As I write this post, I am sitting in the living room of my apartment with the window open and sun shining. I can hear chatter downstairs at the Trattoria (authentic restaurant) beneath where I live. Last week, I attended all of my classes for the first time and went on my first mini-trip during the weekend. It was amazing and I am still smiling from the experiences of week one.
This semester, I am taking five different courses. To best absorb the Italian lifestyle while studying abroad, I am taking elementary level Italian. Which, in fact, is significantly harder than the name makes it seem. My professor speaks to us in Italian and will translate if she can tell we are clueless about what she is saying (which is characterized by helpless looks on our American faces). I am trying my best to absorb as much as I can each class. Hopefully, I will gain a basic understanding of the language throughout the semester.
Additionally, I will be studying a course called Palaces of Florence during the semester. This class will consist of a lecture and tours of the city to study palaces and museums. I am really excited to learn more about the history of the city. I will be required to memorize a significant amount of information and write a detailed research paper at the end of the semester. My professor for this class is wonderful to listen to as she is incredibly knowledgeable of the history and facts we discuss. I have always had an interest in architecture and her lessons detail the fascinating architecture within Italy.
Relating to my studies at Iowa State, I am taking a Visual Merchandising course. Italian fashion is luxurious and the window displays in Italian designer stores like Gucci and Louis Vuitton showcase the affinity for quality and creativity within the country. I look forward to learning more about the Italian approach to visual merchandising. During the course, I will be learning about the concepts and history overall in this field of the industry. Additionally, the course will consist of mini-projects where I will create my own displays. The final exam will be a group project creating a display for the fashion show at the university based off of a given theme. I look forward to testing my own skills within this field as it has always been an interest of mine.
Italian Fashion History is another course relating back to my major at Iowa State. This course travels through the history of fashion in Italy. I will be learning about Italian designers, manufacturing, and other fashion history. Italian fashion has a huge influence on the industry as a whole so I am excited to learn more about the roots of fashion in this country.
Finally, I will be taking a cooking class called Pairing Food and Wine. For this class, I will be cooking in a high tech kitchen in the Mercato (market) of Florence. My professor is a hilarious man with a lifetime of knowledge about cooking and wine. We will learn about properly pairing wine and food along with the characteristics of a quality wine. I am so excited for this class. I think it will be an amazing experience for me to gain new cooking skills and knowledge about wine in Italy because of the country’s worldwide influence on both cooking and wine. Stay tuned, America, for my return as I will be ready to cook and talk about wine with everyone.
After a long week of exciting classes, my roommates and I planned a day trip to Cinque Terre on Sunday. This gorgeous tourist destination is absolutely worth a visit. Cinque Terre represents five towns that meet the Ligurian Sea. It is common to hike from one city to another for a phenomenal view of the water, towns, and nature.
We left early Sunday morning for the train station where we met the rest of our tour group. From here we rode for about three hours to the city of Vernazza which is the second city along the path. In this quaint town, we tried some pesto pizza and roamed small boutiques. It was a cute town with many restaurants. We left Vernazza on a hike to the next city, Monterosso al Mare. The hike started as a gorgeous uphill climb. I had my camera ready as gorgeous views appeared around every corner. Coming from a family of avid hikers, I couldn’t help but think how much my dad and brother would have loved the hike.
The hike was strenuous but absolutely worth it. Once we got past the 15 minute mark, we were all “in the zone” and kept trekking along. I’d like to think all my hikes with my dad at the Mines of Spain prepared me for this big hike. When we reached the next town our eyes brightened from the sight of colorful water and relaxing beaches. We found a spot to sit in the rocks near the water (because the beach was covered in tiny rocks instead of sand). The water was clear blue and not too chilly.
After cooling off in the water, we gathered our things and roamed Monterosso. Per usual, we stopped for some gelato that didn’t disappoint our taste buds. We roamed around the city to find a restaurant known for its sangria. For lunch, I tried some bruschette (bruschetta) and a large glass of sangria. It was delicious and the perfect meal for a sunny day in a gorgeous town.
Overall, the day was filled with good food, a great hike, amazing views, and lots of laughter. I was so glad that this was our first “trip” out of Florence. I finished the day tired and smiling because of the awesome adventure I had. I look forward to taking my mom to the area when she visits in October.
I had an amazing first week and look forward to starting another. Sending all my love back to America!
Below are some pictures from my adventures in Cinque Terre.
