Italian Charm....

What I love about Italy...
- dolce far niente: the sweetness of doing nothing...the Italians dedicate a lot of their time to enjoying each others company especially on Sunday's and during lunch time.  They take more than 20 min or in my case 3 min to eat their food. In fact, they actually take hours to sip their wine and eat their 3-5 course meals and dedicate time to their partners, friends and family...a truly beautiful experience that we should all do! 
- Taking time: In everything they do Italians take their time, when they walk, when they eat, when they shop...this has been perfect for my dilly dally and slow pace walking/getting ready, however it also has taught me to appreciate my surroundings and the little details of day to day life... Yet, sometimes this beautiful habit is hard to adjust to, especially when you have a plate full of gnocchi or a towering cone of gelato at your disposal. With that aside, not always rushing to get to place to place and learning to enjoy relaxing even if it's looking at a pair of shoes has been quite beneficial. It stops you from taking the small pieces in your day for granted.
-The food: from fried egg plant to wine soaked risotto, pesto lasagna, pasta of every kind, chocolate croissants, caprese salads, kababs, fresh vegetables and fruit all the time...(still love my cereal though...)
-The social scene: the Italians idea of a good time is a glass of wine, a little music on the street, and good conversation...not raging, puking in the nearest garbage, running around in tiny garments raging drunk...(my professor said all of these have occurred outside her apt...it's what give us a bad name....) every Friday and Saturday night...in other words the Italians keep it classy...we are all learning to appreciate this form of party :) It's also the form of party where creepers are usually not present. 
-Music everywhere: I have seen so many talented street musicians...I love turning into all sorts of nooks and crannies and hearing a banjo, accordion, guitar, harmonica etc playing a little Italia tune.. - The Gelato: I am not sure even how to describe the mouth watering, creamy, sensational whipped scoops of greatness on a cone...wish I could bring it back as a souvenir to everyone! 
- The Coffee: espressos, cappucino's,  caffes....mmmm....good at all times of the day!
- The fashion: especially the boys...they all ride around on their bikes in their business suits and stylish shades (raising my eyebrows up and down)...they all dress so well...yet, there has been a few jersey shore type ones... can't win em' all.  The girls have rockin' boots and leather jackets! 
- The hair: the Italian women (most blessed with gorgeous locks) come with all different types of hair styles, and lengths...they make unmanageable, wild, unruly hair look fantastic simply by being confident in which ever form it takes when they leave their homes...my medieval mane and I really appreciate this :) 
- Walking everywhere: at times this can be frustrating, (my feet have produced quite the callouses...yum...(could really use a hair success pedicure)  but it's great exercise, and you feel very refreshed afterwards...it also allows you to take in Italy and all its splendor...(and makes you feel a lot better about the huge chocolate covered/filled croissant you ate 5 min ago...I mean a little bit better.)
- The pigeons: I know everyone thinks they are annoying but I think they are so cute plucking their baby heads back and forth, begging for a piece of love (bread) and they come in all colors. I like them.
- The dog friendliness: everyone has dogs...and even though they don't love when you google at them, I can't help it....dogs are such loveable creatures and they make everyone happy all over! I love that so many Italians have them...and treat them well :) 
- The views: from nearly everywhere, you have a cool view... why? because the streets are cool, the cafe's, restaurants, buildings, museums, landscapes are all original, old, and have such character. 
- The willingess to help:if you're lost whether they speak English or not, every Italian has done their best to explain and will even walk you to where you need to be... Today, my roommate lost her key and a bunch of Italians all got out of their cars  and helped her look...(she found it)!!! It's so nice...they also give you a lot of free food, a free glass of wine etc....some don't like you, but for the most part they are kindred folk. 
---I could go on and on..but again, I don't want to kill the blog with length...
--------I have been trying to fit into Italian culture with what I wear and how I walk (like I know where I'm going and that I don't care about anything)...sometimes I think I fit in (especially when the street vendors don't target me as a dumb American who would want a glow in the dark object) other times I am tripping/wiping out on a cobblestone bumps, or unconsciously stopping and oogling at the windows that display a wide range of chocolate croissants, cookies, donuts etc. 
Also...
This weekend I traveled to Padova, Venice and Verona which was included with our API excursion...while there, I went on 3 walking tours, gondoliered it up, absorbed myself with a ton of cool Italian places, shopped in Merone (Island off of Venice, where they do the glass blowing), went to Juliet's balcony and touched her boob (this is supposed to bring you good luck in your love life...don't be surprised if I come home with a husband), had a fun wine tasting and tour of the vineyard in the beautiful countryside, and enjoyed my time with my cool new friends :) I'm so very happy and content right now :) Today, I watched my first piece of media in 3 weeks! Pride and Prejudice...I just finished the book, naturally had to watch the movie...!  It's been kind of a relief to not be tempted with tv! Now, I'm off to go eat an Italian meal, made by my roommates!!


