Playing Dress-up Never Gets Old

This week is week nine and I can’t believe how fast time is passing by. Every day I think about how amazing this experience has been and how many awesome friends I have made here!
On Monday, our whole group went to the local elementary and high school. The little kids were so incredibly cute and we watched them do a Halloween crossword puzzle. While watching them work through the puzzle, I was blown away by how smart these kids are. They already knew how to spell words like pencil sharpener and skeleton in English; I found it to be very impressive! At Italian elementary schools, all the girls have to wear pink or purple and the boys have to wear blue. They even wear smocks over their clothing so they do not get dirty. Looking at the little kids though, I noticed that they still had their own little styles. They expressed themselves through different appliqués on their smocks, their hairstyles (one little kid was already gelling his hair and one even had a rat tail), and just by the way they carried themselves. It was so much fun to watch them! At the end of our visit, they got to ask us some questions and were all really eager to talk with us.
Next, we went to the high school and it was a completely different vibe. We arrived right during their break and as all the students walked outside I couldn’t help but to notice what they were wearing. I was really surprised to see that most of the girls and guys were wearing sagged sweatpants with loose fitting shirts. It was very interesting to examine how different their style is from ours. I got to talk with individual students and it was so much fun learning about their culture and what they like to do for fun. I just can’t get over how different schools are here in Italy.
Tuesday, we went to Tirellis Tailor Workshop which is one of the world’s largest theater and cinema costume workshops. This day was probably my favorite school field trip! We walked inside the workshop and I swear it never ended. There were about five different rooms that we got to see and the entire place has about 10,000 costumes overall. I got to see clothes from every era of history and the craftsmanship was truly amazing. Every single item was made by hand and it really just blew my mind. Andrea Sorrento was our guide for the day and he was so much fun! He let us try on multiple costumes and explained each items importance and construction.

Danni trying on a clown costume from an opera!

Margaret wearing a crazy hat
I got to see clothing from many different movies but I definitely have a few favorites. First, I got to see the costumes from Marie Antoinette which were so incredible they even won an Oscar! I asked Andrea what Kirsten Dunst was like to work with and he said she was really nice, simple, and not a diva. That made me really happy because I just love her. Next, I got to see the armor from the movie Troy with Brad Pitt!!! I didn’t actually get to touch anything he wore, but I did get to touch something Orlando Bloom wore so I guess I can die happy. Even more exciting than that, I got to touch James Franco’s costume that he wore in the movie Tristan and Isolde!! Lastly, the most exciting of them all was that I got to see the costumes from the new movie Alice in Wonderland by Tim Burton. The movie has not been released yet but I am already obsessed from the trailers and cannot wait to see it. Did I mention that Johnny Depp was in it?

The Queen of Hearts dress from Alice in Wonderland
It was so much fun looking at all the costumes that celebrities wore but I got to see some history too. Amongst the crazy outfits and brightly colored hats were the uniforms from the original World War II. We even saw a coat that still had the original label on it. I felt so privileged to be touching history first hand. Talking with Andrea and looking at all those fabulous works of art is something that I will never forget!

The whole group at Tirellis!
Today, we went to an Olive Oil factory. At this particular factory, people bring their own olives and pay to have their oil made. We got to learn about all the different steps and processes to make the oil. First, the olives go into this machine that strips them of their branches and leaves. Then, they are washed with water and dumped into a big smasher. All the paste that comes out of that machine gets layered up on woven platters to be pressed. I got the see the oil slowly dripping down into the metal bins where they make sure there are no imperfections. A bunch of the girls even bought some oil there to bring home. The one thing that impressed me most about the factory was that all of the waste from the leftover olives gets turned into material that can be used to heat houses. That is just so environmentally sustainable! Our guide told us that even some animals can eat it as their food.

Olives!

A roomate picture outside the factory

This weekend I am going to Venice and am super excited!Then, right when we get back we are going to Milan so I cannot wait to learn more about fashion!

