Bomboloncini!!!

Hello bloggers!
Sorry its been so long:/ I know I promised I would keep up with this thing better, oops:)
   Saturday we went to Pisa and Lucca, it was pretty incredible. I climbed the leaning tower of Pisa, I still cant believe I got to do that:) It did cost 15 euro which is insane, way over priced, but when am I going to be able to go to Pisa again? probably never so I couldnt pass it up:) And it wasnt a waste. It was so crazy climbing up the tower, I felt like I was in a fun house, walking from one side to the other I could feel myself leaning towards the center of the tower or towards the outside, its difficult to describe. Once we were to the top, it was beautiful. I cant really even think of words to describe it. I could see for miles, I have pictures on facebook so you should check them out:) Its so funny how different that is compared to what it would be in America, the little railings were pretty rickity, if I had wanted to cause some chaos I could have, also if was insane I could have easily fallen off the side. It makes me laugh that America is so much more concerned with liability and everything like that.
   After Pisa we went to Lucca, Helen took us to SO MANY museums and churches and I cant even remember everything we saw, those trips are insane, I dont know if I can handle another one, its more information that I ever cared to know or hear about. But it was a good day, and its a good way to spend the day obviously, seeing different parts of Italy rather than sitting on my bum in the apartment:) On Sunday we slept in, which was fabulous considering on Saturday I was up and talking to Michael before he even went to sleep for the night. We just had a lazy day, I made a tiramisu and some homemade spaghetti sauce, both of which were pretty good. The custard in the tiramisu wasnt quite the consistency I was shooting for, but I mean how am I gonna learn how to do it right if I dont do it at all right? I also got some new boots and a sweet cape on Sunday. I think the "poncho" look is coming back, because every little stand I see here is selling these capes, or wraps or whatever theyre called, like a blanket with a little slice in it for your neck:) Its so cozy and warm, I feel so European:)
   I wish I had some funny stories to tell, Im trying to think:) Today we had classes...nothing too important, although I did make some great progress on my first Batik, I finished the wax process and did my first layer of dye, I will take a picture next time so you can see what it looks like, Im really excited for the finished product.
   Oh and the title of the blog, I always forget to explain it:) On friday we went to a new fersh market. I was asking our cooking class teacher where she gets her produce so we decided to make the 15 minute walk out to a new market. You would not believe the produce here. I dont know how I am going to cope coming back to America, the fruit and greens and veggies are so incredible, everything is beautiful and looks so real and lush. Nothing is massive or pumped full of chemicals, but the colors on these fruits, you would not believe. It was also clearly not a tourist spot. I have discovered a new way to find out if something is touristy or not:) Old people. I swear, it works every time. If a restaraunt is full of old people, you know its good. A coffee shop? Always delicious. This market? It was hopping with old people, none of which spoke any english, they also didnt seem so amused to see me gawking at every piece of fruit I layed eyes on, but thats ok:) I bought 4 oranges for a euro and some change (did I mention that I love the produce here?) and then we walked back a different way than we came to go to a little bakery that one of our teachers told us about. That is where I got my second cappacino of the day, as well as the beloved and now well-known, bomboloncini:) A little pastry with cream in the middle. Cream filled things usually freak my out a little bit:/ In American a cream filled donut means a weird jelly center, not really a cream and I dont really care for that. This however, oh I cant even describe it. Like real dense whipped cream, I could taste the real whole milk and real sugar in it. It was one of the most delicious things Ive eaten since Ive been here. So then for the rest of the day, I was singing about the bomboloncini. And now, its like slang almost. "Watch out you bomboloncini!" translated that means "get out of the way you tourist" We just call everything a bomboloncini, partly because its really fun to say and partly because nobody knows what were talking about:) So anyways, indeed Im still working towards my goal of a billion pounds and multiple plane seats on the way home, Ill keep you updated:)

Ps I miss my Michael:)

Va Bene!

