Monday, January 13, 2014

Two Days in Florence

I've barely had any time to write here but I have so much to write about! It's been like two days here and I've already experienced so much, its unbelievable. I want to write about my crazy experience at the airport because I did end up over packing, a lot! I have a serious issues with that. For a moment at the airport I didn't think I was going to make it to Italy, I was panicking. The experience was over all frustrating and it only added to the anxiety I was already feeling from before. Me and my mom just grabbed so much stuff from my luggage and took it out, so now Im out here and half of my things are back home, but I guess is good so that I learn how to detach myself from home. The stuff that I need now I will just have to get it here on Florence. When I finally boarded the plane I couldn't help but to cry, a lot. It was just all overwhelming and I just crashed.





The plane ride was so long! wow I slept and watched about four movies. I had a connecting flight in Frankfurt, Germany. When I got to Germany it was pretty interesting, I was finally able to meet some of the students from my program that were getting on the same plane ride as me. Overall I'm glad that part is done because I don't really enjoy plane rides due to my motion sickness, but I am glad I'm here and was welcomed by the program assistant director who was very nice and payed for our taxi to get to our apt.

Upon arrival to the apt. I was received by Laura, our landlord. This lady is the sweetest one ever! I was the first one to get to the apt. and she showed me the whole space and she also helped me up the stairs. Let me talk about the stairs for a quick second! We live on the 3rd floor but in America it will technically be the 4th floor because the first floor is not until you go up the stairs. Is a whole lot of stairs and is a bit annoying. So yea, Laura is very sweet, she took me to her home and gave me so much food! I was starving so how could I had said no. She gave me chicken, salad, bread, water, coffee, cheese. It was an amazing welcome.

I literally slept all day on my first day, I was exhausted. That's how my first day went. Saturday we had our school orientation and a small tour of Florence. I got the chance to experience the night life here in Florence but I wasn't too impressed since Florence is full of American tourist and the city area is full of American bars. Next time we'll get to experience the full Italian night life since we'll probably get out of the city area. Overall it was an interesting night and I'll leave it at that.

Sunday we went for a hike! the most wonderful view of Florence, although quiet honestly I was hungover (I can say it now that I am 21) I made it to the hike. It was very beautiful.





Sunday after the hike we went out for Pasta since we had not tried it, except for the one we cooked. I ordered pasta with Dante sauce, some bacon and walnuts in it. I really did not like it.... Maybe I should stick traditional American processed bacon and spaghetti. I also tried gelato for the first time! One word: Delicious. I need more.

So far I'm still super jet lagged and adjusting to the food changes  but it hasn't been much of a challenge expect for the jet lag part, I feel like I'm going to crash soon. Classes started and I'm not too excited for it. I almost forgot we came here to study since we've been having so much fun.

Oh! I forgot to mention one thing about night life in Florence, I will never forget the one guy that randomly flashed me and my roommates on our way back home. Had to really Think Wide Open there.

I had my first culture shock experience, it happened when everybody was staring at one of my roommates because of what she was wearing. It was shocking because in New York City or Purchase you wouldn't experience anything like that. If you ask me she wasn't wearing anything inappropriate but because it was showing a little too much skin, it was not the right thing to wear out here.

FYI Euros are really expensive!! I'm thankful for dollars and burgers. 





                                                                                                                                                  -Angie <3

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Pre-departure

           Nothing but seven hours left until I travel to Florence for a whole semester! on top of everything is my 21st birthday. Happy Birthday To Me!  I'm going to spend half of my birthday on an airplane. To be quiet honest, I'm not sure how to feel right now, ever since I started packing yesterday I've been feeling very anxious. I'm worried about so many things that I really shouldn't be yet. I'm worried about packing and over packing, baggage limit. I usually tend to over pack, well most of the time, so this really has been a very frustrating thing for me. I am also worried about the issue of money over there. So far all I've heard from people is how expensive things are in Italy, that's something that's been adding on to the anxiety. Also, I guess just the thought of being away from my friends and family. I don't want to set myself up but I don't know what I'm going to do without my friends and family. I guess being away at Purchase wasn't all that bad because I got to go home whenever I wanted but this time is going to be so  different. We'll see how things work out for me , now I need to get on that airplane first.



                                                                                                                                      <3