The Ups and Downs of Firenze

Buona sera!

I'm currently sitting in bed and really should be sleeping, but couldn't stop thinking about my next update from Italy. As promised, I'd like to touch on some things that distinguish my current home from my normal home, maybe talk about what I miss, but also what I love about it here.

First of all, EVERYTHING is smaller here. The stove/oven is small, beds are small (and not that comfortable), portions of food are smaller (which is definitely not what I was expecting, Italy being one of the gustatory capitals of the world). The fridge is small, and the cars are all SUPER small, including mini 4 wheel pick up trucks.

Food shopping has been quite an experience, in good and bad ways. It's great to be able to buy fresh local food and to practice the language, but when heading to the supermarket for a large amount of groceries (which are fun to carry all the way home) it can be a bit of a challenge. All the labels are obviously in Italian, which isn't as difficult or confusing as actually reading the directions on how to cook specific things. I've been making it up as I go along. As far as cooking for myself, it's a hassle because I'm not used to it, but we're getting the hang of it. Tonight we managed to turn 3 chicken breasts, garlic, onions, tomatos, pasta, wine, balsamic, EVOO, and lettuce into garlic and balsamic marinated chicken, a small salad, and pasta with a white wine sauce that fed 4 hungry girls into satisfaction. We also conconcted some fondue treats from nutella, apples, kiwi, and biscotti cookies. Needless to say we're quite proud of ourselves AND may make a tradition out of bringing random contents of our kitchens together and seeing what we can make.

Unfortunately on the food side, Peanut Butter, a good old fashioned American staple, is not such an essential item here in Europe. It's been compared to vegemite for the Aussies. Aparently they think it's gross and prefer Nutella on everything. Crazy. But after some scouting of local food stores, I managed to find a small jar for a steal of a price, 2.90 euro. Terrible but I need it in my life. They also aren't big fans of salad dressings here in Italia, and stick to simple oil, vinegar, or balsamic. And as far as we've heard, cheddar cheese is nowhere to be found, which is a bit of a let down for one so accustomed to fine Vermont cuisine. Regardless, we're making due and still loving the fresh and delicious food we do have.

On a more positive note for Italy, it's gorgeous here, and so much fun. There's no shortage of things to do, even if it's just going for a walk. Yesterday and today I took wrong turns on my return to the apartment and ended up discovering some fun new sights and features. Literally every Piazza is different in some way, and I ran to the park today and got so distracted by everything in it that I'm not sure my time for the run was too impressive. On that note, tangent, nobody runs here (they all bike everywhere) and so it's a dead giveaway to our status as Americans when we're running down the bike paths. BUT I'm marathon training, so what are you going to do?

After dinner tonight my 3 friends and I sat down to begin plans for our fall break and our weekend travels. We've got a pretty secure list down of where we're going and when, so I thought it'd be nice to just list for you all some of the things/places you can look forward to reading about in the future:

The Nextech Electronic Music Festival in Florence
Pisa and the Cinque Terre
The Florence Marathon's Corre La Vita charity walk
Bologna
Venice and Verona
A Florence soccer game
Opera night in Florence
The Eurochocolate festival in Perugia
Rome
Fall break in Ireland (Dublin and Galway), Spain (Madrid and Barcelona), and France (Paris)
Napoli/Capri/Pompeii
Horseback riding in the Chianti region
Skiing in Switzerland
Greece
Austria/Germany

Those are the planned fun adventures for me this semester. Some are included with the program, and some will cost me, so we'll see how many I can afford to do, but as far as I'm concerned my semester is looking to play out in an amazing way.

That's all for now. I've got to get to bed. We're taking the bus over to Fiesole tomorrow, which is supposed to offer breathtaking views of Florence at any time of day. I'll be sure to take a ton of pictures. Check back soon for those and a review of the "classes" I'm taking while I'm here.

Ciao!
-Christine

omigosh Firenze

HELLO EVERYONE!

