Week 1/2: Aug. 28-Sep. 7th

(me at my school in Florence)

After flying into London, we had 2 days to tour London and get to know each other in the program. There are about 80 people in the program from all over the country. There are many people from California, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas. While in London, a few of us went to a London musical called “Avenue Q”. It was a hilarious puppet play, similar characters to Sesame Street, but a little more adult and comical. After London, we flew to Rome and took a bus to Florence where we lived for 3 weeks. The group was split up into 2 hotels in Florence, I was staying in one of the oldest hotels in Florence, “Porta Rossa”, which was only 2 blocks away from the “Ponte Vecchio”, the oldest bridge in Italy which is only allowed to have gold and jewelry shops stationed on it. Its always a very touristy and busy area to be, but very fun! I was lucky to catch the bridge at sunset and it was so incredibly beautifulWe attended Intensive language courses for 4 hrs a day, 5 days a week for the entire time in Florence.While in Florence, The program arranged many things for us to do and try. We got to go gelato tasting, and try some of the best gelato in Italy. My hotel was very close to the Duomo, the 4th biggest dome in the world, and 3rd biggest in Italy! It was incredible! Another girl in the program and I went to church there one Sunday and it was fun having everything be in Italian. Some very Interesting things I learned about the culture of Italians were through the Chief of Police of Florence who came and talked to us about safety. I did not know this, but it is illegal to not only SELL fake designer goods in Italy, (such as clothing and bags), but it is just as illegal to Buy them! If caught, you can be fined up to 25,000 Euros!!!! (roughly $40,000). Amazing! It is only the black men that have rows and rows of fake designer bags and sunglasses lined up down the streets, and you know there are police nearby when the men pack up in lightning speed and bolt out of there! Very interesting to watch.
We had the opportunity to go to a small village in the Tuscan hills to a very prestigious Chianti Wine Festival...and try some of the best wine in Italy!!!