My walk to school was noting special really...same as always...quite boring and cold!
Class was...boring, but thankfully went by rather quickly. We just did pronouns, etc. Thankfully I did all of the exercises correctly (only minor mistakes...and only a few of those). I was just antsy today and did NOT want to be there...I think part of me is just ready to come home and part of me is just tired of school (I mean I love school, but have no desire to be in class right now...I'm ready to walk at Graduation instead!!!). Anyway, the break was good and then the last part flew by pretty quickly! Then, it was time for Marco's class...which we had for almost 2 hours because he was not going to be there tomorrow. Thankfully, Cristina had come in class earlier and moved our private lesson to tomorrow...I think I would have died if I'd had regular class until 12:15, Marco from 12:15-1:45, and then private lesson from 2-3:45...TOO MUCH!! SO, thankfully they were broken up and I have one tomorrow! Anyway, class with Marco went well...we talked about the unification of Italy and then about Italian hang gestures. However, there was one point where I literally almost fell asleep right in his face...we were sitting in chairs gathered around a table with a map on it...I mean my eyes were SO close to shutting that it was pathetic...it's quite boring to sit in a class for an hour and a half and not be able to fully follow a conversation....anyway, there were some funny moments and some moments where I knew what was going on, but they were (and are) rare!
After class, Fiona got GREAT news that she had been waiting for all morning: her placement for her 2 year teaching program (the one like Teach Across America) was supposed to come in the mail today. She was telling me this morning that she really wanted to be placed in London and not Birmingham or somewhere else. I told her I was from Birmingham! ;) Anyway, she also explained that while she lives in London, she is living in her parent's apartment there. Her dad works for the bank in Scotland, but comes to London once a week for business and so she lives in their apartment...must be nice! Anyway, she wanted to be placed in London because she already has a place to live, she has great friends, and she LOVES London. After Marco's class, she had a text from her mom telling her that she had been placed in............LONDON!! She was soo sooo sooo sooo excited!! I was definitely excited for her and she kept apologizing for being so excited, but I told her that she was much calmer than I would be (and will be) if I had just gotten a job in NYC. It was really fun to be able to share that moment with her!
Fiona had to get to class, and Tamsin was going to lunch with someone else (she invited me, but I really need to use more of my coupon thingys...), so I went to the restaurant for lunch. The lady who works there served me, but didn't even ask what I wanted, she just said, "minestrone, right?" Haha...I just said yes and went with it...even though I had been considering the eggs again...oh well! I had some olive oil with my bread and then the soup was yummy! Today it had rice in it and it was really good! I ate rather quickly and then left. I went back to the school to pay the remaining balance for the program and used their bathroom and then I was off. On my walk, I tried to take streets that I had not been down because I am still in search of a shoe (though I still say the ones in Lucca were PERFECT, just too narrow... :( ). However, I went in one store to look and this song was playing. At first, I didn't pay much attention to it, but then I noticed the words, "other cities make me sad (I think that's what it said) but I love New York. I love New York. (and it said that part multiple times before moving on)" Now, I was excited, because who loves New York City more than I do?!?!? I'm convinced that there isn't anyone (well, not anyone who isn't from there!). Also, I passed a store with THE PERFECT houndstooth dress, now, if only it weren't like $200...
