Swim Fins...

Ciao Familia...

This is a very quick post as we are on a break. But I have a special request... can someone please send me a pair of swim fins. You know the floaty things you would wear as a kid when you were learning to swim. I might need them this semester!

Today has been the first day of class. I have been listening and doing since 9:00 this morning and still don't get out of class until 7:30. Needless to say, my brain is on overload! I am exhausted and enthralled at the same time. 

Here is the crazy thing... Today I had Drawing Foundations. Well, several people know I took drawing this summer and loved it! But, I only worked in still life, nature, and from photographs. Today, was the first time, I had to work with a nude model. *insert* red face! I have never worked with a nude model before. Fortunately it was a woman, but still. I was like, please someone, anyone, give her back her robe. At least she was thin and had a nice physique (oohhh!) Nevertheless, it is hard try to draw the most intimate parts of a person, without feeling a little, I don't know.. FREAKED!! Did I just throw up in my mouth a bit? I hate to think of the other models we will meet. Apparently, this whole class... the WHOLE CLASS (yes I'm yelling) is filled with naked people each time. FREAKED!

On top of this, it is going to be a lot of work... much more then I realized just looking at the syllabus, but I know the first day of school is often overwhelming. Plus I STILL don't have all of my art supplies, so this is undue stress.  At least tomorrow I only have Italian, so I can process through the rest then. Again, feel free to send the swim fins, not they will really help, but maybe some Krispy Kreme Donuts will...

Random Thought: There aren't any Starbucks here. I know, big surprise. Here is my assumption, they would be laughed out of the country!  I tried a REAL Cafe Maccichoto (sp) today, WOW! STRONG, to say the least...

What I don't want to be when I grow up.... 

please add, nude model!

My Feet HURT!

Salve Familia,
I have so much to share and so little time. The past two days have been BUSY to say the least. SACI has an extensive orientation, one being a guided tour around town. Let me see, oh, and before I go on, I have added a photo box. This one will show different aspects of Firenze and several shots from todays tour!


I interviewed the artist Jules Maidoff yesterday. Google him, he is pretty hot stuff! It was the coolest expereience ever. I LOVED sitting in the Museo Marino Marini (Marino Marini Museum) with him; once I found it. He had so many wonderful stories to share. I was late, because I got lost, again! But stumbled upon the most beautfiul via (street) on earth. I was in the presence of greatness, Gucci, Chanel, Hilfiger, well maybe not Hilfiger, but you get the picture. I had to refocus and get to my job!! During parts of our time together his assistants kept coming over to ask about positioning of certain pieces and groupings, etc. If you get a chance, google Maidoff, look for the piece 'Romeo and Juliet!' POWERFUL and it just draws you in. It is a piece he completed to deal with the grief he felt after his wife passed. With all the distractions, needless to say we needed additional time, so we went across the square to the bar. But it is not like a bar in the US. It was more like a small cafe with quaint tables and chairs, umbrellas and gypsies' begging. YES, gypsies. I didn't have anything. I was too nervous! Mr. Maidoff had a Coca-Cola light, their version of Diet Coke. After finishing with him, he placed a thought in my mind that I will always take with me, "You can't choose where you are born. You make your own world where you are."


Speaking of the food. Shopping has been very interesting to say the least! Can you imagine trying to make purchases by picture and figuring out what you know from spanish and applying that here. Yeah.... so far so good. I thought to myself, is this how illiterate people feel when they shop. In a sense I guess I am illiterate when it comes to Italian. I live across from a wonderful Geltaria. Angelo is our shop keeper or maybe I should say pusher. I had the carmel and chocolote gelato with nuts yesterday. YUMMO! I couldn't even finish it. It was so rich and such.... But I did place it in the freezer for later. lol I also walked to a local bakery for a breakfast treat yesterday. I purchased some sort of pastry that was folded. It was like Creme Brulee in a pastery. The outside was crispy and carmelized and the inside was chewy and creamy, like creme brulee. It was so good, I kept telling my housemate, Jen, "This makes no sense! Nothing like this, for breakfast, should be this good!!" But it was.

Here are the Top TEN things I have learned in Florence after 5 days;

Letterman style!

