So because I'm reflecting back on my last year these adventures are going to be a bit out of order. I went to Morocco with one of my closest friends in the program, Haylee. We decided we needed a few more adventures before our program time was up. So beginning of May 2013 we went! Get ready for a trip of culture shock, harassment, getting to know a friend REAL well, and sticking out in a crowd for being white and female.
I had talked to other people in the program about their visits to Morocco (even got some great suggestions on where to stay) but I don't think anything could have prepared me for my trip there. Even more so than when I first arrived in Italy, Morocco was the most epic culture shock of my life.
After a pretty long flight there (or at least the longest I could remember taking in my little weekend adventures) we were starving. We took the taxi service to meet one of the guys who worked at our hostel, and he proceeded to walk us to the hostel. As soon as we got there we were greeted with couches and hot tea. I guess they were working on getting us all checked in but we pretty much sat there confused wondering when we could leave to go get something to eat. Once we got all settled in the hostel owner was great and let us know where we could go and what he suggested in the main square (Jemaa el fnaa).
Just walking down the little streets was an adventure. Tons of Moroccan men yelling at you to get your attention with a wide variety of compliments, greetings, insults, etc. And it never ends. I spent most of my time attempting to never make any direct eye contact (not to mention trying to keep my body covered as much as possible in ridiculous heat. The square at night was exciting. So lively, tons of sellers selling EVERYTHING: food stands, orange juice stands (so AMAZING), incense, old ladies doing henna, rows and rows of little shops selling clothing, toys, jewelry, bags, silver and gold trinkets, and so much more.
We stopped where rows and rows of tables with open grills sat in the middle of the square and feasted like kings... for next to nothing. The most beautiful part of visiting... the American dollar goes a long way in Morocco ;) We had great soup, delicious coke, and great kebabs. SO GOOD! We spent the rest of our time walking around and then went back to the hostel to go to the roof and hookah.
The next day we made some friends England and Canada who came out to adventure around with us! Visited a couple local palaces (Bahia and El Badi). It was so hot that day but the palaces were incredibly beautiful. I loved the detail and the mosaic work, just so different from what I've seen in other countries I have visited. It was just an obvious departure from historic European decor and architecture.
So HERE is my horror story, or at least one of a few experiences that would cause my trip to Morocco to be one of the most memorable. We had been warned that there are boys and men who will attempt to help you if you seem lost or anything and then they would demand you give them money at the end of it. First we get help from some guy who insists he wants nothing he just wanted to help us out and show us some cool stuff. So we go along and he takes us to some little street with some really unique herbs and such to sell to help with skin care, sinuses, etc. It was a great demonstration and it seemed pretty a pretty great price, until we realized that the measurements given to us were significantly higher and we spent way too much or what we bought. Something to remember when traveling to countries with a different kind of currency: PAY ATTENTION TO THE RATE! and Don't be afraid to refuse if they try to take advantage. Something we learned the hard way :/ Then there were the little group of boys probably age 5 to 10 who decided to follow us around. As we are walking one of these little bastards comes up and pinches me on the butt! I was so furious! So I yelled at them and they ran off. But I was so mad. Well then here they come again, laughing and following behind us. I turn around and again yell at them to go away and we continue to walk and for the 2nd time another attempts to grab me, only this time he went far under and definitely did not just grab my butt. I blew up at this point and had to chase him down. No joke.... I wanted to punch him in the face. But for those considering visiting you should know as a female, there is a lot of following and stalking and you can't be nice about it. They take it as an invitation.
For our last day in Marrakesh we decided to get a massage and try the hammam. From what I understood a hammam was just a ritual bathing and we found such a great deal for it all why not take advantage? Well.... this would change mine and Haylee's relationship forever haha. She had never had a massage before and me, thinking I'm the massage pro, was trying to let her know what is involved. Yeah.... being American I was NEVER prepared for a massage here. We changed into robes and then were put into separate rooms to be massaged. My masseuse walked in and asked me for my robe. No "I'll go outside while you get under the sheets". Nope... just get totally naked right there. So I did and laid down as she proceeds to cover only my vagina with a hand towel (it was not big enough to cover my breasts as well). I'm a pretty confident person in general but this was even a surprise for me and forced me to get extra comfortable with my body REAL fast. The massage was great actually just really personal, especially when she proceeded to massage my breasts and while massaging my thighs, lets just say those fingers reached a LITTLE too far. Are you going to take me out on a date now? Are we now in a relationship? Because this was pretty personal.
Now for the hamman. Nothing could have prepared me for that bathing experience. We were placed in the same room, and again our robes taken from us and now I'm completely naked with my friend. Um... OK we just got SUPER close. We go on each side of the room and a woman comes in and begins to bathe us however, I am pretty certain this is what water boarding is. I felt like I was drowning as she threw bucket after bucket of water over me in this extremely humid room. As I lay down on this stone slab and am scrubbed raw with exfoliants and again drowned and choking for air. After it all I won't lie, my skin felt amazing. My psyche however was about ready to jump off a cliff and end it all.
