Today....my life is boring

So I know that most of you are probably thinking, "you're in Italy...how could life be boring??" Well, I am about to tell you how in very few words: Get up, get dressed, walk to class, class from 9-1 and then 2-3:20, get out of class and it has been raining and is icky outside, walk to train station to feel out situation for tomorrow, walk "home".

OOOOOOOkay...sorry I was grumpy before. Let's try today's blog again!

This morning I got out of bed (and was in a better mood than I was about an hour ago!!!) and I ate some yogurt and a little toast thingy with strawberry jelly on it. I got dressed, put on my make up, and ran out the door!!

I realized last night that something was missing from this blog that my NYC blog always had: things about the sounds on the city streets, the smells, the little sensory details that I feel like I was always good about including in my NYC blog. So on my walk this morning (where I did NOT have to use my map at all...YAY YAY YAY...) I was sure to observe more of the sounds and the smells. I'll start with sounds. It's pretty quiet right here around the apartment. Not a lot of traffic, but no particular sounds either. Then after i walk for about 5 minutes, I come to a pretty busy "highway" type place and it's loud and a lot of cars and motorcycles (vespas, etc.) everywhere. Then, I cross into a much quieter part of the city that leads to "in centro" (the center of the city). It's really quite here too...it's nice though. There is the occasional car or bus or motorcycle, but mostly the dinging of a bike bell signaling people walking in the street to move. Then, as I make a turn onto the busiest street within this section that I walk down, it gets busier; people opening up the shops, buses, more bikes. There are also more people walking on this street..so a lot of different languages!! I like it...it reminds me a little bit of New York, but the streets are MUCH smaller and not in a grid. My favorite sound in the city of Florence is the sound of church bells. Somehow, the sound of church bells always reminds me that I am in Italy! Perhaps it is something to do with the majestic type sound of a church bell and the idea of Italy being this majestic, old, historical, beautiful place.

Okay, now for the smells: Well, NYC has a distinct smell...and for those with smart alec (sp??) comments about NYC smelling bad, well you smell bad! ;) Just kidding...no, New York really does have a distinct smell to me. I love it...it smells like, well, New York City!!! Anyway, Florence doesn't really have a distinct smell to me. Sometimes it smells BAD!!! You would think that because it is Italy, you would have the WONDERFUL smell of Italian food all of the time... The best smell I've experienced so far is when you walk past one of the gelato stores that is selling these waffle thingys...anway, that is the sweetest and BEST smell so far!!

Okay, so the rest of my day was actually quite boring. However, in class I understood about 90% of everything my teacher said!! Partially because she was teaching something I learned about at UA and partially because I just understood it!! YAY!! I've come back to the point where my receptive language is growing again, but my ability to speak is weak; partially because I'm afraid and partially because the vocabulary just isn't there. However, I felt that it was a HUGE success that I understood so much!! The only sucky part was when I went to our other class which is just an oral class of this guy talking and we were apparently supposed to prepare a question for this class...yeah, um...I had NOTHING because until about 5 minutes before class I had no clue he told us this last week!!! Whatever, I dont need a grade so if it "counted against me", what can you do!?!?! I understood about 80% of everything he said today!! Then I ate some left over pizza for lunch and finished my individual lesson's homework from this weekend. I checked fb, email, etc. because it was finally late enough in the U.S. for something to have changed on fb! ;)

My private lesson was good! Cristina is her name! :) Yay I finally know!!! She is really sweet! Today she said, "you are so shy....speak up!" I thought, ughh if you only knew!! However, it was good!

SO after that I started walking. I went back to a store that had a houndstooth dress and skirt (hoping to get one for my graduation dress)...UMMM NO!! I refuse to pay that much money for it though...so I was on to the next store!! I tried on a few things in one store, but was EXTREMELY unhappy with all of them!! My destination for the afternoon was the train station so that I could get a feel for how to do it tomorrow when I go to Pisa!! It was a very busy place!! But, I think I can handle it!! I'm excited to go to Pisa! I wont have much time to do anything, but really I just want some pictures and I want someone to take a picture or two of me with the tower!! Kelly gave me the name of the place that she and Gracie ate and Ill see if I can find it! If I can, and I have time...then I will be trying the lasagne, because I hear it is delicious! ;)

