Orientation

Today was the last day of Orientation, it was like CI only without the singing or the organization. I registered for classes this afternoon and moved into my homestay last night. I'm living 3 blocks from the main University building. Which is great because I'm NOT a morning person. I'm living with a roommate, Tracey, and a mother and son named Sandra and Cosimo. They seem really nice. Sandra does not speak much English but she's an amazing cook. For our first dinner she made a pasta bolognese and a chicken with mushrooms in a white wine sauce. It was absolutely delicious. If I eat that much and that well every night I'll be gaining alot of weight. Cosimo is only a few years older than I am and speaks fluent English. Living at home after school seems so odd to me. I know it's common in Italy but I like the idea of independence.

I'm taking four classes while I'm in Florence. (Italian of course), two art history classes: Medici Patronage of Art and 16th Century Art and Identity, and Italian and European theatre 1500-1700. That class should be a lot of fun. I met all of the professors, except for the Italian professor, and they all seem really nice. My English professor is directing a production of Romeo and Juliet which is open to the entire program but is extra credit for students taking his class. I volunteered to stage manage the production. I figured it would be a fun challenge after co-producing The Nutcracker. My classes all have site visits. The English class stays in Florence but my Art and Identity class goes to Rome and Venice. My Medici class goes to Fiesole, Poggio a Caino, Rome, and Paris. I'm really excited to begin classes.

My English professor also told me that our health and wellness director used to dance and knows a lot about dance in Florence. When I wasn't doing anything at orientation, which was about half the time, I went and talked to her. She recommended a studio where I could take ballet or modern class. Once classes start next week I'm going to go and check it out. It's nice to know where I can go to dance even if I don't make it to classes

that often.

Yesterday afternoon I had nothing to do from 2-5pm when I got to meet Sandra and Cosimo. I went to a cafe and had a glass of hot chocolate (my signature beverage). It was the drinking chocolate, which is common in Europe. No Swiss Miss in Italy. The hot chocolate was amazing, it also had the cutest presentation. Instead of marshmallows it was served with small chunks of crystalized sugar and star shaped sprinkles.

It also came with cookies! After I left the cafe I walked to the Duomo. I'm being a major tourist this week and I'm ok with that. I want to enjoy how amazing Florence is before the ennui sets in and I find myself overcome with a desperate and inexplicable desire for Gelman Library and McDonalds.

This afternoon my roommate and I went back to the Duomo. We wandered around and window shopped for a few hours. When the weather gets warm I'm going to climb to the top of the Duomo and take pictures of the city. I plan to explore the city more during my free time this weekend. For the most part we are spending the weekend with our host family, getting to know them, our neighborhood, ect. It should be lots of fun.