The rest of the day we spent shopping, eating delicious food and hanging out with the numerous friends we had made through our hostel, friends from England, Scotland, Canada, and Mexico. It was a really fun experience most of all for the company we made.
The next day we boarded a train for Fez (which we almost missed because of the taxi driver who didn't seem to know where anything was in the city, then tried to charge us more for him getting lost.... oh hell no). A 7 hour train ride in the smoldering heat on leather seats, in a cramped train where we were definitely the only white people on board. Once there we found a taxi to take us again to our hostel. This hostel was very quiet and took a couple little passage ways to find, but run by a very unique character named Ben. We went out to get some food, treated almost like we were celebrities as guys working there proceeded to try and take pictures of us while we sat there, and then hung out at the hostel for awhile listening to music (a LOT of rap because apparently our hostel hosts are all about the Thug Life) and reading. The next day we made friends with an adorable Bosnian from London and decided to walk around and explore the market together. It was such a dramatic change of pace from Marrakesh. While people like to stare a lot, there wasn't constant men yelling things like "nice tits" or "you're beautiful" or "hey honey". I know some of these might sound nice but it is done in the most creepy way possible. The Market was awesome, including more beautiful mosaic churches to visit. Then we had a quick meal with an amazing view of Fez, packed our bags, and took off to the airport. Let's just say the constant flattery and attention didn't end until we actually landed in Pisa (since there were creepy guys staring at Haylee on the plane back as well).
So yes.... the trip that would change everything. As Haylee and I said "Morocco changed us"
Ciao for now!
Friday, September 6, 2013
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
A typical week in Italy
I can't help but laugh when I constantly would hear from friends and family "when do you actually go to school?" They were so convinced I was on this year long vacation. And I can't really blame them because it would seem like that sometimes. It is just so easy and convenient to take off for a weekend to other parts of Italy or to another country, or even to just go exploring with friends around Florence.
So here are some of the normal parts of my week :)
I DID go to school. My first 2 months in Italy were language courses, 4 days a week, 3 hours a day. From there i'd do my own studying and I actually did since I was determined to start picking up the language as fast as possible. Studying and learning has always been kind of a struggle for me so I am relentless about doing as much additional studying as possible.
For the first semester I took 18 units (6 courses). 2 were Italian courses (conversation and then a grammar and reading course), then 3 political science courses on the European political systems, Machiavelli, and the history of Italian renaissance. And additionally I took a course on the image of Italy in literature.
For my 2nd semester I took 15 units (5 courses). I intended to do a lot more traveling during the 2nd semester so I wanted to ease my course load a little, plus I was leaving the program early in order to attend my best friend Keri's wedding in Turkey at the end of May (post on that coming later!) That semester I took an Italian grammar course, a class on Dante's Commedia, Italian Cinema, the European Union and History of Modern Europe.
On a day to day basis, for someone living in Florence (or at least me) it typically involved me attending school, going to the grocery store to get food for dinner that night (and usually a bottle of wine or other alcohol), a little bit of cleaning (I swear no matter how much I cleaned everything would just be instantly dirty again), maybe go walking around the city with friends or to their apartment to hang out (especially if you were cooking dinner together that night) and probably during some downtime reading a new book or streaming a movie or TV show.
Now for the nightlife.... I am nothing but honest I did love going out just not every single night. I have to sleep eventually! But typically I couldn't resist hearing that friends were getting some drinks and out roaming Florence at night. Florence is just too much fun at night to avoid. Frequenting bars became a norm... esp some of the faves like Kikuya, Jazz Club, Lochness and by the end of the year Blob became a big one (as it let you dance all night to your hearts content)
Since our school was open Mon- Thurs, it was just too easy to escape for a 3 day weekend to a new country or new place :) So that is really why I was able to have so many adventures to France, the UK, Hungary, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Turkey, etc.
Next blog on more exciting trips and events coming soon!
Ciao for now :)
So here are some of the normal parts of my week :)
I DID go to school. My first 2 months in Italy were language courses, 4 days a week, 3 hours a day. From there i'd do my own studying and I actually did since I was determined to start picking up the language as fast as possible. Studying and learning has always been kind of a struggle for me so I am relentless about doing as much additional studying as possible.
For the first semester I took 18 units (6 courses). 2 were Italian courses (conversation and then a grammar and reading course), then 3 political science courses on the European political systems, Machiavelli, and the history of Italian renaissance. And additionally I took a course on the image of Italy in literature.
For my 2nd semester I took 15 units (5 courses). I intended to do a lot more traveling during the 2nd semester so I wanted to ease my course load a little, plus I was leaving the program early in order to attend my best friend Keri's wedding in Turkey at the end of May (post on that coming later!) That semester I took an Italian grammar course, a class on Dante's Commedia, Italian Cinema, the European Union and History of Modern Europe.