p.s.  split my pants open yesterday...gotta cut down on the carbs...
xoxoxoxooxoxoxo......Missing my fam and friends! 

Being an expat...

Ciao friends, fam, future self. Well, I have officially been traveling Italy for two weeks now.  It seems like it has been way longer, yet, not at the same time! (Make sense?)  Classes started last week, and I am taking an anthropology class for Fashion and Desirability.  It's pretty interesting and my teacher is awesome, but being in a classroom for 2.5 hours is yuck, especially when you are not in school mode. On the fun side, she took us to a few artists/artisans workshop and a local art exhibit tour, which only happens once a month.  We were offered free wine and food while we admired all the local artist's unique work.  It was a nice change from all the renaissance art I have been seeing. I also forgot to mention that I took a cooking class! This was so much fun, our chef, however, got really frustrated with me.  "MAMA MIA, JUICY (that's how he said my name) SO SLOW!!! NO, NO, NO! Here, you stir." Whoops, the food we made was delicious though...can't remember the names of the dishes unfortunately.

This past week included a lot of walking, and a lot of getting lost ( people are trying to help me with my directions by letting me lead them home, they give me two blocks to figure out if I'm wrong before they tell me that I am going in the opposite direction that we are supposed to be...can't be good at everything, I guess ;) jajajajheheehehohohoho. This weekend a few of us decided we wanted to explore a few of the smaller cities outside Florence, so we hopped on a train and visited San Gimignano and Arezzo! They were both so cute and beautiful!!! We explored torture museums (yikes!!!!!!), went to a free wine tasting, ate at really cool local restaurants, went to a really awesome antique fair, ate a lot of gelato, had a lot of philosophical, and smart convos on our train rides, heel clicked, skipped, laughed really hard, the snorting kind, and left feeling very lucky. I AM SO LUCKY!

 I love it here so much!!!! Yet, it has been a lot of getting used to.  For example, not running up and petting/cooing at every dog you see in the street (they do not like that at all),  not smiling at anyone, (when you walk you have to get your putanna face on), not looking at anyone in the eye (the police warned us that  men can see that as an invitation...) fearing for your life every time you cross the street, trying not to get offended when someone honks at you, paying to go to to the bathroom or not being allowed to use a bathroom, quick showers, feeling like a loser every time you open up your huge map and endless amounts of walking and no sitting (which I actually love) and the list goes on. 

The past two weeks have definitely  been a learning adventure! I feel guilty for how much fun I am having.  It's weird going from 30 + hour work weeks + school and homework to fun everyday...:)  Oh and I almost forgot, the fashion... surprisingly the boys here have better fashion than the girls.  However, the boots/shoes...o.m.g. Also, the old people...o.m.g. 

I have to go hang my super wrinkly clothes up now! Catch ya later alligators, after awhile crocodiles!
p.s. I'm going to an Italian Opera tomorrow!!!! So excited!