ready or not...

...Here I come! A chronology of one girl's adventures abroad.

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Life Back in the US

Today is my second and a half day back in the United States. It's crazy. I feel like my semester ended so abruptly. I had my last final Tuesday and left at 5am the next morning. I hardly even had time to get excited about coming home, but I love being back in Laguna. I've heard that sometimes it can be hard to adjust back to living at home but I don't feel that way at all. Maybe it's because I just jumped back into California life by having La Sirena tacos as one of my first meals back. 

Originally I never wanted to study abroad, but it wound up being a life changing experience. I had a lot of ups, a lot of downs, but I'm so glad I went. I lived with an amazing family who I love so much and will cherish forever. 

I was thinking for a bit about what I would miss the most and what I would miss the least about Florence and this is what I came up with:

What I won't miss:

The ridiculously small sidewalks

The dog poo all over the sidewalks

People not moving out of your way on sidewalks (made worse when umbrellas are involved)

The mosquitos

Not having any options for what to eat

Asking a question in Italian and getting a response in English (worse still, getting a response in Italian and not being able to understand)

Tourists.tourists.tourists.

All the rain

What I will miss:

My family more than anything

My Italian class with the most wonderful teacher, Luisa

The amazing girls I met from other schools

Always being able to order artichokes

Delicious gelato 

I'm sure eventually I will miss the pizza and pasta but right now I'm too excited to eat anything else.

The history

So comes the conclusion to my life chapter abroad. Thank you Florence, for everything.

The end.

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I Started Packing Today

Tomorrow is my last final and only 15 short hours after that I'll be on a plane headed home. The fact that I'm leaving has definitely not sunk in yet. I've even started packing and I still don't feel like I'm coming home. I think it will only hit me after I make it out of LAX and see California...or maybe when we're landing and I look out the window.

Regardless, I'm so excited to come home--but so sad to leave. 

I did it. I did study abroad. 

On April 24th at 11:50am I will be in California...and at 2:00pm I will hopefully be out of the airport. 

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Partita di Calcio

From my room I can hear Niccolo in the living room watching the soccer game, but I can ALSO hear the fans at the stadium. It's like a double whammy up in here. Go Fiorentina!

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One Last Hoorah

Last night I went out to dinner with some of the girls I've become friends with over the past couple months--Taylor, Chelsey, Dana, Anna, Mollie, Leah, and Emily. We went to a great restaurant that was right by the Duomo (which made us skeptical that it would be too touristy) but it was great! It's called Caffe Cocuinarius, and it's on a small little ally way so even though it is smack in the center it's also off the beaten path. I had some seriously delicious food. For an appetizer Chelsey and I split a crostini with gorgonzola, celery, and honey. I WILL try to replicate this when I get home. Wow. Such a  good combination. For my main dish I obviously I had bevetine with artichoke (obviously I had to get the artichoke dish), and it was carbonara style--very different from what carbonara is in America--and it was also delicious. 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187895-d1109158-Reviews-Caffe_Coquinarius-Florence_Tuscany.html

After dinner we went to buy some mini bottles of champagne and we took them to the piazza where school is (a very happening place for both Syracuse students and many, many Italians) and hung out there for awhile. 

I had a really great time with everyone and I'm so glad I met such nice girls. 

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Wisteria Time

Wisteria has bloomed all over Florence, well, mostly in the residential parts, but it is so beautiful! And it smells beautiful. I took these pictures on my walk to school today. 

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Selfie Time

Last night we had the goodbye party at the Villa Rossa. Some teachers came but mostly it was students and their host families. We were origionally supposed to leave the house at 7:45, but in true Italian fashion we didn't wind up leaving until 8:15--then we had to drop off the little baby, and so we didn't get to the party until 8:45 (it started at 8). While we were waiting at the house for Anna and Niccolo, Liva was playing and I taught her what a 'selfie' was. She even tried saying selfie. It was so cute. 

Livia and Chloe Selfie (Livia couldn't quite get her eyes open)

Taylor, Livia, and Chloe Selfie

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My Last Day of Classes

Today wrapped up my semester in terms of classes. After Italian this morning we had a small party outside and we took a class photo. We were missing three people from the class, but I'm just glad I was able to get a picture of Luisa (third from the left), my favorite teacher this semester. I loved Italian with her, so much that I'm going to continue it in the Fall at Dickinson. 

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A little live Italian music from my lunch in Naples

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The Final Field Trip

Last weekend I went to Naples with my Ancient Art of the Etruscans and Romans class to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum. I have to admit, I am pretty over ruins at this point. Seeing Pompeii and Herculaneum was interesting, but I can go a longgggg time before I ever have the desire to see another ruin. My favorite part of the trip was just seeing the sights in Naples and in Sorento, where our hotel was. The seaside was GORGEOUS. On the second day we got to have lunch in downtown Naples and I went with Chelsea and Chelsey to a great restaurant where we sat inches (literally) from the water and had a view of Mount Vesuvius. Obviously I ordered clams and a side of grilled artichoke hearts in olive oil. Yum.

Day 1 Pics:

Some Villa in Pompeii

Mount Vesuvius behind the Forum in Pompeii

Taken from the bus on our drive from Naples to Sorento

Day 2 pics:

View of Herculaneum

Our adorable Professor at Herculaneum 

Some fresco from somewhere (probably Herculaneum)

Where I had lunch in Naples (seriously)

View from lunch

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Preview photo from my field trip!

