Playing Hookie

Saw my favorite Italian movie on tv last night- La vita è bella. In italian, while I was in Italy. Wow!

Wake up early this morning to my hostel mate's alarm clock going off. Open the blinds to see lots and lots of rain. Contemplate going to Florence instead of school. Don't know if I'll be able to go before I leave and decide to just do it. Best decision this week!

Walk past school on the way to the train station and feel a little guilty, but keep going. Train ride goes well; arrive in Florence where it is also raining, but won't let it get me down.

The nice thing about Italy is you can walk around and then bam! Out of nowhere comes some massive beautiful building. Definitely doesn't get old.

Came to Florence with one goal: see David. I know there is a ton of art in Florence, but after seeing Pietà last time in Rome I know I need more Michelangelo. I pretty much make a beeline for the museum- I read online that the wait can be horrendous. Arrive and literally walk right in. Do a happy dance. The museum won't let me take pictures, so I can't show you what it looked like from my perspective. Google "David" and then hold your computer 20 feet above your head. It looked like that (plus goosebumps and yes, I almost cried. Think it was remnants of last night's movie or something.) I loved it.

Leave the museum and wander in to a giant street market. I passed it earlier, but was in a rush to see my man Dave. Now it is raining less and I have time to look around. Buy a couple random things and look around for a place to eat.

See a menu in an alley and start reading. Decide it sounds okay and close my umbrella  fight with stupid cheap umbrella. A waitress opens the door, takes the frustration out of my hands and drops it in a bucket next to the door. I like this restaurant already. I come in and sit down. It's mostly empty but there's a man who looks possibly English-speaking at the table next to me. The waitress comes up and I attempt Italian. She is incredibly patient with me, which I appreciate. I order a spicy dish, but I think on the menu it was labeled "angry." I ask the waitress, but I'm not sure she understood what I was asking.

The food comes out and I continue talking with the waitress and the man behind the bar (the owner?) They do the friendly "my city is better than yours" bicker that Italians are so good at. I laugh a lot and try not to take sides. Lunch is absolutely delicious and I eat too much. I order coffee at the end of the meal and they try to make me choose who will make it, thus determining which city I favor. They bring the coffee and offer a piece of the absolute best tiramisu I have ever had. I'm not sure what face I made when I took my first bite, but the owner called the waitress over to look. I'm telling you, it was amazing.

I'm not sure how long I stay, but I'm happy for every minute. When I am getting ready to leave, I say my goodbyes, take a few pictures, and walk towards the door. The owner corrects my rudeness and reminds me Italians part by kissing cheeks. I apologize for my American-ness and take part in a ritual that no longer freaks me out. I leave with a feeling that can only come from a good meal with good people.

Tuesday

I notice today (or rather, someone else bluntly states) I am starting to get a routine. I understand the bus system (take it in the morning and just walk home.) I know where the supermarket is, where to buy credits for my phone, where to go for medicine, how early I have to wake up to rush and finish my homework, I understand it takes 2 days for my clothes to dry. I'm doing pretty good.

So I should stay here, right? :)

Brussel Sprouts

This time next week I'll be back on a flight to America. : (  Time has definitely gone fast, but I hope to enjoy this week to the max. I'm not sure when I'll be able to return, but I will return!

Class has been going well. I still feel like it's a little fast, but I'm doing the best I can. This morning my head felt horrible and I was choking on something in my throat. (Side note: learned today I do not want to speak anything but English when I am not feeling great.) Actually attempted to leave in the beginning of class, had my folder closed and ready to shove in my bag, when the teacher misunderstood me and I couldn't leave without being completely awkward. I felt better after about an hour though, so I'm glad I stayed. I will continue to refuse to be sick while I am here.

After class, I walked around Corso Italia with two of my classmates. It was so nice to get a few things off my chest and not spend most of my day wandering solo. Of course I would start to make friends right before I leave.

Bought an interesting assortment of vegetables the other day. Sometimes I'm not completely sure what I'm buying, but I'm here for an adventure so it doesn't really matter. Really couldn't figure out what the green round balls were, so I googled "green round balls" and eventually figured out they were brussel sprouts. Absolutely awesome. I don't know who gave brussel sprouts a bad rap, but they really are good. They taste like peanuts and Christmas. I recommend you try them as soon as possible.

Interesting fact: In Italy, Ricola is candy, not cough drops. Benagol is used for miserableness. They work really well for about 10 minutes. 5 points for the braille on the package, the blind get sick too!

Would also like to note the "antisettico" claim. I'm not sure that's possible, but I will save a few to lick and smear on my hospital shoes, just in case.

Hello!

I'm falling so far behind on the blog!

The picture is from Wednesday night, when Sabrina (one of my classmates) had a get together at her house. Everyone brought a dish from their country. All together there was German, Chinese, Portugese, French-Canadian, American, and (of course) Italian food. It was all good and definitely interesting.

I brought green bean casserole (there's nothing that's truly "American" besides McDonald's, and I refuse to bring that!) The only problem was finding the ingredients. I found one can of "mushroom soup" on the top back corner of the last shelf in the grocery store. It had a little dust on it, but it hadn't expired yet. Cost about $5... no wonder no one buys it! Couldn't find French onions and didn't think to make them myself. Also couldn't find pepper. I considered making peanut butter cookies instead, but I couldn't find the sugar. I KNOW Italy has sugar, but when I asked where it was, the clerk just said "in front." In front of what?! Decided to stick with original plan. Bought potato sticks hoping it would be at least a little like onions. By far not the best thing I have made, but oh well!

Class has been going well. Right now we're going over "conditional" verbs. I don't really understand it because there's not an equivalent in English. It's basically a way to use a verb when it's a possibility, an opinion, or said politely. I suppose sticking "may I" in front of verbs is as close as English gets. I understand how to conjugate them, but thinking about how to use them just hurts my head too much.

>2 weeks In

I can't believe how quickly time goes by. I've got less than 2 weeks before it's back to America :( I looked in to extending my stay, but I can't think of a good excuse and it's probably best if I don't spend extra money for nothing.

I arrive at school today without any problem. I do see my old teacher and wave hello. She comes over and asks why I didn't come to my tutoring session yesterday. Guess I misunderstood that I will be tutored every day this week. (For free! How's that for good luck?) Couldn't decide if I should tell her I misunderstood and risk her thinking she sucks, or admit it and prove I do need the extra help. I made sure I came back today.

Have a new teacher (the fast class teacher is randomly in London for the next 2 days.) Dread the introduction. I'm not sure why, but I am incapable of answering a question without making a question. I think I am trying to mimic the sing-song of Italian, but the closest I can get is just raising my voice at the end of the sentence. What is my name? Amanda? How old am I? 22? Do I like Pisa? Yes? By the last question I am determined to answer without asking. She asks me where I'm from and I say Flor-duh. She stares at me and the girl next to me explains I'm from Flor-i-da. My nervousness is bringing out my southern accent.

Unfortunately the teacher doesn't see this as a cue to discontinue questioning and asks me why I'm here. I tell her I don't know (because at this point, I don't.) She asks again, but slower, why am I here? I tell her I understand the question, I just don't know my reason. She asks if I work in America, and I answer I worked in drug rehab. She gives me another weird look and goes to the next person. I'm sure she thinks I confused the words "work in" with the words "went to".

P.S. Sorry for the reuse of an old picture, forgot to take one today!