On a day to day basis, for someone living in Florence (or at least me) it typically involved me attending school, going to the grocery store to get food for dinner that night (and usually a bottle of wine or other alcohol), a little bit of cleaning (I swear no matter how much I cleaned everything would just be instantly dirty again), maybe go walking around the city with friends or to their apartment to hang out (especially if you were cooking dinner together that night) and probably during some downtime reading a new book or streaming a movie or TV show.
Now for the nightlife.... I am nothing but honest I did love going out just not every single night. I have to sleep eventually! But typically I couldn't resist hearing that friends were getting some drinks and out roaming Florence at night. Florence is just too much fun at night to avoid. Frequenting bars became a norm... esp some of the faves like Kikuya, Jazz Club, Lochness and by the end of the year Blob became a big one (as it let you dance all night to your hearts content)
Since our school was open Mon- Thurs, it was just too easy to escape for a 3 day weekend to a new country or new place :) So that is really why I was able to have so many adventures to France, the UK, Hungary, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Turkey, etc.
Next blog on more exciting trips and events coming soon!
Ciao for now :)
Monday, August 26, 2013
An Amazing Christmas Break: Istanbul, Turkey :)
At the end of December 2012 through the beginning of January 2013 our program gave us a 2 week period break from school for the traditional holidays :) Because it was the longest break it was also the most difficult break to decide what to do. Do I spend the whole time traveling? Do I stay and enjoy Italy since, after all, it was the country I had decided to live within and the one I was most excited to experience fully immersed inside the culture. In the end however, I decided I wanted to at least travel for a part of it. Now... how to choose from the hundreds of possibilities. This choice was a lot easier since there was one place that I absolutely wanted to see, as well as one person I desperately wanted to see: my best friend Keri. Keri moved to Istanbul about 2 years previously to be with her boyfriend/ fiance Burak. Her and I had become great friends previously when we became roommates after we met each other through our boyfriends (now my ex). She is one of my favorite people and an amazing friend and it was so sad to see her go. The greatest thing about coming to Europe however is it had given us opportunities to see each other so much more! By the time of Christmas break we had met in both Florence and Venice. Now we would have a bit more time to hang out and I would get to see where her and Burak lived!
I couldn't be more excited for my holiday plans to see Keri for at least a few days. I left immediately after school was done for December with another girl from my program Christina who I had lived with and visited London with in October. Keri and Burak were amazingly hospitable and allowed both of us to stay with them at their apartment. The first day getting there was amazingly long as I had hoped to save some money by taking a very early train to Bologna, then had to wait for my flight, then the flight itself. But arriving there and meeting Keri at the gate was the happiest I had felt in months. It just felt so amazing to see a long time best friend after missing everyone from back home so much. We spent the night in at her apartment, ordering in food and watching movies. It was just so comfortable.
The next day was so exciting. Since I hadn't really researched Istanbul I had no idea what to expect. I left that all up to my local, Keri :) It was by far the biggest cultural shock I had since arriving in Italy and settling in to live there. Not only is there an obvious difference in culture and language, the architecture and just the overall essence of the city is entirely different. It seems a drastic cross of Islamic history and modernism. Our first visit was to Dolmabache Palace. I loved so much how the different palaces of the sultans were constructed along the Bosphorus, the water channel that divides Istanbul into 2 different continents, a part of Europe and a part of Asia. The palace was amazing and the tour guide so informative. My favorite part by far was the giant chandelier inside which according to the tour guide (and Keri) is one of the largest in the world. I wish so desperately I was able to take a photo because the extravagance was mind-blowing. Anyone who knows me knows my fascination with extravagant rooms with giant or unique chandeliers. Also learning about the Harem's, since it is not considered a western tradition, was fascinating. Not that women haven't been traditionally considered inferior but it seemed the tradition of the Ottoman empire was to separate the females entirely, not even allowing them into certain areas of the palace. As much as I want to be offended by this tradition, it is only from these traditions that modern ones have attempted to correct the stigma of women and their role within society. So I do feel it is vital to learn and understand how difficult that struggle has been, to feel empowered.
After visiting the palace we took a walk around the city to see more of what Istanbul had to offer, including the Grand Bazaar. It was initially incredibly overwhelming. I have never been so grateful to have a friend who can speak the language and act as my guide as well as negotiate prices for me. It was crazy going through all of the different tunnels and seeing all the different products available such as clothes, pottery, soaps, spices and so much more. I made a couple of great finds including some great souvenirs for my family and friends. We also had time to visit the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. Though we ran out of time to visit the inside of the Sophia that day, we did have enough time to visit the Mosque. As per the tradition we used our scarves to cover our face and head and due to the cold the rest of our bodies were already covered. It was so beautiful inside between the intricate mosaic work and the lighting around the floor in which people went to pray. That night Keri and Burak surprised us by taking us to an amazing meal and club on the man made islands. The food was incredible, which is saying something from me since until my arrival in Europe I would typically classify myself as a difficult and picky eater. However, I experienced new dishes including those with vegetables and fish, which i for the most part never ate.
