The morning started out like any other in Italy! I got up and got dressed; I had saved my favorite outfit for today...my polka dot dress with purple tights.
Around 8 (later than usual) I went to the kitchen to eat breakfast. I had planned to only eat a small breakfast because I wanted to try something at the coffe/bakery shop across the street from the school later. So, the graham cracker things were not out, so I had two small toast thingys with the jam. As I was finishing, Signora Gabriella came in and offered me tea. I decided that it didn't really matter if I was a few minutes late to school because Maria would not start class until 15 after. So, she made tea and we had green tea together while she ate toast thingys dipped in her tea! I've only ever had hot green tea once before and did not like it; however, this tea was really good! After my tea, I did hurry to get my things together and teeth brushed.On my way out of the building I took a few pictures I hadn't thought of: the entry way, etc. Then, I started walking to school and I took some pictures on my walk to school so that I would have some of the random things I saw every day on my walk! It seems stupid, but these things are important to me! It was a beautiful morning. The weather was not too cold and the sun was shining!! When I got close to the school and was taking a picture of the "bar"
where Fiona and I went most days, the guy making the coffee saw me taking a picture and wanted to smile and pose for me! I thought it was cute! Also, after I took the picture I realized he reminded me of someone I knew...Frances, do you agree???
The first part of class was not too bad. Maria told us that she had to leave at 10:30 so that we would be going to Rebecca's class (the 1st level) for the 2nd half of class. We did grammar, more pronouns of course. I did okay with them; she was utterly shocked that I hadn't made any mistakes on my homework. I was a little hurt at her shock, but I had done my homework with Cristina and I truly hadn't made but like 1 or 2 mistakes with her and of course we corrected them and talked about them. Thus, when we went over it in class I didnt have any mistakes...again though, a little hurt by her shocked face! So, we just spent our time doing this and had a little conversation. Elmo came late and that was really all that happened. I did have trouble with watching the clock wanting this part of class to be OVER WITH!! So, when it was over with, I took a picture with Maria
and unfortunately she is not really smiling, but please tell me you agree that she could play a Disney Fairy Tale witch in a movie or on Broadway. She was sweet and gave me a hug before she left. However, I was happy to be finished with this part of school; I hate feeling that way, but I just did not feel comfortable with her teaching methods and attitude toward me. Oh well, that happens sometimes I suppose.The break was nice. Fiona and I went down stairs and she stopped to smoke while I went in the "cafe" to pick out my sweet. I couldn't decide and walked back out to wait on Fiona. While I was doing this, Tamsin came out of the school and then Nathalie (who had said she didn't want to come down there originally) came out. So the four of us headed inside. They helped me decide to get a fruit tart. So you have to pay for everything first and get a receipt before you get your food or coffee. So I got in line with Tamsin. They all got coffee and I ordered a sweet for 2 euros (you also dont have to tell them what you want, just how much it cost). I chose the fruit tart with kiwi, mandarin orange, strawberry, and a piece of pineapple on it. It was a small, but sweet and perfect little treat for my last day of class. Tamsin was also sweet and bought me a little chocolate. So, we stood at the counter and I ate my tart and they drank their coffee. It was a nice break; I enjoyed spending my last break with all three of them. On our way back upstairs, Elmo was leaving and he was so sweet and told FIona and I goodbye. He hugged and did the traditional "kisses" on each cheek. When we got back upstairs we all sat down at the computers to kill some more time. I also got a picture with Marco during this time before he left (Marco taught the "Oggi in Italia" class).