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"Growth means change and change involves risk, stepping from the known to the unknown." -Author Unknown

Here in Italy we are on our own Grand Tour. Having the chance to see beautiful sites and enjoy exciting cultural experiences forces us to open our minds and grow personally. We have been exposed to new things day after day but in a country and culture across the world from our home. Sometimes in order to truly learn about ourselves we must leave all that is comfortable and "step from the known to the unknown". What a wonderful place Italy is to experience a new world and push yourself to find out who you really are and what you want to become! In our pre-departure class, before we left on this journey, we submitted a Top 10 List. It was to include 10 things we hoped to experience and accomplish through our time studying abroad. It was used as a tool to get us thinking about what we truly wanted to get out of this experience and to mentally prepare us for the attitude we wanted to bring with us. I want to share a few of my Top 10 and the experiences that have come alongside each one during my time here so far.

1. Be able to adapt to any outcome. Enjoy and make the most of each experience even if it doesn't have the outcome I expect or want.
I'm often a perfectionist with high expectations. It is easy for something small and unexpected to happen and put a damper on my trip. I wanted to make sure that during this semester I learned how to adapt to whatever situation is presented. What incredible things can happen when you choose to have this mindset! While visiting Positano we took the ferry to the island of Capri. I went into the day expecting to walk around the town of Capri and shop and was prepared for little else. When we first got there we found out that we could go out and swim in the grattos and see some of the sites by boat. I didn't have a swimsuit or anything for a day out on the water. My immediate thought was, "This isn't what I planned on doing today and I don't even have any of the things I need." Then I caught myself and told myself to go with the flow and seize the day! I ended up going in a store, getting a swimsuit, and hopping on a boat! By going with the flow and adapting quickly I ended up having one of the best days of my life on a private boat and swimming in the incredibly breathtaking waters of Capri!

On our boat on the beautiful waters in Capri!

2. Learn the history and stories behind each place I visit. I don't want to see just beautiful buildings and sites. I want to know their history and significance which will make them even more beautiful to see and explore.
As students here in Ariccia we have the wonderful opportunity to learn from Italians who have an incredible wealth of knowledge. Before each trip we take we always have lectures that help us understand the history, significance, and details of what we will be seeing and experiencing. From Roman architecture to famous works of art, we hear all of the details that enhance our visual experience and understanding of what we are seeing. We also get to take part in the teaching process. For certain sites we are asked to research and give a presentation on an important topic. This allows us to gain even more knowledge about a subject that we are seeing and be able to share the information that we have learned with the rest of the group. I have never left a place not knowing what a great role it plays in the past, present, and future of Italy.


About to give my presentation on Piazza di Spagna in front of the Spanish steps.


3. Always attempt to converse in Italian with locals. I am in another country and in another culture and I should never expect them to conform to mine, including language.
What a learning experience it has been stepping into a culture that speaks another language. Hardly anyone in Ariccia knows very much English so it is one of the best ways to be completely submersed in the language. The more you try the better you get and the more you try the more likely someone is to help you in any way they can! Most Italians love for you to give your best attempt at speaking the language and are quick to help you learn. During one of our first weeks we went to a market in Campo di Fiori. I had a ring made by an older Italian man who knew no English. I knew barely any Italian but I smiled big and tried my best and as you can see in the photo below we ended up becoming pals! I have definetly learned that you can communicate so much, not just by a few words, but by a smile and a good attitude. It can get you very far and can also get you a new friend - even if you can't understand a word they are saying!

My ring maker and new friend! What a character.

4. Soak up the fashion of Italy and have a better understanding of global fashion for my future career.
Fashion is everywhere in Italy. It is one of the fashion capitols of the world! As a group we have visited the Capucci and Ferragamo Museums as well as a costume warehouse that is home to many famous costumes designed for film and operas. We also will be taking a week long trip to Milan where we will be exposed to even more elements of fashion in Italy that are located specifically in Milan. One of the best ways to experience fashion in Italy is through the people on the streets. Which makes sense because they are the consumers of the fabulous Italian fashion masterminds. The Italians have such a wonderful sense of fashion that carries an attitude of its own. They are all about aesthetics and making one's body look its best. It is such a learning experience just watching the people on the streets such as the couple in one of the photos below. I enjoy comparing the street fashion of consumers here to that of the other countries that I have seen and think it will be a great knowledge to have for my future career in the fashion business.

