I arrived after a loooong flight to the Florence airport to discover that one of my bags had been lost between Zurich and Florence - along with about 30 other students from my program. Let me tell you, standing in line with that many cranky, jetlagged American students for 4 hours (yes, I repeat, 4 hours!) in line was really no fun. I've ever seen a line move slower. Apparently they just didn't have room on the little plane for 57 American students' multiple heavy suitcases equipped for 4 months worth of stuff. And I was definitely guilty in that. Good news was that I got my bag the next morning. Plus, I met some nice girls in line that I ended up hanging out with a bunch this week. Also, I got off lucky - Ashley's flight from Frankfurt got CANCELLED and she got there a day late!
We did a lot of administrational and safety orientational things for the first couple days while we stayed at this nice hotel. One night I was going out with some girls and my friend from Skidmore and we saw some of our Skidmore friend's in a random bar! They're doing another program and have been here for 3 or 4 weeks now and have a much better handle of things to do, etc, so I've been hanging out with them a bit. Turns out that one of those people, James, lives literally around the corner from my apartment! He lives with really cool people, including 2 housemates from Malta. One of them made rabbit for dinner the other night and it was so delicious.
Speaking of my apartment, we've all moved in! It was a little rocky the first day because our heat was broken and it was FREEZING. Now, it's cold in all Italian apartments (the heat only turns on at certain hours in the day, mandated by law)...which all of us Americans have a hard time with (except that I'm totally used to it at home). But that first night they put us up in the bed and breakfast in our building instead. So it wasn't until yesterday that I really unpacked and got settled here, which feels great. Our apartment is cute, not as nice as some, but in a really good, central location which is wonderful.
We've been having more orientation things all week. It's nice to be finally settled, but all of our time commitments, plus the jet lag, plus the fact that I have horrible blisters on my pinkie toes from wearing heels the first nice, combined with the grey and very chilly weather, has made it so that I haven't really been able to just explore on my own at all. I think I've become way more independent than I realized because I'm so not used to feeling obligated to going everywhere in big groups of people...One really nice thing, though too is that a fun and nice group of boys from our program (including my friend from SCOOP at Skidmore) live in the apartment directly below us. When Ashley and I look out our window and down, we can see their balcony! It's been fun to hang out with them a bit - last night we went out with most of our apartment and their apartment.
This weekend I'm going to a huge potluck! Plus I want to explore explore explore (and nurse my poor toes back to health), go to the Centrale Markata to buy tons of fresh groceries, and meet new people!
Ciao, ciao!!
ohman, reading your blog is going to cause me a lot of heartbreak, but I'll just keep on eating nutella to make it go away.
ReplyDeleteit's true, firenze is totally small enough and safe during the day to just wander alone and it's fine. I did that a little in glasgow, but it's a more industrial so it doesn't seem as pleasant. but the shopping is insanely cheap so I have mad incentive :]
everything sounds good in your end! you and your blogs, you're so good! I'm absolutely terrible so I've completely given up for scotland round. Well, not completely...maybe I'll start up again?
a presto bella xx
AH! You're in Italy! I find your wounds for fashion to be so romantic (although I hope your pinkie toes feel better soon)! India is not conducive for being glamorous...at all. It's kind of rough and tumble around these parts. I LOVE it, but I've accepted the fact that I'm going to be a sweaty bum for the next 4 months. I've acquired quite a few bodily injuries but mostly because I'm clumsy and India has unexpected poles sticking out of the ground everywhere. Enjoy wearing heels and looking extremely cute (I've been stalking your facebook pictures)! Also, have a great time hanging out with Skid kids & going to the potluck! Florence better watch out...Hannah Mode's in town!
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