Mercoledì

Buongiorno a tutti!

For everyone at home it is the morning , but here it is almost dinner time. Last time I talked to you it was Monday afternoon, and so I will tell you what happened that night. Monday night we had three choices in activites: Simple Minds (80's band) concert, movie at our Via Sangallo residence or free time. I had already been to two other music concerts in the plaza , so I picked free time. During my free time, my fellow abbey roaders and I journeyed for the best gelato. I got a granita del pompelmo rosa, which is like a natural grapefruit slushy, so good! Then we came back early and watched the movie at the residence, and then went to bed. 

On Tuesday, we had our major class (Italian) and then we had more choices for activites. In Italian class we went to the mercato and learned how to say certain foods. After that, we had the choice of going to the pool or free time. I picked free time and went to lunch and had amazing grilled prawns (head and all) and bruschetta (which I have had about every place I have been so far). Then we went shopping ,and unfortunatly came out empty handed. Then we had our cooking groups for dinner, we had inslata e melanzane alla parmigiana. Tuesday was also our first residence in night, so we all tie dyed old clothing. My Mr. Pickles Sandwich Shop teacher now has a cool addition form Florence.

Today, we had our major class again and learned how to navigate through a train station and had our elective class where we studied Brunelleschi. Then we had free time and I came here to tell you all about my day. Tonight we are having a family style dinner with all 72 of us and then are having an Amazing Race through Florence. Talk to you all Friday the 8th (aka. birthday of the best dad ever)

Ciao,

Kenzie

L'inizio

Hi everyone, sorry it took me so long to start blogging! It has been a crazy 5 days since we first landed at 1 am at Via Sangallo. Though the flying was a bit chaotic, it was well worth for how amazing our apartments are. We are located about a 10 minute walk from the center of Florence and Il Duomo. Our first day consisted of a very informative orientation and then we met our cooking groups. I am very lucky that my roommates and I, get to work with Daniele, the amazing art history teacher. So far we have cooked gnocchi and a mushroom cream sauce pasta, both so good. Our first night here we had a scavenger hunt in the Piazza della Repubblica and my amazing cooking group won, even past the challenges of finding a green vespa. Friday was our first day of classes and it started at the Lorenzo De Medici Florence Campus, where I am beginning my Italian studies. We returned to the apartments for lunch, and then had our electives. I began my first elective class of art history with Daniele at the Santa Croce, just one of the many beautiful buildings in Firenze.

Our weekend plans changed due to the gloomy weather, we went to a small town called Fiesola. Fiesola gives you an amazing view of Florence and really puts into perspective how big Il Duomo is. Sunday we traveled to this small town about an hour and a half by train away called Lucca. Lucca is one of the few cites in Italy that still retain its original medieval wall. Our departure became an adventure as 80 people ran through the quiet town to catch the train that was leaving in 10 minutes. Today we returned for our second day of class and the beginning of our first full week in Florence. We did our grocery shopping and I bought many postcards, so expect some in the mail! My time is about the run out at the internet cafe, but I will talk to you all soon.

Ciao,

Kenzie

Italia awaits...

As I begin to write this reflection, I think back to a movie I watched the other day, Letters to Juliet. A cute romantic film, but what really caught my attention was the beauty of Italy. Though we do not lay our scene in Verona like Shakespeare and the movie did, watching the story play out through the Tuscan sun made me as anxious as ever for our upcoming trip. I have a fascination with culture. I want to know what made a country what it is today, from its politics to its food. I am very fortunate in that this will be my third consecutive immersion trip. What intrigued me about Abbey Road is that I will get to learn a language in its native environment and within a college like atmosphere. For me, I have always loved to travel and am interested in languages, but it wasn't until my sophomore year when I had just returned from a month in Spain and beginning the rigorous yet rewarding AP European History class that I came to appreciate the history of a country. When we learned about Velázquez in class, I could say that I had seen the famous "Las Meninas" in the El Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain. That was the moment my textbook came alive. Though two years have now passed, I know I will experience that same revelation seeing the renowned "El Duomo" from my window.

What I hope to obtain from this experience is to expand my knowledge about the culture, art and language of Italy. I hope to expand my independence and to be open minded. I was fortunate to get some advice from my cousin, an alumnus on the Florence program. She advised me to take every opportunity available and to explore the wonderful city. From this trip, I expect to become a better chef, begin studying a new language, find an even deeper appreciation for Italian art, and create amazing friendships. Firenze…here I come!