First full day in Italia!

As I read over my last post, I realized I never described my homestay family!! My mamma is Elisabetta, her husband is Dario, and their son is Bernardo. They are a very welcoming and nice family; very encouraging whenever I try to speak Italian and correct me whenever needed. They don’t seem to be home very much, but I don’t think I will be either. They live about 15-20 minutes from both the CAPA center and the University of Florence, which is perfect walking distance.

View from my balcony- Il Duomo! Che bello!

 Anyway, my first full day in Italy was very busy indeed. I had to go to the CAPA school in the morning and I wouldn’t have been able to get there without Kelsey’s help! I am the ABSOLUTE WORST at directions and I’m happy she met me at my homestay or I would still be wandering the streets of Florence trying to find my way!!

After filling out paperwork at the CAPA center for my “permesso di soggiorno,” the academics coordinator took the group for lunch at a small little sandwich shop followed by a 2 hour tour around the center of the city. The food was delicious- I got prosciutto and pecorino on a ciabatta loaf and it was lovely. Simple, but delicious!

Vittoria showed the group a piazza close to the CAPA center and gave us more information on where we could find things we needed. Then came the best part… I finally saw the Duomo up close… and it is positively breathtaking- such beautiful details and amazing architecture!

Cattedrale di S. Maria del Fiore

We continued the tour around the city and visited the Piazza della Republicca, walked by the Uffizzi (I have a pass that gets me in for free whenever I want!) and the Ponte Vecchio/Arno River and then came across what is thought to have been Dante Alighieri’s home. We saw so many piazze and sculptures. 

Ohai Ponte Vecchio!

After going home that night and having dinner with my homestay brother and his girlfriend, I explored the center of the city with Kelsey with one goal in mind: FIND A GELATERIA. After wandering for about 45 minutes we found one that was closing in 5! I ordered a small cup of strawberry and coffee gelato… *ahhhhh, angels singing and the heavens opening up* IT WAS DELICIOUS. I wish I could remember the name of the place… or even WHERE it was, but no matter! There are many more days to eat gelato.

After the short exploration trip, I went home and slept somewhat poorly (still suffering from jet lag), but it was necessary after the long hours spent walking around the city!

The stress of traveling... I hope it never happens like this again.

The day I left for Firenze was incredibly stressful and just a strange experience in general. I woke up around 8 when my mom came into my room; I was so confused at first (why was it so bright? why wasn't she at work? what the hell was going on?) and until she asked me "Uhhh, aren't you going to shower?" it seemed to have slipped my mind that I was leaving that day! I jumped out of bed and got all my last things packed... or so I thought.

My dad drove us to Philly for my last American meal (legit cheesesteaks from Pat's) but I couldn't even eat because I was so nervous! Then we drove to the airport where Tylar (a friend also going on the Pitt-in-Florence program) and I decided to get together before check-in so our parents could meet and for a few teary-eyed goodbyes. After giving my family half a bajillion hugs and assuring everyone that I’d have a fun and safe time, I finally went through security.

We met Kelsey at the gate and waited a few hours with butterflies at an all time high- WE WERE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A 3 MONTH JOURNEY TO ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CITIES ON THE PLANET. It was truly unreal. We boarded on time but unfortunately, there was a small problem with the plane… as a result of the 3-inch dent near the cargo door, our plane was delayed by 2.5 hours. Yes, we waited inside the plane for one hour of repair and one and a half hours of “paperwork.” During this time, I experienced intense anxiety because I had an hour and a half to make the connecting flight in Frankfurt, something that eventually became impossible. Trust me when I say that I was nauseous for the entire 7.5 hour flight to Germany… wondering what would happen with my luggage, what I would do to get another flight, how late I’d get to Florence. It was absolutely draining!