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SUF Art Show

Here are my two intensified color pieces that I had hanging in the studio art show last weekend. 

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Andrew's Last Visit

I had the best time when Andrew came back with me to Florence after we were in England. While I had classes he would sit in the indoor/outdoor area of the Villa Rossa, drink coffee, and do some of his work. He was even able to come to two of my classes--Modern Art and Etruscans & Romans. After classes we would would either grab food from the market near by and eat it outside school in the courtyard, or make food back at my house and eat outside in the garden.

The last day he was here we did a lot of walking and I took him up to Piazzale Michelangelo. It was finally a beautiful day. 

Selfies on the Arno

Windy!

Crazy kid. Couldn't pay me to get out on one of those. 

He's a model! On our way to Piazzale Michelangelo

We made it to the top!

A gorgeous view

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Livia is adorable.This is from tonight when I was trying to show her Taylor Swift music videos. I’m going to miss this crazy kid.

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Cutie Patootie

After dinner Livia was sad that Taylor and I were going downstairs because she wanted to play. She came down to our room with us (we held hands going down the stairs) and she hung out with me on my bed for a little while. When Niccolo came to collect her he said something like "it's time to go now le ragazze are going to bed" (all in Italian of course) and Livia responded "it's too late I'm already here." She told Niccolo that she wanted to have a sleepover with me. I love this kid. 

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Other Pictures from England

When in England shop where the British shop (aka Topshop)...

A scene from Norwich...

Our Neighborhood (Kensington)...

Cute houses near Portobello Road...

Selfies in the park in London...

Friends since preschool taking on the IceBar...

Andy and Coco at the IceBar...

London by night...

Dan Flavin installation at the Tate Modern...

Andy on the Tube...

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England Adventures--Day 4

On Saturday Andrew and I hit up three museums--first the Victoria & Albert Museum, then the National Gallery, and last the Tate Modern. I didn't especially love the V&A but the National Gallery was phenomenal and so was the Tate Modern. 

At the National Gallery I saw Raphael, Holbein, Vermeer, Botticelli, Degas, Seurat, Cezane, Van Gogh, and a lot of other famous artists.

For lunch andrew and I went to a steak house near Trafalgar Square (where the National Gallery is). There I came to the conclusion that everyone in England is nice. In Italy it's hit or miss but in England I never came across one unfriendly person. Every waiter at all of the restaurants we went to were phenomenal and friendly. 

A very strange sight in Trafalgar Square--we guessed it was some kind of pillow fight protest but turns out it was just a holiday.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1415873/trafalgar-square-pillow-fight/?cs=310

On our way to our last stop, the Tate Modern, we walked along the Thames. I was so lucky that the weather in London was agreeable and that there were blue skies!

The 'Shard' building

The Millenium Bridge

After taking the whole day walking across London to stop at the museums, we took the Tube back to Kensington and I picked out a place to eat dinner. The restaurant is a pretty upscale chain (like a nicer, French version of Pasta Pomodoro) called Cote Brassiere. We had an amazing meal for a great price. I had mussels for an appetizer and then a HUGE chicken breast. Andrew got steak and spinach. At this restaurant everyone who worked there was also beyond fantastic--Andrew and I couldn't stop marveling over the staff.

After dinner I had a bath (amazing) and then we watched a bit of Harry Potter together (it seemed only appropriate).

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England Adventures--Day 3

On Friday Andrew and I took off for London! He had booked tickets for a coach bus leaving UEA at 7:15...but we missed it. So rather than getting ourselves upset, we headed to the train station and got right on a train (our mistake only cost us a whopping £47--Oy).

When we got to London we checked into our hotel, the Kensington Gardens Hotel in the Kensington neighborhood. I have to admit, I picked a good one. The hotel is very small, only about 15 rooms and so nice (super comfortable beds and a bathtub!)

I also loved the area where we were staying. Most of the homes were white with black trim and so beautiful. Mercedes, BMW, and even Porches were not an uncommon sight. 

After check in, Andrew and I went to Portobello Road, a market street right in our neighborhood. The buildings were colorful and the shops were so fun. Our favorite shop was called Stumper and Fielding, which was clothing I can best describe as 'british prep'--tweed, corduroy, wool. Andrew found his dream scarf and was damn happy. He plans to  go back and buy some more. 

From Portobello Road we walked to the Palace Garden Hotel where we had reservations for high tea! I did a lot of research and determined that this hotel had the best tea service for a reasonable price (here it was 24 pounds as compared to the Ritz's 45 pound tea service).

The first thing our server did was bring out bottles of the tea leaves for us to smell to help decide which tea we wanted. We also had a selection of sandwiches and pastries. Tea was such a treat and I was so glad I was able to share the experience with Andrew. 

After tea we made our way to Harrods and I stopped for a token phone booth picture along the way.

Harrods was insane. The perfume and cosmetics department was right next to the food halls wich seemed like a design flaw, but the experience was definitely worth it. Andrew and I strolled around some of the other departments but didn't stay long because it was so overwhelming. 

Another memorable experience of the day--the Ice Bar. You get 45 minutes in the bar (wich is plenty of time) to hang out and have a drink that is included in the £16. My friends from home, Sarah and Tami who are both studying in London, joined us too! Sarah brought her boyfriend and Tami brought one

of her friends from her program. It was so much fun. After the Ice Bar we grabbed a small dinner nearby before saying goodbye.

I had the best time on Friday. I had so many memorable experiences and loved everything about London. The more Andrew and I walked around the better it got. Seriously obsessed.