All you need is...a Venetian Mask

A few weeks ago (note: I used the word "weeks") I got a friendly little reminder from IES about a Valentine's Day blog. I chuckled and moved on with my life..and then my second reminder came a week later asking me to talk about what I love about Siena or how I'd be spending the holiday. I took the two emails as a hint that they were really jazzed about Valentine's Day. While IES was really excited, I was a little sad to be reminded of the fact that I'm away from both my home and my school on a day focused on the people you love(I promise, this is the only time I'll be whiney in this post). It also reminded me that I'm no longer in second grade and I can't say I spent my day decorating my Valentine's Day box, getting lots of candy, and picking out the perfect card to give to all the boys in my class (because no one wants the social suicide of actually giving a second grade boy a card asking them to be your Valentine). Ugh. Life is hard. I'm teasing, of course.

The "Italian Boyfriend" is a joke that gets made a lot in Siena. Dana even set a goal for herself to find one by the 14th of February..And although she didn't find one, I'm still not convinced I won't find her dancing around the Campo singing this song. Watch out boys...

Instead of being home or finding an Italian Boyfriend, however..I went to Venice! And I'm happy to say this trip had much happier results than our trip to Rome. Yes, that means not getting my wallet stolen. Progress.

This wasn't just any weekend in Venice, though. It was the start of Carnevale..or as I like to call it, "You can wear Venetian Masks and still be considered a socially acceptable human being." I'm all in for any chance I get to wear a mask (which isn't very often). We got into Venice late Friday afternoon and spent the rest of the day walking around the city and drooling. Which was probably due to the fact that it was a beautifully sunny Valentine's Day.

    



That night we went out to dinner with some of Christine's friends from Fordham (who we also stayed with for the weekend). We found a new love for price fixed menus while in Venice. Two courses, wine, and dessert? I'm in.

The special fixed menu for Valentines Day

Saturday we spent the day going on a tour of the islands near Venice..including Murano and Burano. We toured Murano, famous for its glass, first. We watched a man hand blow and shape a vase and a small horse out of glass. Sadly I was sandwiched behind a tall man (does it make sense that the man over 6 feet placed himself in front of the girl who is 5'2? No. But I digress..) and couldn't get any pictures of the process. I did, however, get pictures on the island of Burano, known for making lace. And in my humble opinion, Burano was a tad more fun to look at anyway.

See what I mean? 

After touring the islands we headed back to Venice to participate in all of the Carnevale festivities. While I can't really explain exactly what Carnevale is...I can tell you that it's a big celebration in Venice that lasts about a month. It originally began as a festival/feast before the giving up of meat (carne). Hmmm, sound like Mardis Gras to anyone? We donned our masks and headed out to watch a night parade and then hang out with some friends. 

The IES Crew!

Sporting our Wofford colored masks

Our Weekend in Venice was by far my favorite since being in Italy. It felt so peaceful being on the water all weekend and it was incredibly exciting to get to be a part of the Carnevale celebrations. One of my favorite moments from the weekend was getting a cute Valentine's day picture of a pug (as mentioned in a previous blog post, I have a strange love of pugs) from both my sister and one of my best friends, Molly. The exact same picture. I guess I'm a little predicable when it comes to what I love. 

And to finish off...here are some pictures from the weekend that I absolutely LOVE and just couldn't help not to share them with you. 

 

Limes

Okay, so I know what you're thinking. "Limes" is probably the lamest title in the world, and I'm sure you're all assuming that I'm seriously lacking in my creative writing skills if I'm going to be writing about limes. But I promise this is going somewhere.

Today I found limes in the grocery store..one fruit that has been missing from our local Conad. Which has caused me great confusion because they have lime flavored drinks, but no limes? My brain couldn't comprehend it. We were really missing limes, for example, at our last family dinner. We decided to make tacos (Thanks a million to Dana Nobles' sweet mamma for sending us taco seasoning packets!) and nothing goes better with that than a Corona and lime. Sadly, we had to make do with lemons instead..."will you be my Corona and lemon" does not sound as cool.