The next day was exciting as we went inside the Hagia Sophia which was totally breathtaking. It was so large and the extravagant giant medallions plus the extremely high balcony and all the intricate wall art that has mostly faded overtime yet still has pieces that are recoverable were fantastic to see. But my favorite place I saw during my visit was the Basilica Cistern nearby the Hagia Sophia. The cistern is an underground aqueduct system with these interesting archways and pillars that are lit up in an otherwise pitch black underground. What makes it more famous is the presence of the 2 Medusa head sculptures. There was something beautiful yet terrifying about their presence in the underground. This is something I highly recommend for people to see if they are to visit Istanbul.
Definitely my favorite thing about the whole trip was just getting to spend so much time with Keri. I miss her so much while living in California, especially since we are also on opposite time zones. It was just so great over the past year to be able to be near the same time zone so that we could talk all day, but also to periodically meet up. And of course getting to see where she has made a home with Burak was fantastic. I couldn't be more grateful for them allowing me to come and stay with them. And during this time we got to talk about their upcoming wedding when I returned to Turkey in May 2013, and even had time to go check out a couple dresses for my gorgeous friend.
I'll leave the events of her amazing wedding to another posting so for now... enjoy!
ciao! ci vediamo! :)
I couldn't be more excited for my holiday plans to see Keri for at least a few days. I left immediately after school was done for December with another girl from my program Christina who I had lived with and visited London with in October. Keri and Burak were amazingly hospitable and allowed both of us to stay with them at their apartment. The first day getting there was amazingly long as I had hoped to save some money by taking a very early train to Bologna, then had to wait for my flight, then the flight itself. But arriving there and meeting Keri at the gate was the happiest I had felt in months. It just felt so amazing to see a long time best friend after missing everyone from back home so much. We spent the night in at her apartment, ordering in food and watching movies. It was just so comfortable.
The next day was so exciting. Since I hadn't really researched Istanbul I had no idea what to expect. I left that all up to my local, Keri :) It was by far the biggest cultural shock I had since arriving in Italy and settling in to live there. Not only is there an obvious difference in culture and language, the architecture and just the overall essence of the city is entirely different. It seems a drastic cross of Islamic history and modernism. Our first visit was to Dolmabache Palace. I loved so much how the different palaces of the sultans were constructed along the Bosphorus, the water channel that divides Istanbul into 2 different continents, a part of Europe and a part of Asia. The palace was amazing and the tour guide so informative. My favorite part by far was the giant chandelier inside which according to the tour guide (and Keri) is one of the largest in the world. I wish so desperately I was able to take a photo because the extravagance was mind-blowing. Anyone who knows me knows my fascination with extravagant rooms with giant or unique chandeliers. Also learning about the Harem's, since it is not considered a western tradition, was fascinating. Not that women haven't been traditionally considered inferior but it seemed the tradition of the Ottoman empire was to separate the females entirely, not even allowing them into certain areas of the palace. As much as I want to be offended by this tradition, it is only from these traditions that modern ones have attempted to correct the stigma of women and their role within society. So I do feel it is vital to learn and understand how difficult that struggle has been, to feel empowered.
After visiting the palace we took a walk around the city to see more of what Istanbul had to offer, including the Grand Bazaar. It was initially incredibly overwhelming. I have never been so grateful to have a friend who can speak the language and act as my guide as well as negotiate prices for me. It was crazy going through all of the different tunnels and seeing all the different products available such as clothes, pottery, soaps, spices and so much more. I made a couple of great finds including some great souvenirs for my family and friends. We also had time to visit the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. Though we ran out of time to visit the inside of the Sophia that day, we did have enough time to visit the Mosque. As per the tradition we used our scarves to cover our face and head and due to the cold the rest of our bodies were already covered. It was so beautiful inside between the intricate mosaic work and the lighting around the floor in which people went to pray. That night Keri and Burak surprised us by taking us to an amazing meal and club on the man made islands. The food was incredible, which is saying something from me since until my arrival in Europe I would typically classify myself as a difficult and picky eater. However, I experienced new dishes including those with vegetables and fish, which i for the most part never ate.
The next day was exciting as we went inside the Hagia Sophia which was totally breathtaking. It was so large and the extravagant giant medallions plus the extremely high balcony and all the intricate wall art that has mostly faded overtime yet still has pieces that are recoverable were fantastic to see. But my favorite place I saw during my visit was the Basilica Cistern nearby the Hagia Sophia. The cistern is an underground aqueduct system with these interesting archways and pillars that are lit up in an otherwise pitch black underground. What makes it more famous is the presence of the 2 Medusa head sculptures. There was something beautiful yet terrifying about their presence in the underground. This is something I highly recommend for people to see if they are to visit Istanbul.