Ciao my blog people!
I just took the most amazing cooking class ever and had to run back and share it with you:) It cost 8 euro which is steep, I could buy a whole weeks worth of dinner for 8 euro so our expectations were high. We got there a little late:/ oops but it was ok, she had brought a ton food that she already made and then explained all of it to us, which isnt exactly what I was thinking the class would be like but it was awesome. She made pasta with green beans and potatoes and pesto, it sounds weird, but it was incredible. She told us how to make everything and how to make pesto without a food processor. She had also made bruschetta and a cannellini bean dish which apparently is a common dish and also super cheap and easy. The bruschetta was insane, if i could eat one thing for the rest of my life it might be bruschetta. She explained everything to us and told us what kind of wine is the good kind, but also cheap. And how to buy good olive oil and what to look for. I love this woman. She looked kinda like my mom so I think the whole time I was just pretending she was, Im telling you im obsessed. I want to be adopted. Kidding mom:) (kinda) Then (drum role please) tiramisu, one of the most fantastic things I have ever tasted. I wish I had the vocabulary to properly describe this to you people. Im so full right now I feel like I could die but while I write this, my mouth is watering wanting more of the delicious tiramisu. She told us how to make it. Im going to the market tomorrow, I cant wait any longer:) Im telling you, this having to buy an extra plane seat on the way home for my big tiramisu rear end is really gonna be expensive. However, I did run today got back into my three and a half mile swing. It felt awesome. Running is such a comfort, no matter where I am knowing that I can always run is amazing.
   So I dont really have any other exciting updates besides the cooking class, oh and we were talking to her afterwards and she was telling us about how she had been married for 20 years but a friend of hers who also happens to be an ex-boyfriend haha  ("gorgeous I think, but he is a little younger"-thats how she described him) was driving her home after our class because he is a taxi driver now, but she was telling us how shes been faithful to her husband for 20 years and will always be faithful but how she still has a crush on this guy. It was just making me laugh, this woman is fantastic. Im not doing her any justice in this blog so you all should probably fly to Italy and meet her. Shes also 50 and looks about 30. Im now converted to eating free range chicken and only real extra virgin olive oil. I dont know that I will be able to handle the produce in America, it cant even compete with the produce here.
   She was also telling us about how different the family situation is here. In America you get out of college and if you dont move out of your parents house, thats weird. But here everyone lives together and the grandparents feel like their worth something and getting old is respected not dreaded. Every generation is so important in the raising process, teaching and passing down all the knowledge and history and wisdom. Its very montessori if you ask me, the old teaching the younger:)
   I dont wanna be that guy, rambling about how fantastic Italy is. I know there are things to hate, and also Ive only been here for 2 weeks so I havent fully experienced everything, but I really do like the lifestyle here. Our teacher said that in America, cooking is almost like a chore, its not enjoyed like it is here. Italians dont eat while they walk, or drive god forbid. Eating is an event, its a social time, not an inconvenience. All Italians cook, everyone knows how and its just what happens every day. You buy your food, you make dinner. Families dont really go out to eat. I love that. I want to be Italian. I dont think its too late...Michael Weller ;) *wink wink
   I like it here:) Im pretty sure Im gonna have lung cancer and also sound like a life-time smoker when I get home from all the second hand smoke I breathe in on a regular basis, but my hair and skin will be radiant from all the olive oil I eat so its ok:)
   Goodnight followers, I cant wait to come home and show you everything Ive learned:)

p.s. I miss my Michael

Vorre=may I have, Verro=wart-hog

Hello fine blog followers,

I’m so sorry that I’ve been so terrible about keeping up with this. I will try not to go more than 3 days, is that what it’s been? I’m gonna try to not let that happen again. So anyways, today is Tuesday so that means that I need to update about…Sunday and Monday and todayJ

