When In Rome...

Ciao Ragazzi!
It has been an eventful, and very full week! It started out by the six of us girls who live in apartments, moving to our new casa. It is located closer to school, and behind the main campo. Our new room is gorgeous, and all of them have sinks which makes it much more convenient. The kitchen and other common areas are smaller, and will take a bit of adjustment but it is nice having all of us on one floor now, dinners are much more eventful!
Our washer is seriously large enough to hold a shirt and 2 socks, maybe. So that should prove to be an adventure. Here are some pictures of the new room...

It was our first full week of our regular classes, which proved to be adventurous. I am taking Photography, Art History I, and Italian Sign Language along with the required Italian Language/Culture classes. They have all been enjoyable. Photography has a lot of assignments, and the first one was to take a photo a day! Ha, I think I have that covered. Here is my photo assignment, I am in love with how it turned out...

Our art history class went on our first field trip today to the local Siena Duomo, it's only breath-taking and gorgeous and amazing, no big deal.

Italian Sign Language is fascinating. The class is silent, which is something that I didn't really think about. It's very different from what you expect in other classes.

This Saturday a group of us went to Rome to check out the sites, and tour the Borghese, which is UH-MAZING, if you ever get the chance, GO. I also saw the Colloseum, Spanish Steps, and Trevi fountain to name a few. It's really incredible to be standing next to all these things that you have read about your whole life. It's completely surreal. It was so exhausting, but so worth it.

I can't believe it is March already, I'm not quite sure where February went. This weekend we are heading out for Carnavale which is basically the Italian version of Halloween, but a bit cooler.

Until next time,

Liz

Fried Bologna and other things

I know, I know. I've been pretty much the slowest blogger ever. I just have to say though, in my defense 1. I am living in ITALY and 2. Blogger takes the greater part of a century to load my photos. In any case, here I am.

A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to go to a local wine tasting. The restaurant and the wine was all great, but the room downstairs that housed all the wine was pretty stunning. It seemed they had every type, color and shape of bottle possible for wine making. We tried both a white and red wine, followed by a desert wine which is usually used for dunking cookies (a classier version of oreos and milk). Here are some pictures from that

Last weekend was spent in Bologna, Italy with 7 of us from the program. Besides transportation, the trip was pretty much unplanned. We all ended up having a great time, no thanks to Bologna. Don't get me wrong, it is still a place in Italy of which I am glad I went but it only made me appreciate Siena so much more. The city is dirty and huge and seemingly Americanized. By the end of the trip we all felt as though we had gone back to America for a short trip rather than spent the weekend in an Italian city. We did see a few cool things, and climbed to the top of the leaning tower right in the middle of downtown. We ate some awe-some gelato and had a delicious margarita (or 2).

Monday started our last week of intensive italian. PHEW! We took the final today and it wasn't the most confident I have ever felt on a test. I am making progress, slowly but surely. I will be very excited to start the remainder of my classes on monday.

The weather has been rather gloomy lately and being from Arizona, I don't too much care for overcast days. My first venture out into the rain I was in complete shock and awe of just how many people have umbrellas! Even if it is merely sprinkling,  every person you see will be umbrella covered. So note to self, if you ever come to Italy in February, bring an umbrella.

This afternoon we went on a hike up to Monteriggioni which is this very cool town on top of a hill, small, quaint and quiet. The hike was absolutely beautiful. Monteriggioni does not offer much, but their views are to die for.

We are also moving to a new apartment next week because the one we are currently in will be undergoing some construction that is predicted to be rather intrusive. Our new apartment is much closer to the campo, but the change is still weird. This apartment has already become comfortable, but I like change. I will post pictures once we move.

Tonight some of the girls are coming over to play a good ol game of UNO, drink some wine, and unwind from the week.

All is well.

Ciao,

Liz

San Gimignano, Paris and my first Concerto

Buona Sera!

Today marks week 2 of Intensive Italian Classes, and holy moly....I'm overwhelmed to say the least.

Friday after school, Lauren and I got dinner in the Campo and went to a concerto at the local theater, Handel e Napoli. It was so great! Good conversation, wine, pasta and a good concerto. What more could a girl ask for? Our tickets were only 8 euro and gave us our own balcony with great view! Here is a picture of the theater...

On Saturday we made a trip to San Gimignano which, for lack of a better description is amazing, and is comparable to Jerome in Arizona, only much cooler. It is a tiny town on top of a hill, towers surrounded by a beautiful wall. One of the main intentions of the trip was to eat at the world renowned Gelato shop they have there. To our dismay, it was closed! Sad sad moment that was. We did however have some gelato found down the street which was benissimo, as you can see by my dear friends below

Sunday marked 1 year that John and I have been dating "again" :) but since we were oceans apart, the day was spent relaxing, getting organized and a little bit of shopping. I went on a walk through town, ended up very lost and discovered some cool new areas of Siena. I eventually found my way back home, and may not ever be able to repeat my route, but it was well worth it. Here are some pictures I captured along the way

I booked my first, of hopefully many, trips to Paris! I will be there from April 1-3. I am SO excited.  I am also planning a London/Dublin trip in April. Much to look forward to.

Eat, drink and be merry!

Liz

Happiness

We have all used, or at least heard the phrase, "Happiness is a state of mind." For me, I have to say that I've always generally regarded the statement as true and went along my way. But last night, I was walking through the Pizza della Posta enjoying my pizza when I started to ponder the idea of actually living in Italy.

A lot of the members of the staff at Siena School are former Americans who for one reason or another, have decided to make their homes in Siena. As fun and exciting and all around amazing as this sounds, I could not help but wonder if this place too, would in a sense lose its charm. Do not get me wrong, Siena is beautiful and I could enjoy gelato and panini's on a daily basis. Yet, what makes your happiness here so much greater than happiness there?

For anyone who knows me, I am always focused on the where next, the future, the what is going to happen. I seldom take time to realize the value of today, the here (no matter where that is) and the now. Especially as Americans, we are driven towards something greater. As if what we are currently doing now is never enough.

So as I finished my pizza and headed back up to my room here in Italy I made a resolution to be better at my own state of happiness. To look around and find the good in what is here, along with the good that is to come. To be thankful for Italy, the chance to know them, but also be grateful for America and my home. So Whether you find your happiness in your family, your friends, your work, or your schooling, I encourage you to be overwhelmed with joy and love and appreciate all the opportunities given to you.

You can.
Where you are.
With what you have.

Ciao,

Liz