Then we had to get our 2nd half of class out of the way. We only had conversation. Rebecca was super sweet and spoke slowly to everyone (though not in a demeaning way). Fiona, Rebecca, and Nathalie had a conversation about hunting and foxes and stuff that I did not follow. They were talking about this because Fiona was going hunting with a friend of her dad's this weekend. It is some Italian aristocrat and Fiona was going with them to the country to some castle this weekend to go hunting. Now, I wouldn't want to hunt either, but it sounded like a really awesome one in a lifetime (or in her case, maybe more than once) experience. Then Rebecca turned her attention to me. I was nervous at first, but I was ABLE TO SPEAK!!! I think it was because she was clearly patient and gave me time to think and form my words/thoughts. However, because I didn't feel so pressured, the words seemed to come to me. She was asking me what I was doing after I returned home. Then she asked me if I knew Gabriella (teacher from UA). I said yes, that Gabriella had been my first Italian teacher. She was so excited that I knew Gabriella, though she did not know Maurizio and Barbara. She started telling me how much she love Gabriella and did I know her son Matteo, etc. I do not know him, but she started telling us how he came to the school with Gabriella some years ago and she made him come to class. Apparently he is fluent in Italian but has never studied the grammar of the language. She said that he was miserable being there and so she would let him "skip out" to go get a magazine and just read during class, or leave to go to the bathroom for 10 or 15 minutes at a time. SHe said he usually just sat in class and read sports magazines. THis was actually a rather entertaining story because Rebecca is so animated and funny! Marco came in class at some point and was saying something to Rebecca about the December term (which goes Mon-Sat because it ends on the 16th). Marco is also extremely animated and funny...at some point he wrapped his leg around the door (not really sure why) but it was hilarious!! Wednesday he asked us if we thought he looked like a stereotypical Italian...I didn't know what I thought, but what I DO know about Marco is that he is hilarious!!!The rest of the class was good! I was slowly realizing that I may have been better off in that class...while a lot of it would have been "simple" and definitely a review for me (as 98% of the grammar in level 2 was a review), but I think i would have made much greater strides in vocabulary and conversation in Rebecca's class). However, I still had a great experience and learned a lot...mostly about myself, but still a lot. We also talked about learning languages...apparently one of them had seen some research about learning languages and read that when a person is learning a third language (as one of the students in there was...well, actually so was Nathalie who is dutch, but speaks English as well) they often think in their 2nd language instead of their first. I thought this was strange and very interesting. I need to look this up because I find this VERY interesting. I mean, you would think that they would think in their mother language first in ALL situations, but apparently not. So, if I learn a third language, I'll think in Italian...hmm perhaps I should start learning a third language so that I'll think fluently in Italian! THink it works that way?!?! Hmm...me neither...UNFORTUNATELY!!!!! Class was good and it flew by; that's how it should be!!
After class and before the worst class EVER, I took a picture with Nathalie.
We decided that I would find Fiona on facebook and then her because we didn't have time to find each other in that moment! Nathalie was very sweet and I liked her.
Art history was as painful as ever! I just started making a list of my final impressions of Italy. I tried to find ANYTHING to hold my attention because the class definitely does not. I was actually so desperate that I got up to go to the bathroom (Fiona had already done this, and the teachers do not seem to mind) and I wrote an email to my momma as well. Literally, when I tell you that I canot stand this class, I mean it!!! I was so anxious for this class to BE OVER WITH!! I was feeling like I was wasting my time in Italy...a horrible feeling to have.
After class we went out into the big room area with the computers. I MADE Fiona take a picture with me
(first picture) and I also took one with Tamsin (2nd picture).
