Its Foreign On This Side
Margaret V Joined: December 11th 2007
Logged in: September 24th 2010
Logged in: September 24th 2010
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the road has gone,
I must follow if I can."
Travel Blog Posts
Narrow Streets of Florence
Well world, I'm still here, biding my time until my next European adventure. These days I distract myself from my Italian daydreams by working to finish up another semester of college in Iowa, but I can never ignore those memories for long. As I approach the one year anniversary of my departure, it's only natural to reminisce... January. An airport taxi hurtles me through the streets of Florence, Italy. I tumble nervously around in the backseat, gripping my seatbelt for dear life as the tiny car whips around corners and rockets down narrow alleyways. I squeeze my eyes shut as we pass a bus by mere inches and desperately wish I knew how to yell “Are you INSANE?!!” in Italian. The driver steers with one hand and turns to ask me yet another incomprehensible question. I ... read more
Ti Amo, Firenze...
I'm home! In fact, I've been home for two weeks, but only now am I fully comprehending what a spectacular journey I've been on for the past four months. I've been to six countries, two seas and one island, and more than one night was spent with my suitcase as a pillow. I've seen monks and masqueraders, flag-throwers and glassblowers, gypsies and gondoliers. I've learned a new language, how to travel light and where to find the best gelato in Florence. But most importantly, I'm leaving with a new and defining sense of self. My head is spinning with enough beautiful memories and passion-filled experiences to last me several lifetimes -- or at least until my next European adventure. Returning to the States has definitely been an adjustment. It's been hard to break the habit of ... read more
Yours Truly
I am not a morning person by any means. Full sentences, coherent thoughts and clear vision usually don't set in until around 10:00 a.m. on a good day. Ma quando vado in gita (But when I go on a short trip), no hour is too early to get a head start on the day. This weekend, I left Florence at 6 a.m. on an early bird train to Rome with my friend Nicole, la mia amica preferita from my italian class. We were shocked at our high levels of coordination and comprehension at such an ungodly hour and somehow managed to communicate with the non-english-speaking ticket window despite our obvious a.m. handicaps: "Noi vogliamo due biglietti economica per il treno a Napoli, SUBITO! Per favore?" My mangled italian and Nicole's enthusiastic charades got the job done, ... read more
Dancing in Venice
I have magic rain boots. They're grey suede boots with little tassels on top that I bought my first week in Florence. They have been waterproofed but in general shouldn't get wet. And it never fails: every time I wear them, it pours. This Thursday, it was perfectly sunny as I was getting ready to head to class, so out of the closet they came. Naturally, I walked out of class five hours later to find the sky dark and angry and everything dripping. The rain let up enough for me to cautiously tiptoe home, but the process inspired so much confidence in my puddle-hopping abilities that I decided to go to the post office across town to pick up a recently delivered package (mailed in February from the U.S. -- this is what I mean ... read more
Alley Valley View
After going through a tough breakup with Paris, I've lately had a wonderful time rediscovering my obsession with Italy. I did love France, but Italy simply has the best of everything. The best March weather, the best food, the best coffee (Starbucks is based off Italian coffee shops after all). Then there's the exquisite churches and museums, the alluring street markets and the most exquisitely beautiful countryside I've ever seen. I'm still completely happy with my decision to study here, and classes are also going very well. Since my grades from this semester transfer back to Drake as credits only and don't count towards my GPA, it's extremely liberating to be in school without the pressure of school. I'm still striving to do well of course, but my work isn't stressing me out or overtaking my ... read more
Nous sommes a Paris!
I am in love. In love with a city, a culture, a place so foreign yet so familiar all in the same moment. After the best weekend of my life, I am convinced Paris is my favorite place in the world, and that's saying a lot. Ideally I needed about three more weeks to see everything I considered essential, but there's only so much you can do in three days. My weekend was perfect. I wasn't sad to leave because I knew it was only the beginning of my time in Paris -- just an appetizer for the multitudes of experiences (and a cute little apartment?) to come. It all began when Bonnie and I spent Friday afternoon in Pisa, strolling past charming storefronts and then stopping to prop up an old tower that seemed about ... read more
Watching the Street Performers
I've been told that the mentality of a college student studying abroad typically goes through four stages: honeymoon, crisis, acceptance and adaptation. As far as I can tell, the honeymoon stage is never going to wear off for me. It's been nearly a month since I took off from O'Hare and I have never stopped being in complete amazement of my surroundings and activities. It's astounding to me how casual day-to-day life can become though: "Oh I'll just meet you at the Duomo" and "I live just across the Ponte Vecchio" have become everyday phrases, something that would have blown my mind a month ago. However, while I am very comfortable and at home in Florence, entirely settled into my routine, I am determined not to let Italy become commonplace, and I haven't. I am still ... read more
Piazzale Michelangelo
For your enjoyment, here's a fun list of things I've been noticing 'round these parts lately. Italian potato chips taste like the Kitchen Cooked brand in the U.S., and they come with little sticky tabs to keep the bag closed. 50% of the motorized population rides motorcycles, and 100% of them wear helmets. Nutella to Italians is like peanut butter to Americans. Fashionable older women ALL wear ankle-length fur coats, some with hats to match. Italian bread contains no salt at all. In fact most things have almost no salt. It makes me wonder if this is normal and American food is overly salty, or if Italians just don't like it. Wine is less expensive than water in restaurants. You have to ask for water; it isn't just sitting on the table. Ice is also very ... read more
Santa Maria del Fiore
Tuesday morning, 9 a.m., oil painting. I have the coolest teacher, Justin, about 30 and really a pro with a paintbrush. The class sounds like its going to be the perfect mixture of not-too-intimidating and just-challenging-enough. I've never taken painting before but have always wanted to be taught how, so I'm really looking forward to the semester. The class will be based on still-life arrangements, and we will be working on five canvases. We took a field trip to a father & son art shop to purchase supplies -- canvases, palettes, brushes, paints, a sketchbook and some other assorted necessities. I'm so excited to get back into the fine arts side of my double degree. It's been far too long. Tuesday afternoon, 3 p.m., Italian for beginners. Come ti chiami? Di dove sei? My name is ... read more
