Starting Anew.

In order to fill you in properly, I must backtrack a few days. I will first share with you the fact that I was having an incredibly lovely weekend until Sunday around noon.

Friday night we went out for aperitivi with Alessio and his friends (our Italian friends/babysitters who we met through Giovanna). We got all dressed up (as it was Victoria’s birthday) and we enjoyed an evening of snacking and sipping some fancy drinks. We then wandered over to Twice, a somewhat touristy and overpriced yet still enjoyable discoteca. We danced our bums off all night and meandered home.

Saturday morning, we went to Pistoia, as I explained a few posts ago (you can see Giovanna and I chatting at the train station station. Saturday night we went out to an fantastic bar called Das Brumeister (or something along those lines) – by far the best bar I have been to so far (I think I shared this with you already?).

Anyway. Long story short… I woke up Sunday morning in a jolly good mood because I had slept a solid and restful 8 hours in my bed, in my new clean, bed-bug free room and I was about to head out to an artisanal market on the street where Giovanna lives.

Or not.

Because as I was standing up to hop in the shower, something scuttled out from under my blankets.

Undoubtedly a bedbug. Which I tried to catch, yet I failed and therefore it escaped. No worries though, because in the next 10 minutes I found 5 more through my sobs. I ran up to Ali’s room in tears, and called Giovanna who arrived within 30 minutes.

The next 10 hours are somewhat of a blur but what remains most clearly in my mind is that I was devastated, pissed, soggy with tears, and often found myself sitting on Giovanna’s lap being rocked, or walking around the streets of Florence holding her hand and my stuffed cat. Embarrassing. But so wonderfully 

comforting.

By 2pm, Giovanna had found me another family. A perfect family. That lives on a perfect street. In a perfect house. A family with 11-year-olf twin boys named Filippo and Lorenzo and the sweetest young mother and father Florence has ever seen. They live in a brand new apartment complex, complete with indoor courtyard area, an electric fireplace, a loft, a completely modern kitchen and every Disney movie you could ever want to watch in Italian.

After meeting this picture perfect family, Giovanna whisked me away to her house where she made me shower and then wear her white terrycloth bathrobe while we washed enough of my clothing to last a few days and steamed my backpack and purse. God forbid I bring bedbugs into this incredible new house.

After dining out with Giovanna, Julie and Ali, I “moved in” to my new family (mind you I only had a backpack with little clothing and my school supplies…). My new family picked me up at Giovanna’s house and I was privileged enough to pile into the backseat of the car between the twins. It was perfect.

Yesterday morning we started our official classes – I had Italian Literature, History of Costume and Fashion and Stylistics. Today I had Literature and Art History. So far everything seems pretty great, although the amount of reading we have in Italian is feeling somewhat overwhelming at this point.

Today as I was walking to class, I realized that I am lucky enough to pass the Botanical Gardens of the Museum of Natural History every day on my walk to and from the sede. Naturally, Alayna (whose birthday was today!) and I decided to check it out after class today. The woman at the door let us pay the reduced price because we were so bummed when we learned that our “Friends of the Uffizi” card didn’t work at the garden. Of course, in true Italian style, this particular botanical garden is NOTHING like those in the States – it was disorganized, the map was completely incorrect, and most of the greenhouses were either completely empty, closed for some reason or another, or extremely dirty and full of moss. Even so, there were trees and grass and in the cool air, it smelled like home (speaking of which – what is with the SNOW in Vermont already? And yes that is indeed a pomegranate tree!!!)

Yet another miraculous part of today was the fact that as we were sitting in Literature, we realized there was some kind of band playing in Piazza della Signoria right outside our window. No big deal. Just some incredible, very Italian-sounding band. Rocking out. In a piazza where the Medici family used to chill. Whatevs.

Less than 30 minutes later, I was sitting on the steps of a church in the center of Florence with Alayna, Breana, Christine and Anna, munching some paninis and drinking some (AMAZING) lemon soda, and, again no big deal, someone started singing very traditional religious church music inside the church. In the middle of day, not during any service, but just because. These are the things that make Florence so divine. Literally.

