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Published: January 15th 2011
The Palagio
This is where we had orientation! The palace is out of this world!Thursday
You would not believe what happened to me last night! I was just finishing my unpacking and I looked on the floor next to my bed, and there was my Medical Alert Bracelet! There's no way it was in my purse, because I dumped it out on the floor in the airport, and it wasnt't in my carryon because I never opened my carryon! It was an act of God. I'm totally convinced. The universe hates me so much that God takes pity on me. Thank God I have it back though! Now Daddy won't be angry with me, hehee.
Crossaints and Cappachino!
Squisito! All of you Americans who have never experienced a legitimate European Crossaint, you are totally missing out! We took breakfast on the go, and still managed to be late for Orientation. We totally went to the wrong building because we didn't read our welcome packets properly. I could hear my mother in my head lecturing me on the merit of reading directions.
Today was our first day of orientation and I am just exhausted, even though we did not do much! We were introduced to all of the Institute Staff, and then
this psychology professor talked to us about culture shock. Next, one of the local police officers went through the whole safety and laws lecture. We all thought he was going to be a stuffy conservative law enforcer type, but he was actually really funny! He told all the ladies: "We are used to being ignored by Italian Women, so if the young men bother you and play games, just ignore them! Its not rude, its just the culture!" His candor totally cracked me up!
Afterward Jess, Kayla and I bought Italian cell phones and hit the
mercato. I knew that things in Europe are way different than the states, but nothing could have prepared me for the deli. They had all sorts of deli meats and and cheeses, and then, just chillen there on the counter was a pig head! I might have anticipated that at a butcher shop, but in the middle of the mercado! And as most people know, I am particularly fond of pigs because I think they are the cutest critters! So the whole pig head scene was a little disturbing. I suppose I'll have to get used to it....
That night I went
out to dinner with a whole bunch of friends. It turns out all of my guy friends that are in the program live on the street perpendicular to mine, which is awesome. They're about a 2 minute walk and they have a beautiful apartment with an interior courtyard! We ended up in a restaurant over by the
Duomo because some of the other girls from RWU live in an apartment there. The have the most amazing view of the Duomo from their terrace! I'm not gunna lie, I'm definitely jealous of their terrace! And I found 20 Euro on the ground on the way there! That never happens to me!
Dinner was amazing! Although, we discovered that it is socially unacceptable to order less than two courses at a restaurant. They practically had to roll us out of there because we were so full from all the food and wine. We had the house wines, and both the red and the white were fabulous. We had a blast! Because they eat dinner so much later over here, it was 2am by the time we got home! Orientation the next day was not going to be fun!
Friday
After dragging ourselves out of bed and out the door, we managed to get to the correct building today. Unfortunately, by the end of orientation we wished we hadn't. It was so boring; we went through all of the faculty introductions, which was a nice gesture but ultimately usless since we didn't have our schedules yet and therefore had no idea which professors were ours. Then we had to fill out this packet of documents for immigration. I'm not entirely sure why the government requires this when they've already granted us visas, but whatever... The documents were all in Italian and it costs 30 euros for each packet, so they had to go through the pages step by step so we wouldn't make any mistakes. Despite the slow pace, people still messed up. There was a dumb blonde from PennState who accidently checked a box that said she was a refugee, lol. Oi! If it wasn't so funny I think the staff would have strangled her! hehee...
Finally Orientation was over and we were free to leave. I went back to the apartment for siesta; I was so exhausted I slept for 4 hours! And the only reason
why I woke up was because Alessandro was back for a house visit. He was supposed to teach us how to use our washing machine, but he couldn't figure it out (apparently this is his first semester working for the institute). He called the landlord to come and explain it to us. Turns out it is broken and they'll have to send out a repair-man on Monday. Then he took our mug-shots. Yes I said mug shots. We even had to hold up a piece of paper with our names on it. Apparently this is how the receptionist at the institute verifies that we are students and not robbers or illegal immigrants (apparently Italy has a problem with immigrants from North Africa). Alessandro left shortly thereafter.
We were supposed to cook tonight, but none of us had the motivation so out to dinner we went! Maybe tomorrow...
Saturday
So last night I learned that it is socially unacceptable to pet a strangers dog, even if you ask permission. I saw the cutest dog in the Piazza on the way home from dinner, and I asked the owner if I could pet her. He said yes but
looked at me like I was about to kill his first born child! Kayla just kept walking and pretended she didn't know me, hehee.
Orientation Again. At least today is useful. We went to the institute where we recieved our schedules and got our textbooks. I got into all the classes I registered for, and there are only a few textbooks. For one of my classes I had to get a museum card because we go on lots of field trips. The best part is, the card lets me into 20 different museums and I can go to any of them whenever I want all semester! I am so pumped! I'm gunna be that asshole American who goes to all 20 museums multiple times! lol. Ive walked by this one museum about a dozen times already (I have yet to figure out its name) and it has these big glass doors so you can see inside, and its a freeking medieval castle in there! With legit ducal flags and shields and weapons and stuff! Europe has such a rich history with such longevity! It makes American History and Museums look like wimpy babies!
We also got to sign
The Girls' Terrace
Lauren, Adrienne, Jamie and Laura have the most amazing terrace with views of the Duomo! up for some different activities today. Emily and I signed up for a daytrip to Pisa, a daytrip to Siena, and a national professional
futbol game! The match should be totally epic! The people of Florence are total fanatics! We also get to take a trip to Chianti for a wine tasting! I think I'm probably looking forward to that the most!
Afterward I went shopping and got totally lost! I ended up in a park along the river (on the opposite side of where I started) and I plopped down on a bench to look at my map and eat some strawberries I'd bought. Five minutes after I sat down I had a dozen pigeons sitting at my feet in hopes of a stray berry. I think they're smarter than they look though, because I glared at them once and they all flew away. A little while later this guy walks by with a puppy. He was middle-aged with a big round belly and the typical Italian complexion. The puppy stops and immediately comes up to me to be pet. The guy tried to drag her away but she would not budge until I pet her, and even
after I pet her she wouldnt budge. The man finally sighed and sat on the bench next to me. He speaks a little English, and I speak a little Italiano so we start to chat it up while the pooch enjoyed the attention (and she definitely enjoyed pissing off her master too!) His name is Luciano and it turns out the man is a chef; no suprise there, he fits the stereotype perfectly! Ironically, he works in the restaurant adjacent to the Institute's main building. What are the odds that I'd meet him on the other side of the city with his adorably stubborn puppy! He finally managed to drag Diana away from me, and told me to stop in the restaurant and say hello next week. Gotta love it!
By then I had figured out on my map how to get unlost and I headed off for the apartment, hoping to find an electronics store on the way home. I still havn't gotten an adapter for the plugs over here and I feel bad borrowing my roomate's all the time. Two hours and 6 stores later, I was lost again and still had no adapter. Apparently so many
American students have arrived over the past few days and all the stores I stopped in were sold out. I finally found my way home and now I'm exhausted. Time for siesta! Hells Yeah!
Sogni d'oro!
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Aunt Kate
non-member comment
Love your blog!!
Hi Sarah, Love your blog and it looks like your having a blast!! Be good and savor every moment!! Make sure you get a lot of pics with your smile in them so we can all brag about our international girl!! All our love and be safe!! Aunt Kate and Sophie (uncle tom and george too) woof woof (sophie's addition :))