Sunday was a great lazy day, especially after the marathon that was the Helen field trip. I guess I'm crazy though because I’ve already signed up for another one this weekend to Pisa and Lucca. It should be a little easier though because there’s not an extreme amount see in Pisa, well, I say that and watch, Helen is going to have us all signed up for some Iron Man, followed by some manual labor. So anyways, Sunday. We slept in and took a long walk along the Arno to shoot a roll of film. I love film, I wish it were easier and more practical to shoot film and process and print yourself. If only I had access to the studios I have access to now, for the rest of my life. We went to the market, and also went to Ikea to buy some more meatballs and some lotion that I knew was lotion. While we were in Ikea, the free bus only comes on the hour so we ended up having some time to waste. So Sally and I are fighting the crowds, you would have thought it was Black Friday with the amount of people fighting through Ikea. But we were wasting time and decided to buy some gelato. In America, you can buy frozen yogurt in a cone from Ikea for a dollar, which is a great deal because its good ice cream and it’s so cheap. Well get this, in Italy they have gelato in a cone, for 60 cents!! 40 cents if you have that special family card, so that’s my next order of business, to get my hands on one of those cards. So we were in line for our gelato and we get to the counter and I awkwardly cough and point and try to make it sound like I know what Im doing and saying. He kinda laughs and rings up the gelato and then hands me an empty cone and a coin like at chucky cheese. He then says something in Italian that included “self-service” so I nod, because of course I know what he’s talking about (not), then wait for Sally to do something similar. So after we get over the confusion we find the machine, I feel so lame but this is one of the coolest things I've done since I’ve been here. You put your cone in the little machine and then it lifts up the cone and you can pick if you want plain gelato, or gelato with little chocolate swirl or strawberry swirl, then it fills it by itself! It was so fun! America needs one of those.

Monday we had class; Monday and Wednesday classes are my favorite. Batik is the greatest. It’s so peaceful and relaxing, melting the little wax pot over the flame and tracing my drawing onto the silk scarf, it’s so fantastic. Again, I wish I had access to these things all the time. And then photography where I processed my first roll of film, which was so, exciting. Taking a roll of film out of the canister and loading it onto the reel in complete darkness wasn’t easy but I actually got mine done pretty quickly. It was so exciting to see my images on the film after it was all processed. I can’t wait to print! Creative writing is interesting, not my favorite class ever but I also don’t hate it. My teacher is an interesting bird, and he has very different views and opinions than me, but that also brings a whole other perspective to my time being here, which is fantastic. I feel like I’m already being pushed out of my comfort zone being here like this, might as well not hold back now.

We’ve been making a lot of our own food, which is amazing; it makes me feel better to know all the ingredients and to know how the food is made. We’ve been eating a lot of pasta but also a lot of veggies in the pasta. It’s pretty deliciousJ and today we made sandwiches with pita bread, filled with sautéed mushrooms and peppers and red pepper flakes and red sauce, then we cooked it on the stove with some mozzarella. It was so great. And tonight, a friend of ours made spaghetti sauce that was so fantastic. I don’t think ill be able to buy sauce anymore.

So I guess that brings me to today. We had to meet up with the police this morning and check our names off of the list so that they know for sure that we have our passports. (Luckily they didn’t check about the visas, because haha I still don’t have one). So then we had enough time to get a cappuccino before class started. That’s another thing that I don’t know if Ill be able to drink when I get back to America. I have to buy my own espresso machine and milk steamerJ then I had my one class on Tuesday and Thursday. And then Sally and I went to the store to get the veggies for today’s lunch (the amazing sandwiches). Then I went for my second Italian run, I'm determined to get back into a running schedule. It makes me feel so much better about everything. Sorry America, my favorite place to run ever has to be next to the Arno. The combination of the still water and the hustle of cars and people is energizing. Breathing in pure exhaust on the other hand isn’t my favorite, but that’s ok, I can’t have my cake and eat it too right?

Since then I haven’t been up to much, eating homemade spaghetti sauce, showering, getting some amazing gelato, and talking to my best buddy. It feels more relaxed here. I guess because past a certain time at night, everything is closed and unless you’re going out, there’s not much to do, so its just good time to just be still. I think at school in America, I feel like I always need to be going and doing. Everything at school is open all night long and therefore I feel like I should take advantage of that. I feel like the almost forced relaxing time here has been amazing. I don’t think its good for me to sit for too long because then I get sad and miss home but not having to run around and do a million things is wonderful. I know work with school will probably pick up, but lucky for me, my classes are all about 3 hours long and photography is 4 hours each class, so I manage to get a lot of my work done in class so then there’s not a lot of homework. It’s a good set-upJ