I'm so so soooo sorry it's been so long since I could update you on my life. I only got internet a few days ago and have been scrambling around getting groceries and getting ready for class and so on and so on. It's nearly impossible to recap the last week and the awesomeness of it into a reasonable sized account, but I can do my very best and promise to keep you update much more frequently as I continue my adventures here in Italy and beyond!

First of all, Italy is gorgeous. Or at least Florence, which is really all I've seen so far. But don't worry, traveling is all over my plans for my semester here, so you'll hear about all kinds of great places. Anyway, the first few days here we were oriented to the city with API. After meeting our roommates, housemates, and new friends, we had a dinner together on the rooftop restaurant at the hotel. The views from all over were breathtaking, and we didn't even care when it started to rain. The next few days were a whirlwind of tours, meetings, and delicious meals together (we knew we were going to miss that when it came time to cook for ourselves). We got a tour of the historical district of florence, where we live, and of the areas across the arno river, which have a lot of fun things to do and places to eat.

Friday we moved into our aparments. This was no easy task for us girls (my aparment building is all girls from the program). We each had at least 2 suitcases and a backpack to carry up the huge stone steps (and for my roommates and I that meant 2 floors up). Nevertheless, we made it and were SO SURPRISED at how amazing our apartment is. Each one is a little different, but we loved ours the most of course. I'm trying to find a way to upload my videos. Blogger isn't doing it for me, so we'll see what I can come up with.

The weekend was spent doing orientation activites like more tours, dinners, academic orientation, and meetings, plus going out and exploring all that Florence has to offer. Now that orientations are all over, classes have started and we're beginning to get inot a routine. I have clas Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I know that seems like a joke but it's a decent amount of class time. T/W/Th morning at 8 am I have italian 202, where the professor speaks only in Italian. I think I'm getting the hang if it though (until it comes time for me to speak to her haha). Tuesday after Italian I have oil painting for 5 hours. Gah! It feels like I'm really going to love that class though. Today (Wednesday) I also have Food and Culture with my roommate and a friend, and later Sociology and History of the Italian Mafia (I know, can you believe it?) Yesterday I added a course to my schedule, because I felt I could handle the extra work and thought maybe taking only 12 credits was a bad idea, so now I'm also registered for Psychology of Crime on Thursdays after Italian.

So that's my story so far, or at least what I can tell without boring you/writing a 3 page book up here. I've already got the wheels turning on a new post, so check back soon and I'll have it (I promise it won't be a week from now). Remember to check my twitter and facebook for updates and pictures. I'll post a few at the end of this post too. I'll be sure to let you know how the first week of classes finishes up, and check back soon for some fun treats including: differences between Florence and home, what I miss about home, what I love about Florence, my AWESOME upcoming schedule of events, and much more!

Ciao! -Christine

Am I there yet?

Hey all,
I'm writing to you from, unfortunately, still my house in NJ. My long-awaited but too soon departure date is this Tuesday and, while I've gone through the up's and downs of excitement, fear, and everything in between, I just want to go already! Many of my other friends who are studying aborad this semester have already left and are having AMAZING times, which alleviates a lot of my stree and worry and just builds on my excitement. I've been doing reading and research all about Florence and other places I want to go, and now I'm ready to ship out.

Of course, I did have to pack before I left. That was fun. In just about every piece of literature we get for study abroad we are countlessly reminded to PACK LIGHT, PACK LIGHT, PACK LIGHT. Though I'm not really the best at this (I ended up with 30 pairs of pants at the conclusion of freshman year) I do think I've done a good job. I've got all I need packing into 1 large suitcase and 1 medium suitcase, plus a backpack, though there are a few things I've forgotten that will have to get put in there somewhere. As for things I plan to buy while I'm away? I can either ship them home or send them back with my family, as they plan to visit at the end of November.

Moving to that, they're not only visiting me because of the Thanksgiving Holiday (it's not celebrated in Italy anyway, so I'll have class). They're also coming to watch me run in the Florence Marathon. I'm officially registered as of today and have the information I need to go for runs while I'm away. I know it sounds crazy to commit to a marathon while going abroad, but I thought it was one of the best ways to stay in shape for swimming, have fun, not get fat, and immediately immerse myself in the city and it's surroundings. The marathon course is gorgeous and runs past many of Florence's biggest monuments. No worries, I'll keep you updated with more than enough information about how that's going. Plus I can't wait to start taking and posting pictures and video from Italy.

