Archives: June 2009
Mon Jun 29, 2009
I use Google, make nice translation for you!
What a crazy past two weeks we have had! As Emmie mentioned we visited Milan before the break and had a lot of unexpected experiences. As a fashion capital, it was an apparel design major's dream. I definitely have some inspirations from shop windows to take back to the States with me. Dad was quite relieved when he discovered I spent very little money there, none at all on clothing.
One of my favorite experiences of the week was going to a museum that taught us about the history of silk production. Even as an apparel design major, I had no idea all of the work that went into making a silk garment before ink jet printing. It gave me an entirely new perspective on silk that will serve me well when working on design projects.
Over the midterm break I was able to put to use many of the lessons we have been taught by the program. All of our Italian lessons with Mary Lou came in very handy while I was traveling with my parents around Italy. I was able to ask where certain landmarks within cities were located (such as the San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome) or order our dinner at restaurants. One of my favorite experiences thus far was talking to Italian children at our hotel in the Dolomites. I highly recommend it if you want to practice what you know, as well as learn more of the language. You know they won't hit on you (like the boys from Genzano), and they are much less intimidating and forgiving than adults Italians. This trip has really shown me that there are so many ways to communicate with other people, not just words. I have also been able to learn about how people of different cultures interact with one another, which directly relates to our college (Human Sciences).
Getting from place to place in Rome was a breeze--mom and dad were impressed by how well I was able to navigate the subways, buses and streets. Thanks "Welcome to Italy" guide! Also, sSince we had to complete the Rome scavenger hunt a few weeks ago, I knew many facts about the Roman Forum and the Coliseum that I could relay to my parents. Basically, I became their personal tour guide (sometimes with the help of Rick Steves).
Me with my parents at the Coliseum
Helping watch out for pickpockets (just like Dr. B taught us a few months ago) and telling my parents ways to stop them was a necessity.
I had the pleasure of being able to pass on some of Marco's history lessons and personal experinces while traveling all around the country with my family.
Teaching my parents about how to properly drink wine as we learned at a winery outside of Siena was also quite a fun experience.
We definitely had our fair share of mishaps, as well, which no classroom would think to prepare you for! Remember to always make sure you show up to the right airport (double check your boarding tickets!), otherwise you might have to spend 70 euros on a cab and sprint to catch your flight. Also, make sure to be prepared for any weather conditions when hiking, a.k.a. don't wear shorts in the Dolomites if rain is on the forecast when snow is still on the ground.
The Dolomites, still beautiful even after a disastrous hike
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Thu Jun 18, 2009
Money, Models, and Milan!
Wow! I don’t even know where to begin! Milan was just as beautiful as I thought it was going to be! Thank goodness we were given very little free time because that city would have for sure caused me to put my parents in bankruptcy! Milan is everything I thought it was going to be, and more!! It has been my favorite place so far. Everyday was jam-packed with new and exciting things. The week started off bright and early Monday morning ias we headed to Modena to visit a local factory producing balsamic vinegar. Now, in the past I would have told you that balsamic vinegar was one of my favorite things but taking shots of it makes me feel a little differently. It was very interesting the way they served all of their different flavors in little plastic shot glasses. Needless to say it was a very interesting experience that I am so glad I got to take part in.
I am pretty sure I can speak for the whole group when I say that we were all very surprised by our next destination. We were all a little skeptical when our bus driver left civilization and pulled up into a cow farm. Our initial shock of landing on the farm quickly turned into a paparazzi- crazed photo shoot with the smelly cows. Here, we learned all the steps that go into making parmesan cheese. Those of us who weren't completely grossed out by the smells, bugs, and overall process, were given a chance to taste test the parmesan cheese. Then we went to a place where you could purchase every thing that we tasted from earlier.
Then just in case we didn’t have enough balsamic vinigar shots that morning, we went to visit another producer and were given about ten more to try. They also introduced us to ice cream covered in balsamic vinegar…I personally think that the person who came up with that combination got a little carried away when it came to his special sauce. Then we were off to out hotel in Mantova, along with 400 flies that decided to accompany us on our bus from our last destination on the farm.
