Month: April 2016

The last two weeks were jam packed with final exams, final presentations, final meals, and arrivederci’s to go all around. Now, before I get all emotional or whatever, let me remind you that this was a semester abroad. That is, I was living in a foreign country for an extended period of time, sans what can be defined as familiar and comfortable.

But the gelato is something I got comfortable with quite quickly. That and the views.

S p e c t a c u l a r views and sunsets that spoiled me, daily.

But the views in California aren’t too shabby either.

Sure, I’m ready to go home. I miss my family and the bay area but not too much else. I realized that it is very possible to live abroad and I am looking forward to future opportunities to do so. It was a good experience. It was a learning experience with a minuscule curve. Here are some random moments from two weeks ago. We also went to Verona, Milan, and Lake Garda last week. Those photos came out excellent and I can’t wait to share them with you.

Bistecca Fiorentina @ Osteria Santa Spirito

I highly recommend the 4 cheese, truffle gnocchi

Reba and Michelle ❤

Boboli with the tuscan background #awe

fleur

Grace 🙂

We were happy that our final was over

Earth Day @ Uffizi

@ Piazzale Michelangelo

Finally caught a true golden hour(after a bajillion tries)

Sammi 🙂

I have a couple thousand more photos but I don’t feel like organizing and uploading them until I get back homehomehome. I’ll be catching up in installments considering that the wifi is weak sauce right now. I can’t even load things on youtube or spotify- it’s that bad.

Also

I left my peipei in Florence and it’s considerably colder in London #madregrets

 

But that was only because nobody told me that humidity and mosquitoes are honeymooners that can’t let go of each other. That sounds like common sense. Mosquitoes need still water or a heavy amount of water vapor in the air. In my defense, I’ve never really had to think about it. Hawaii, central, and south america are not all that humid so I’ve never been attacked in such a detrimental way.

It’s not even that sunny this week, nor is it warm enough to compensate for the torture that we’re going through.

CONTEXT This afternoon, I posted the most amazing selfie on snap chat which had the mosquito bites, on my face, dabbed in hydrocortisone. There are about 8 bites scattered over my face. I played with the hydrocortisone to make constellations because I could.

I know, very attractive. What can I say? I try.

Currently, I am bathing my once perfectly plump and soft cheeks in bug repellent.

I smell like eucalyptus which is not all that bad but I’m not the biggest fan of scents. I don’t ‘do’ perfume ( like ever) and scented lotion sometimes pushes the envelope.

Maybe if there was a melted cheese perfume, I’d consider it. That or costco pizza.

I could go for a slice right now.

The lovely and great Caits has set up a countdown and it’s a little ridiculous to think that time has flown as quickly as it has.

The reality is that it has been well over 2 months.

In honor of this stark truth, I’ve begun to compile a list of things that I will miss. Albeit, we aren’t leaving for a while. These are just things that are on my mind and will contribute to an even more thankful outlook on the experience as a whole. Here is another ridiculous “list”. I didn’t think that other media/news outlets were providing enough for the general public( ha ha ha ha ha yay for quality writing…. NOT).

I will miss:

1. Going out for cannoli whenever I want

This is a luxury. I am very aware. There is something sultry about ricotta and a hint of cinnamon. It’s silky and has a hint of sweet. Add some chocolate and you’re set. Today, the place I go for cannoli,( Don Nino- actually the best despite its chain standing and believe me, I’ve tried many other places) also had crushed hazelnuts available.

A+++

2. Getting gelato at whatever hour imaginable

Gelato shops open at 8-9 AM. This is because cafes typically double up as a gelato establishment and vice versa. Some are open until 2 AM but the places I enjoy tend to close at midnight. There are a chockfull of options that will charge 1 euro per scoop. Yes, you can  taste the difference between La Carraia( 1 euro scoop with excellent pistachio, almond, and frutti di bosco) and Edoardo( 3 euro for two scoops and a cone made on the spot). Edoardo is a splurge and definitely qualifies as a treat while La Carraia can be your cheapest, most exciting breakfast or snack. I have had it at both 9 AM and 11-12 PM. It’s great at anytime and Italian gelato cannot be compared to what americans might try to call gelato. It’s terrible. I  will never be able to look at the available excuses for gelato the same way.

I’m scarred.

3. Nocciola EVERYTHING

Just in case y’all didn’t know, Nocciola is italian for hazelnut. I love hazelnut. They have hazelnut yogurt here. Chopped hazelnut garnishes next to everything. It’s everywhere and I enjoy this very very very very very much. Also, the color is so plush and warm. I might be mono chroming outfits of similar hue a bit often.

This is not an apology.

4. The idea that there is a bakery open at 3 AM

The thought, itself, is comforting. Remember those nights where you woke up at an inconvenient time and craved a fresh, warm pastry? The issue is, there are no bakeries that offer such a service back homehomehome. This is highly problematic. I might develop some sort of anxiety or rest apprehension( oh wait, too late).

#justsayyes

5. Running through history

I talked about this in one of my earlier posts. Since, I have changed my route to maximize the sights. I’m tremendously blessed to be running through Piazza Michelangelo, multiple bridges, and countless other historical monuments as well as art. I have to say that my favorite thing is to run up the hill right before item number 11 on this list. The view is spectacular and there’s nothing like it. I always wish that I had my camera on me but I’m almost too lazy to get myself off the couch in the first place so nice try.

blasé

6. Traveling on the weekends(?)

The layout of europa is suitable for weekend travel. The travel options, i.e. budget airlines and an amazing rail system, make it all the more efficient. Pair this with bad economies and great deals on Air B&B and you’re set! The question mark exists because of the 90 day Schengen limit. The Schengen do not allow you to stay longer without a visa. These are challenging to apply for and next to impossible to attain.

