primo settimana in Firenze

The last few days have been pretty interesting. I've started classes now, I've gone to a welcome dinner, and bought a new pair of boots! I feel like i've been spending excessive amounts of money but my parents claim I'm not. Not sure if I REALLLLY believe them. I still haven't decided if things are more expensive here, or if it's just my head telling me that. I did however buy a new pair of tall brown boots, black flats, and a cheap purse for 34 Euro. I was surprised that was even possible. Thankfully I bought the boots when I did, my combat boot zipper broke after I was done trying the brown ones on. So sadly I now have to buy another pair of combat boots while I'm here. So much money being thrown around and I have yet to leave florence or do any traveling. hmmmm.

I haven't completely figured out the florence streets yet, but I do know how to make it to my classes and back now, which is quite the accomplishment I'd say. I had my fashion photography class yesterday, I feel like I'm one of the few ACTUALLY a photo major. I'll definitely be rocking the darkroom once we start working there. I also found out the school has a field view camera I can borrow. I'm pretty sure while hearing that I had a HUGE grin on my face of excitement. View Camera in Italy? Yes please!!! Anyway, we played around with strobes a bit, we start using them in a couple weeks. So above is a quick snapshot of a very blown out image from the strobes I was using. And also above is the doorway from the palace of the welcome dinner. LDM hosts a welcome dinner, which is really a free glass of wine, some finger food, a bit of desert and off you go. It was in this giant maze of a place that was absolutely gorgeous. Obviously I was there and didn't get a picture until I was out the door. So I just snapped the doorway. Oh well. It was still fun!

Also, yesterday I was mocked by an Italian woman in this little restaurant. She worked there and still decided it was a good idea to mock the confused American. I was caught off guard by this, as well as when I was leaving she told me she loved me and that I needed to remember that always. I think she just wanted me to come back .... maybe she doesn't have very much business? I can't decide if I really want to ever go back after that experience. :]

Buon compleanno Caroline!

Today is Caroline's birthday. Yesterday we celebrated all night for her. During the day I slept in until about 10:30 and chilled around the house for a bit. Liz and I ventured to the local LUSH. I was of course beyond ecstatic because I'm obsessed! It was liz's first time there so I was running around explaining the products the best I could. I'm beginning to realize how many people here actually speak english. I knew it was going to be a lot, but really? I've only encountered maybe 3 people who didn't speak any and they were from spain!!! Which are coincidentally our neighbors across the hall. Which reminds me.... The first day here I couldn't get into my apartment because I didn't know how to work the keys. Thankfully our wonderfully adorable neighbors helped me get my baggage upstairs and called the landlord for me. They speak barely ANY english. It was extremely hard to communicate but we managed.

It's been tough getting around knowing only very little Italian. It's very terrifying to attempt to speak it. I don't want to offend them yanno? Anyway. I bought a scarf yesterday when all the roommies when on a shopping excursion. We wandered to the Ponte Vecchio with my first gelato in hand. It was beautiful and strange to be standing on one of the most well known spots in the world. And last night we pregammed with the guys who live below us and went to a few clubs. We started at Astor, which was extremely fun, and free entry!! which is kind of hard to find here it seems, many have a cover charge. The Red Garter followed which was okay, and then a few people went to Twice while the rest of us walked the drunk birthday girl home. I fell asleep around 3:30-4 AM and was actually the first one asleep. Everyone here stays awake so late and most of the bars/clubs don't open until about 12 AM. Makes sleeping almost a last priority here. Kind of crazy since it's not really my life style. But I joined in on the fun last night since it was my first weekend here.

Tonight, after being lazy all day, we went to dinner for pizza. The waiter was a sweetheart and gave us a huge discount. We spent 97Euro for 7 meals, bread and oil, 2 pepsi's, and 2 bottles of wine. I was pretty impressed. The pizza I had was very sub par though, i've had better pizza in the states. So the pizza hunt begins. I need to find my favorite place. I like good pizza, but who doesn't right? The rest of the girls went out tonight to a few other clubs while I decided a movie night was best for me. So here I am blogging about my small adventures.

Ciao a tutti!

Hello Everyone!

Hope you're days are going grand and the weather is somewhat to your standards.

I've been here in Italy since wednesday afternoon. It's beautiful.

I can't even describe how I'm feeling. How do you sum up a huge life change that happens in a day? Scary? Exciting? Lonely? I know I was terrified thinking I had to find my way to school without help. Word on the streets was the taxi's were on strike. Thankfully that was over and I successfully made it to my school and my BEAUTIFUL two story apartment.

I was terrified of living with 6 other girls but thus far it's been okay. Sharing the kitchen has proven to be slightly tough, but my room is perfect. I'm the only one living on the 2nd floor so I have my own bathroom as well.

Yesterday I got lost in Florence.... not intentionally of course. I walked around for 2 hours trying to find my apartment, with heavy groceries. Not my ideal day, but it happens.