Tuesday--dedicated to the search for Mr. George Clooney-- was an unsuccessful journey. We landed in Lake Como early in the morning, and we were disappointed after all the stalking we did through “People” magazine that had promised us a “Clooney Sighting,” only to find out the trustworthy magazine was sorely mistaken. So after that bit of a let-down we were off to Milan.
Wednesday, I would have to say, was my favorite day this week. Now the reason for this decision was either because of the great Japanese food we had at lunch or from the aperitivo we had for dinner. For those of you who do not know what that is: it’s unlimited finger food with the purchase of one drink. It was pretty funny to see the amount of times the Auburn girls went through that food line. I am sure it looked like we had not been fed in weeks. By the end of the night the group had me doing backbends to create a “wig-like look” with my own hair to make it look like it was Dr. B’s hair…not sure where that idea came from! But I will say that the pictures from that little stunt are priceless, and if I can get a copy of that picture it will absolutely be on my blog by the end of the semester.
Anyway, back to the rest of the week in the fashion capital of Milan…By the end of the trip we went to places such as the local museum of silk, the Villa Necchi Campiglio designed by Piero Portaluppi, and a tour through the best flagship stores in Milan’s downtown area. The day ended with an eight hour bus ride with a bunch of sad people who were forced to go back, though my spirits were lifted again when I got to sit next to Peek on the bus. She spent a good three hours on the same EASY level Sudoku game. Oh and by the way, she was still unable to finish by the time we got home….But hey, “at least she can draw”
The group at the villa with Max.
The two Allies, Me, and Sassy Abby
Look what I finally got a copy of...
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Sun Jun 14, 2009
Art & Relaxation
It’s the dawn of a new day (almost, the sun isn’t actually up yet), and we have so much to look forward to. Our near future has great things in store for us, including Modena, Parma, and Milan, then we’re off on our own for over a week to experience all we’ve planned for the midterm break. I am so excited to experience all these great new things, but am amazed at how much time has passed already. Our time here in Italy s nearly half over. Looking back, we have done so much, though.
This week was a busy one, as Jenna noted in he blog, with a lot of long days. But it had its rewards.
Monday’s topics of cardiovascular health and the Mediterranean diet got me back to thinking about all I have learned in Auburn from my nutrition studies. It is interesting to look at the similarities and differences in theories of health and well being around the world. The day gave me an opportunity to renew my commitment to living well.
On Thursday night I was so excited to be invited by Francesco to his art opening at Villa d’Este in Tivoli. All of the paintings featured the Lazio region of Italy (where we are living and learning today) in the XVI and XVII century c.e. It is amazing that most of the art that was exhibited here had not been cataloged or published before, and we were right there in its presence. Among the guests was the owner of the art himself, but he wished to remain anonymous, enjoying the art with the rest of us. I was also excited to be able to explore the beautiful gardens at Villa d’Este and let the tadpoles in one of the pools nibble on my fingers. The best experience there, however, was to see how Francesco’s face lit up when he saw that we all came to enjoy the opening he had worked so hard on.
Me "fishing" for tadpoles.
After the long week, this weekend was meant for relaxing. Most of our group relinquished our traveling privileges for a couple of days and simply did what we needed to do, stay home. We knew we had a couple of long weeks ahead of us, and didn’t want to miss the Festivale Infiorata in Genzano, either. The art and medium used was so impressive, being all natural ‘ingredients,’ such as flower, coffee grounds, and sand. Such an event is not to be missed.
As I furiously pack this morning for our next two weeks of adventure, I can only hope that the rest of our time abroad is as exciting as all I’ve experienced so far. The personal growth I’ve experienced and connections I have made are truly the opportunity of a lifetime!
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Fri Jun 12, 2009
An Italian Experience
I can’t believe we have been here for over a month already! At first, while we were still trying to get adjusted to our new lifestyle, the days were moving a little slowly, but now, with our days packed with class, field trips, and traveling, the days are flying by. So far, I have only stayed within the borders of Italy, yet I feel like I still have so much more of the country to see; it amazes me how this small country has so much diversity, history, and beauty.
