Ciao!

How are my family and friends doing back home? I miss you all very much! I have officially been living in Firenze, Italia for almost one month! It's about time that I write...

I left Chicago, IL on August 28 and flew with Lufthansa on a Boeing 747. I sat in the second to last row, spacious, with a window seat. I arrived in Frankfurt, Germany on August 29 at six in the morning, followed by a six hour lay-over that allowed me to people watch in the airport. They had cushioned recliners in the main waiting area and I was afraid that if I'd try to get some sleep I would not wake up! They also had 3 computers with internet that you could use for free. Neato! After arriving at the Florence airport, I contemplated taking the "SITA" bus, but with 4 bags and feeling completely exhausted, I decided it wasn't the best idea. I caved and took a taxi. All in all, I made it without one flight being delayed or one bag lost!

I'm living in a 3 bedroom apartment on Via de' Guicciardini in the Oltrano part of Florence. If you walk south from the city centre and across the famous Ponte Vecchio, continue down the street and take your second right. The area is bustling with mopeds, cars, and people. I enjoy some of the outside noises like I did living in Uptown Normal, except for the recycling truck around six in the morning. Our kitchen is small and our clothes washer is located there. We have no dryer, like most of Florence, but I don't mind hanging my clothes to dry. We have 2 bathrooms, one is the size of a tiny closet. My room is a little different than what I had pictured but I love the french doors opening onto the front balcony! Our hot water wasn't working the first two days and just as it started working our electricity went out! Things are fixed now, but it was an adventure!

For my last semester I'm attending Scuola Lorenzo de' Medici here in Florence. I'm taking four classes at the school: the required Italian Language course, Early Renaissance, Textiles and Fabric Styling. Orientation was troublesome because they put us in an old church for inspiration, in turn, we could not hear a thing! It was a beautiful room though. I am learning Italian one step at a time. I'm trying to speak as much Italian as I can. The textile class is very interesting but we have not worked with our hands yet-soon! We have been cutting swatches from fabric and learning about the science of fabric and such. Fabric styling is my favorite class with my favorite girls! We are currently designing a bobbin lace border for a Bobbin Lace competition. Early Renaissance is very enjoyable as well. We are currently studying Giotto and Donatello. Our first field trip was to the Church of Santa Croce and our second was to the Baptistry Doors.

I have been spending most of my time getting to know the city-markets, routes, doing homework, eating gelato, and hanging out with three awesome girls that came together from Mexico City. I joined the Slow Drink Club (Wine Tasting) and the Photography Club. And, of course, planning trips for the rest of the semester! My first big trip is this weekend to Malaga, Spain. From there I'm headed to Ronda, Spain and back to Malaga to meet my parents and brother. We are planning to go to a bull fight in Sevilla and to Morocco. Bryan is coming in October and we are going to Rome, Venice, Cinque Terre and Eastern Europe (Ljubljana, Budapest, etc.) In November I'm going with Claudia, Chawa and Arili to Dublin and London.

So, Florence! The city is absolutely stunning! Incredible at night. The first evening in Florence I went straight for the gelato. Fragola (strawberry) is my personal favorite. The spaghetti is delicious and you have to pay for water. I miss peanut butter as I am the only one not a huge fan of Nutella. I'm slowly locating my favorite local stores, restaurants, and hangouts. I found a sweet store called Penny Lane Vintage that has overpriced Ben Sherman shirts and reproduction mod outfits but they have great flight bags.

Although I have this new place to explore, I am still homesick and miss all my friends and family very much! Please keep me updated on what's going on in your life! Send me e-mails and photographs!

If you want to send letters/postcards/goodies:

Christina Tapp
Scuola Lorenzo de' Medici
Firenze, Italia 5002