Thursday, October 29, 2009
Week of Hell is Finally Over!
Very Very busy week. Mid-terms are finally over. It was weird actually having to do work again. I haven't written a paper or studied since May and all of a sudden it was piled on....oops. It went alright I suppose, I know I got a few A's already. Unfortunately, I also had to deal with some fraud in my checking account this week. Thankfully, my dad caught it quickly and I was able to cancel my card. Lame, I'll just have to go without cash for awhile. I leave for Paris in the morning, I'm beyond excited to see Marion. I hope everyone is doing well. I miss you all. (p.s. 21 days until my parents come) Love you!
Monday, October 26, 2009
San Sebastian
I had the most relaxing weekend imaginable. I went to visit my best friend Dan, who is studying Spanish in Salamanca, Spain. We met in San Sebastian, which is located in the Basque country in Northern Spain. It is a beach resort back-dropped by the Pyrenees(aka awesome).
On Friday, I had to deal with the frustration that is Italian transportation. The air traffic controllers were on strike and, therefore, my flight was delayed 3 hours. It was maddening trying to figure out my connecting flight, but also rewarding knowing that I could handle traveling in foreign countries. I got there at 1am Saturday morning and pretty much just passed out.
The next day, Dan found a restaurant that served a big American-style breakfast. I got to eat bacon; I was very happy. Then we went for a very long walk along the beach, harbor, and one of the mountains that overlooks the city. It was great to just relax and talk. The weather was incredible, sunny and in the 70's. San Sebastian is a beautiful port town with a long white beach. There were several kayakers surfing the waves...I was very jealous. The entire town seemed centered around the water, which made sense because it was so beautiful.
After our walk, we went to the spa :-) La Perla is a saltwater spa located right on the beach(www.la-perla.net). On the first floor are hydrotherepeutic baths designed to massage different parts of your body. There is also a waterfall and a huge jacuzzi surrounded by glass that overlooks the Atlantic. Downstairs, it is dark except for the underwater lights that give a nice glow. There, the pools have underwater work-out machines and there are a few saunas. I could have spent days sitting in those pools. At one point, I was stupid enough to listen to Dan and we ran into the Atlantic before jumping back into the jacuzzi....the water's cold over here too.
Saturday was definitely one of the most relaxing days I've ever had. On Sunday, Dan and I did some walking and talking, then I headed home.
Now that I'm back to reality, mid-terms have started. It's going to be a busy week, but I get to look forward to Paris and Marion on Friday. Ciao miei amici!
On Friday, I had to deal with the frustration that is Italian transportation. The air traffic controllers were on strike and, therefore, my flight was delayed 3 hours. It was maddening trying to figure out my connecting flight, but also rewarding knowing that I could handle traveling in foreign countries. I got there at 1am Saturday morning and pretty much just passed out.
The next day, Dan found a restaurant that served a big American-style breakfast. I got to eat bacon; I was very happy. Then we went for a very long walk along the beach, harbor, and one of the mountains that overlooks the city. It was great to just relax and talk. The weather was incredible, sunny and in the 70's. San Sebastian is a beautiful port town with a long white beach. There were several kayakers surfing the waves...I was very jealous. The entire town seemed centered around the water, which made sense because it was so beautiful.
After our walk, we went to the spa :-) La Perla is a saltwater spa located right on the beach(www.la-perla.net). On the first floor are hydrotherepeutic baths designed to massage different parts of your body. There is also a waterfall and a huge jacuzzi surrounded by glass that overlooks the Atlantic. Downstairs, it is dark except for the underwater lights that give a nice glow. There, the pools have underwater work-out machines and there are a few saunas. I could have spent days sitting in those pools. At one point, I was stupid enough to listen to Dan and we ran into the Atlantic before jumping back into the jacuzzi....the water's cold over here too.
Saturday was definitely one of the most relaxing days I've ever had. On Sunday, Dan and I did some walking and talking, then I headed home.
Now that I'm back to reality, mid-terms have started. It's going to be a busy week, but I get to look forward to Paris and Marion on Friday. Ciao miei amici!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
It's Been Awhile....
Hey guys,
I've been putting this post off for awhile because I didn't really know what to write. These past two weeks have been filled with every emotion possible. I have known great joy and experienced wonderful things, but it has been overshadowed by a tragedy that I will never forget. This will probably be a very long post, so bear with me. I'll start with the sad and try to end with the happy.
On Thursday, October 8th, a friend of mine in the Arcadia program was struck by a motorcycle as she crossed the street. The motorcyclist was going full speed and did not see her. She sustained massive injuries. On Saturday night, she was pronounced clinically dead. Her mother and brother were able to fly over to say their goodbyes. Shalinda Toney was from Virginia, she was in her junior year at college, and she had a strong faith in God. Her parents are incredibly strong and most of their strength comes from their faith that Shalinda is where she was meant to be. It is hard to type this even now, as it does not seem to be real. It was a terrible accident that never should have happened and it will stay with me forever. Shalinda was an incredible person and an incredible friend. I feel very privileged for having known her, even if it was for such a short time. Shalinda saved six lives with her passing. She was willing to donate her organs, and ultimately saved six stranger's lives. The transplant doctor came to the service that Arcadia held for her and told Shalinda's mother that all six patients were doing well. With this death, I want everyone to know how much I love them and how much they mean to me. Life is fragile and hard, but it is also beautiful and full of strong people and love. I will miss Shalinda.