I know this is super long:/ But I had to catch up right? Oh I forgot my story that explains the title of this post! So we were ordering pizza from our little corner Italian man, who doesn’t speak a word of English and I walked up and attempted to order on my own. Vorre, means “may I have” so I say of course “Verro” followed by pizza and me once again coughing and pointing trying to cover up my lack of Italian accent. Madison and Sally laugh at me because I said it wrong and then they rush back to look up what it means. Of course it means pig or wart hog or something terrible like that. Story of my life. Once again, well done Alex. Oh well, you live and you learn right? We want to be recognized as locals in this area, so there you go guys! I achieved it for us. I’m that crazy girl that doesn’t know any Italian and calls people wart-hogs. Oh and just another nugget of a story. Tonight, we went to our gelataria just around the corner and I brought change. So while the guy was in the back I counted it all out and sorted it into little lines of each different coin. Needless to say, the guy came out and laughed. I didn’t just want to hand him a bunch of change. People have done that to me in the drive through at chick Fila. There’s nothing I love more than counting out your 5000 sticky pennies while the line wraps around the building. Ok, rant overJ

I will now go put on my slippers and read my book like an 80-year-old woman. I don’t careJ Goodnight readers thank you for reading my crazy stories.

P.s. I miss my Michael Weller 

Oh Ravenna

Hello blog readers,
   Sorry its been a little while since Ive posted. Its been busy around here:) What was yesterday? Friday! Theres no class on Friday, and that is wonderful:) So we ran some errands and went to the big market for the first time. It was pretty fantastic, we tasted a bunch of different kinds of cheese and salami and balsamic vinegar. Yummy:)We bought some stuff for lunch and then came back and made it:) Then we went down the Arno and took some pictures, I got some good grafitti stuff, theyre all on facebook:) Then we went to the Uffizi, it still blows my mind to see original pieces. The Birth of Venus in person? Thats crazy. Its almost like this trip is a reward for all the years of studying and learning. Its so unreal to see the orginal pieces.
   So today we got up way too early, and got on a bus with a bunch of other students to go to Ravenna. The trip was insane, Helen, the art historian that took us is like a machine. The two real art historians that Ive ever are crazy. They are like walking encyclopedias. So naturally we ran around all of Ravenna today but thats ok, it was awesome to see everything, I probably wouldnt have gotten the chance to see all those places, especially because they each cost and the school covered that for us:) So I guess I should list off all the places we went, honestly the day is a kind of blur, we did so much running around. But I got some pictures before my camera died, ill put those up soon:)
   So our first stop was at a truck stop:) Its so funny because the city just seems dirtier than...well I guess Ive only been in Charlotte so maybe thats not a real city. But then the truck stop was so nice, it was so clean and fancy. And the truck stops that Ive been to in America are nasty. It just seems backwards:) But im not complaining, a huge bottle of water, a crossoint with chocolate in the middle, and a capaccino for 3.40? you cant beat that with a stick:) Then came the real stuff: Mausoleum of Theodoric, Church of S. Giovanni Evangelista, S Apollinare Nuovo, Baptistery of the Arians, then Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, and S. Vitale (my favorite, the mosaics were incredible, the amount of tedious work in one building is absolutely insane). Then we had a little lunch break, I had a delicious little sandwich which was more like a pita quesadilla, it was a big pita bread with cheese and red sauce and mushrooms in the middle, it was so tasty:) Then I had a little cafe (just one shot of espresso) The Italians like their coffee strong and fast. Next, the Orthodox or the Neonian Baptistery, Museo Arcivescovile, then the Tomb of Dante and the adjacent church of S. Francesco and lastly stopped at the "so-called Palace of Theodoric" before we got on the bus to the Classe, to see the Early Christian sarcophagi: Sant'Apollinare in Classe. Then finally headed back to Florence. Ive never been in a bus of college students that was so quiet. Im pretty sure everyone was sleeping.
   So now im just sitting on the radiator:) I think I might head towards bed, Im so exhausted but glad that we went today. Hopefully next weekend we can go on the Pisa trip:)
   Oh and funny story of the day: we were sitting in a square before we met back up after lunch and saw a little dog (everyone here has a little dog, have I mentioned that? and also they often have little sweaters on) but this one dog we saw had a whole suit on. Im not even lying when I say there were sleeves and little legs on this suit, it was a litte snow suit for a dog, only the little rear end was open like chaps:) We were dying, the poor little dog was waddeling in his little suit:) Ok time for sleep.

