-8 minutes on our last day.

So I'm a little busy and a LOT tired from the average 6 miles of walking we do every day. I definitely did NOT include that whole studying and homework thing into my ideal trip to Italy. It's not just a vacation where we get tours everywhere and go to fancy restaurants. I have fun and I'm learning like crazy, but the downtime is spent doing homework in my room, shopping at the insanely crowded grocery store, or napping. Not to dis anyone either, but our faculty that is leading this program has been very vague with her requirments on assignments and then gets mad at us for not doing what she never stated she wanted us to do. There's a lot of trying to infer what she wants. 

So yeah! Italy= awesomesauce place! But school is school no matter where you go.

 

Transition from Art to Food

Buonasera from Italy! So these past few days have been great! Our first week in Italy was all architecture and art related. This week was getting into the food class! Thank goodness we average about 6 miles walking every day because I eat like crazy! The some big trips of the week were going to Loreno Winery (*for all my wine peeps, this is where they make the famous Cianti Classico!*), the Panforte Factory, and Spannocchia Farm. 

Let's go over the winery. Now, I don't drink wine. It is goes against my religion and personal beliefs. However, I did try to fully immerse myself in the wine process and experience. My professor had textbook readings about the Cianti Classico wine made there and I tried to familiarize myself with that as much as possible. The winery also made their own Extra Virgin Olive Oil, so I was very appreciative to be taste testing that while the rest of my group would taste the different wines. By the time the wine tasting was done, I had smelled and examined every wine as much as I could without drinking it and I got a lot out of that. Making wine is a huge ordeal and it's amazing that they are so dedicated to making these beverages. 

Panforte factory! Now this was a very interesting experience. Like I've said before, Italians and the Sienese people truly enjoy their foods that have been around for centuries. One of those foods we learned about in our walking lecture and textbook readings was the panforte. This is a spiced bread that was invented around the 15th century. It's pretty much bread crumbs, honey, dried fruit, and a CRAP ton of spices. Cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, red pepper, walnuts... you name it. There's actually 17 specific ingrediants and in our textbook readings, it also mentioned including "love, virtue, patience" hahaha! Not even joking there. When I tried it, I quickly realized that it tasted like carrot cake from the U.S with a little hint of black licorice, and a lot less sugar/ frosting. I guess back in the day, this bread was also used as some sort of energy bar and still can be used that way today. Best part? You can buy it in the U.S! That's right ladies and gentlemen, for only $6 you can buy your own Panforte in your local World Market!! But in all reality, it's amazing to see this factory thriving on the high demand coming from its city. 

Spannocchia Farm was like a magical wonderland. A wonderland with pigs that is. Spannocchia Farm is known for saving and breeding the local Cinta Senese Pig that was about to go extinct a few centuries ago. We got to have an hour walking tour around the Villa (not the Villa American's have defined. An actual Villa is the home of the landowner. The other houses we Americans think of as Villas were for the workers, and those are called podere). We then got another hour walking tour of the pigs, olive trees, and their private winery. Overall a gorgeous place with tons of history. I've never been to a place in the USA that raises and slaughters an animal that were almost extinct at one point. Also, lemme just mention the hike there. Wow. An hour hike just to get to their beautiful vegetable gardens. I definitely felt in my element here. Not so "in my element" when I was eating pig face though. However! Study abroad is meant to get you out of your comfort zone a bit. So my advice you ask? Try the pig face! Take an hour hike all uphill in 100% humidity! Try ordering a drink in the language of the country! Growth comes when you get out of your comfort zone. 

Euros Euros Euros

So did you know that studying abroad is expensive? Did you also know that going to Europe is expensive? Did you also also know that life is expensive? Well folks,all those things are true.

If anyone knows me, they know that I am a huge saver. I have put tons of birthday money into savings and really any spare money into that account. I don’t like spending. I feel like there aren’t that many material things that I need. I also tend to have buyers remorse. Gosh, that is just about the worst feelings to have when you buy something you’re really excited about and then the minute you take the wrapping off at home, you want to return it ASAP.

There are few things I don’t have buyers remorse about. My cherished memories and vacations are some of those things. Not once have I looked back on a family trip, Disneyland trip, or exciting adventure where I feel regret for spending money on it. Life thrives on good memories. It thrives on seeing the world through different lenses and being able to connect with new people and place around you. So, is the study abroad program I’m doing expensive? Yes. Every time I buy a 2 Euro gelato with a 2 Euro slice of take-away pizza, I feel my wallet shed a tear or two. I have eating out almost every day and trying to figure out how much more I’m spending in US dollars instead of Euros.