We decided that we were going to eat at the place where Tamsin gets the wraps. Before we left though, I found both of them on facebook and requested them! Then we were on our way to lunch. Fiona didn't have too much time because she had to be at class at 2:30. We walked to the place and they had a funny conversation about the word "pants". Apparently in the U.K. they call underwear pants and so she said that when they hear others call pants, pants...she always thinks that they are talking about underwear. I thought this was SO strange, but funny! Anyway, so we made it to the place, which I didn't find the other day because I was on the wrong street! :(
Lunch: So we went in and asked Tamsin what she usually orders. She said that she ordered a wrap (but the bread is a little thicker) with prosciutto, mozzarella, and this lettuce stuff that has a peppery taste to it. So, we told her just to order us the same thing, but he forgot our cheese! :( 
So we sat at the little bar and I got a water to go with my lunch. You could also get this cute little bottle of wine; I find it so strange that wine is so readily available all of the time in Italy! When we got our food, it was SOOO good! Fiona had to eat 1/2 and hurry to pay and run to class! I gave her last hugs and she was off. After Fiona left Tamsin and I just sat and enjoyed our food and talked. As she was asking me what the rings on my right hand were for, the sandwich guy started talking to us (well, I use "us" loosely because he kept addressing me). He was telling us something about a girlfriend in Rome, and having a really bad motorcycle wreck, something about being a policeman in Rome and loosing his job and I didn't follow it because his English was bad. It was kind of annoying because every time I went to say something to Tamsin, he would interrupt our conversation. However, in the end, he was sweet. He asked me if I knew the song "Sweet Home Alabama" and said that he knew it from "Forest Gump"; haha that made me laugh! So, I explained that I had bought one of my rings for myself and then I explained the "I Love You" ring. She thought it was really sweet, but was shocked at some of the Mike stuff (not an uncommon reactions). So when we finished we left. Tamsin was in a bit of a hurry because her train to Venice left in 2 hours. She was headed to get some money from the bank, grab her stuff, and go to the train station. She said she was going to Venice alone because she didn't mind and that sometimes traveling alone was nice because you could do WHATEVER you wanted and not have to worry about someone else and their agenda!! WHAT??? THIS IS ME!!! I TOTALLY AGREE!!! I told her so and she said we were kindred spirits! I was happy to hear that I was not the only one who felt this way (Natalie also went to Siena alone the other day...happy to know I'm not alone in this). So, Tamsin and I hugged and went our separate ways!
As I walked out, I decided that the guy from the sandwich place would be perfect for something a lady my momma works with wanted me to do. She wanted me to get a picture of a "cute" guy in Italy wearing the "Roll Tide" beads. I went back to the sandwich place and asked him if he would let me take his picture wearing the beads. He was VERY confused, but agreed to do it. At the last second though he said that he would only do it if I was in the picture with him. Earlier, when we were eating, he asked me if I knew the song "Sweet Home Alabama" and I said yes and that at our football games we added, "Roll Tide Roll"; so I tried to help him understand that this was related to that. He finally just smiled and said, "okay!"
He asked this couple sitting there to take our picture and they did. It was funny and silly, but totally worth it. Then he hugged me and kissed me on both cheeks and said ciao bella! It was sweet!After this, I realized that I hadn't left my "evaluation" at the school. So, in order to accomplish a few things on my list, I went back to the school. I dropped the evaluation at the front desk, went around and took some pictures inside the school and then sat down to email my momma and organize everything in my purse
.
The next thing on my list was going to the restaurant to get a picture with my regular waiter. When i walked through the door, the rude girl said, "no, we are closed." I tried to explain that I was just there to see my waiter, when he suddenly appeared. He smiled and I just said that I wanted to take a picture with him because it was my last day. He was "sad" and said that I had to come back, but when I did, I had to eat EVERYTHING!! Haha...hasn't he learned yet? It took us a minute to decide inside or outside, but then we just decided to stay inside and the girl took our picture! 
He was so sweet and wished me well and said that I better come back and when I do I have to come see him and I have to eat everything. He then gave me a hug and kissed me on both cheeks! A lot of kisses today!
After the restaurant I headed to the Duomo to climb the Cuopolla. I had to find the entrance, but when I did, I paid my money, got my ticket and began the climb of over 400 stairs...again! Everyone had been saying that this was a very claustrophobic climb, but it was not nearly as bad as some of the other climbs.
Once you got to a certain point, you walked out onto this like balcony thing that went around the inside of the dome. 
There was a couple behind me (from Louisiana) and the lady freaked out at this point adn went back down. She said she was afraid of heights. The man continued on behind me, though eventually had to stop and rest before continuing. I enjoyed this part because you were so close to the painting of the dome. 