Definitely my favorite thing about the whole trip was just getting to spend so much time with Keri. I miss her so much while living in California, especially since we are also on opposite time zones. It was just so great over the past year to be able to be near the same time zone so that we could talk all day, but also to periodically meet up. And of course getting to see where she has made a home with Burak was fantastic. I couldn't be more grateful for them allowing me to come and stay with them. And during this time we got to talk about their upcoming wedding when I returned to Turkey in May 2013, and even had time to go check out a couple dresses for my gorgeous friend.
I'll leave the events of her amazing wedding to another posting so for now... enjoy!
ciao! ci vediamo! :)
The American Holiday "Thanksgiving" in a Foreign County
So for some Americans, it is often forgotten that Thanksgiving is an American tradition and therefore not celebrated across the world. I know this seems silly, we know the story of Thanksgiving is based on the pilgrims coming to America and their first dinner with the native Americans. But you would truly be amazed at the amount of people who only remember Thanksgiving as a big dinner with their family while watching Football. The history behind this day is often forgotten (not to mention contorted). For me, this wouldn't be my first time missing Thanksgiving at my own family's house, but it would be the first time I would not be around at least friends or the family of my boyfriend (at that time). And it's not just the company that changed, but the environment entirely. This year there would be no turkey, no mashed potatoes, no stuffing and cranberry sauce. And my personal favorite, there would be no candied yams. And the last thing, the weekend of Thanksgiving would also be my best friend Marie's birthday. For me, knowing all this made this first holiday abroad the most unbearable. So i decided to take fate into my own hands. If I couldn't celebrate Thanksgiving, then I would do something fun and exciting to create a new memory.
So.... off to Paris I go!
Paris was the first city I ever fell in love with. It was actually the first city I ever visited outside of the United States. However, even after all of my traveling over the past year I still can say that Paris has a special place in my heart. I spent 2 weeks there with my mother in 2010 and it was the best 2 weeks of my life. I fell in love with everything: the culture, the architecture, the museums, the parks, everything. So a part of me was nervous to return. What if it no longer lived up to the hype and ideal that was in my mind? But for this first holiday I really couldn't think of another place I would rather be.
I traveled to Paris with a group of friends from my program: Anne, Caitlin, Graham, Haley and Christina. However, what is always tough in bigger groups is finding a way to stay together and a way to satisfy what each individual wants to see or do. So we broke up groups. We spent the first night having dinner at a restaurant next to the Louvre and then went our separate ways, myself with Anne and Caitlin to the St. Christopher's Inn in the 19th arrondissement.
The next day was amazing! We started by visiting the Louvre (Anne, Caitlin and I). For me, it was a repeat visit since I have actually spent a significant amount of time in the Louvre but it was interesting to uncover other works of art that I had either not noticed before or that I had discovered through research only after my initial trip. The Louvre is a staple when visiting Paris as it houses some of the most famous paintings and sculptures from around the world including one of the most famous works the Mona Lisa. However, I do feel it necessary to mention that it is not my favorite museum of Paris. I visited many both this year and in 2010 and I still maintain that the Musee D'Orsay is still my favorite. Not only is the building itself historical (a former train station now turned into an exhibition hall) but it is far less overwhelming and has some of the most beautiful works of art that suit my preferences including Van Gogh, Degas, Monet, Manet, Renoir, Lautrec, and more. The majority of the work you will see there is impressionist, more closely related to the turn of the century, and is still my favorite period of time.
We spent our time after our visit to the Louvre taking a tour bus around the city to see all the major landmarks including: Arc De Triomphe, The Trocadero, Notre Dame, The Eiffel Tower and so much more. I highly recommend for fast trip's to Paris or to just get a feel of the city in general that you take a hop-on hop-off bus. It is so easy to use and will get any tourist to the major areas of to visit. That evening, which was the night of Thanksgiving, was kind of solemn for all of us. I think it was just too difficult to not be thinking about our families and friends and now being 3 months into the program, it was difficult not to let the cold, rainy weather make you feel extra homesick for California. For me, this was the reality of just how difficult holidays are without those you love around you.
The next day, we decided to check out some other major areas and sites around the city but this time during the day time. We spent a good amount of time doing the traditional: taking crazy and fun photos in front of the Eiffel Tower. Though the weather was still damp and rainy, it was a lot of fun. We then did something that was even a new experience for me which was a visit to the Rodin Museum. His work was absolutely breathtaking. "The Thinker" is usually the initial piece people think of when hearing his name, but his "Gates of Hell"as well as "The Kiss" were by far my favorite pieces. It was interesting as I am learning more of Italian literature to understand that the Gates were in fact influenced by Dante's Commedia. I found the influence to be quite exciting, that a piece of literature would have such an affect not only on Italian culture but outside culture's as well including their artwork.