Studying the dresses at the Capucci Museum.


Fashionable Italian couple strolling the piazza.

There are six others on my Top 10 that are just as vital to my experience, but these four are a good taste of what I have been fed here on this journey so far. The attitude that I have chosen to have, the things I have seen, the people I have met have all pushed me to find out who I am and to grow personally in character and knowledge. I am so glad that I have chosen to take the risk and stepped into the unknown. The experience has produced nothing but growth and everything I have learned will overflow into the future I have ahead of me!

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"La Fabbricazione Belle Memorie"

La fabbricazione belle memorie-making of beautiful memories. This is the best way I can put my experience thus far into words. I can’t believe we are starting our ninth week here in Italy. We have already seen so much in such little time. Last week was a busy week with everyone returning from break and getting back into school mode. Specifically, Thursday was a great day, we started out the day early with, Giardini di Ninfa, or Ninfa Gardens. Ninfa was a considerably large town dating back to the Romans. During the Middle Ages, Ninfa was taken over by Malaria and soon abandoned. In the twentieth century Ninfa was transformed into a botanical garden. It is a very beautiful place eventhough it was pouring rain our whole visit. There are all kinds of plants, trees, and a community of ducks.

The Ninfa Gardens
After the Ninfa Gardens we went to a wine tasting at Marco Carpineti wine farm. Our group always loves the wine tastings. We learn so much about each wine and learn the process of the wine being made. First, we toured the winery. It is a very interesting process which goes through many steps before the final product of delicious Italian wine. Once the tour was over we had the tasting and lunch. We had so much food! We had tomatoes and mozzarella, porchetta, salami, bread, bruschetta, and many other antipastos followed with pasta and dessert. We tasted red, white, and Rosae wine. All three had their own distinctive taste. We also got a dessert wine that was very good and strong! Once the tasting was over we headed back to the palace and all took naps for the rest of the day. Overall a great Italian day!

The three wines we tasted!
For the weekend we headed to Sicily. It was a rough weekend. It rained all weekend while we were there. Once we arrived our main priority was to find food. However, the only place we could find lunch was the same place we had dinner; we didn’t mind because it was very good. Our hotel room was awesome so we took refuge there and in a cafe. Saturday morning we went up the mountain to a little town called Erice. It is a medieval town overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. We bought playing cards at a tabachhi and headed to a café where we sat for two hours playing different card games. The weekend consisted of eating, drinking wine, cards, and lots of laughs. What we thought would be a crummy rainy weekend ended up being a weekend of us all hanging out and enjoying one another.

Some of the girls playing cards in the cafe.

Now, we are back at the palace and ready for another week of school. I am especially excited about the next two weeks because we are studying fashion! Tuesday we are going to Tirelli’s tailor workshop, which is one of the world’s largest theater and cinema costume workshops then Wednesday we have a fashion seminar with costume designer Andrea Sorrentino. After that we head to Milan for week ten- fashion capital of the world! I am very excited to learn all about my major and what Italy has to offer in my field. Thus far I have seen the differences in fashion between London, Paris, and Italy, but I am anxious to learn more about present Italian fashion. Well, I’m off to start week nine!!

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From Comedy to Chocolate Inspired Dresses!

I'm sitting in my bed right now, thinking about all the wonderful and amazing things that I have done so far. It is still hard for me to believe that I am actually in Italy! I have learned so much here from history, to art, to fashion, and I have even learned more about myself and what I want to do with my life. Living with 19 other girls has definitly been an experience I will never forget. I have met so many life long friends here that I will keep in touch with even after college. I cannot believe that I am back from the midterm break! I went to London and Paris for my break, but first I want to talk about our Independent service activity we had to do.
The Monday before our break, Katie, Danni, Sarah Gruber, and I had to measure out and take pictures of Marian Berry's evening gowns. Kimberly did an awesome job of taking the pictures of all the dresses. All of them were so beautiful and unique! Marian Berry is the mother of the last Chigi Prince, Agostino. She was an American who was from Georgia. Our descriptions and photos will be in a catalog that will display the clothing from the Chigi Palace that we are staying at here in Ariccia. Her dresses are from the 1930s and 1940s. It was definitly a privilege to be able to study Marian Berry’s clothing. They were awesome, and I love the fashion from the 1940s!



