Today was my first day of class, and I only had my Italian level 1 class. I left my apartment about an hour early so I would have enough time to buy my book and have extra time in case I got lost, which I did of course. LdM campus isn't like any typical American campus. For example, KU's campus has all the buildings in one area, along with dorms, cafeteria, and student help services. Here in Florence, LdM has many buildings spread throughout the city, and with my schedule, I have to walk all over the place. It took me a while to find my building, but the neat thing is I walk by the Duomo everyday. When I finally got there, sweaty all over and feeling really disgusting, I had just enough time to cool off and get to class.
My Italian class has 8 people in it, I was pretty surprised. The teacher walked in and spoke only Italian to us, but I could understand most everything she was saying because I know Spanish. It ended up being a lot of fun. We learned typical phrases, how to properly say the alphabet, and got to know each other a bit. Honestly, I am really happy to be back in school. I love learning, and so far it's been really productive and laid back at the same time. I am really and truly excited to start my art history classes, especially my class on Lost Symbols/Secret Codes in art history.
First day of school picture!
The more people I meet in my program, the more I realize how much of a Kansas girl I am. Everyone is mostly from the Northeast coast, and I have met a good amount of people from Illinois. I have made a close group of girl friends that I adore, and they are for the most part from that area. But, in all honestly, I think I am the only person from Kansas here, or at least at LdM. When I tell people I am from there, I get a lot of surprised looks and people ask me how Dorothy or Toto is. A friend asked if I was scared of tornadoes, and she thought it was the weirdest thing that I enjoy watching them on the porch. Someone asked me where that was on a map (seriously?) and then I also got asked if I play in wheat fields. Typical.
Lately I have been craving chicken fried steak. And you know what?? NO ONE knows what that is, or has ever had it. I am in shock. How do people live without eating some delicious midwest CFS? Do people not eat meat and potatoes around here? I told my friends that they need to visit me in Kansas and experience some of my mom's chicken fried steak. Anyone who has had it knows that it's the best in the midwest. Anyways, back to Italy.
I really do enjoy it here, but now that I have been here for a little while I am starting to figure out what bugs me. First off, the lack of AC. I have been sweating my butt off constantly, and it's hard to sleep at night feeling so hot and gross, and I haven't even fixed up my hair in any cute way because there's no point; I'll just sweat it off. Secondly, Italy is LOUD in the EARLY MORNING!! I cannot get any sleep around here without hearing some sort of construction, loud trucks, or screaming Italians. Also, nothing is convenient here. ATMs are far away, there's no water fountains, the grocery store charges you for plastic bags, the bookstore wants exact change, water isn't free...but I suppose that is just how Europe functions. And I will get used to it all, eventually...
Tonight I am going to a cute little pizza place with my roommate and getting some homework done, and hopefully video chatting with some of my friends and family. Tomorrow, I have my Italian Ren. Art class and then I plan on going to the Uffizi, FINALLY.
That's all for now, folks. Ciao!
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