Laura Pausini and being back in the states

I learned a lot about Italian culture from my host family and one of my favorite Italian singers was Laura Pausini. Here is one of her hit songs that you should listen to, as well! Even if you don't know Italian, she has a beautiful voice.
http://popup.lala.com/popup/360569449482768050

I miss Italy! I miss the lighted up streets as I walked my 25 minute walk home from the Villa Rossa to my 4th story appartment in Campo di Marte. Our last night in Florence was definitely memorable. We finished classes and finals on Thursday and I had the best feeling ever going into my Italian written exam because my Nutrition & Health teacher is also an Italian student. She gave me a big grin and said, "good job! highest grade on the final" as I had taken the nutrition and health final the previous day and it covered 4 chapters. I was not expecting that at all but I'm so happy because I studied my butt off for that last nutrition exam that included about 200 or pages of information. So grades ended up working out fine it Italy, after much hardwork post midterms scare. I got an A- in Italian!! A B plus in Family & Gender In Contemporary Italy and a B in Nutrition & Health.

Maddy, Myra, and I collected Maddy's paintings and sculptures and we took the bus back to Maddy's apartment and then walked to Spero's pizzeria, famous for their Neopolitan style pizza with bigger crusts. Then Myra and I walked back towards school and I headed down the center to do some shopping for family. It was nice to have one last walk down "Via de Servi" the street that I walked so many times while I was in Florence. It goes directly to the Duomo from Piazza Savonarola where Syracuse UNiv. In Florence is located. I admired all the shops, taking everything in as I knew my time in Florence was coming to an end. I had luck with selling books back at Paperback exchange, and I found my mom the perfect lavender scarf. I went to San Lorenzo market to get my dad and brothers Firenze shirts and I finally bought myself a purse. The past 3.5 months Id been frugal and picky about purses, but I finally saw one I loved. I bartered with the lady to sell it to me for treinta euro instead of treinta-cinque.

Then I took in the crisp air and high tailed it back to School because many friends of mine were in the play at the Villa Rossa which was a version of the Importance of Being Earnest. It was really funny even though I was pretty exhausted at this point. Afterwards, there was food and wine of course but I was full from Pizza. After a little socializing and some goodbyes, I walked back to the apartment, down those streets that became less foreign and more apart of me everyday in Florence, as I stood more confidently by the end of 3 1/2 months, didn't wear rainbow sandals anymore, and tried to smile at the occasional Italian instead of put my head down, like they do. Kiera and I packed our things that night and had a final dinner with Alessio, Vittoria, and Ludo. Vittoria made my favorite pesto al genovese lasange. (lasange with pesto sauce) and I helped her make Tiramisu the night before. We had a fun last dinner and Kiera and I continued packing. Id been working ahead on my packing so it wasnt too overwhelming. I said bye to my family before I left to meet my friends for one final night on the town in Florence and goodbyes. Alessio apologized for not being more communicative but I still enjoyed him very much this semester and I gave him a big hug. Ludo came into my room and gave me a very long hug. It really felt like she was my little sister, and Vittoria of course open her arms up in Italian-mother fashion kissed me and gave me a huge hug, and said we'd be in touch.

The last night in Florence was memorable as it poured after being in the Piazza Savonarola with lots of my friends-- all drinking alittle prosecco and taking pictures. We wandered to the Duomo and headed over to Cafe Biggalo, even though I'm usually not found of the American bars. It was special being with maddy and Myra my last night as well as Remi, mary, lauren, Julie, Emily, Aviva, and other girls. Maddy, Myra, and I wanted to try to find a place to dance but the next place we tried was closed. We still had a blast wandering our streets together talking and reminising. We went to Twice which is kind of like a joke--its a discotech where tons of creepy men always try to dance with girls but its also fun to occasionally go to just to dance and its not too hard to ward them off if they are weird. Twice was completly empty!! There were maybe like 9 people there so Maddy Myra and I let loose on the open dance floor.
We didn't stay there too long but when we left it was pouring raining. Long story short, I walked back into my appartment at 230 am, and woke up 430am to get ready for my Taxi that picked me up at 5am. It was pouring rain and freezing and as I walked out of my appartamento, it was snowing!!

Then it took me 49 hours to get home...but that's a boring story :-)

Now I have been home in San Diego and appreciating many things about SD and the comfortability of my own home and family, but I can't say that I didn't end things on a happy note in Florence. I came such a long way from the mosquito bite that closed my eye that first week of classes. I was confident, found happiness again admist some hard times before and after midterms. I gained 10 pounds which was also not helping my self esteem while I was in Italy, but I was loving the food and refused to diet. Now that I am home, I have enjoyed working out and running along Del Mar's coast. I have been eating very healthy and I bought new clothes and cleaned out my wordrobe. I am now packing up my life again to start a quarter at Santa Clara in a new appartment. I don't mind that I don't have a car up at school this year, because I am quite fine with doing it the Italian way, and riding a bike.

Off to Vegas! Ciao ciao and happy new years!!

Fall break pictures

Athens-

Some glimpses of what I have missed writing about online:
Greece: Corfu

we stayed at the pink palace, atving, kayaking, unibrowed men on the traghetto or ferry, toga party, card games, happy hours, rooming with tori, traditional greek dancing and plate breaking