My favorite Marian Berry dress! I thought it was very unique and elegant!

During our midterm break, I went to London with Danni, Amy, Ellen, Claire, Margaret, Lauren, and Elizabeth. I loved London! I really want to move there after I graduate. It was an amazing city full of so much to do! The Saturday we were there, Amy, Lauren, Danni, Margaret and I went to the Comedy Store at the midnight showing. It was really funny. I had never been to a stand-up comedy show before, and we were sitting right in the middle in the very front row. The comedian asked if there was anyone that lived outside of Europe. Since we were from Alabama, we were the main joke for the rest of the night—especially Danni.



Me and Amy before the Comedy Started!

We also saw Wicked the musical on the last night, and it was amazing! My favorite song ever is from the musical—"For Good". While I was in London, I also ran into one of my friends from high school, Stephen Coady, who also goes to Auburn and is studying abroad in Italy through a different program. It was pretty cool that we happened to be in London at the same time.
When we were on our way to a park in London, we saw some really unique window displays for some of the stores there. Since my major is apparel merchandising, I noticed these uniquely designed and trendy displays. I also took visual merchandising this past Spring and loved it. I would not mind being a visual merchandiser myself, so I really enjoyed looking at the beautiful window displays. I could have spent an entire day looking at them if I had time! I got to see how they used different techniques to catch the viewer's eye. Seeing these displays will definatel help me in the future when I have to make displays of my own!



An awesome window display in London

On Tuesday, Margaret, Lauren, Amy and I went to Paris. It is very beautiful. On Wednesday Lauren, Amy, and I went on a segway tour throughout Paris. I will always remember that tour. It was definitely a fun experience. I am officially a pro at the segway.



Lauren, Amy, and I on our fabulous segways!

We also went to the top of the Eiffel Tower. It was very cold, very beatiful, and very high. However, one of my favorite things that we did in Paris was the Chocolate Festival. It was 12 Euros, but there was a ton of chocolate! And free samples! They also had a fashion show there. I was really excited when I saw these girls on the runway, with gorgeous chocolate inspired dresses on and throwing chocolates into the audience. I love this part about fashion. It can be inspired by anything at all. I got to see upclose how the designers of these dresses incorporated their point of view of chocolate into these unique dresses.



My favorite chocolate inspired dress!

Marian Berry's dresses and the chocolate inspired dresses have helped me understand the art of fashion. Therefore helping me to be a better apparel merchandiser, and have a better perspective for my field of study.

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Half-Way There!

I am living on more than just a prayer here in Italy, I have pizza, pasta, and gelato to keep me going. We are half way into the semester, with the mid-term break right around the corner! I have so enjoyed everything about this experience so far, the culture, the fashion, the food, the classes, the art, the friendships; it has all been worth the while! I will admit that I was nervous about spending 12 weeks in another country with girls I have never met, but this experience has brought so much personal growth to my life.
Roommate picture in Pisa!!

I think my favorite week so far has been Week 5, Toscana. I absolutely loved Florence, and Siena was equally as amazing! There were so many places to see and shop! We went to a leather school, it was so incredible to watch these artists and designers at work on hand-made items. I was so impressed with their talent. The Accademia and Uffizi were so wonderful to visit, I love sculptures and they were plentiful in these places.
At the Leather School--she is handmaking an ostrich bag.


For our practicum placements, the apparel majors got to catalog garments that belonged to Princess Marian Barry. We took measurements, wrote descriptions and the conditions of the garments, and took pictures of each piece. There were so many beautiful pieces!! I wish I could have tried them on. I feel like applied so much that I learned from Fundamentals of Product Development. I was in charge of photographing the garments and helping dictate the descriptions.
>This is one of the garments belonging to Princess Berry.

