Firenze and Viareggio

I thought it might be time for an update. Currently, Im having internet problems, so this may or may not get posted.

Since I last wrote, I have gotten to do a substantial amount of exploring Florence...but only within a small space. I have found a delicious gelato place (real banana is freaking amazing...i say real meaning homeade), a great liquor store called Happy's (the owner loves us and knows our name after only one time going there), a supermarket within one block of the hostel, and the main market which is phenomenal! I must say that every day that goes by makes me want to live here a little bit more. Everything is so fresh and so real. The people seem to value life and family more than we do in America. Things are slower, with more time to appreciate things and food and family and surroundings. For the most part, if you looked lost, you will receive lots of help...and it does help if you're female. Haha. We have met some wonderful people who showed us our way and made themselves late to their event just to help us!

This weekend was pretty relaxed. We had a dinner for 14 on the terrace of some students apartments. It's funny...we've known eachother only a week or less and it feels like we're family. We stick together, but we also go off on our own to experience the locals. I have met some AWESOME students from all over the world! :) Today was the first day of classes. I had Human Potential in Business Organizations and it seems like it will be extremely thought-provoking and interesting. HOWEVER:....after my 2nd class of the day,I may need to add another culinary class in the Human Potential's place. My culinary class is going to be freaking fabulous. We meet on Mondays only and cook so many dishes every day. From the sounds of it, I will have the most kitchen knowledge of the students....but, I don't think it will matter. The class is called Current Trends in Italian Cuisine and it covers famous chefs, regions, and changes in time and culture. There is lecture, but even more cooking. We will make all sorts of dishes and get to try foods of all types (even tripe! yikes!). The teacher is a wonderful woman named Milva. On the night I spent at our private dinner...she introduced me to a group of students from North Carolina who live close to me so that I wouldn't walk home alone. And now, I have a feeling she will be my favorite teacher! Her passion is cooking and she has had some awesome experiences. She has a room in her house that is filled with italian cookbooks....needless to say, i want to go visit! :) She took the class on an intense tour of the market telling us buying tips, how to look for freshness, what to avoid, and a little history of how things are made and where they come from! It was great! She is making a list for me of restaurants that I need to go to!:)

Yesterday...we ventured outside of Firenze (which is Florence for those of you who don't know!) and went to Viareggio beach outside of Pisa. It's on the Meditteranean Sea and GORGEOUS! I will upload pictures on facebook soon...add me if you aren't already my friend! There are these tall beautiful mountains in the background, the pier and sailboats, fishermen, tons of men in speedos (haha...not a good thing, necessarily) and a beautiful stretch of ocean and sand. We had to travel a long way to get to the public area...and it was small compared to all the cabanas. Haha. But, so nice. We didn't know if our train would leave because the workers were on strike. Both train rides there and back were very late. We didn't really care. It was great. There were 9 of us from all over! I wanted to set up a tent and stay for a long time!!! :) I wish the pictures did it justice!

I signed up for 3 school trips that will be coming up soon: Switzerland and Lake Como, Capri-Pompei-Sorrento, and Nice and the French Riviera! CANT WAIT FOR THAT !!!!!!! :) Anyway, I will update again soon, I hope.

I love you all and hope you enjoy these blogs!
T.