After a busy week in Siena and Florence, followed by a weekend in Cinque Terre, this “relaxed” week was just what I needed. Although Monday was a busy day full of classes, Monday night may have been one of my favorites thus far. After a brief lecture on the Mediterranean diet and history of wine, the entire group, plus our instructors, gathered in the kitchen for a wonderful meal and wine tasting. Cinzia and Roberta prepared an amazing spread of cheeses, breads, olives, melon, meats, salad, and pasta, and we all ate our delicious food while trying the various white and red wines Maurizio provided for us. With our newly acquired wine tasting skills, we made sure to swirl, inspect, and smell each wine before tasting. Although the white, in addition to the red, wines may all look similar, you must not be fooled by their appearances; surprisingly, each individual wine has its own unique flavors and aromas. However, the wine and the food is not what made me appreciate this night so immensely; what made the night so special was all 20 of us girls, plus our wonderful instructors, all enjoying the same meal together. Although we have had group dinners before, there was something special about this night that I can’t quite explain. The mood in the room was uplifting and lively; there was no hint of negativity or animosity in the room. While I can only speak for myself, I think this night was the perfect way to erase our sour, exhausted moods and begin the week off on a happy note.
In addition to attending classes, all 20 of us departed for a field trip to the towns of Orvieto and Todi on Wednesday morning. Although these towns were small and void of a lot of commotion, I really enjoyed seeing what each of the towns had to offer. In Orvieto, a medieval town in the region of Umbria, we explored the Pozzo di S. Patrizio, a giant well that was once built for the Popes. After descending down the countless, spiral steps that led to the bottom of the well, it was breathtaking to look up to the top and really grasp how big the structure was; just remember, once you go all the way down, you have to climb all the way back up! After our exploration of the well, we toured the Duomo that sits in the center of the town; similar to the Duomo in Siena, the enormous columns supporting the interior were decorated in gray and white, while the ceilings and walls were decorated with the most beautiful mosaics.
☺
The Duomo in Orvieto (notice the grey and white columns behind me and Allie).
Now, I thought I would add a little personal story of an event that occurred last night. After spending the day alone in the Palace from 9 AM to 8:45 PM due to illness (while the group was on another field trip to Umbria), Cinzia and I decided to go to the hospital to make sure everything was okay. I am supposed to be flying out at 6:50 AM Saturday morning for an overnight trip to Venice, followed by a group trip to Milan next Monday through Thursday. Needless to say, it was best to go to the hospital Thursday night before all the traveling began. Although it was a bit nerve-wracking spending 12 hours alone in a foreign hospital where the communication was little if none, my experience was totally satisfactory; I honestly cannot complain at all. The doctors decided it would be best for me to stay overnight for further observation, but unfortunately, there were no rooms available for me to sleep in; instead, I slept on a portable bed in the main corridor. This may sound a bit iffy, but I actually found this to be an eventful experience (in a positive way). I had trouble sleeping, but fortunately, there was a lot of action in the hospital last night, so I kept myself entertained by watching all the commotion. Although I probably wouldn’t want to spend multiple nights at the hospital, the staff was very nice, and I felt very safe and secure. So no need to worry if your child is admitted to the hospital here; she will be totally taken care of!
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Sun Jun 07, 2009
"Get Lost"
Where do I begin? Never in a million years did I think that in one week I would travel the hills of Tuscany and the canals of Venice. I find myself pinching my arm from time to time just to make sure I’m not dreaming. It all started early Tuesday morning when we loaded the bus and were off to our first stop, a wonderful vineyard in Tuscany. I don’t think any of us have had two glasses of wine before noon before, but it was a great experience. It was very fun to sit and learn the correct way to taste wine. Step one: twirl the glass to see how “thick” the wine is. The slower it runs down the glass, the better the wine. Step two: start from one side of your nose and move it in a semi circle to get the smell of the wine. Step three: sip the wine and let it sit on your tongue to get the full affect. Our table was a little more focused on me and my terrible, yet humorous, wine tasting skills. I’m always happy to provide a good laugh. After some fabulous wine and cheese and a breathtaking tour around the grounds, we were off for more adventures. Driving from one city to the next it was hard to keep my nose off the window. The views were just absolutely amazing! No picture could ever do it justice…but I still took my fair share.