That night I tried a new experience which was to couch surf. I had arranged it through couchsurfing.com a couple weeks ahead of time. The main reason for me to try couch surfing was to save money but I was also pretty excited at the idea of meeting someone native to France and learning more about them and their life there. A part of me has always dreamed to become fluent in French and to eventually live in France for a period of time. Through the website I met a girl in her late 20's (like me!) who is also a dancer. It was such a great fit! We instantly got along and were emailing and messaging each other up until my visit. Aurora (such a pretty name and ironically the name my Italian teacher gave to me) met up with me on Friday night and allowed me to stay with her that night. We went out to dinner with another couch surfer who was from Germany. It was a great night of amazing food, drinks and plenty of talk about relationships. Both women had just ended serious relationships and were deep in talk about men, marriage, and their futures. I couldn't help but find it amusing at how dramatically they spoke of their ex-boyfriends and the reason they were forced to end the relationship. I always felt that Americans were typically very reserved about their emotions as it isn't typically seen as acceptable to "air your dirty laundry". This evening only validated my feelings on the subject. Both ladies had no issues telling every little dirty detail. It was so amazing and really made me wish it was more acceptable to put our real feelings out there, rather than having to hide them all the time behind pleasantries. Would it really be so bad if people were more open about how they actually felt? It might even lead to the decrease in "game playing" in relationships that almost everyone says they despise, yet continue to play. But i digress... I was so thankful to Aurora for allowing me to stay with her that evening. It was great spending time with her as well as having some amazing French food with her.
My last day of my visit in Paris included a day trip to Versailles. I highly recommend if people visiting Paris have at least one day without major plans, take a trip to Versailles. It is here you will see some of the most amazing palaces you can imagine, the former home of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Though we did see the inside of the main palace so we could see one of the most unique places in the world the Hall of Mirrors, we spent most of our time in the beautiful and extensive gardens. Caitlin and I went off on our own that day and it is still one of my favorite experiences. We just walked around and talked about everything, most specifically our families and friends and how much we missed them and home. Caitlin is definitely one of my favorite people I met during my time in Europe and I will always remember how much fun we had while in Paris. After our great trip around Versailles we went out to an amazing dinner in Montmartre.
This trip had a few bumps, including my credit card not functioning, shorting me on finances during my trip. Also, I ended up without somewhere to sleep on the last night, luckily Caitlin was such an amazing friend and let me crash in her bunk at the hostel. It was rainy and cold and we didn't get to see everything we wanted to or meet up with the others in our group except the very last night. However, Paris is still undiminished in my eyes. It is such a gorgeous city, and the more I have studied on its history and culture the more enraptured I have become.
Paris, Je t'aime, ti amo, I love you <3
So.... off to Paris I go!
Paris was the first city I ever fell in love with. It was actually the first city I ever visited outside of the United States. However, even after all of my traveling over the past year I still can say that Paris has a special place in my heart. I spent 2 weeks there with my mother in 2010 and it was the best 2 weeks of my life. I fell in love with everything: the culture, the architecture, the museums, the parks, everything. So a part of me was nervous to return. What if it no longer lived up to the hype and ideal that was in my mind? But for this first holiday I really couldn't think of another place I would rather be.
I traveled to Paris with a group of friends from my program: Anne, Caitlin, Graham, Haley and Christina. However, what is always tough in bigger groups is finding a way to stay together and a way to satisfy what each individual wants to see or do. So we broke up groups. We spent the first night having dinner at a restaurant next to the Louvre and then went our separate ways, myself with Anne and Caitlin to the St. Christopher's Inn in the 19th arrondissement.
The next day was amazing! We started by visiting the Louvre (Anne, Caitlin and I). For me, it was a repeat visit since I have actually spent a significant amount of time in the Louvre but it was interesting to uncover other works of art that I had either not noticed before or that I had discovered through research only after my initial trip. The Louvre is a staple when visiting Paris as it houses some of the most famous paintings and sculptures from around the world including one of the most famous works the Mona Lisa. However, I do feel it necessary to mention that it is not my favorite museum of Paris. I visited many both this year and in 2010 and I still maintain that the Musee D'Orsay is still my favorite. Not only is the building itself historical (a former train station now turned into an exhibition hall) but it is far less overwhelming and has some of the most beautiful works of art that suit my preferences including Van Gogh, Degas, Monet, Manet, Renoir, Lautrec, and more. The majority of the work you will see there is impressionist, more closely related to the turn of the century, and is still my favorite period of time.
We spent our time after our visit to the Louvre taking a tour bus around the city to see all the major landmarks including: Arc De Triomphe, The Trocadero, Notre Dame, The Eiffel Tower and so much more. I highly recommend for fast trip's to Paris or to just get a feel of the city in general that you take a hop-on hop-off bus. It is so easy to use and will get any tourist to the major areas of to visit. That evening, which was the night of Thanksgiving, was kind of solemn for all of us. I think it was just too difficult to not be thinking about our families and friends and now being 3 months into the program, it was difficult not to let the cold, rainy weather make you feel extra homesick for California. For me, this was the reality of just how difficult holidays are without those you love around you.