In order to take my mind off the possible drama that I would encounter after landing, I decided to watch Pitch Perfect (meh), The Dark Knight Rises (amazing, marry me JGL, marry me Anne Hathaway), and then study my Italian textbook… huge mistake trying to study. I realized how much Italian I had forgotten which made me incredibly nervous for meeting my Italian host family, so I tried to sleep. No luck there either. The entire time I was hoping this horrendous traveling experience wouldn’t be a bad omen for the rest of my semester!

After a grueling 10 hours on the plane, we had finally arrived at the Frankfurt airport. The pilot announced that those who had missed a connecting flight already had a flight to Florence arranged and they only had to go to the Lufthansa transfer desk- perfetto! After going through immigration and customs, all us Pitt-in-Florence kids got our new tickets, waited at the gate, and boarded our new Lufthansa flight with no problems at all! Things were finally improving!

The flight from Frankfurt to Florence was very short and we were in Florence in no time! A few of the CAPA staff met us at the airport and put us into taxis that would then take us to our homestays! My family welcomed me and directed me towards my room… with my own bathroom, balcony, and a view of THE FREAKING DUOMO DI FIRENZE. I was in heaven!! I unpacked all my things and then accidentally took a short nap- traveling for so long can make a girl super tired!

My mamma and I talked for a while after I woke up and I surprised myself by being able to communicate with her. It was a bit difficult, but I think I’m getting better so hopefully by the end of the semester, I will be able to speak without any problems and without pauses! We ate a dinner of lasagna, veggies, cheese/bread, and fruit for dinner… and everything was fabulous. Even the fruit tastes better here!!

I ended up sleeping right after dinner in order to be well rested for the CAPA led tour the following day.

And with 15 days until I am on my way...

I finally decided to start my blog!

I've wanted to study abroad ever since I found out I could do that in college... In other words, a really long time; I've known I wanted to visit Italy for even longer and here it is, my long awaited dream come true (which sounds incredibly cheesy and cliché, I know- but it's the truth, I swear it!) As you have probably figured out from the title, I'll be spending the Spring 2013 semester in one of the most artistically and architecturally gorgeous cities in the world- Florence! 

Honestly, I don't think it's hit me yet. Sure, I've already sent in my visa application (along with the 304972 additional documents they required AND my passport... the wait continues), ordered a cell phone for European use (bye-bye texting!), and started freaking out about the amount of clothes I'll have to leave at home (I mean really, one suitcase and one carry on? How will I live?!), but I think part of me doesn't think this is real yet. 

When I first found out about the program, I didn't even think it was a possibility for financial and parental reasons (Hi mom, hi dad!), but my scholarship came through and my parents supported my decision wholeheartedly. After I realized that studying for an entire semester in Florence was a realistic possibility, I completed my application... but not without my doubts. 

I absolutely wanted to go abroad but I also couldn't imagine spending an entire semester away from my second family at Pitt- friends (HEEEY Y'ALL!) who I've grown so close to over the past few years, who I've shared countless extraordinary (and sometimes horrendous) college experiences with, who I plan on growing old with (we'll be 70 years old recounting all the fun we had, okay Christie?!) that I still have no idea how I'm supposed to survive without them! And they were probably the only reason I ever considered declining my acceptance into the program and staying at Pitt. I didn't (and still don't) want to leave my friends, and for the most part, it seems that they don't want me to leave either. I tear up a bit when I think about how I'll miss out on the weekend dance parties in 407, lunches with Greg and dinners with Cara, and congratulating Megan and Christie on their latest extreme couponing freebies, but I know that this will be an experience of a lifetime and that my family and friends will still like me when I get home (*crosses fingers*)!

And with that said, this blog will be a way for friends and family back home to keep up with my European adventures! I plan on posting every few days hopefully with a couple of pictures and stories of my trip- maybe my picturesque walk to class, a beautiful piazza where I spent my lunch break, or a delectable panino from a hole-in-the-wall café. Just thinking about all of the life-changing experiences that await me makes my heart beat way too quickly- here's hoping I don't pass out from a heart attack before leaving for my destination!

The city that will be my home away from home.