| | I woke up this morning, had my espresso and biscotti, and now I am back in bed writing my history paper er...typing up a blog. My course at the Università ended yesterday so now I have extra time in the morning to do things like light up the stove and sit down for an espresso and read the paper. I definitely am not missing out on what is happening in America because La Repubblica, the main newspaper here, is full of news on Obama and the American economy.
This past week has been a lot of fun due to the improving weather and seeing Smith friends who are abroad. One of my good friends Jahleese who studies in Hamburg, Germany came to Florence with her mother and my other good friend Davida who is studying in Madrid, Spain just left yesterday. Catching up and learning more about their experiences abroad has been really interesting and make me appreciate the awkwardness and intrigues of everyday life in a different culture.
We Florence JYA/SYAers are getting PUMPED for Spring Break next week!!! We are getting our lunch money stipend right before we go (aka shopping, travelling, club, and more shopping money). I am headed to Spain to meet up with a friend I met while working in Boston last summer and hopefully will get to see yet another wonderful Smithie, Rachel Dorset, if her schedule permits. Either way I hope somewhere it is warm enough to sit on a beach but I am maybe more excited to see the subtle art that adorns steps and floor tiles and the architecture.
Tonight is our last cooking lesson - I am taking down all the notes I can! I was considering completely converting to vegetarianism when I return to the US and had a great discussion with Davida about it who has been a Veggie her whole life. I want to implement the extremely healthy diet of Italy with my own quasi-healthy American diet and then cut out the white meat. I have been a no red meat eater for 10 years and just really don't enjoy the chickens and turkeys all that much. Plus I looked at some videos on the PETA website...should I have done that?
I have applied to graduate school for a Master of Public Health so once again I am nervous and hopeful. I really hope this works out as it is a degree I have become passionate about, especially after the volunteer work I have done here in Italy working with homeless families from Romania who live here in Florence. It has really opened my eyes to how we need to and actually quite easily can improve the lives of many people by offering a little bit of time and care.
That's all that's happening here. Just going through the motions of any senior finishing up their last month and a half of college. For the time being, however, I should probably get some of my paper done. All the best! |