Let me know how it works out for ya.

7. Going out to shoot without question

I love taking photos whenever I want, wherever I want. This freedom will not go unnoticed and unappreciated. It’s liberating. Cons: camera is heavy and I didn’t bring my tripod but otherwise, europa is photographer paradise and next time, I’m bringing more than one lens and, most definitely, my tripod.

I have no regrets, though.

8. Excess of leather

Ahh, florentine leather. The San Lorenzo Leather Market is world renown for its quality selection. This quality selection only exists if you know what you’re doing. I recommend staying away from any street vendors. If it’s cheap, don’t buy it. Chances are, they are controlled by the mafia or are supporting other illegal activity. Also, more than likely, it’s not real leather. Being a street vendor means the government is not able to regulate the quality and the establishment isn’t paying taxes. On the bright side, there is a leather school by Santa Croce which you can tour, on site. The crafters are trained artisans that have mastered their skills. You can even watch them as they work.

Just stay legal.

9. Livestream( oh, I went there)

I’m going to keep this simple. Sunday morning service is the same time as our dinner: 7PM. That’s right. We’re eating while we’re watching.

And it’s fantastic.

10. Walking everywhere, tout le temps

Because we live in the centre, down the street from the Duomo and within a mile of anything that we need including our school building, we walk. It is my most favorite aspect of the whole program. At home, I have to set aside time to hike which is fine but here, it is a part of the lifestyle rather than something you have to consciously put effort towards.

#USAforOBESITY

11. Golden hour

Words cannot describe the majesty so I won’t even try.

#neverhaditsogood

I might edit this into a longer piece but I figured I should release something since I’ve been so terrible at posting for the past few weeks. I also realize that my spring break collection isn’t completed and you’ve only seen a third of the trip.

Honestly, that might be all you ever see at the rate I’m going.

 

I woke up with 5 bug bites that I did not go to sleep with. Otherwise, my morning has been fantastic. I talked to Jesus for a bit and then Reba and I headed to church. I don’t think I’ve mentioned the church that we’ve been attending here. We aren’t usually in Firenze on Sundays save for 4, in total. There is a filipino church about 30 minutes away, by bus. It’s a welcoming, familial congregation that reminds me of my homehomehome. There is lunch afterwards which absolutely everyone attends and fellowship is had.

It’s literally mi casa @homehomehome minus the three back to back sermons.

Annnyyywaaayyyyyssssss

This is my pathetic attempt at an update:

Yesterday, we hiked at the picturesque coast of Cinque Terre. It was windy and cold when we arrived but that ended up being in our favor. I’m not even a fan of cold weather but I couldn’t picture hiking with the temperature being any warmer than it was. It also started raining at certain points. It was a welcome downpour but it did make the terrain more challenging and slippery.

hi lenger this was supposed to be us

Monterosso

If it were 40 degrees warmer, I’d be swimming

And the water looked so inviting

Regina says hi

blurry because laughing

Yes, that narrow path is the actual path

I wasn’t joking

About two miles from the next city

And this genius was selling freshly made juice for 2 euro

Reba, Sammi, et Gracie

Waterfalls were abundant especially with the rain

You can see the water droplets better in contrast to our hair

Vernazza

This is view of Vernazza, on the way out. We had a nice pit stop and ate PB&J’s 🙂

I really like this photo.

lol @murica

nice flower action going on over here

Gracie ❤

Corniglia in the distance

MAAAAAAAAMMMMAAA I MADE A FRIEND

idk who these people are

flower game so strong

shell on walls? #nauticalvibes

Corniglia has froyo

The trail to Maranola had a land slide due to all the rain going on and the detour was over 2 hours longer than the original trail so we decided to take the train to Riomaggiore where we bumped into quite a few friendly faces. By then, the rain had lessened and we were able to grab some fresh pasta, almond cookies, and chocolate milk before heading back. We locked in well over 10 miles and, according to the great fitbit, over 190 flights of stairs(whatever that means). We recommend the focaccia that was right outside the Monterosso train station. It was fantastic and they have an option with arugula and tomatoes. I love tomatoes.

I’m getting lazier and lazier with these things but I won’t abandon you ❤

This was the phrase that hooked me on french. It was one of the many phrases ma mere would use around the house. More importantly, because I speak romanian already, she would typically rant in french. That enticed me. If you don’t know, I unintentionally minor in a language I once deemed useless. That language is french.

It’s ok. I kind of lost my fluidity and comfort by being in Italy and learning italian. I often catch myself fluctuating between languages, very confused of where my train of thought wants to go. So. Many. Trains.

It’s ok.

Last week, we spent a few days in Paris. It was beautiful, metropolitan enough, and had fewer tourists than any place I’ve been in Italy thus far. Speaking to the people we came across felt welcoming and without judgement( with my jank french).

It was totally chic.

I don’t even like the word ‘chic’.

But Paris was chic.

Here’s the truth: I am very much so not done with the photos. I took over 1k shots… homework and traveling take priority over these many shots. I will not be going through all the shots for a while. Shots, shots, shots. Shots.

Here are a few because I don’t really wan’t to pay for premium yet… but I will because I’m starting to think that I might keep this going for #thecollegeyears So think of these as part one.

 

Or would that be lame?

 

L’Arc de Triomphe

Going down, through the tunnel

“N’interrompez jamais un ennemi qui est en train de faire une erreur.”

— Napoléon

Funny story: the arc was completed well after little napoleon died

But it was still a regal place

Oh and I don’t condone lauderee just f y i

It sounds irrelevant to the post but I only mention it because I did get a few photos of their storefront which was ish aesthetically please but not really.

And that doesn’t even finish the full first day.