Wow. All I can really say is wow. I’m still finding it hard to grasp the idea that I’m leaving in less than a week. This experience was not what I thought it would be, and at the same time, it was exactly how I thought it would be. Let me explain. When I go into experiences such as this …
Isabel
Tips and Tricks
I cannot believe that my time abroad is almost at a close. It has been such an eventful semester; there have been good times, bad times, and everything inbetween. I definitely have some tips and tricks for those coming to study in Florence that I would love to share, in no particular order. It’s ok to speak English. There will …
Friendsgiving done right
Thanksgiving is my second favorite holiday (sorry, but Christmas is King.) That being said, it is one of my absolute favorites; the food, the people, being home. So naturally this year, things were different. I wasn’t home, I wasn’t with my immediate family, and there was no turkey. But this Thanksgiving was still amazing. From the moment my best friend …
Pierra
The first day I arrived in Florence I met my host family. On my way to their house, I had no clue what to expect. It could be a set of parents or a single parent. With or without children. Cat, dog, none, or both. I was excited to keep an open mind and go along with whatever I was …
Stuck in London
To start, I’d like to say that a part of me wishes I didn’t have so many stories of travel mishaps, but to err is human, so my life story is full of them. Perhaps the most frustrating “travail” moment happened when I was traveling back to Florence from London. In fact, this is probably one of the worst travel …
A Tramp Abroad
Twain’s accounts of traveling through Europe in “A Tramp Abroad” are very candid, filled with notes for the future and general observations of the things he and his friends saw. When he finally gets to Italy near the end of the book, I found a few sections that I could relate to, connect to, or disagree with. The first was …
The Birth of Venus
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn to Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” painting. I’ve always been a fan of greek mythology and Aphrodite, whose Roman god name is Venus. She is the goddess of love and is known for being the most beautiful of all the goddesses as well (so beautiful that in greek mythology …
Bubble bubble bubble bubble!
I have found that the biggest bubble I’ve come across in Florence has been the NYU Florence campus. We have our own Villa, so it is very much it’s own little bubble, about a forty minute walk from the center of the city. Therefore, it is definitely a little safe haven from the rest of the city, and the spot …
A Dish Best Served Wireless
There is a bit from standup comedian Aziz Ansari that I absolutely love about the age of smartphones. He discusses how we generally feel the need to have the best of the best, and often times we will research to no end in order to have it. His first example is perfect; finding a toothbrush. He explains that before leaving …
A Room with a View
The first book I chose to read was “A Room with a View” by E. M. Foster. Right off the bat, I was reading about feelings and sensations I myself have felt, feelings that are universal to those who travel, particularly in Italy. If there are stages of grief, there are certainly stages of travel: excitement, fear, lost and found. …
A Reading Revolution
For this blogpost I had originally intended to write about news in Florence. Perhaps about the amount of (slow) foot traffic because of tourist season which has still yet to wane, or maybe a piece on gender politics. But when I looked up “Italian News”, the first thing I saw was shocking and worth reporting to any and everyone who …
I’ll Be Fine Just Drinking My Wine
I don’t know about everyone else, but the first thing I think of when I hear “Italy” is wine. Wine, wine, wine. Wine with dinner, wine with lunch, wine with wine; it pairs with everything. And here in Florence, I definitely find that wine encaptures the spirit of the city quite completely, both physically and metaphorically. Let’s talk about the …
No, My Destination Is Not On The Right
Google maps. A blessing and a curse. If it and I had a Facebook relationship status it would be “it’s complicated.” Yes, I just went there. I rely heavily on Google Maps; I did when I first moved to NYC and maybe even moreso here in Florence where the whole world is not just a grid with numbered streets. Here, …
Sono di… Florence?
I’m a liar. A bad one, but a liar nonetheless. No, I don’t lie on my taxes. I only lie when it’s necessary. The best example I can think of, and the one that has happened more than once, is when dealing with creepy people. Take last night. I was at Babylon, a dance club in Florence. I was dancing …
We’re Not in New York Anymore
At the beginning of spring semester I got an email. “Congratulations! You’ve been accepted to NYU Florence Fall Semester!” it read. I could hardly read the rest, I was so excited. But in the midst of the first few moments of excitement, I was hit with another extreme emotion; total and complete fear. Oh god, I’m leaving the country, I thought. …