~Beautiful landscape of Tuscany
I would have to say that one of my favorite places in Tuscany was Siena. My family has grown up around the farm , and I’ve always love to ride horses, so I was really excited that we were going to Siena where one of the most famous horse races, the Palio, is held. We all had dinner the first night in an open square, but I don’t think any of us realized that it was the place where the race was actually held. The next day Jennifer talked about the bareback horse race and all of us were in amazement that it was held in this somewhat small square. I found a few post cards with the races on it to send home, and they were really cool to get some kind of image of the race. Jennifer even mentioned that some of the landlords kick people out of their homes around the square in order to make money for the races. Crazy!
Florence was next on our journey, and I was blown away by the duomo. Allie and I found ourselves with a neck cramp because we couldn’t take our eyes off the painting inside the duomo. Seeing the demons of the underworld and the angels of heaven almost brought a tear to my eye. It will definitely make you take a moment to think about life. We spent most of our free time inside the church sitting on one of the benches just talking about life and our trip thus far. Then, after a trip to the spectacular statue of David, we all hit the leather market. I think everyone made great purchases, including me. I definitely could have spent another day in Florence, but some of us were off to Venice for the weekend.
~Just imagine an intense horse race held here
Friday night was a bit of an adventure, but everything worked out, and we all settled into our hotels for a good night’s rest. Saturday was a brand new day and we were ready to “get lost.” As Rick Steve’s suggested. Venice is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The buildings are rich with character, and so are the people. That afternoon, after a relaxing gondola ride, we stopped in a tiny square to have gelato and these women asked us if they could take our picture. We all looked at each other in confusion and said yes. One of hte women said it was just too cute of a picture, and we all laughed. They were very kind, and used our cameras, as well, so that we could have copies of our own.
~We LOVE gelato!
Overall it was one of my favorite trips this summer. Tons of fun was had and lots of lessons learned, but we were all eager to get to our home away from home. We all look forward to the week in Ariccia and a relaxing weekend. I can’t wait to see what else is in store for us. Ciao Ciao.
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The Ants Go Marching One By One Hurrah! Hurrah!
Adventurous might be one good word to describe our weekend in Venice. Before I tell you about the ups and downs of this weekend, let me back up to Tuscany. Week four was great. I think we would all agree that our trip to the vineyard and wine tasting near Siena was a favorite.
Jenna, Emmie, Allie Smith, me, and Allie Stephens at our wine tasting!
Each day was very unique, but fun. In Volterra, we enjoyed our tour guide, Annie, originally from Washington D.C. She landed in Volterra eleven years ago. A husband and child are two small additions in her life that have kept her here. As a matter of fact, they will probably keep her here forever. Her story was very different but fun to hear. Interacting with different people has been a great learning experience. Meeting people who are so different from us not only opens our eyes to different sides of the world, but it teaches us to embrace differences and love people for who they are. Because my major, Hotel and Restaurant Management, is so focused on people, I have loved all of these different interactions.
Moving on to Florence...it is a great city! The city was big but not huge like Rome. We loved the food up north and the people were very friendly.
Did you ever sing the song “The Ants Go Marching One By One Hurrah! Hurrah!” when you were camping as a child? This song would be appropriate in Venice. Late Friday night our ( let’s call him speechless) bus driver took us 30 minutes outside of Venice to our campground. Of course, we did not know we were signing up for a camping trip. I’m sorry to say I forgot my boots and tent! So, we agreed to head back to the beautiful city and find a place to stay. How will we find a hotel? Will it be safe? Will we be homeless? All of these questions came to mind. American Express was no help in finding a hotel. I guess their five star service wasn’t really up to five stars on Friday. Don’t worry, we aren’t holding it against them! Early Saturday morning, around 1:15, we all settled into our hotels. All summer I have dreamed of treating myself to a nice hotel, and I guess my wish came true. A lot of Euros later, I found myself sharing a four star hotel with Chasley. Of course we enjoyed the hotel, but was it worth the money? No way! It sure was an adventure! The clock kept ticking, and we were still homeless, so we caved and splurged. Once we were all spread out around the city and safe, we could sleep peacefully. Don’t worry, the adventures did not end there! Sunday, we were thrilled to have a free boat ride to Murano to watch glass blowing and have a tour of a glass warehouse. Miscommunication, lack of alarm clocks, and stress left two girls in bed when our boat pulled away.
