As I said in my last post, the Italians are wonderful and they love us here in Castiglion. Last night I had my first real experience trying to speak to someone in Italian who didn't speak English too.
Mary, Jess, and I went out to get stamps and envelopes before dinner. We worked out where we were going and what we needed t say before we left.
The envelopes were in a little bookstore with notesbooks and other paper supplies as well. ("La busta" is how you say envelope in Italian.) The shopkeepers seemed very pleased we had come in and immediately showed us every envelope they had, apologizing for their lack of English. Then, as we were paying, one of them gave us tiny little post-its with cigarettes on them as a welcome to Castiglion. Despite not being a smoker, the gesture was really nice and we laughed about it as we left.
Next we went to the Tabacchi, which is kind of like a convience store where we could get stamps as well. I went first. I decided to be brave, even though this was my first real time having to ask for something in Italian without one of our professors or someone more fluent being around.
"Vorrei anche trenta francobollo gli per Stati Uniti."
Translation (I think):
"I would also like 30 stamps for the United States."
I was buying postcards too, hence, the "also". Jess and Mary got theirs too and we left. It was so much fun, being able to use Italian. I'm not sure it was completely right, but it was fun. I think all three of us agreed it was a good experience. It's hard not being able to just go up and ask for what you want easily. You have to put some effort into it.
So, that was my first experience really using Italian besides the basic "ciao" and "grazie"! It makes Italy all the more fun...
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Week One
Well... I'm in Italy!
It's almost been a week. I've been wanting to write a post for a while, but until today I've been really busy and trying to avoid the internet.
We got here exhausted. I barely slept on the plane due to a small Italian child screaming behind me. Luckily there were movies and a map on the back of the seat in front of us to tell us how far we'd traveled. That made the time go fast.
When we got here we took a rather scary bus ride here, that I mostly slept through. We got our rooms right away and it has hardy any storage and a tiny, tiny bathroom, but a beautiful view.
We mostly went through orientation things the first couple days. Exploring studio to find things that had been left from previous years. That was kind of fun, like treasure hunting... except for studio supplies, haha.
Thursday we went to Cortona, the little town from the movie Under the Tuscan Sun, which was about 7 miles away on another kind of scary bus ride. It was beautiful though. The hills were crazy. We do a ton a walking, which is fine, except that it's mostly up an down hills. My shins and ankles hurt just thinking about it!
Friday we went to Florence. Yes. Florence. It was fantastic. The buildings, the streets, the wonderful stores, amazing. At one point, we were just wandering around and turned to find the Duomo RIGHT THERE. It was a great surprise. We just walked up to it in awe. I also had gelato there for the first time. Simply amazing.
Saturday, yet another adventure, we went to Arezzo, by train ths time. Ten minutes by train. There was an antique market going on that filled up so many streets. There was so much stuff. We looked at it for hours.
Today we didn't have anything planned, which I was thrilled about until it happened. Turns out, I'm really homesick, I just didn't know I was so busy. I can't sleep, I just feel very out of place. It's so different. I'll just tell you about the things I love so far.
The Italians are wonderful. They really like us, here in Castiglion Fiorentino. A lot of them speak English, but a lot don't too. Still, they're very welcoming and I really like them.
The food! On my gosh, the food. It's insane. We eat at 12:30pm and 7:30pm and there's a ton of it. Pasta or soup followed by meat and veggies with salad, and then desert. Usually desert is fruit, which I'm actually trying to eat. I'm eating a lot healthier here than normal. Very few snacks, which the exception of the gelato, haha.
The scenery. It's beautiful. It's so inhabited. You can see for miles, but there's hundreds of houses scattered about. Not like Kansas where there's nobody for miles and miles.
The architecture, of course. Even if it's not old, it's made to look old. Everything blends together. We've gone to lots of churches too.
Paolo, who is the man who runs Santa Chiara. We've had one class with him, and he's brilliant. So interesting. Everyone enjoyed listening to him. Our class is held around Castiglion Fiorentino, so no boring lecture halls. We get to experience what he is talking about.
Well, it's getting late. I better call it a night. I don't know how updates will go, but I'll try! I'll also try to add pictures, eventually. Right now they're too large. Maybe in a day or two!
It's almost been a week. I've been wanting to write a post for a while, but until today I've been really busy and trying to avoid the internet.
We got here exhausted. I barely slept on the plane due to a small Italian child screaming behind me. Luckily there were movies and a map on the back of the seat in front of us to tell us how far we'd traveled. That made the time go fast.
When we got here we took a rather scary bus ride here, that I mostly slept through. We got our rooms right away and it has hardy any storage and a tiny, tiny bathroom, but a beautiful view.
We mostly went through orientation things the first couple days. Exploring studio to find things that had been left from previous years. That was kind of fun, like treasure hunting... except for studio supplies, haha.
Thursday we went to Cortona, the little town from the movie Under the Tuscan Sun, which was about 7 miles away on another kind of scary bus ride. It was beautiful though. The hills were crazy. We do a ton a walking, which is fine, except that it's mostly up an down hills. My shins and ankles hurt just thinking about it!
Friday we went to Florence. Yes. Florence. It was fantastic. The buildings, the streets, the wonderful stores, amazing. At one point, we were just wandering around and turned to find the Duomo RIGHT THERE. It was a great surprise. We just walked up to it in awe. I also had gelato there for the first time. Simply amazing.
Saturday, yet another adventure, we went to Arezzo, by train ths time. Ten minutes by train. There was an antique market going on that filled up so many streets. There was so much stuff. We looked at it for hours.
Today we didn't have anything planned, which I was thrilled about until it happened. Turns out, I'm really homesick, I just didn't know I was so busy. I can't sleep, I just feel very out of place. It's so different. I'll just tell you about the things I love so far.
The Italians are wonderful. They really like us, here in Castiglion Fiorentino. A lot of them speak English, but a lot don't too. Still, they're very welcoming and I really like them.
The food! On my gosh, the food. It's insane. We eat at 12:30pm and 7:30pm and there's a ton of it. Pasta or soup followed by meat and veggies with salad, and then desert. Usually desert is fruit, which I'm actually trying to eat. I'm eating a lot healthier here than normal. Very few snacks, which the exception of the gelato, haha.
The scenery. It's beautiful. It's so inhabited. You can see for miles, but there's hundreds of houses scattered about. Not like Kansas where there's nobody for miles and miles.
The architecture, of course. Even if it's not old, it's made to look old. Everything blends together. We've gone to lots of churches too.
Paolo, who is the man who runs Santa Chiara. We've had one class with him, and he's brilliant. So interesting. Everyone enjoyed listening to him. Our class is held around Castiglion Fiorentino, so no boring lecture halls. We get to experience what he is talking about.
Well, it's getting late. I better call it a night. I don't know how updates will go, but I'll try! I'll also try to add pictures, eventually. Right now they're too large. Maybe in a day or two!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Roma Weather
The weather in Roma is currently 52 degrees (!!) and fair.
Tuesday's weather says the high will be 53 degrees and 60% chance of rain.
Let's hope it doesn't rain, but 53 degrees would be great!!
68 hours to take off...
Tuesday's weather says the high will be 53 degrees and 60% chance of rain.
Let's hope it doesn't rain, but 53 degrees would be great!!
68 hours to take off...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
One Week
One week from today at this exact moment I will be on a plane over the Atlantic Ocean.
I'm thrilled and terrified all in one swoop.
Go Italy.
Edit: I've set my time to Italy's since that will technically be my home soon.
I'm thrilled and terrified all in one swoop.
Go Italy.
Edit: I've set my time to Italy's since that will technically be my home soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)