I couldn't help but laugh at myself about getting excited over limes. They're limes. They're tiny. But for some reason, I was incredibly happy about this small fruit-- which in turn made me realize how many "small things" in Italy make me happy or stand out to me.

-Cracking up over poor use of the Italian language at our dinner table. Christine was really "eccitato" about our trip to Venice.

-Raincoat dogs. I really can't get over these little guys. When it rains, the people of Siena bring out an umbrella and a raincoat for their dog. My favorite so far was the adorable pug I saw sporting a lime green raincoat a few weeks ago. This is probably because I have a life-long dream of owning a pug..and I may have stalked said dog to no avail--but next time it rains, I'll be on the look-out.

-I think I just got so excited about raincoat dogs that I forgot my next point..

-Ah. Yes. Thanks to IES for the Language Exchange Program (or whatever you call it). This is a voluntary program that you can sign up for through IES...and they basically set you up with a new Italian friend that helps you improve the language. Considering the fact that I know zero Italian, I figured this might be a good idea, even though I was a little nervous. My friend's name is Paolo (cue Lizzie McGuire reference), and I'm already glad that I signed up for this program. My Italian is still shaky--I'll get out one correct word every once in a while. I feel sort of like an Italian caveman:

 "uhh, lavori (work)..uhhh...mangi (eat)?"

I'm obviously very advanced, guys.


We're reading A Room With a View in my Italian literature course, and I think there's a quote that sums up what I've been saying trying to say throughout this entire post:

“The true Italy is only to be found by patient observation”

The more I notice the smaller things going on around me, the more I really feel like I'm getting to know Siena and getting to know Italy.

 

One Coin to Return

With all of the wonderful punny Rome titles (Rome around the world, When in Rome, Rome if you want to, etc.), I couldn't just settle on one. So instead, I'll settle for my favorite place in Rome, and quite possibly my favorite place ever: the Trevi Fountain. There, I said it. And I'm sure you're all judging me for being a stereotype because the Trevi Fountain is "so cliche". But I remember falling in love with the fountain when I was in eight grade...probably right around the time Lizzie McGuire was tossing her very own coin and becoming an international pop star (sadly, my coin was not quite as powerful). Tossing a coin in the fountain isn't just tossing a coin and making a wish, though. If you toss one coin in the fountain, it means you will return to Rome, two coins means you will return and fall in love, three coins means you will return, fall in love, and get married. I remember standing in front of the fountain and tossing my coin, hoping one day I'd be back. And guess what! My wish came true. (Or that one, anyway).
We got to Rome around lunchtime on Friday, and after settling down in our hostel and grabbing a bite to eat we began to check out the sites. Here's a tip to anyone going to Rome for around three days...the Roma Pass. I fell in love with this little fellow and all of its perks. What perks, you ask? The pass cost us about 34 euros. With the pass, we got free access to all public transportation (busses and the metro system), discounted admission fees to museums, and the admission to our first two museums/attractions was free. If you're still not convinced, an unlimited metro pass for three days is 17 euros, and most museums and attractions are at least a 10 euro entrance fee. Basically, I was really jazzed about the Roma Pass. The Colosseum was our first stop (where we got in free thanks to our Roma Pass..too much talk about the pass?), and even though I've been to Rome before, I don't think I've ever actually been in the Colosseum. And I have to say, my level of excitement about the outside of the Colosseum was equally matched by my level of excitement about the inside. They're both amazing. And I couldn't help but find myself thinking about everything that had taken place in the arena before me. I also met a cat, so. That's always a winning day for me.

My new best friend that was a little afraid of me and may or may not have had rabies..

And even though it was raining, and by raining I mean pouring, we still had a great time and our umbrellas only added more color to a dreary day.

After the Colosseum and walking around a bit more we finally made it to the Trevi Fountain. And once we rounded the corner, I definitely channeled my inner Anna Grace Hall and shed a few tears upon seeing the fountain again (to understand this reference, check this blog out http://annagracehall.blogspot.com.es/2014/01/dude-wheres-my-luggage.html ) I also may or may not have returned to the fountain two more times while we were in Rome (for a grand total of three times). Also, unlike many things in Rome, looking at the fountain is free- minus the coins you throw in. Maybe that's why I like it so much. 