I decided that I needed to take my "free" afternoon to mark something off my to-do list...so I decided to go to Santa Maria Novella (yes, the same name as the train station...but it's a church and piazza as well). So, I headed that way and the piazza was very pretty! The front of the church was beautiful as well. Then, I decided to see how much it cost to go inside and told myself that if it was 5 euros or less, that I would go in (this seems like I am being cheap, but right now I want to save my money for other things). I walked to the ticket booth and it was only 3,50 euros, so I decided to go in. I was rather disappointed though to find out that you could not take pictures. **oooh side story, these two Asian girls that were standing behind me in line were LITERALLY standing where I could feel them breathing on me...now, this has happened to me MANY times here in Italy. Is this a cultural thing in Asian countries?!? Dr. Jeon is the first person that come to mind for me and I dont remember her EVER standing that close to me or anything...anyway, I don't mean this statement to be rude or anything, I truly am curious as to whether it is a cultural thing??** The inside of the church was gorgeous...I did sneak a few pictures, but not of the things I REALLY wanted pictures of, which were two huge crucifixes and then this tomb thingy with Jesus' "body" in it. Explanation: 1. There was this one crucifix that was so realistic looking and they had done such an amazing job of creating a look of agony on Jesus' face that it just make me stop dead in my tracks...it was breathtaking...and not in a "beautiful" way, but rather an , "OH MY GOSH...THANK YOU Jesus for taking the nails for me because it looks more painful than I can bare!!" WHich, is something that I should thank Him for more often...but this crucifix just literally took my breath away 2. The "body" of Jesus was breath taking in this same way. The picture it was under was titled, "The Trinity"! THe picture had Jesus as he had just risen from the tomb, surrounded by people and angels. Under that (in what appeared to be more of an underground tomb) were bones...the bones were in the exact position of the body in the tomb (which was not a painting...it was 3D). And then in the "tomb" there was a (fake) body of Jesus that had the places for the nails in his hands and feet. It was just striking and again, just made you want to thank Him for doing it for you!
After I left the church, I decided to walk down another side street before heading back to the apartment! I was really glad that I did...wait, so I knew Guenda worked somewhere near Santa Maria Novella, but I thought they said a pharmacy. I looked in two and didn't see her, so I gave up. However, I was walking down this other street and came to this building that looked interesting and it had what I am going to call a "tourist marker" (meaning a sign with information about the building). It sounded interesting, and reminded me a bit of C.O. Bigelow that Erin loves so much! :) Well, it was a similar concept, except MUCH older!! It's name is "Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella". Apparently, it has sort of been in existence since the 1200's and it one of the oldest pharmacies in the world. I decided to go in, and the building was BEAUTIFUL, then, as I was taking a picture, much to my surprise, I saw Guenda behind one of the counters. I walked around for a bit because she was busy helping people. The other rooms were beautiful. They were selling different products in each room. Then, I went back and saw Guenda. I told her that I didn't know that's where she worked, I just happen to come in there. She gave me a list of the things they sold (which is printed on fancy shmancy paper!) and told me to look around. I went back through all of the rooms, and called my momma about the room scent thingys that hang up, she said to buy them. Theeennn I discovered the room sprays...OMG I fell in love with the Christmas one, but almost $50 American dollars for that?!?!!? NO MA'AM!!! UH HUH...NOOOOTTTT happening...I'll just go to Bath & Body works when I get back!! However, the place was beautiful and it was nice to see where Guenda works! She seemed happy that I saw it; AND hopefully it will give us something to talk about tonight at dinner.
**Erin: you would have DIED in this place...apothecary jars TO DIE FOR!! I wanted so badly to bring them all home with me and give them to you! However, they weren't for sale! Ahhh I see so many reminders of you friend!! Anyway, if you ever get to come to Florence, this place is a MUST for you!!! Also, I read on the paper (which I will show you...) that they sell the products in the U.S. (NYC maybe?!?!?!). Anyway, the whole place reminded me of something you would have LOVED!!!!
I took a few pictures, said bye to Guenda and was on my way! When i left, I walked a little more down that street, but there was nothing to see so I turned around. I decided to walk home via the short cut from the train station. I took a few more pictures of the church as I walked and then took a picture of the train station. At this point I was having the strangest craving for a diet coke/coke zero! Thinking that getting a small coke at McDonald's would be cheaper, I stopped in there, but that was WRONG...so I moved on. I went into two different bars that didnt even have sodas. Then, I found one! I got a coke zero in a bottle and was strangely VERY excited about this!! Who in the world knows what made me suddenly crave a coke zero, but it was good!
