Back to Europe!

July 4th, 2012

After a full 48 hours of traveling, I finally am in Madrid!

This set up is completely different from the set up in Florence. For one, we’re all in a big dorm and I have my own room with a private bathroom. This building is run by nuns which means that there are quiet hours, restriction on guests, and also we have to turn in our key every time before we leave the building. The ups to living here are that we have a pool and restaurant on the first floor of the building and we also have maids who come in to clean our room and wash our sheets weekly, ahh the luxuries! I live on the 8th floor of the building and I have a great view of the square which is beautiful at nighttime. As of right now, I have no idea which part of the city we are in, but I do know that we live in more of a residential area that is filled with locals.

Today I start my Spanish Culture and Civilization course which goes from 2:30-5:45. I don’t know how many days a week I have this class but hopefully I will find out more information today. Until then!

struggling!

May 16th, 2012

Sorry for not posting yesterday – the internet here wasn’t working.  Yesterday we all went out to get some gelato after our first day of classes and then we walked around and went to a local bar for a bit.  We tend to go across the bridge more than staying in the city center because there are way less tourists and it is a lot cleaner and cheaper on that side.  Everyday here is getting easier and easier.  The jet lag has finally worn off and if people speak slow, I can mostly pick up what they are trying to tell me.  I cannot begin to describe how different life is here!  Instead of constantly being on my phone or internet, the only way I know what time it is from the church bells that go off every hour.  The streets are chaotic with people everywhere but my experience has been amazing here.

I love my classes so far, my cooking teacher is very fun and we’ve already made pork with apples and a soup.  My Italian language “professoressa” is very sweet and my Italian business course seems like it will be interesting which is good.  Tonight a group of 20 of us are heading to a restaurant called Ganzo which is a student run restaurant that has a ten course meal and drink for 5 euros. We can’t wait! After that, we’ll probably sit out by the bridge or work on some homework. Side note: I think I sprained my finger (if possible) from climbing our orange tree with the roommates haha.. the good thing is we now have fresh orange juice :)

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The countdown is on..

April 23rd, 2012

“You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him discover it in himself.” – Galileo Galilei

 

With 3 weeks until classes start, I was able to finalize my schedule in Italy! Every class is taken on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays.

- Tradition of Italian Food, 9:00 am – 11:30 am

- Italian Language, 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm

- The Art of Italian Family Business, 3:00 pm –  5:30 pm

 

Over the next 3 months, I will take on 5 different countries, cultures, and languages.   I will submerse myself into the different lifestyles by speaking as little English as possible, eating the local delicacies, and wearing the same style clothing as them. Easy, right?

My main goals for the trip are:

  1. See Casalduni, the town in Italy where my family is from
  2. Be able to understand Italian by the time I leave
  3. Find a vintage clothing/antique store in every country (sorry mom!)
  4. Don’t gain more than 5 pounds, this by far will be the hardest.
  5. Take this journey for what it is – a life changing experience. Explore, Learn, Experience daily.