Our walk to the gallery

Saturday morning we started off with the Borghese gallery and gardens, where I once again made new friends. 

My other new friend, doesn't he look like a bird in a chef's hat? 

Very important sidenote: Shoutout to my dad for finding that awesome and slightly sketchy tour guide to take us around Rome when I was younger and get us into the Vatican before it opened to the public. Because Grace and I had both seen the Sistine Chapel (which is definitely a must), we headed back to the fountain while the rest of our group headed off to the Vatican City. 

Sundays in Rome. Ah. What an interesting Sunday it was. For starters, everyone (and I mean everyone)  is in Rome on Sundays in the Vatican City. Which is exactly where we were headed on the metro when I got pick-pocketed. It seems so surreal to be saying that for two reasons. One, getting pick-pocketed is something that I think most people think will never actually happen to them. And two, I had my bag wrapped around my shoulder and I was holding it when someone took my wallet. Luckily, there was a man, we quickly named him Italian Batman, who saw the whole thing happen and got my wallet back for me. 

So, if you're traveling in Rome watch out for crowds, particularly on the metro. Because Sunday is such a busy day, Rome is particularly crowded. Watch out for people you wouldn't normally suspect..for example small children or a group of teenage girls. And don't be afraid to be rude. That might seem like odd advice..but if I'd been trying to be a little less polite I probably would have turned around to rudely glare at the teenage girl behind me (who was the one who stole my wallet), quite possibly scaring her off. All I can say is, thank goodness for Italian Batman. 

After all of the excitement we went to hear the Pope speak..which I think I greatly needed at that point. By that point, it was pouring rain again..so there was basically just a sea of umbrellas. The Pope sent us off with a blessing and we headed back to Siena. It was strange getting off the bus in Siena..I felt like I could actually breathe again. Rome is beautiful and full of rich history..but after spending a weekend there I realized how happy I was that I chose to study in Siena..a place where I feel safe and comfortable. 

Oh, you didn't think I'd forget my fountain pictures, did you? 

Finding Home Sweet Home

Over the past few days, I keep thinking about the idea of “home”…about not only making Siena my home for the next few months, but also bringing small parts of my own home in Arkansas (and partially South Carolina) with me to Italy. I think I’m a little surprised by the fact that Siena is already beginning to feel comfortable. Aside from the fact that I can (somewhat) navigate around the city, I’m beginning to have a set routine. A few things in my routine…

“Family” dinners Wednesday night. It’s only the third week and this has quickly become a solid tradition between my apartment (Christine, Grace, and I) and our other apartment friends, Dana and Sam. We even learned an Italian toast, which we all promptly forgot about a minute after we learned it.

mmmm, pasta. Are you surprised?

Getting cappuccino or espresso at the small café by the IES center. While the action itself is becoming a habit, what’s more exciting is the fact that Dana, Grace and I walked in a few days ago and the barista looked at us and asked, “Tre cappuchini?” before we had a chance to speak. I’m pretty sure my heart did a little leap of joy. Feeling like a “regular” (ugh. Okay, fine…she probably just recognized us because we were those American girls..but I can dream) always makes me happy. And I’ve got to say, being a regular in an Italian café sounds a lot cooler than being a regular in the small Japanese take-out restaurant in Spartanburg, South Carolina..not that I’m speaking from experience or anything. (okay, I am.)

But of course I haven’t forgotten my real home! I have my two friends from Wofford as a constant reminder of school…BUT it’s always good to see even more friends (and sisters) from Wofford. And that’s where Florence comes into the picture.

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, or the big church in Florence

On our first weekend in Siena we took the bus to Florence, only an hour away. A few of us in the IES group made the trip earlyin the morning. We all took a look inside of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore before climbing to the top of the Bell Tower..where I quickly realized how out of shape I was and how much pasta I had been eating. But the view of the Duomo and the city was totally worth it. I mean, wowza. After getting my shaky legs down from the top of the tower and taking a look at the Baptistry, Grace, Dana and I headed off to meet up with some of our Wofford friends and sorority sisters who had been studying in Rome.