The only thing left to do before I can be completely settled in this new house is to acquire the rest of my belongings from Luciana’s, dry everything, steam what can’t be put in the dryer, including my luggage, and somehow get it all over it from the other side of town. No need to fret though because this afternoon Monica and Giovanna decided that they are going to do it themselves, and leave me at the sede to relax. Yes, that is indeed correct – they want to go bag up all of my belongings, get them dried, steam my luggage and repack it all and send it to me at my new house because they a) don’t want me to be under and more stress and chaos and b) they don’t want me to feel uncomfortable around Luciana (who continues to blame all of this on me personally… I think not!). They said that next week they would take Ali, Julie and I out to coffee with Luciana so that feelings can settle and we can all move on. I highly doubt there are two greater women in this world. Thank you….

On that note, I do believe it is time to go do some reason about the history of Italian fashion! Stay tuned for more updates!

Baci e abbracci a tutti!

P.S. Many pictures on Facebook!!!

sono fortunata....

I am feeling like a very lucky lady these days.

I have moved into a new family and I now have twin little brothers named Lorenzo and Filippo and they are just about the cutest thing ever.

Since we don't have wireless and I am using the family computer, I don't have time to write the blog I truly want to, but perhaps tomorrow a major update is in order.

Baci! Viva l'italia!

seriously.....?

After all that.... just found 3 bedbugs. In my bed. In the new room. Where there weren't supposed to be any. 


What did I do to deserve this? 

Rainbows in Italy.

I don't know how many of you know about my belief in rainbows, but were I to choose a religion, I would say that I believe strictly in the power of rainbows. Allow me to explain.


When I was eighteen months old, my uncle passed away. As the story goes, my family was in the hospital with him and suddenly the sky darkened to black and there was an intense thunder storm. It soon passed, and as the storm passed and the sky cleared into blue skies, my uncle passed away as well. 


A few days later, I was standing on our screened-in porch looking outside and my parents heard me calling, "Kiss! Kiss!" (my uncle's name was Cris and I couldn't yet pronounce my R's). When they came out to see what I was calling to, they saw me pointing at a rainbow as I called his name.


When my grandfather died, I was in Italy with my parents. My mom flew home early and my dad and I were left to spend a few days alone in Venice. The day of his wake was wet and dreary, but as the afternoon came to a close, there was a rainbow.


When my grandmother joined him almost 3 years ago, it was again rainy and damp, and again there was a rainbow that afternoon.


At my graduation party, after walking through my backyard holding my mother's hand and sniffling about having to leave home for the first time, it drizzled for a few minutes, and yes, yet again, there was a rainbow.


We have hundreds of photos of rainbows stored away on various computers and cameras because they appear in our lives so often, almost always on a challenging or monumental day. 


The reason I decided to share this story with you is because when I arrived home yesterday, Luciana's umbrella was sitting outside the door, and of course, it is a rainbow umbrella - each panel is a delicious, bright, vivid color. I thought it was a nice "welcome home" gesture as I moved the last of my belongings from the temporary apartment back home to Luciana's. Thank you rainbows!


This is why I say that if I were to choose a religion, it would simply be my faith in rainbows to show themselves when I need it most.

Note: The rainbow in the photo is not an Italian one, but a lovely one taken the other day in my backyard in Vermont (thanks, Mama!).

Riso Freddo and the Power of Change.

Italians are funny.

Tonight we ate riso freddo - cold rice - aka chilled rice served with sliced egg, canned tuna, tomatoes, capers, mushrooms and cut-up hot dogs. I am paying $50,000 to eat cold rice and sliced hot dog salad. Brava! Too bad it was extremely delicious.

* * *

This morning I went to Pistoia (everyone MUST go here, its BELLAISSIMA) to meet some of the teachers I may be working with for my little education internship. We also heard some of them speak and watched a little video about the architecture of education. It was all very interesting, and the elementary schools in Pistoia are incredible, but I am still feeling hesitant.

I love children, I always have. I love working with them and teaching them and laughing with them and watching them change. I have even (frequently) entertained the idea of getting my teaching license for the elementary level, but in the past few months I think I have changed my mind.


Whenever I try something new, I fall in love with it and decide that I want to dedicate my life to it. I alluded to this in a past post, but I'll elaborate just the same. When I took Anatomy & Physiology senior year of high school, I wanted to become a doctor. When I took my Anthropology of Dying & Death course at Smith, I wanted to become a forensic anthropologist (a là Bones). When I worked at a daycare, I came home thinking, "Hmmm, maybe I want to open a childcare center." When I attended a Doula workshop, I wanted to become a licensed Doula and after receiving acupuncture for the first time, I wanted that as a career as well. When I subbed at my mom's elementary school, I decided that I absolutely wanted to be a 1st and 2nd grade teacher. Now, all those ideas have flown out the window because my most recent endeavor in the real world was working in a restaurant and naturally I am dead-set on opening a restaurant. 