On my way home, I decided to stop in the park and sit on a bench for a while. THe sky was beautiful
and I wanted to take it in. So, while I did this, I wrote my list of 25 things that I am thankful for this year. I decided to do 25 because I am 25 years old. Now, i know I made a list before I left, but this will be my official Thanksgiving list, so you'll have to wait until Thursday to read it! It was nice to sit in the park and write though! It was fun to watch people feed the birds and a duck and people walking their dogs! As I was finishing my list, it was getting colder and the sun was setting, therefore, I made my way to the apartment. And, I finally got a picture of one of the trucks with all of the signs on it!
When i got home Matilde, here mom, and Signora Gabriella were in Gabriella's room doing something. WHen Matilde saw me she came running...OOOH melted my heart!!! THen she ran around with me for a few minutes. Then, I asked them if I could take a picture with her!!
She just melted my heart letting me hold her and wanting me to pick her up! She is so sweet and precious! After we took a picture we played some more. She loves to play chase with me and then when i pick her up she just giggles so loudly! I LOVE children!! I was soooooooo excited to get a good picture with her as well! So, hopefully this week I will get pictures with the rest of them! :) Oh, and Mauito came to visit me after Signora Gabriella made some really yummy tea! It smelled better than it was, but it tasted good as well! It was called, "Romeo and Juliet"! THe smell was very sweet, like cotton candy! I love Mauito...and really want to bring him home with me!!
I took this picture the other day...it's my fave so far...it looks like he is desperate to escape, but he had just seen a bug! He really has been a good sport about letting me take his picture!! This is another favorite of me and Mauito, even though it is dark! :(
After that, I just came to my room to write! I finished yesterdays blog and started todays!!
One of the highlights of my day: Erin Farella saying that she might be willing to move to NYC one day! Erin, DO NOT tease me!! I will take you up on this! THEN I was able to talk to Erin on gchat for a few minutes...AMAZING!! And, at the same time I was talking to April on facebook! Who is a lucky girl!?!? ME!
SO, I talked to April until dinner. While I was talking to her, Guenda and Signora Gabriella were DEFINITELY having a fight...Guenda was yelling and slammed her door a few times...AWKWARD...So, I was assuming it would just be SIgnora Gabriella and I for dinner, which is fine with me because I always do better with conversation when it is just the two of us...and tonight was no different! We had AMAZING conversation (well, for the two of us). I started out by trying to ask about recipes and she thought I was trying to tell her when I left (but we did get that out of the way), and then I asked her if she would write a recipe or two for me! YAY!!! She said yes and I asked for Spezzatino and Ribollita! :) Hopefully she'll give me one or two others as well. Then I told her about Thanksgiving...she had NO CLUE what I was talking about, and then I told her about the Alabama/Auburn game and how my plane landed one hour before it started. She laughed! I told her we might have to watch it on tv in the airport! Then we talked about soccer in Italy! THen we talked a little about thanksgiving food and Christmas food! :) It was GREAT! The food was good too! We started with some pasta con olio e formaggio! :) Then we had meet with cheese on top, though I'm pretty sure this was veal because I saw it in the packaging earlier...but it was more the consistency of like beef cooked in a stew...anyway, it was good! Then I had a mandarino and a few grape! Which, by the way, grapes with seeds officially freak me out! Just sayin'!! :) Now, to take a shower, see if my daddy is on skype, and GO TO BED!! Ooh, I miiiiight start the Rome Part II blog...sorry guys...been too busy living life!
Tonight I also did some "packing". And by packing, I mean I laid out all of the things I bought, and found receipts for MOST of it...I thought I had done such a good job of keeping up with receipts, but oh well. Then, I threw away A LOT of unwanted paper and bags and such. I am trying to prepare for packing. I dont want to bring back anything that is not necessary!! SO, I have all of my stuff laid out and I'm a little nervous about the weight of my stuff, but it will be fine! I'm a good packer, so I'm not tooooo worried! Okay, now bed...later than I anticipated...I have a feeling I will be exhausted again tomorrow...oh well, life is fun...and I only have a few more days! Then, when I get home I'll probably sleep for 24 hours because my days and nights will be SO messed up! :(
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