So, this might be my last post before I arrive, unless I can figure something out during my 5 hour layover in Germany. Either way, check back soon to hear how my first week is going. I'm so excited and hope everyone moving in this weekend has a great time. Good luck with the first week of classes, especially to the class of 2013!

-Christine

you gotta hear this one song...

Hello all,
So I've been very busy lately with all I need to have ready for study abroad and with work still going on. I'll update more on some specifics when I have more time, but I recently came across a song that really reminded me of study abroad and the whole experience of leaving, being there, and coming back (even though I haven't done it all yet). I thought I'd post the lyrics and that they'd be interesting for everyone to take a look at. The song is The Call by Regina Spektor.

It started out as a feeling, which then grew into a hope,
which then grew into a quiet thought which then grew into a quiet word.
And then that word grew louder and louder, until it was a battle cry,
I'll come back when you call me, no need to say goodbye.

Just because everything's changing doesn't mean it's never been this way before.
All you can do is try to know who your friends are as you head off to the war.
Pick a star on the dark horizon and follow the light
You'll come back when it's over, no need to say goodbye.

Now we're back to the beginning, it's just a feeling and noone knows yet
But just because they can't feel it too doesn't mean that you have to forget
Let your memories grow stronger and stronger, until they're before your eyes
You'll come back when they call you, no need to say goodbye.

Anyway I thought that was sort of interesting considering my leaving in 8 days for Italy! I'll check back probably before the week is out with how packing and preparing are going. Bye!

-Christine

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Hey readers,

So yesterday I received my most recent orientation packet for my trip to Italy. It contained all the good stuff I’ve been waiting for, including orientation and semester schedule information, where I’m living, packing lists, and my roommates! I’m so excited to have all of this information and can’t believe I only have 20 days left until I leave. Before this packet, I received another one that sparked a post idea. On the inside cover are some great quotes about going out and exploring the world (including the entire quote by Mark Twain referenced in my title) and about how great study abroad really is, and then there are questions to answer before we leave, and I though that they would be great to talk about.

What are you looking forward too?
What am I NOT looking forward to!?! I’m so excited to travel to Italy, a place I’ve always wanted to go. I can’t wait to better my Italian, take new and interesting classes, meet new people, and travel, travel, travel. I’m already trying to pick all the places I want to go and when. I’m also looking forward to the unknown and the new and exciting.

What are your fears?
I think I’m afraid of a lot of things about going abroad. New people, new language, and a new place I’ve never been. But my fears are a lot of the same things I’m looking forward to as well. I think I just need to incorporate my excitement to cancel out the fear. I’m afraid of being without my family and friends, and the comfort of SMC, but I know I’ll learn to adapt and be fine. I’m more excited than afraid, but that changes a lot.

What is the farthest you’ve been from home?
Technically the farthest I’ve been from home is the Caribbean but that was with my family. SMC is the farthest I’ve been without my parents, so Italy is quite a ways away, and quite a time difference (7 hours ahead in Italy).

How do you think you will change after this adventure?
I’m not sure how I will change, but I know I’ll come back with a different view on life, culture, and the rest of the world. I think all my changes will be good ones and will help me grow into an adult and stuff, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

So that’s all from the “passport to Italy” packet. Keep checking back as the departure date (September 1st) gets closer and I get more and more excited/scared to go abroad. Oh and shout out to Meg.

Bye!

Congrats are in Order

I wanted to write this little post congratulating former SMC web guru Drew Millikin and his wife Maria on a GORGEOUS new baby boy born yesterday. Parker Millikin is just about the cutest thing I've seen ever, and I wish I could meet him sooner than I will. So congrats to the new mom and dad, and all the best.

In other news, my computer broke, my dad fixed it and we're rounding the final corner with 10 more days of swim team. I'm praying for good weather to get tonight's final dual meet over with, but the forecast isn't looking promising. If not, we'll have to reschedule sometime in the next two days, as the league championships are saturday morning, and the county championships are every day next week. It'll be a busy week for me, we'll see how the team makes out.