Buono Notte!

p.s. I miss my sweet Michael

I just ate a whole jar of Nutella

Ciao blogging world! Yes indeed, I did just eat an entire jar of nutella in a matter of 24 hours. Hooray for ruining every mile ive walked since Ive been here. Its even more pathetic that its not even an Italian food thats not available in America. Its cheaper here, but still. Ive eaten enough calories in Nutella to last me the rest of the year.
  Sorry I didnt post yesterday. But I am now so its all good. Yesterday was a good day, classes on Monday/Wednesday are my favorite. I didnt do anything particularly out of the ordinary besides eat the wonderful leftovers we had from dinner the night before, and go for gelato yet again. I hope my desire for gelato and nutella and all of these delicious treats wears off soon otherwise I will need to buy another plane seat for the ride home because I wont be able to squeeze into one.
  Today was pretty good, I only have one class in the mornings on Tuesday/Thursday. Its not my favorite, I love sculpting, but I think Ive been spoiled with my teacher at home. This is supposed to be pottery, but now I feel like its turning into sculpting, but we dont have the proper equipment or the proper amount of time to complete our projects. But thats ok:) Im gonna make it work:)
  After my one class, I met up with Sally and we went to the store and I bought some rosemary and olive oil pringles. The flavor is in english and thats a little sad, but I havent seen this flavor in America so I consider it to be an Italy treat. We made rice with curry and chili powder for lunch and then ate some turkey meatballs from Ikea, if youve never had meatballs from Ikea, turn off your computer right now and go. They are so delicious. Then I realized that i was getting close to finishing off a whole jar of nutella so i went on my first Italian run!! It feels like such a dream, running next to the Arno. Its beautiful. So then I came back, panting like a dog and feeling pretty good so i ate some more Nutella:)
  Then we ran to the art store and I came back and guess what i did? Ate some more Nutella:)
  We dont have class tomorrow so thats pretty exciting. I think were gonna go to a massive and apparently amazing food market. Im so excited:) I have to make notes and look up all my foods in Italian so I can sound at least partially like someone who belongs here. Until then, I shall continue to run my finger around this empty jar hoping to catch the last bits of Nutella:)
  Oh and were going to Ravenna on Saturday! It should be a great trip, but apparently the teacher that takes us is crazy and never has time to stop for lunch, good thing I have 5 million calories of Nutella in my system.
 
Ps I miss my sweet Michael

2nd day of class:)

Im really lacking in the creativity area for these blog titles. Oops. Today was a good day in Firenze, they keep getting better and better which is a good thing:)

   I had only one class today which was really nice, cause it left a lot of the day open for me to do whatever I wanted! Ceramics was in the morning, I made the ugliest, saddest little pot ive ever seen. Stuck a little handle on hoping it would give it some spunk and purpose, but bless the little pots heart, it still looks terrible. Thats ok, hopefully its all uphill from here:)

   Went to my favorite library spot and checked out some cookbooks, the librarian then asked me to invite her over for dinner, ha im still not sure if she was serious. I really love the teachers and faculty at this school. Sally and I made lunch and I planned out what to make for dinner (frugality is our middle name). Then we went on the greatest walk, its so nice to just walk without purpose here. There is so much to be seen that Ive missed while im rushing back and forth to school and caught up getting lost and overwhelmed with the 5 different street names assigned to one street. We went to the Palazzo Pitti, got in for free with our little student museum pass card (one of the greatest things we have gained so far from this trip) and just went to the gardens today, not into the palace. I honestly have always thought that those people that always say "oh that view just took my breath away" were hamming it up a little bit. I cant lie, the view literally was breathtaking. I took some pictures but they couldnt do it justice. The gardens were so peaceful and quiet and clean. The air smelled so lovely:) We have already decided that we are going back as much as we possibly can, to read and sit in the sun, its such a great place to get away from all the motorcycles and crazy cab drivers and Asians running around taking pictures of everything (no offense Asians). After that I went to the market all by myself!! I wasnt scared! I bought some food and walked back without a map, im starting to feel like I can make it here:)