The next day, we decided to check out some other major areas and sites around the city but this time during the day time. We spent a good amount of time doing the traditional: taking crazy and fun photos in front of the Eiffel Tower. Though the weather was still damp and rainy, it was a lot of fun. We then did something that was even a new experience for me which was a visit to the Rodin Museum. His work was absolutely breathtaking. "The Thinker" is usually the initial piece people think of when hearing his name, but his "Gates of Hell"as well as "The Kiss" were by far my favorite pieces. It was interesting as I am learning more of Italian literature to understand that the Gates were in fact influenced by Dante's Commedia. I found the influence to be quite exciting, that a piece of literature would have such an affect not only on Italian culture but outside culture's as well including their artwork.
That night I tried a new experience which was to couch surf. I had arranged it through couchsurfing.com a couple weeks ahead of time. The main reason for me to try couch surfing was to save money but I was also pretty excited at the idea of meeting someone native to France and learning more about them and their life there. A part of me has always dreamed to become fluent in French and to eventually live in France for a period of time. Through the website I met a girl in her late 20's (like me!) who is also a dancer. It was such a great fit! We instantly got along and were emailing and messaging each other up until my visit. Aurora (such a pretty name and ironically the name my Italian teacher gave to me) met up with me on Friday night and allowed me to stay with her that night. We went out to dinner with another couch surfer who was from Germany. It was a great night of amazing food, drinks and plenty of talk about relationships. Both women had just ended serious relationships and were deep in talk about men, marriage, and their futures. I couldn't help but find it amusing at how dramatically they spoke of their ex-boyfriends and the reason they were forced to end the relationship. I always felt that Americans were typically very reserved about their emotions as it isn't typically seen as acceptable to "air your dirty laundry". This evening only validated my feelings on the subject. Both ladies had no issues telling every little dirty detail. It was so amazing and really made me wish it was more acceptable to put our real feelings out there, rather than having to hide them all the time behind pleasantries. Would it really be so bad if people were more open about how they actually felt? It might even lead to the decrease in "game playing" in relationships that almost everyone says they despise, yet continue to play. But i digress... I was so thankful to Aurora for allowing me to stay with her that evening. It was great spending time with her as well as having some amazing French food with her.
My last day of my visit in Paris included a day trip to Versailles. I highly recommend if people visiting Paris have at least one day without major plans, take a trip to Versailles. It is here you will see some of the most amazing palaces you can imagine, the former home of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Though we did see the inside of the main palace so we could see one of the most unique places in the world the Hall of Mirrors, we spent most of our time in the beautiful and extensive gardens. Caitlin and I went off on our own that day and it is still one of my favorite experiences. We just walked around and talked about everything, most specifically our families and friends and how much we missed them and home. Caitlin is definitely one of my favorite people I met during my time in Europe and I will always remember how much fun we had while in Paris. After our great trip around Versailles we went out to an amazing dinner in Montmartre.
This trip had a few bumps, including my credit card not functioning, shorting me on finances during my trip. Also, I ended up without somewhere to sleep on the last night, luckily Caitlin was such an amazing friend and let me crash in her bunk at the hostel. It was rainy and cold and we didn't get to see everything we wanted to or meet up with the others in our group except the very last night. However, Paris is still undiminished in my eyes. It is such a gorgeous city, and the more I have studied on its history and culture the more enraptured I have become.
Paris, Je t'aime, ti amo, I love you <3
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Revival!!!
Hello friends!!!
So I didn't actively keep up with this blog due to a very busy schedule while abroad. Between friends and family visiting, a lot of schoolwork (though no one seems to believe I even went to school haha) It became rather difficult to keep posting about my amazing experience. However, I kept a diary in the process and wish to share more of my adventures!!!!
Stay tuned for many more posts in the next couple weeks about numerous experiences including visiting more exotic locations such as Morocco, Turkey, Greece, Ireland, Hungary, Spain, and always my favorite... Paris.
Love you all! thanks for reading :)
ciao ciao for now <3
So I didn't actively keep up with this blog due to a very busy schedule while abroad. Between friends and family visiting, a lot of schoolwork (though no one seems to believe I even went to school haha) It became rather difficult to keep posting about my amazing experience. However, I kept a diary in the process and wish to share more of my adventures!!!!
Stay tuned for many more posts in the next couple weeks about numerous experiences including visiting more exotic locations such as Morocco, Turkey, Greece, Ireland, Hungary, Spain, and always my favorite... Paris.
Love you all! thanks for reading :)
ciao ciao for now <3
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Always A Festival To Attend
One of my favorite things about Italy is that there always seems to be a festival to go to. When I first arrived and there were constant events in different piazza's I thought it was because of the time of year. The truth is Italy seems to love having a reason to have a festival. Since being here I have attended numerous wine, cheese, oil, craft, and food festivals throughout Florence and even into other Italian cities. It actually came to the point where I don't have time to go to each and every one! The great thing also is that all the products are simply amazing and authentic so even if you decided to buy a bottle of wine or some of the food you aren't spending a lot of money. In fact you spend barely anything at all which is really why you feel more determined to go.