Instagram might've helped me edit a little, but the view of Florence at the top of the bell tower is phenomenal with or without a filter.

Maggie! Isn't she precious

Sidenote: I was the “pledge mom” this past semester for my sorority…which basically means that I spend a lot of time with our new members helping them learn about Theta and all together becoming completely and totally obsessed with them. One of these girls, Maggie, had been studying in Rome.

So when I heard sweet Maggie scream “MOM!” across the Piazza, I immediately felt an overwhelming sense of home and of school. Not necessarily homesickness, but just a happiness about feeling/seeing a little part of home. It’s been great to have two wonderful girls from Wofford in Siena, but adding two more Wofford friends (Abigail and Maggie) just seemed comforting and refreshing after a packed first week of orientation.

After a long lunch at Cantinetta dei Verrazzano, we spent the rest of our day at the Ponte Vecchio taking pictures and shopping, of course. Not only was the Ponte Vecchio a beautiful row of buildings, but it was a fun place to (window) shop. And, if you’re lucky enough, you’ll stumble into Mannelli Leather Goods, where you’ll find a sweet woman from England and adorable leather bracelets.

Me, Grace, Abigail, Maggie, and Dana representing Wofford

All in all, if you’re studying in Siena or ever find yourself in Siena, Florence makes for a great day trip. The city itself has so much to keep you occupied, but not enough to be overwhelming.

...and the stereotypical "doing our sorority symbol in another country" picture. I am not ashamed.

When you think of Italy...

Before going abroad, I explained Siena to people as “What you think of when you think of Italy;”the quintessential Italian city. Of course, I said this in hopes people would be able to picture where I was going to be studying…but let’s be real, it’s not like I’d been to Siena (before now) to really validate this description. So in a way, I guess I was saying this to help myself be able to picture where I was going to be studying. I pictured warm colors: yellow, colorful buildings with red roofs and blue and green shutters and I found exactly that in Siena. But what I didn’t expect about Siena was the depth of the city that sadly can’t be justified with a picture. (But it won’t hurt to add one anyway, right?) In certain parts of the city, you can see the different levels of the city..and while the depth of the city is nice, I’m more captivated by all of the different colors I can see at one time…

The Piazza del Campo

However, because there is a depth to the city, there are hills. Lots and lots and lots of climbing hills. This isn’t an understatement, I ripped the soles off of one of my boots by the second day (Italian boots, here I come!). The best way I can describe the structure of the city is an uphill circle (perfectly logical right?). The city seems to be circled around the Piazza del Campo, with all streets going uphill from the Campo. I’ve become really familiar with the Piazza del Campo because my apartment is about a 30 second walk down one of the side streets, which is the perfect location! Because our apartment is so centrally located, we’re close to anything we would need (like gelato and food, of course). Oh, and by “we” I mean my roommates, Grace, Christine, Camilla, and myself.

Camilla, our IES RA/Italian roommate trying Peanut Butter for the first time.

My wonderful IES roommates, Grace and Christine.

As far as adjusting goes, things have surprisingly been going really well. I know this doesn’t mean that I completely lucked and won’t suffer from tough transitions. I know that at some point during the semester I’ll get homesick, but luckily it hasn’t happened yet. I’m sure it helps that we seem to be constantly busy with IES orientation events, the first of our language classes (definitely more to come on the language barrier on a later post), and settling into our apartment.As a non-coffee drinker I’ve also quickly adjusted to drinking cappuccino and espresso (and for that, I apologize to my dear father, a devoted tea drinker).However, American coffee and Italian coffee are two totally different things. When you go to get coffee in the US, it’s usually some sort of “fancy” coffee (like a pumpkin spice latte) that comes in a to-go cup. In Italy, specifically in a smaller town like Siena, I have yet to see a to-go cup. Everyone has a quick cappuccino or espresso (unless it’s past 11 am…at which time drinking cappuccino apparently becomes a “no no” to Italians) standing up at a bar before going on with their activities.Much like taking time to drink their coffee, Italians seem to take their time doing absolutely everything. Which, for the most part, I love. There just seems to be a laid-back and casual atmosphere throughout the city. However, when you are trying to get your Permesso di Soggiorno (permission to stay) or your Italian cell phone and the process takes about 3 hours, then the laid back atmosphere can be a little frustrating. But I somehow still applaud the postal worker who took numerous breaks to eat his pizza, he obviously has his life priorities in order. Throughout both of these processes (and adjusting to life in Siena in general), though, I’m so glad we had our IES RA, Camilla, with us to make the process so much less stressful. I can’t imagine what I would have done without someone to help us navigate, especially since my knowledge of the Italian language is two words: “ciao” and “grazie”.