10. Don't hand them the money! When making a purchase, put it in the tray and they put your change in the tray with the reciept. If you hand it to them, they think you are rude, and did you know they charge you for the Pusa (bag). I think some places in the US are starting this to encourage cloth bags.
9. Quanto Costa? How much? It is always best to ask, but it also good to know your numbers so you know how much they say in return.
8. Air Condition is a good thing and it should NOT be taken for granted. I mean seriously, how much hotter can it get!?! I thought Nashville was hot. This ladies and gentleman is another level!
7. QUESTION: What do you really have to share, at the top of your lungs, at 3am! The people in Florence never sleep. New York is a quiet town compared to this.
6. The Piazza Santa Maria Novella (The square of Saint Mary of the Flower) is beautiful... and shoud be taken in multiple times a day. Which in a sense I have, since I tend to get lost and use this as a marker to find myself.
5. Just keep walking. When the men start, just keep walking, hummm Italian Men... ahhhh that is a post for another day friends.
4. Dov' e`...? Where is? I am not sure how many times I can get lost, but you have to be lost, before you can be found... right? And I use this expression A LOT!
3. Am I really understanding Italian already!? I am shocked at how quickly I am picking it up and actually having conversations with people. I am sure is it is broken dialect, but heh I am still talking to you!
2. Did I just eat that? I think there might be crack in the food! It is way too good. It should be a sin to eat food this good. Did I mention the gelato across from my apt?!
1. MY FEET HURT!! (and yes I am yelling!) I don't know how these Italian Women do it! This must be where Carrie Bradshaw took her inspiration from! After a few days in wedges and flats, I made my first purchase. Very Compfy! And beleive it or not, it was mostly in Italian!

So now what...

1. Sorry for the long post!
2. Danielle, my roommates, and I are going to this bar on Saturday night. Which isn't like a bar in the US, no worries mom. Basically it is an all you can eat place for about 5-7 Euros and you can have beverages too. ALL YOU CAN EAT! A sin...
3. Try to catch the last of the lecture... or not
4. Write my story for the Florentine
5. Rest? Nah.... too much to do!

A Presto...

CIAO de FIRENZE!

Buono Sera Familia,

The time here is a little before 3. The building is quiet, as most people have left for lunch and sieste. So I will use this time to share my thoughts quickly, because I too need to eat lunch! Can you believe I am eating this late!!

On the flight over I met the sweetest Greek woman while standing around; literally standing around. A person can only sit so long, and I was over the plane ride the minute my TV wasn't working and the lady next to me began her grooming processes, etc. She spoke Greek, Turkey, Bulgarian, but not English! When she came out of the rest room, the sign language began. I got the impression she wanted to practice her English. So sure, why not... here is a chance for me to practice my Greek, oh wait, I don't speak Greek! Apparently, her husband works in Chicago.
They have a house there and in Athens` I think it was Athens. *let me pause here, I am on an Italian keyboard, so stuff is moved around and missing and not where it should be. So see the star on the line above, that was supposed to be a open paranthese; not so much. But I am figuring this thing out!) She went on about her family and being split between the two countries. Her name was Lena, like the girl from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants *great movie!) But she looked nothing like her. From this exchange, Lena taught me two Greek words. Which are given here in phonetics, Kolo, which is nice. She thought that I was very Kolo. And Yashoo, which is hello and good bye. Question, 'Why is it we are the only ones who don't have a dual greeting?'

On the transfer in Munich I met a very nice man. I began to use my Italiano! Non parlo Italiano, parlo Portuguese! So needless to say, the conversation was very short, but he was sweet. *He only spoke Portuguese, I kind of speak Italian)

My first day in Florence when like this and trust me when I say this is the Reader's Digest version! Out of my 3 pieces of luggage only 1 was there at the airport. Driving to the center of town, where my couch surfing host Danielle lived, was a bit scary! These folks drive a bit crazy and I was glad I was riding and just taking in the city. There is quite a bit of graffiti, which I didn't expect. Danielle explained to me that in Florence the suburbs are the bad part of town no one wants to live there. Everyone wants to be in the center of the Piazza. Danielle, with her dog Rosalita, were AWESOME hosts. She was so helpful, considering I was missing so many items. I would insert some pictures, but I don't have my camera... She took me to a festival hosted by the Democratic Party (the other option are the Communist, but apparently they lost, so nothing to celebrate) with food and a concert. She has been living here for 4 years, so she definitely knows her way around. My first REAL ITALIAN MEAL was risotto with asparagus and vanilla gelato with chocolate syrup and hazel nuts for dessert. RICH! To say the least. I know for sure I will be walking, otherwise, I will be rolling home!

Almost done, today 9.3.08 or as they say in Europe, 3.9.08, I had an interview for a freelance writer with an English speaking paper. I GOT THE JOB!! I actually was assigned my first story. Can you believe it!? I am covering an art opening, the artist is the guy who started SACI. I have a private meeting with him domani (tomorrow) as they begin to hang the 70 pieces of his work in the museum. I am turning in a draft on Monday and I go to copy on the 15th. I have one of the main stories!! Not bad for my first time back in the author's chair. I will be sure to add a link in a later post.

So now what...

1. I am going to get some lunch.
2. See about the water in my apartment (there was none when I came over. And did you see I figured out the open parnethese!!) and roll my sole bag back to the place.
3. Begin my research for my story and maybe watch some TV. You should see Friends or Charlie's Angels in Italian voice over.
4. Add to the list of what I am not going to be when I grow up... Pilot or Flight Attendant!
5. Try not to get lost literally going around the corner, trust me, it has happened already!

Ciao...