It is awkward now to type of the wonderful things I have been experiencing, but Shalinda's mom told us not to be afraid because of this death and that we need to use our study abroad experience to the fullest as her daughter had been doing.
Two weekends ago, I went to Abruzzo National Park. Abruzzo is to the east of Rome and is a hidden gem in Italy. Very few people go there, I only heard about it because I was scouring the country looking for good places to hike. I went for the day with my friend, Tia. It took a very long train ride and beautiful bus ride to get up into the hills, but it was well worth it. The trees are all turning colors and the pastures are full of bright green grass and white limestone. We strolled through the country, following old pasture roads. It wasn't an arduous hike because, unfortunately, our time alotted didn't leave us with much room to explore. I would go back there in an instant and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good hike, bike, or ski. The trails are very very extensive and really well maintained.
The next day I went on a school trip to Sorrento and Pompei. Sorrento left a little to the imagination. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy day and there were two cruise ships docked at the harbor. Therefore, it was crowded and definitely catered towards the tourists. We got to shop around a little, but I seem to be getting a little snobby about my locations, for I have seen places much more beautiful.
Pompei, however, was a Classic's major's dream. The ruins are amazing! This city is perfectly preserved, frescoes and all. We had about 4 hours to explore the hidden shops and alleyways. It was so amazing to see this city, that had been completely demolished in 79 AD. If anyone, ever, wants to know about Pompei or Mt.Vesuvius, please ask me....I love talking about it.
Last week was long and hard, but it brought the group together and I learned a lot about the people here. I have become very close with some of the people, it's nice to have this support.
Last weekend was very good. On Friday, we went to Ostia and checked out the ruins. This city is almost as cool as Pompei. It wasn't excavated until the late 1900's, so it is also preserved very well. the day was beautiful and my professor was full of information. If you don't have time to go to Pompei, definitely go to Ostia, it's smaller, but still insightful into the Roman world.
On Saturday, I did every girl's dream....I went to the Eurochocolate festival in Perugia. I ate my weight in chocolate, not even kidding. Every producer of chocolate in Europe was at this festival, with every type of chocolate. Let's see, a list of what I sampled: several chocolate bars, the best hot chocolate I ever had, a chocolate covered banana, chocolate crepes, truffles, chocolate covered fruit, Milka chocolate, nutella in fried dough(best thing ever!), chocolate covered apple, lavender chocolate, etc.....don't worry, I shared it with a bunch of my friends. I don't think I've ever seen so many happy people in one place. I would go every year if I could :-)
Finally, we've arrived at this week. Mid-terms are next week, so I'm busy studying. This weekend I leave for Spain to meet my best friend in San Sebastian. Life is rough as always....Ciao ragazzi!
I've been putting this post off for awhile because I didn't really know what to write. These past two weeks have been filled with every emotion possible. I have known great joy and experienced wonderful things, but it has been overshadowed by a tragedy that I will never forget. This will probably be a very long post, so bear with me. I'll start with the sad and try to end with the happy.
On Thursday, October 8th, a friend of mine in the Arcadia program was struck by a motorcycle as she crossed the street. The motorcyclist was going full speed and did not see her. She sustained massive injuries. On Saturday night, she was pronounced clinically dead. Her mother and brother were able to fly over to say their goodbyes. Shalinda Toney was from Virginia, she was in her junior year at college, and she had a strong faith in God. Her parents are incredibly strong and most of their strength comes from their faith that Shalinda is where she was meant to be. It is hard to type this even now, as it does not seem to be real. It was a terrible accident that never should have happened and it will stay with me forever. Shalinda was an incredible person and an incredible friend. I feel very privileged for having known her, even if it was for such a short time. Shalinda saved six lives with her passing. She was willing to donate her organs, and ultimately saved six stranger's lives. The transplant doctor came to the service that Arcadia held for her and told Shalinda's mother that all six patients were doing well. With this death, I want everyone to know how much I love them and how much they mean to me. Life is fragile and hard, but it is also beautiful and full of strong people and love. I will miss Shalinda.
It is awkward now to type of the wonderful things I have been experiencing, but Shalinda's mom told us not to be afraid because of this death and that we need to use our study abroad experience to the fullest as her daughter had been doing.
Two weekends ago, I went to Abruzzo National Park. Abruzzo is to the east of Rome and is a hidden gem in Italy. Very few people go there, I only heard about it because I was scouring the country looking for good places to hike. I went for the day with my friend, Tia. It took a very long train ride and beautiful bus ride to get up into the hills, but it was well worth it. The trees are all turning colors and the pastures are full of bright green grass and white limestone. We strolled through the country, following old pasture roads. It wasn't an arduous hike because, unfortunately, our time alotted didn't leave us with much room to explore. I would go back there in an instant and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good hike, bike, or ski. The trails are very very extensive and really well maintained.