It was beautiful! It was a bit sickening when you looked down, but a great view of the inside of the cathedral. So then we had to climb more steps. THey were getting steeper, but I never felt claustrophobic. The last long set of stairs were curved...they were steep,
but it was totally worth it once you climbed those last few steps!!! I stayed up there for a while. It was that perfect time of day when the sun was golden on everything 
and Florence just looked radiant.
I also wanted to stay up there for a while and just take it all in. I took a lot of pictures and sat down a few times just to look at everything. I tried to find where I had been living, I enjoyed the pictures of the shadow of the dome on the city, and seeing the Piazza della Repubblica from up here. On the way up I had told the Louisiana man that I never liked elevators, but Italy made me feel like saying, "God bless elevators"! I believe this...because Italy seems to have none. I understand why they do not, but man it's a lot of steps!!! However, the views have been consistently worth it!!! There were quite a few people up there, but I heard a girl say that it was NOTHING compared to St. Peter's in Rome.
So after a little while I decided to go back down and finish my to-do list. On the way down there were SO many people coming up the dome. That was the only time it was claustrophobic because it was like a never-ending line of people. However, I survived and it wasn't thaaaaat bad I guess.
When I came out of the church I decided just to walk around a little bit before I went to the street market and then home to learn to cook. So, I was in search of some silver jewelry for my momma and then just to look around. I was also still looking for boots, but never saw any. I did find my perfect Christmas decoration that said "Buon Natale" which I had also been looking for over the weeks. I didn't find any jewelry OR boots though. I did come across a "department store" and went in. I was hoping to find some shoes, but didn't. I did try on a few dresses and then I found this cute little lace jacket thingy (describing it doesn't do it justice and I dont have a picture. I didn't think I could buy the jacket thingy because it was kind of expensive, but then I decided that I would regret not buying it. So, I bought it! I was really excited about it because it is different for me, but really cute!! As I left here a man standing in a restaurant (worked there) asked me, "American?" I said yes and he asked me where I was from and I told him Alabama. He asked me what I was doing in Florence and I told him I had been studying Itailan for a month but that I was leaving the next morning. He invited me in for drinks, but I told him I had to go. I was excited to see though that they had FINALLY turned on some of the Christmas lights around the center.
I started making my way towards the market and I was also in search of my last gelato. I took a few pictures on my way including this picture of one of the tiny buses they have in Florence 
(they have a variety of sizes). I also took a picture of some cute Christmas chocolates in a bakery window. Florence is beautiful at night
with all of the lights and people out. I finally stopped and got gelato in a place in Piazza del Duomo which I tried to avoid because it was so touristy, but at this point it was getting late and if I was going to have it I needed to get it then and have time for it to settle. 
I got chocolate mint (my favorite) and tried the melon, which was REALLY good!!!
So, the next part of the day will explain the blog title. I had made my way to the market, finally. I was in search of jewelry for my momma and possibly one of the leather keychains for myself. I stopped at a few booths, but walked further to check out prices and variety of items. As I was walking past this one booth this guy was selling leather jackets and he was INSISTENT that I try this jacket on. I kept saying no and that I didn't need a jacket. He came up and put it over my shoulders and the whole time I was saying that unless the jacket was free I didn't want it nor did I need it. He kept saying that it would look SO good on me. I was getting a little annoyed but then he just kept going. He started telling me how beautiful I would look in it and how beautiful I was. He told me to walk closer to the booth and I did, but he was just talking and talking and talking. THen he said, "see that heart around your neck? That is my heart...you have stolen my heart!" All i could do was laugh; really dude!?!? Really!?!? Then he starts telling me I cannot leave Florence tomorrow because he wants to marry me. He pulled my left hand out and said, "see no ring, so you are free to marry me!" He said that we could get married in the Duomo and he would get me a ring from the Ponte Vecchio (really really expensive jewelry stores...but they're no Tiffany, which is MY FAVORITE!!!). He kept saying that we would be married and so in love. Then, he proceeded to get down on one knee and propose...but he didnt have a Tiffany ring. He got up and hugged me. As he was about to let go he said, "I am going to kiss you when I let go." I didn't think he was serious, but OH MY GOSH he was. He definitely kissed me...on the mouth (WEIRD AND IN MY BUBBLE!!!). However, all i could do was laugh. He said to come to the store because he wanted to write down my name. I reluctantly followed, but there were other tourists in the store (the market booths are set up in the streets and the stores are right behind them). So, I wrote down my name and he wrote down his. He said he would find me on facebook. I offered to find him, but he said, "Noo...this is Italy and I am the man. I will find you!!!" I just laughed and said okay! He wrote his name down and signed it, "Good boy". Then he asked me how old I was, I told him and asked him. He said he was 25 and I told him that I didn't believe him. He made me tell him how old I thought he was. I told him I wanted a picture with him and I'd put it on facebook so he'd know it was me. 