   I made baked vegetable Parmesan with meat sauce, it was pretty good I cant lie:) The only sad part is, there is no dishwasher or microwave here, so all the dishes i had to do by hand and i guess we'll reheat some leftovers tomorrow in the oven. There are aspects of America that I miss:)

   We went out for another walk after dinner that included some tirimisu gelato, were still trying to scope out the cheapest/least-touristy spot. Im feeling better as the days go on, Im so happy we found the gardens and im so excited for all the other museums that we can go to for free with our student pass.

    I feel like these blogs are getting more and more boring:/ Im sorry for that. 

   Im so excited for Michael to get here, i feel like this whole city just screams romantic. I cant wait to go on walks and write our name on the bridge like every other American, vandalizing the historical structure. Or locking a padlock on the side railing illegally (theres a rumor that if you write your initals and the intials of the person you love on a lock and then snap it onto this railing, youll be with them forever, or something like that) anyways Im just so excited for him to get here:)

   Ok I should probably go to bed now, ive been getting less and less sleep but drinking more and more espresso so it evens out fairly well:) 

   Goodnight blogging world!

ps i miss my michael

Yay classes!!! :)

Buona sera!! 

   Yay im learning a little bit:) Today was a good day in Italy:) It was freezing but it was sunny and things felt better and everything is getting a little easier. Baby steps I suppose:) I dont want to be boring and just make a list of everything that I do in a day, but at the same time I kinda do just so that I can remember everything:) Today was my first day of classes. They are going to be so wonderful, Im so excited! I dont know what I will do with the knowledge that I will aquire this semester but thats ok, right now im loving it. I had Batik, black and white photography and creative writing today, as well as survival Italian this evening but that was pretty quick and easy. Batik might be my favorite so far, I did not even know what it was until I was researching for studying abroad. Its like silk dying using wax to separate the colors. Its gonna be amazing. Tedious, but im so excited to be able to wear a scarf that I dyed myself!! Also walking to school this morning was so cute, everybody is opening their little stores and sweeping the sidewalk, it felt so movie-like. Like in "Youve got Mail" when Meg Ryan opens her little book store in the morning? Its slightly dirtier here and kinda smells like sewage once in a while but thats alright.

   The teachers here are pretty incredible. Maybe I just got all the good ones, but they are pretty awesome. My photography teacher told us that if it was really important, we could skype in class, and that we could eat in class as long as we didnt eat the chemicals and as long as we hid it if the dean came in:) My creative writing teacher looks just like Count Olaf from The Series of Unfortunate Events movie. Crazy California "dude" with crazy hair. He told us "I wish class could be like 'dudes lets just write' but sadly they make me have a real syllabus with real assignments." I think these calsses are going to be great.

   I also got to skype with my buddy, i know you blogger people probably dont care about that but it is the greatest. What a blessing the internet is:) 

   I found the library upstairs in our main school building today. It is so wonderful looks like it jumped right off the page of an Ikea magazine. It has a second little level all the way around the room and a cute little spiral staircase leading up to it. Its so cozy and warm. I fell asleep for a while on the table, it was pretty wonderful. 

other exciting things that happened:

-ate an awesome sandwich with some bubbly water (very italian), i think it was speck that was in it, pretty tasty:)

-drank some chocolate, i wouldnt even call it hot chocolate, it was so thick and delicious, tasted kinda like hot chocolate pudding but it was wonderful

-put down a deposit to go on any field trips that I can manage to get my name on the list for this semester

-walked to school and back without a map!!!!! hooray!! maybe i will be able to pull off being an italian:)

I feel like none of my blogs are very exciting lately but thats alright I suppose, not every day can be a crazy day. 

Oh and I may or may not come back with lung disease, I cant even remember what clean air smells like. But thats ok, Im pretty lucky sitting here eating cookies and licking the inside of a nutella jar, I just with Michael Weller was here too. Soon though:)

ciao blog people!

ps i miss my bud