As an Apparel Merchandising major, I feel as though I have learned so much about fashion in Italy. Each individual possess their own personal style and bringing a confidence with it. It is all very different from anything in the U.S. In Italy, fashion is an aspect of life that people are proud of, not something they are intimidated by. I think at times people in the U.S. are afraid to create and claim their own personal style so they stick to the status quo. Not here! Italians are adventurous and try new things even if it attracts more attention. Brava to them!! Another thing I have noticed, are the amazing window displays. Whether it is Prada or H&M, the visual merchandising works as a beautiful invitation, beckoning you to take a closer look at the newest trends. I am so anxious to apply what I have learned here, when I return home! One of the many beautiful pieces of art at the Capucci Museum.

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Sienna, Florence, and Cinque Terre, OH MY!

This week we learned all about Tuscany, a region in Northern Italy known for its grapes and olives, beautiful views, and its rich history in art. This week we had our first week-long field trip. We saw so much including, San Gimigano, Volterra, Siena, Florence, and Cinque Terre. The main focus of this trip was wine and food, as well as art.
First we visited the small town of San Gimigano. It is situated on top of a hill, and is the quintessential small Tuscan town. It was built with a medieval wall surrounding it. While there we had some free time and a few of the girls and I chose to visit a medieval torture museum. It was quite an experience with to scale models of torture devices. We all left a little woosy, but it was something different and interesting.


Some of us at the Torture Museum

Next we went to do a wine tasting in a small town outside of Siena. We learned all about the production of wine. Things like what is the difference between table wine and a D.O.C.C. wine. (Table wine is not certified, it is usually several wines combined, so it can be just as tasty as a D.O.C.C. wine.) We also got to taste the local Ciante, which is made from four different kinds of grapes. We learned to tilt, swirl, and smell wine before we drink it to make sure that it is up to par. Then we got the chance to buy some of the delicious, and inexpensive wine to take home.


Amy and I at the Vineyard!

Next was a stop in the small town of Volterra, which is now most known for being the location of Stephanie Myers’ ruling league of vampires, the Volturie. While here we got a small tour of the town, and learned all about its history of opposition to the Florentines.
At the end of a long day we finally arrived in Siena. The next morning we did a walking tour of Siena with Cinzia. We saw all of the main sights including the Plaza de Campo, where the Palio takes place, and the beautiful Duomo.
Next we were off to Florence. We got there at night and had an amazing group dinner. The next morning we started by seeing the Duomo of Florence. It was huge! Then we were off to see the Capucci museum. This was a great break for the fashion students from all the history we had been seeing the whole trip. They were all so excited to see the beautiful pieces of fashion art that Capucci had designed. Next it was off to the Accademia to see the breath-taking David. Walking down the long hall to see the massive statue, there are several unfinished statues of Michelangelo’s. They look as if they are trying to escape the marble they are being carved out of. This is a best way to understand the process which makes Michelangelo unique as a sculptor. He is the only sculptor that does not use points of reference in his work, he has a vision, and simply uses that to carve his statues. At fourteen feet tall the David is a massive display of this genius. The thing I was most amazed by was the detail Michelangelo used in the carving of this huge statue. Even the hands of David had veins in them. To me, the David was awe-inspiring, I could have stayed and studied him for hours. After the Accademia we went the Salvatore Ferragamo museum and got to see his classic hand made shoes.


The whole group in front of the replica of Michelangelo's David


Some of the girls outside of the Duomo in Florence

Our second day in Florence was just as busy. We woke up and went to the Uffizi. It was incredibly crowded, but it was filled with amazing pieces of art from the Medici family’s collection. We saw pieces from Botecceli, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and many other Renaissance artists. Then we were off to the leather market. A kind of web-like structure, the leather market is filled with hundreds of vendors selling all kinds of leather products. For nineteen girls it was heaven on earth. After having some time to shop, we went to a leather school to see how all of these leather goods were made. They also taught us how to know the difference between good leather and bad leather. After our trip to the leather school we had a hectic trip across the city of Florence. Led by Cinzia, eighteen of us ran across the city to catch our train to Cinque Terre. I am sure we were quite the sight with our rolling suitcases running across the city.
After our train ride we were in Cinque Terre, a group of small cliff towns overlooking the Mediterranean. It is known for its hiking trails, and bright and early on Friday morning we began to hike with our guide Marco. The first day we went up a mountain that looked across at the Cinque Terre. Although the views were beautiful, as an asthmatic that does not hike, I found this hike to be a little intense, but the views were amazing, and I think we were all proud of ourselves for making it to the end. The next day we hiked the towns. For me this was much easier, and the views were amazing. The towns of Cinque Terre appear to just flow out of the sides of mountains.