Other than that, just trying to find time in my obviously busy social callendar to buy the necessary treats for Italy, open a new checking account, get a webcam, and so on and so on.

Keep checking back for more fun, and congrats again to the new parents!

-Christine

The countdown continues

Hiiiii everyone!

So it’s been a little longer than I’d like but, not to sound like a broken record, I’m super busy with everything I’ve got going on this summer. But in fun SMC news, POW was AMAZING! I had an absolutely awesome time with some fellow classmates, while getting to meet a few incredible members of the incoming class of 2013. There are pictures too! I also had a great time spending a few extra days on campus with my boyfriend and friends who are living there. I really want to live up by school next summer, because they seem like they’re having the best summer ever.

here's the whole group, my small group, and the team.

Other than that I’ve been doing the same old: coaching (we won our first meet!), working, and prepping for ITALY!! It’s about 40 something days left I think, and I’m getting nervous. But my friend Megan is already abroad in South Africa and is having an amazing time, so that makes me feel better about my worries. Check her blog out: Megan in South Africa. I had a little trouble with a course cancellation recently, but it all worked out and other than having to take philosophy at SMC now, I’ve got an even better schedule than last time (classes between 8am Tuesday and 9am Thursday only!)

Recently a few other bloggers put out some posts about what to bring and what not to bring to college. I suppose I can give my 2 cents to that as well, though it might be a little redundant.

1. The first thing I suggest is to talk to your roommate about what I consider the 4 main appliances of a dorm room: fridge, printer, tv, and microwave. While a lot of students don’t have their own printer or don’t use it anymore, I still have mine and love not having to walk to the library every time I need to print something. That said, I type study guides and retype notes all the time, so I’m always printing and being able to right there in my room, but it’s totally a personal preference. Ink and paper does get expensive after a while. Whatever you do, remember to recycle your paper after!

2. Shoes. As a girl I obviously have a lot of shoes, but I really do recommend one of each kind: flip flops, sneakers, snow boots, and dress shoes. Having a shoe for any weather from the 75 degree September afternoons to the snowy November days is obviously necessary.

3. 2 sets of sheets, at least. I’ve heard a lot of future freshmen talking about having only one set of sheets and I’m telling you, this is a mistake. You may think you’ll just remove your sheets, do your laundry, and put them back on, but who has that kind of time? Having 2 sets will ensure that if your laundry doesn’t get folded before bed time (mine barely ever did) that you still have clean sheets to sleep on. Also, YOU DON’T NEED FLANNEL SHEETS. I know it’s cold in VT, but it is anything but in the dorm rooms. You’ll just be really warm with flannel.

4. Desk lamp, mirror, and alarm clock. All tiny but important essentials for daily college living.

5. Hot Pot. My roommate had one of these and I only had the tall water boiler, and she was definitely better off. I could make hot chocolate and tea, but she could make ramen, pasta, cream of wheat, and even jello. It’s easy to clean and plugs right into the outlets. Seriously, get one!

6. While you’re at it, a Brita was my best purchase for sophomore year. I saved money on water bottles and always had cold water to drink. There’s nothing wrong with the tap, if you like that too!

7. Storage containers. Even if you don’t use them, you can never have too many, because if you’re like me and you have a lot of stuff, you’ll need somewhere to put it. Containers for your closet that hold shoes and clothes horizontally are awesome too.

8. Don’t buy food until you get on campus. It takes up space and will be in the way while you unpack. Once you’re settled in, there will be time to head to the grocery store and by then you’ll have space in your room for treats.

9. Remember that there’s a break in October and another for Thanksgiving, so you don’t need to bring EVERYTHING with you in one shot. You can swap out warmer weather clothes for the colder weather stuff in November, so your room isn’t too full, but neither are your suitcases. Whatever you do, don’t wind up with 30 pairs of pants at the end of the year. I did that, no lie.

Hope this helps. I’ll check back with everyone as the countdown to Italy continues.

-Christine