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Hey! ok so i know that i haven't written anything on here. i am trying to catch up now that i have wireless internet in my apartment!!
So as of tuesday it will be a month that I have been here. I have had an amazing time so far. I have gotten to see so many cool things i did not except to see all with my program. AIFS really is great
so far through them I went to London. This is where we landed when we left JFK. We stayed in London for three days. It was really cool to see, but i am sad to say I was not too much of a fan of London. Maybe it was because of how tired I was from traveling and the jet lag. I don't know, but either way it was still cool. We were on our own for the first day and then we had a bus tour that was on and off that was cool. We got to see the London eye, big ben, London Bridge, all the stuff everyone goes to London to see! I loved the accent, it was great! If i studied abroad there I would have probably came back with that same british accent haha
So then after London we had a bus transfer to the airport and flew into Pisa. That was cool. When we landed the weather was sooo nice! It made me very hopeful for Florence, but I was let down. Once our bus brought us from Pisa to Florence, there was rain almost everyday there for the 3 weeks I was there. It was awful weather. That is probably why I am so sick now!
Once in Florence, we had orientation, at the hotel we were served breakfast and dinner every night. That helped my money situation a lot! Dinners were usually really good italian food. Except for the nights they had fish..since I am not a fan of fish at all!!
In florence I took a language class. That was monday through Friday from 9:30 till 1:00pm. That was the only place that I was able to get internet. So that was a little obnoxious! They put me in elementary italian II. Which i already took, therefore, it was quite annoying since I am not getting credit for it. Oh well. When in Florence right? hah! Rich says that phrase now a lot. Instead of saying when in Rome he alwaysss puts another place in Rome's spot. I guess it is catching on to me too. They had a really good pizza place and a cafe around the school and a market in the front everyday. I bought 2 shirts for 20 euro there!!
While in Florence we took a whole bunch of other trips like Siena. That was really pretty. But siena is sooo small! The group that was studying abroad in Florence had their orientation in Siena. So I think that my program got the better deal: 3 weeks in florence and then study in Rome. I am happy with my pick in Rome to say the least. Siena did not have too much besides HUGE inclined tiny roads and of course churches!! haha
Next we went to Pisa. Pisa was really cool. We only stayed there for about 3 hours. but that was really enough time. There isn't much to see in pisa besides the leaning tower, the duomo, and the cementery. Or countryside. That's about it. Pisa had decent weather it didn't rain like it did in florence everyday so that was a good change of weather for the day.
Also with the program I went to the Gucci outlet which was really cool to look at. They had great sales, but still out of my price range unfortunately! haha I rather save the money to go on a trip or something.
hmmm, oh yes, we also went to see a soccer game. it was a small town playing another small town in the countryside. It was really cool but FREEZING! We were outside for 5 hours straight. Probably the onset of my sickness. But it was a good experience and we got a bus ride! I learned to love the bus rides here. It actually gave me some downtime and able to relax since they had us running everywhere almost everyday something was planned
One day after school they planned a wine tasting at a castle. That was really cool we got a tour of where the wine is stored and whatnot. There was also beautiful views because it was on top of a mountain. I learned also that I am not a fan of wine. Oh well, guess im not 100% italian or anything, right? haha
At the school they also had a florintine special tasting for us. It kinda tasted like pizza bread. It was really good. We also had another day where they played "Life is beautiful" for us. That was really nice to see again. Especially while we were in italy.
I went to see the David one day, and snuck pictures as you might have saw!! They were very crazy about "NO FOTO" haha. We also got to see the duomo, and I went shopping many times in the San Lorenzo Market. That was really cool. I was able to get some nice stuff and boots!
AIFS planned a whole weekend for us in Venice. It was BEAUTIFUL! i absolutely loved everything about it. It was a little cold but what else is new. Friday when we got there it was sooo sunny and nice out. I was able to get some good pictures!! We found a really good place for lunch and dinner and ate there basically every night because it was so cheap. I got to see St. Marks Square on saturday and fell in love. It was so amazing. I loved that the best. I got to see the bisilica. It was so beautiful. I managed to get some pictures and I also got it on my video camera. The whole place was filled with mosaics! it was amazing and hard to believe the amount of effort that was put into it. It took 600 years to finish it all. Mark one of the people who wrote the new testament is also in the bisilica in the center. It was really crazy to see. Forgive me for my lack on immense knowledge on the church technical wording.
we also got to see the government palace where the venetian empire was before its fall. That was amazing too, since you all know how much I love history. It was really a good change from all the duomo's, cathedrals, and churches ive been seeing. I saw where they put people on trial, the senate room, the prision in the basement and also the apartment/mansion of where the venetian ruler lived. There was a waiting room to see him and it was huge with awesome maps on all the walls of the whole world. That was really cool to see too. We also got to see all the weapons used and stuff.
After we got back to florence we did not have much time. I already took midterms and finals were two days away. Then it was off to ROME!
The bus ride to rome was not bad at all. It didn't take as much time as I thought it would. Once we got there I was so excited to finally see where i would be living for the next three months. We got a taxi and pulled up to an amazing apartment building that you can see in the most recent album. it is in a closed gate area. about a 5 min. walk from the vatican. We are on the third floor but there is an elevator so we were able to get our luggage up easily thank god! that would have not been fun! there are sooo many stairs! I am in love with my apartment. It is old style italian and has all old style furniture and whatnot. I really love it. Once we got into Rome, I loved it more than anything I've seen so far. And I havent even really seen any of the big tourist spots yet!
There is a grocery store right next to us and we are a 15 min walk from school. I am going to get a bus pass though since my friends are all over Rome now and Rome is SOOO huge!! But i am happy to say that after only a day of being here I am pretty comfortable with the immediate area. I basically know where a lot of things are. I know how to get to Rich's apartment which is good. Also the school, the place where we got our wireless router, and some other places. I am really happy with it all. Yesterday we had orientation. It was short and they gave us more things that we can do during the week like more wine tasting, cooking classes, soccer games, and tours. I am going to try to do as much as I can since most doesnt even cost anything or it is the most 5 euros.
After orientation we went and walked around for a little. I went grocery shopping, did allllll my laundry which was a LOT! since we didnt have washers for three weeks! and it was kinda annoying because there is no dryer, but I will live. We also got internet clearly! haha and i found out that my cell phone that I bought here works in rome good too! so YAY!!
Today I am going on another art tour. So we will see how that is.
Now that I am all caught up on the first 3 weeks here. I will write a new blog every week at least to keep everyone updated on what is going on and all that good stuff!!
in 2 weeks i leave for PARIS!!! i am very excited!! and Barcalona the week after!!
ok well until next time!!
miss everyone!!
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