But do I regret coming here? Oh heck no!!!! This is an experience where I grow and learn and become a better more cultured person. I wouldn’t trade this for the world. As I’ve gotten older (and with pep talks from my parents) I have come to see that money is not everything. Yes it helps in many ways and can provide some peace of mind, but it’s not everything. Spend money on things worth spending money on. Not that cute shirt you “need”, but on the things that will lead to a closer-knit family. A new perspective. A better relationship with God. A higher education. A story to tell around the campfire.
Just some food for thought.

x

Art. Churches. Markets. Pasta.

Elongation of facial features and fingers. Point or rounded arches? Santa Maria Asunta verses the Virgin Mary. Just some good things to keep in mind when analyzing art and architecture from the 13th-15th centuries. New vocabulary (not even Italian vocab) has been the biggest learning curve for me thus far. Proto- Renaissance, a style with lots of shading and contemporary costumes. A maestá, a painting of the mother of Christ once she has ascended and sits on a throne since she is queen. Italo- Byzantine means there's going to be a lot of gold foil in the art. This right here is the new vocabulary I'm getting acquainted with. I have been learning for these past few days how to think and use my eyes critically over every inch of a cathedral's facade or a fresco's scene. It's quite amazing how long it's taken to build churches in Italy or create the even more grand alter pieces resting inside. So many hidden gems that REAL people dedicated their lives to. They were artists who loved God and loved their city.

But really, how 'bout those markets eh?? JK. Sorry for making that awkward. But really! Outdoor markets are the coolest thing ever!! I've gone to a couple in the U.S like in Ohio but these things are legit. I was wondering why grocery stores don't have that much fresh produce here and welp! There's my answer!Every Wednesday in Siena, locals put up an outdoor market with all the fresh fruits,veggies, meats, and cheese you could imagine. And yes, it all tastes fantastic. Since the entrance is stiuated along the side lines of the city, tourists as well as locals crowd together. Fun fact for ya. The Sienese people are cery proud of their heritage, so much of the food there was straight outta Tuscany yo. There were also countless racks of clothing. I was only a little sad to find out that shirts here run on the larger side soooo none for me this time around. 

This post is already running long but I just have to mention the pasta making class I went to. Wow. Can you even beleive I just said that sentence?! Because I can't! It was the most fun I've had thus far. My program was in the kitchen for over 4 hours making native Sienese cookies, tortellini, gnocchi, lasagna, and eggplant parm. If you read that sentene over again, you can actually hear your stomach start to gramble, true story. We also got to eat everything we made and take hoe the leftovers. I am definitely not a chef byt my udnerstandig of Italian and Tuscan cuisine gre ten fold within those few hours. We did a pretty dang goo job too!!! I know the Avery family (shout out!) would be proud of me.  

P.S. My internet won't let me upload pictures on here so more will be posted to my facebook page. Thanks!

When in Rome... No wait. When in SIENA!

Italia! Buongiorno! It's been great to me thus far. Our apartment on the other hand has not. None of our phones an seem to connect securely to the wifi which is unfortunate. However, my laptop magically does connect! So here I am, blogging away during a break today. 

So to update, I flew into Rome and then took a bus to Sienna. The bus ride was about 4 hours and for half that time I rested my eyes (in Italy that means passed out) and the second half, I got to look at the beautiful country side around me. Wanna know some great news? I haven't felt jet-lagged! #blessed

My group of eight is awesome. All girls and one guy. We have already done SO much walking. We walk to get dinner, to hop on the train, to ride the bus, to shop, and eat gelato. But boy oh boy do I love all the walking. Really! It feels invigorating. We even walked a pilgrimage trail to a castle! See epic pic below (we were all extremely tired and hot from walking in the tuscan sun so please keep that in mind).

I have not felt any culture shock yet either. It feels different being in a different country with surroundings abnormal to me, but much of it seems like a dream. There should be a psych term where your brain thinks you're only going somewhere for a short amount of time even though you will be there a long time, you know? Anyone know that term? Please let me know when you figure it out. 

I want to take pictures of every little thing. The vibrant pots of flowers in every window pane. The lines upon lines of mopeds. The forgotten, secluded alley ways. The well dressed people. The mouth watering meats, cheeses, and breads. The rows upon rows of vineyards. 

But for now, I will be selfish and keep the most vivid photos in my mind and heart. Arrivederci!