Have I mentioned I hate packing?

Hey guys!

Before I begin talking about how excited I am to be heading off to Siena, Italy (which, by the way, is really excited..), there are a few things I feel like I should address.

First of all, I hate packing. I know, I know…there’s no one that actually really likes packing.

But anyone that knows me well or has talked to me prior to me going on a trip has heard the phrase “I hate packing” roughly seventeen times. It always starts like this: I get excited and lay half of the items I’ll need on my bed. Then I pause for a “break” and proceed to get overwhelmed by everything else I have to pack (which usually isn’t actually that much). Sometimes a nap gets thrown into the mix. It’s an ugly process. So, in an attempt to avoid all of this mess, I typed up a packing list.

When it’s all said and done…and by “it’s”, I mean the packing process, I hope that I’ll be able to say that this list really helped with my packing problem. Although, there’s no way that I can promise I’ll eliminate napping from my list. Or that I won’t get distracted by this cute little packing assistant..

Second, I would like to apologize for adding yet another “I’m a Junior studying abroad my spring semester and I’m keeping a blog!” blog to my Facebook news and other social media outlets. But I promise it will be helpful for those of you thinking of studying abroad in the future. I’ll tell you all of the great things I do and see whilst abroad so you can use those things as a guide for yourself, in Italy or elsewhere. I’ll also tell you all of the not so great things I do and see, in hopes that you can avoid those things. And for those of you who just want to keep up with me and all of my adventures in Italy, I promise to give you just that in this blog. There will also be a poem or two every once in a while, and I’ll try to make those as painless as possible for everyone who reads them.

After that lengthy introduction, I’m finally getting to the part of this blog where I actually talk about going abroad! There are two words that come up a lot when you talk about going abroad: anxious and excited. Luckily, I’m having zero feelings of anxiety about going abroad. None. I don’t think that’s because I’m a travel expert (really, I’m not), but because I already feel comfortable about my abroad situation. That is, I’m comfortable with IES. After going to IES Dublin for a month two years ago, I’m free of anxieties about my study abroad program, because I know what to expect. As far as getting to Siena goes, I know that I’ll have Dana and Grace (two great friends from Wofford who also happened to choose the IES Siena program, I’m sure they’ll make many appearances on this blog) with me to navigate any airports/train stations/traveling/etc. It’s odd to have a feeling of comfort going into this experience, when I know that I’m about to completely step out of my comfort zone.

As far as preparation goes, I’m a big fan of lists. As I’m sure you gathered from the first part of this blog. But for some reason, I can’t stop making lists as I prepare to go abroad.

There’s the obvious packing list:
-boots
-warm jacket
-sweaters
-toothpaste
-etc.

The travel list (All of these countries are places where some of my Wofford friends will be studying):
-Spain
-France
-Wales
-Ireland
-More to be added, of course

The “don’t you dare pack this in your checked luggage” list:
-Passport
-Visa
-Travel insurance
-Money
-ID

And the “eat this in Italy” list:
-Pasta
-Olive Oil
-Wine
-Gelato
-Pizza

I think one of my goals when I go abroad is to accomplish all of the things on these lists, and add more things to each list and create many more while I’m abroad. But as far as packing goes, I guess if all else fails, I’ll just take this in my suitcase. Italians like kittens, right?