I am not saying that I don't think the Pistoia internship wouldn't be an incredible learning experience but I am worried that there is another internship or another volunteer opportunity out there somewhere in Firenze that would benefit my interests even more. There is a school of hospitality and restaurant management in Florence but I am pretty sure the classes are taught in English so that won't really work... but I'm sure there are others out there! 


I guess I am just worried because I want this year to be the best that it can be and I don't want to waste or miss any opportunity I am given. Pistoia would be incredible, as would many other things, so I suppose at this point its just up to me to explore some options and decide what I truly want to do.


Baci a tutti!

new life plan.

If you can dream it, you can do it.  --Walt Disney 

When I was little, I wanted to be a ballerina. Then I found out my hips were double-jointed and was informed by an evil doctor that I would never be able to live my dream.

When I was in high school, I was positive I wanted to go to college and then move on to medical school because there was nothing I wanted more than to be a pediatrician. Then I got to Smith College.

Upon arriving at Smith, I abandoned the idea of becoming a traditional doctor because far more intriguing was the idea of becoming a midwife and an acupuncturist. I combined this with my love of the anthropology department and decided that a good fit was to major in anthropology and specialize in medical anthropology.

I still love this idea and it is indeed the degree with which I am going to graduate. That being said, I have one dream at this point, and it is a dream so intense and incredible that when I start to think about it - really think and dream and plan - I start to shake a little, my pulse races and I even cried a bit yesterday.

The one thing I want is to own a restaurant.

I want this so badly that I am considering dropping my education internship this spring in Italy so that I can find courses in Italy in restaurant management. Either way, I plan on taking courses next summer, possibly during senior year, and upon graduating so that I have some knowledge of management. It seems perfectly feasible to spend a few years working in restaurants, a job which I adore, with the goal of attaining assistant manager at a local, well-loved establishment. Waitressing is something I enjoy a great deal. I love the rush and the business, I love learning about the food coming from the kitchen and I love chatting with customers, ensuring their return.

My dream is an elaborate one. I want to open a taproom/bistro where I brew my own beer and cider, and bring in many other local beers on tap as well. I want as much locally grown food as possible and in addition to pub fare (burgers and wings are a must-have), I want funky and intriguing snacks, salads and entrees to appeal to everyone. I want a dark yet fun and enticing atmosphere. I want regulars who come the same time each week and order the same beer with the same burger. This is something I would kill for....

Talk about college being worth it.... I have the opportunity to spend 4 years learning about things I love, finding a passion even if its unrelated to my major.... I can then attend a few classes while working at a variety of restaurants.... all en route to establishing something of my very own....

And what if this dream actually came true?

My boyfriend, someone who has more faith in me than God (he would rather I say Sir Isaac Newton), strongly believes this is a dream I could achieve by the age of 22. If I can take out a loan, and save my own money, and (fingers crossed) receive some assistance from Obama's small business act, it is feasible. I have begun to make connections in the restaurant business and if I can continue to immerse myself and I can find a perfect piece of real estate for the right price.... get help from the right people, come up with the right name and the best menu....

Hey, it could happen.....

Any advice? Suggestions? Ideas? Connections? All is welcome and needed!!!

BACI!

Dreams do not vanish so long as people do not abandon them. --Phantom F. Harlock

Sometimes dreams alter the course of an entire life.  --Judith Duerk 

BEDBUG UPDATE

THE COAST IS CLEAR!

Ali and I just returned from a brief and successful trip down the street to Luciana's. We hunted high and low and saw NOTHING - EVVIVA!!!

That being said....... We did find something else!

We left this temporary apartment and as we crossed the street, I noticed two women standing on the corner. I casually turned to Ali and said, you don't think those are lucciole do you? (Note: lucciola means glow-bug in Italian, but it also refers to prostitutes but more in the sense of a saloon girl, its not always a strictly negative word and we just learned it the other day so I just practicing using it, of course!) Unfortunately, my joke suddenly became less funny because we realized that they were indeed Italian prostitutes who were actually standing on our very own street corner, two doors down. On top of that.... we overheard them speaking casually with each other and one was most certainly a man (unsure how politically incorrect it would have been for me to say transvestite, but it was indeed a transvestite....).

When we left Luciana's after finding no bugs, the less masculine of the two lucciole was gone.

Baci!