I ventured outside of Florence to attend a few other festivals as well. I traveled to a nearby city Impruneta for their Stomping of the Grapes festival. It was beautiful. Several surrounding wineries put on elaborate parades and recitals to tell a story. The costumes were dazzling and most of all it was amazing to see how many people participated, men and women, old and young.
Of course my favorite festival so far would have to be the Euro Chocolate festival that was held in Perugia this year. Chocolate? large quantities? from all over the world? Yes please! The amount of stands and different companies was just breathtaking. I know for a fact I wasn't even able to make it all the way around the festival since I was only there for a couple of hours. But the samples and the cool innovative ideas of not only flavors but how to decorate or make the chocolate presentable or even how to use it with other foods was incredible. I of course picked up a few souvenirs as well as gifts for friends and family back home (including 3 very lucky little puppies).
Currently I'm excited for the next festival I plan to attend which is the Christmas Market in the Dolomites (mountains). I love Christmas and going to a big Christmas market where there is actual snow sounds exactly like the experience I would love to have. I also have the Venetian Carnival to look forward to in February (masquerade masks... need I say more?) and the City of Love festival in Verona.
Regardless of the range in size of the numerous festivals to attend, they are all worth at least getting a look at. There is something unique in Italy that allows people from all over the city and even the world come together for a similar interest. It shows the ability of cultures to find a common interest and I think that is a beautiful thing.
Til next time!
Ciao!
I ventured outside of Florence to attend a few other festivals as well. I traveled to a nearby city Impruneta for their Stomping of the Grapes festival. It was beautiful. Several surrounding wineries put on elaborate parades and recitals to tell a story. The costumes were dazzling and most of all it was amazing to see how many people participated, men and women, old and young.
Of course my favorite festival so far would have to be the Euro Chocolate festival that was held in Perugia this year. Chocolate? large quantities? from all over the world? Yes please! The amount of stands and different companies was just breathtaking. I know for a fact I wasn't even able to make it all the way around the festival since I was only there for a couple of hours. But the samples and the cool innovative ideas of not only flavors but how to decorate or make the chocolate presentable or even how to use it with other foods was incredible. I of course picked up a few souvenirs as well as gifts for friends and family back home (including 3 very lucky little puppies).
Currently I'm excited for the next festival I plan to attend which is the Christmas Market in the Dolomites (mountains). I love Christmas and going to a big Christmas market where there is actual snow sounds exactly like the experience I would love to have. I also have the Venetian Carnival to look forward to in February (masquerade masks... need I say more?) and the City of Love festival in Verona.
Regardless of the range in size of the numerous festivals to attend, they are all worth at least getting a look at. There is something unique in Italy that allows people from all over the city and even the world come together for a similar interest. It shows the ability of cultures to find a common interest and I think that is a beautiful thing.
Til next time!
Ciao!
Winter is coming...
Europe in the Winter. One of the many reasons I chose to study abroad in the first place. It seems strange that I would count this as a significant reason but when you are raised solely in sunny southern California you tend to never experience true "seasons". I have to say that the cold weather hit so fast. One weekend it was still warm and beautiful enough to go to the beach for the day. The next day it was time to bust out the scarves and beanies. Everyday now involves being very particular and thorough about what I choose to wear. Layering has become the key. Inside café's the heater is always blasting and outside is drastically cold. For someone like myself who loves a reason to buy new clothes this has been the real fun of the adventure. Coats, scarves, beanies, gloves, rain boots, thick socks and leggings have all become necessities.
And now, here come the holidays! While I didn't spend Thanksgiving in Florence (to be honest there really is not a point since of course it is an American holiday) and instead chose to spend it in Paris, I am very excited to wander around the city to see what Christmas in Florence is like. Already all around the center area there are lights being strung and beautiful store displays encouraging the Christmas spirit. The beautiful decorations have always been my favorite part of Christmas other than the time I get to spend with family and friends. I'm determined to maintain some of my Christmas traditions such as baking goodies and watching holiday movies. But i'm also extremely excited to see what Florence has in store for me this season. Might even be my first white Christmas :)
stay tuned for posts about my numerous trips over the past couple of weeks.
Sorry again to my followers for the long absence.
ciao!
And now, here come the holidays! While I didn't spend Thanksgiving in Florence (to be honest there really is not a point since of course it is an American holiday) and instead chose to spend it in Paris, I am very excited to wander around the city to see what Christmas in Florence is like. Already all around the center area there are lights being strung and beautiful store displays encouraging the Christmas spirit. The beautiful decorations have always been my favorite part of Christmas other than the time I get to spend with family and friends. I'm determined to maintain some of my Christmas traditions such as baking goodies and watching holiday movies. But i'm also extremely excited to see what Florence has in store for me this season. Might even be my first white Christmas :)
stay tuned for posts about my numerous trips over the past couple of weeks.
Sorry again to my followers for the long absence.
ciao!
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