Margret and I in beautiful Cinque Terre

The next morning we got back on the bus and made the long trip home. I don’t think that any of us have ever been so happy to see the palace.
This week was incredible for me as a history major. I got to see so many amazing things in Florence that I have been studying for so long. It was also amazing to see the small towns that were built in the middle ages. As an American it is hard to imagine that some of these towns have been here for hundreds of years, but to see them is spectacular. They are filled with hundreds of year’s worth of history, and they are so well preserved that it is easy for anyone to understand the way life was in the past. Seeing the art in Florence was also amazing. I have spent so much time looking at these pieces in History books, I never imagined how spectacular seeing these pieces in real life could be, and it was amazing. As I look back at my time in Italy this week is going to be one that will immediately jump to my mind.

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Art in Firenze

This past week we took our first week-long field trip, and our main destination was Florence. Firenze, as the Italians say it, was the birthplace of the Renaissance, the period of rebirth and revival of the classics in Europe. The affects of the Renaissance on the city are still evident today. Art in various forms is still a career for many Firenze citizens. Although instead of wealthy families like the Medici funding a few great artists, the many artists and craftsmen are funded by tourists. In several of the squares, painters can be seen painting different parts of the scenic city with several completed paintings sitting waiting to be sold. Musicians play and sing near restaurants to add to the atmosphere and hope for a few donations. Of course there is also the huge San Lorenzo leather market. Vendors line the streets selling many different kinds of leather goods, some fake, and some real. Tourists and locals can buy almost anything in leather that they want. However, this isn’t necessarily a completely good thing. On Thursday we visited the Leather School in Firenze. Our guide, who was part of the family who founded and runs the school, told us the Made in Italy logo is used much too often. She told us some leather products containing the logo are produced up to 70-90% in other countries and only finished in Italy. However, at the Leather School each purse, bracelet, coaster, and every other item is hand crafted. As a student in the College of Business I understand how important the logo on a piece of merchandise is. The current low logo standards make the true artists’ products harder to sell because when people see the logo they think they are purchasing something of near the same value at a much lower price. If the logo continues to be used for products not truly made in Italy, it will slowly depreciate in value. People will no longer see it as something special, just another gimmick to market vendor’s goods. The school and other artists are trying to raise the standards for the Made in Italy logo so it will keep its worth.

Charlie, the crocodile hide, in the Leather School

My experience so far in Italy had given me a greater appreciation for art, but this past week I enjoyed art more than I ever had before. Monday we went to the Poggio winery, where we learned about the process of making wine and had a wine tasting. Our guide taught us the proper technique of how to taste wine. We also went to Volterra. I was excited about this town because part of Stephanie Meyer’s book New Moon takes place there! In Volterra we were shown how craftsmen make alabaster products. They can make things so quickly it seems easy, but I know it requires a great amount of skill.


alabaster workshop in Volterra

Tuesday we visited Il Duomo in Siena. Il Duomo is a medieval gothic style church with very detailed marble mosaic flooring and beautiful artwork both inside and on the outer façade.
Wednesday we visited several places in Florence, including two fashion museums, Il Duomo in Florence, and the Accademia. The Accademia is where Michelangelo’s famous David is housed. Seeing something you have heard so much about can sometimes be a letdown, but David was more impressive than I imagined.
some of us in front of il Duomo in Firenze

Thursday we went to another great art museum, the Uffizi museum. It houses Botticelli’s the “Birth of Venus” and “La Primavera,” and many other works by famous medieval and Renaissance artists.

Most of the group finished off a great week with a wonderful weekend in Cinque Terre. With beautiful views and tasty seafood, we couldn’t ask for a better time!

Manorola in Cinque Terre

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