Oh right before I went over to the train station, I came across another McDonald's and there is another one in the train station. So, just for Brad V. (who may or may not be seeing this) I took some pictures of the menu...note the fried olive thingy...WEIRD!!!
So after the train station i walked to the outdoor market, just to have somewhere to walk. It had been raining and was still overcast and a little chillier than it has been, but I wanted to walk!! I was making my way back to the apartment anyway! So as I did, I tried to make mental notes of sounds and smells...but the thing that stood out the most was once again the bike bells and all of the cars once I get to the busy intersection(s). On my way home though, I did see my first pick-up truck!! That was weird... I did get a picture today of one of the smallest cars I've seen (other than the little trucks that the workmen drive (think of Under the Tuscan Sun for now...but I'll get a picture soon!).













So I got "home" and immediately crashed on my bed!! I spent the evening typing, and doing research for ROme!! I looked at hotels, train schedules, etc. I also packed my backpack for tomorrow and have decided that I am going to take the 2:30 train to pisa, so I have time to run back here and exchange my purse for my backpack and get to the train station in time to buy my ticket and get on the train! :)

I was also VERY excited to talk to Brookie before dinner!! :) it makes me happy to talk to my friends...but also a little sad because Italy would be so much more fun if they were here with me!!!

Dinner was REALLY good!! It started out weird with them all asking me why I haven't been eating breakfast. I told them I had been eating a little something, but really it is that I haven't been eating at the same time they do because it will make me late for school! :( However, they insisted that in the morning I have a muffin from the bakery and even if I have to take it with me, I HAVE to eat!! Italians REALLY like to make you eat...though I already knew this!!

We started with my FAVORITE...penne pasta, with olive oil, and fresh Parmesan cheese!! I had just a little bit...though if this is ALL I ate, I'd be happy! Then we had what looked amazing...and then tasted amazing...it was (or I thought it was) beef, with really soft potatoes and like tomato stuff...it was soooooooooooooooooooo good!!! When we were finished, I asked what it was....it was.................... VEAL!!!! I had just eaten veal...and didn't gag and didn't throw up...but actually really liked it!! Then, Guenda asked me what I like to eat and I told her that I had really enjoyed everything we had eaten so far! She asked me what kinds of meats and I told her that I primarily eat beef, chicken, and pork! She then proceeded to ask me, "do you eat rabbit?!?" DUN DUN DUUUUUUNNN...the thing I had been waiting on!! The horrified look on my face said it all, but then the only words I could form were, "wait, have we eaten that yet?" She said no and asked me if we ate it in the U.S. I told her that I didn't, and that I didn't think it was a common thing. She asked if it was because we have them as pets! It was a strange conversation! Then she taught me the name of the dish (and had to tell me like 5 different times), but it is called Spezzatino (because you cut it all into small pieces). I googled it, but none of the recipes look like ours. Guenda said you could make it with beef as well! I might ask Signora Gabriella for this recipe! Then we had dessert...OMG OMG OMG...it was simply divine!!! It was like a pie, but the inside was kind of gel (ish) I think she called it crostino (or something)...anyway, it was HANDS DOWN the best dessert we have had!!! I am glad though that they have learned to cut me small pieces of things and give me small portions of the main courses!!! I dont feel as stuffed and therefore can enjoy the food more!! Tonight's meal was just amazing!! Oh, we also had a weird conversation about whether my shirt was blue or purple...adn how much they liked my colorful scarf!!! A GREAT impulse buy one time in NYC...and i only paid $5 for it at Forever 21 and I feel like I get compliments on it all the time! :) yay for great impulse buys!

After that, I came back to my room and booked my hotel for this weekend...ROME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I talked to Mike for a few minutes on g-chat, and finished my blog!!

Sorry if today's wasn't quite as interesting...it was kind of a bleh day!! However, I am enjoying the sound of the rain outside right now!! It will make good sleeping background noise!! So, now I have to go double check my backpack, take a shower, dry my hair, and GET SOME SLEEP!!! When i get home I will probably sleep until graduation!!!

P.S. Post cards coming soon...I promise...it's been hard to find good (and reasonably priced ones)...plus I haven't navigated the post office yet!! :)