The next day I went on a school trip to Sorrento and Pompei. Sorrento left a little to the imagination. Unfortunately, it was a cloudy day and there were two cruise ships docked at the harbor. Therefore, it was crowded and definitely catered towards the tourists. We got to shop around a little, but I seem to be getting a little snobby about my locations, for I have seen places much more beautiful.
Pompei, however, was a Classic's major's dream. The ruins are amazing! This city is perfectly preserved, frescoes and all. We had about 4 hours to explore the hidden shops and alleyways. It was so amazing to see this city, that had been completely demolished in 79 AD. If anyone, ever, wants to know about Pompei or Mt.Vesuvius, please ask me....I love talking about it.
Last week was long and hard, but it brought the group together and I learned a lot about the people here. I have become very close with some of the people, it's nice to have this support.
Last weekend was very good. On Friday, we went to Ostia and checked out the ruins. This city is almost as cool as Pompei. It wasn't excavated until the late 1900's, so it is also preserved very well. the day was beautiful and my professor was full of information. If you don't have time to go to Pompei, definitely go to Ostia, it's smaller, but still insightful into the Roman world.
On Saturday, I did every girl's dream....I went to the Eurochocolate festival in Perugia. I ate my weight in chocolate, not even kidding. Every producer of chocolate in Europe was at this festival, with every type of chocolate. Let's see, a list of what I sampled: several chocolate bars, the best hot chocolate I ever had, a chocolate covered banana, chocolate crepes, truffles, chocolate covered fruit, Milka chocolate, nutella in fried dough(best thing ever!), chocolate covered apple, lavender chocolate, etc.....don't worry, I shared it with a bunch of my friends. I don't think I've ever seen so many happy people in one place. I would go every year if I could :-)
Finally, we've arrived at this week. Mid-terms are next week, so I'm busy studying. This weekend I leave for Spain to meet my best friend in San Sebastian. Life is rough as always....Ciao ragazzi!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Venezia
Ciao ragazzi!
So I had a wonderful weekend :-) It started off Thursday night when I went to the ballet with some of the girls here. We saw Carmen, which was a modern take on the opera. It was really good; a little strange though....it was set in Spain, sung in French, and performed in Italy. Very very fun though, I love the ballet.
Early Friday morning I set out for Venice. I've really wanted to go and no one else in my group got it together in time, so I ended up going by myself. Yep, it figures, I would go alone to one of the most romantic destinations in the world, haha. It was so amazing though. I can't get over how beautiful it was.
I got off the train and immediately got a 'bus' pass, aka a pass to use the water buses. (If anyone every wants to be a bus driver, do it in Venice, it's way cooler to drive a boat) I took the boat around the outside of the island until it came to Guidecca, an island on the south side. There I checked into my hostel, that was actually very nice and set across the canal from Piazzale San Marco. I had an amazing view! The rest of the day I literally just wandered. All the guide books told me that you don't really see Venice until you get lost.....mission accomplished. I wandered down so many back streets and wound myself all around that city. I think I saw a very very vast majority of the city....and it was all beautiful. In Rome, you can walk down a small street, turn and corner and there;s the Pantheon. In Venice, you walk down a small street and find this beautiful canal with a few boats puttering along, old stone buildings covered in flowers and laundry hanging out the windows. It was a very relaxing day, I felt completely free to do whatever I wanted (whether that was eating gelato or shopping for jewelry) I wandered well into the night, checking out a bunch of churches, the Rialto Bridge, and many many piazzas. I took a late boat cruise down the Grand Canal, watching the nightlife unfold. It was so incredible, the water was lit up by a full moon and it was so serene. Very happy moment.
The next day, I woke up early and went to the Basilica di San Marco. The Basilica is Venice's big tourist attraction. The entire ceiling is one huge mosaic, mostly covered in gold. In the late afternoon(I mad sure to go back later in the day to see it), when the sun shines through the windows, the light hits the ceiling just right so that the whole place sparkles. It's definitely worth going to Venice just to see that. After the basilica, I took a boat to the island of Murano where they make their world famous glass. I was able to see several glass blowing studios and tons of beautiful sculptures, jewelry, and vases. I can't believe they can actually make this stuff out of glass. It seems like their big thing right now is horses...there are glass horses everywhere. I spent the afternoon in Murano, wandering again, then took another boat around the island and up the Grand Canal to the train station.
Late saturday afternoon I arrived in Bologna. While I thought that it was a very charming city, it just couldn't compare to how awesome Venice had been. I went to the main square of the city, where there is a very impressive fountain of Neptune. On Sunday, I spent my afternoon in the Archaeology Museum looking at several Etruscan artifacts. And, of course, I had pasta with bolognese sauce, very yummy...
This weekend really was incredible. I'm happy that I went. Now it's just another week of classes :-)
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