What did we learn from our adventurous trip to Venice? Examine hostels closely, work on communication, try to keep your stress level down, laughing is the best medicine you could ask for, and never trust a Vodaphone to wake you up in the morning!
Saturday night we had the most fun group dinner we have had all summer. Catherine cried she was laughing so hard and of course all of our stomachs hurt! Here is a picture of the one and only Venice group.
We look forward to a relaxing week of class and field trips in Ariccia this coming week. It is great to be home in the Palace! Ciao!
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Mon Jun 01, 2009
Teaching points
Even though I have only been in Italy for three weeks, there are many lessons that I have learned that are reshaping the way in which I view the world and myself. The following are some notable lessons:
Lesson 1: Kindness is a universal form of communication.
One day I ran to the supermercato to grab some items for dinner; however, once I arrived to the palace and started to gather all of the materials for dinner, I realized I forgot one important Italian ingredient—fresh garlic. I ran to the alimentari in order to see if they had garlic, but unfortunately, they only had garlic powder. As I was talking to the assistant with my limited vocabulary of Italian, a person in the line told me that the fraschetta restaurant had some fresh garlic. So I ran to the fraschetta restaurant that is right across from the palace and asked to buy some garlic, and by this time my stomach was reminding me that it was well past dinnertime. The attendant went straight to the back of the restaurant and pulled out the prized ingredient for my new recipe. I asked her the cost, but she gave me the garlic free of charge. We immediately embraced, and I experienced one of the most sincere hugs that I have had in Italy thus far. At that moment I felt at home, I felt welcomed, I understood. Even though I didn’t know how to accurately articulate my appreciation in Italian, I am certain that she knew that I was grateful and honored to receive her act of kindness.
Another moment of kindness that touched my heart was when our whole group took me out for my 26th birthday celebration. After Abby, Sam, and I returned to the palace from the classical concert, everyone was dressed so nicely and waiting for us in the lobby. We went to a restaurant called Glam in Albano—my dinner and dessert was covered, and I got the sweetest card. Everyone made me feel so special, and it was an experience that I etched deeply in my personal history book.
Before my birthday dinner
Lesson 2: You are leaving a legacy.
We had an opportunity to visit ancient resting places throughout Rome—The Non-Catholic Cemetery/Englishmen Cemetery and the burial grounds for the Etruscans. This experience was far from morbid, for it reminded me of how our lives are writing a story that will be remembered long after we are gone. Hearing the stories of famous English poets such as John Keats (who was in a quest for finding a cure for his battle with tuberculosis while in Rome), and Percy Shelley (an English poet whose widow, Mary Shelley, wrote Frankenstein) helped me to realized that you are never too young to leave your mark on the world. Also, it was amazing to hear how Keats studied medicine but it was not his true passion—he would even doodle and write poetry in his anatomy books. This reminds me that the line of work that you pursue must ring true to your heart’s passion. Because when you operate in this vein, your work will impact how others experience life--and this life changing force may reverberate throughout many generations.
The bed where Keats spent his last few days
Lesson 3: Slow down and live.
I am totally soaking up this lesson. I wouldn’t say that the way of life in Italy is at a slow pace, but I would say that the way of life in Italy is at the right pace. You have an opportunity to take time for things that matter, such as truly paying attention to everyday conversations, making time for family and friends, laughing until you are exhausted, cooking large dinners, going for walks. Essentially, you get an opportunity to not just smell the roses but acknowledge that they exist. Never in my life have I slept better—I sleep throughout the entire night, and I wake up surprised to know that it is morning time. Also, it is refreshing to experience a culture that isn’t too consumer driven—the supermarket closes on Sunday at 1:15 in the afternoon, none of the clothing stores are open on Sundays, and all of the local shops and restaurants are closed during the middle of the day from about 1-4 p.m. so that employees can enjoy lunch at home with their families.
Overall, I feel as if I am living life as I never have before—I am truly ENJOYING myself and letting go of some reservations that were handicapping me from experiencing life to its fullest. I am being changed day by day, and I am not just learning about some of the greatest architecture, art, and history in the world, but I am also learning more about myself in this global context. Who will know what I will discover in the next 8 ½ weeks—but I am so excited to find out!
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