Haha, I really just wanted a picture because I didn't think anyone would believe me! Overall, it was funny! So then we walked back out towards the booths. He said he wanted to hug me so I did and when he let go he definitely kissed me again! WEIRD...I do not like the whole stranger kissing me thing! It's weird...but whatever...it made for a funny story/memory and now I have an Italian fiance! ;)
So I kept walking and I found two keychains and some murano glass earrings for my momma. As I was walking back past him, he yelled out, "oooh my amore!" I laughed and kept walking.
I was anxious to get to the apartment because I was excited about cooking. The walk back was nice. When I got back to the apartment, they were all in the kitchen (Signora Gabriella, Guenda, Lorenzo, and Matilde). They offered me some peanut mixed stuff, but I was still full from the gelato. So Signora Gabriella gave me my cards back and told me to write down the recipes as we went!
I was disappointed a bit because I wanted HER to write them down! So I also took some pictures as we went because things like black cauliflower
are things I've never seen at home. However, I enjoyed it. Lorenzo had to interpret some things. It was weird to see all of the meat they buy...it definitely didn't look like it came from Publix so i was glad I didn't see it until the last night. I played with Matilde a bit too! :) When her dad came to get her though she was crying and I didn't really get to tell her goodbye!
The cooking was good though. The spezzatino would not really be ready for us to eat that night, but the ribollita would! :) I was excited about this. After we put all of the stuff in the pots I went to pack and stuff because it had to cook for a few hours. I had Lorenzo help me weigh my suitcase and I still had about 6 pounds to go! yay!!! After a few hours of packing (and having to get them to find one of my shirts that Signora Gabriella had washed) it was time to eat! I had asked Signora gabriella to write the recipes in Italian for me as well and thank goodness she had Guenda write them down later (though I was still a bit disappointed because I wanted them in her handwriting).
Dinner was good though. We started with our Ribollita and the Chianti wine I bought them! It was really good, but filling. I did eat some meat though and then a mandarino. Overall, it was a GREAT last Italian dinner. I was STUFFED but it was good! Signora Gabriella let Lorenzo have a small slice of apple pie (which by the way over half of what was left had been eaten that day while I was gone! I didn't care, but MAN can they eat some food...some sweets to be exact! Then we took some pictures! I dont really care for them though because I look HUGE and I actually lost weight in Italy (well, it looks like it...feels like it). However the worst is the one Lorenzo took of me adn Guenda. He knelt down and took it from below...how does ANYONE thing this is a flattering angle. It made for a horrible picture. However, I do at least have pictures of them!!
After dinner I talked to Gracie for two hours on skype and she and Kelly kept me updated on the LSU/Arkansas game! I enjoyed talkign to them! I was staying up late so I'd be tired and sleep on the plane. Then I took a shower and talked to my momma. I sat my alarm and went to sleep! Guenda and Lorenzo said they would get up and see me off. When I went to sleep I was EXHAUSTED!! It had been a great last day in Italy!!!
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