What a week it has been!

Since the Thursday we left Lincoln, it has felt like a whirlwind! The best way I can describe our week is that there aren't enough hours in the day! I'm starting to feel like I have a grasp on the center of the city and that I can find my way to our classroom (which is right by the Santa Croce), the Duomo, and back to our apartment. Then I can base where things are off those three places.

Even with this new confidence, I feel like I may be hitting the low part of my culture shock. This means nothing more than that things annoy me that normally wouldn't. Yet, this is showing me a huge difference between my Midwestern culture and the Florentine culture: the awareness of your effect on other people. We, as Midwesterners, tend to stay out of others' way or at least say excuse me. This isn't the case here, people just cut in front of you at the cafe and will cut you off as you walk down the street without saying a word. Now this isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is a difference and something I have a hard time getting used to. In class, we discussed it briefly and we said it's aggressive behavior to us, but not to the Itailians and that makes it hard for me to deal with because it's strictly my own cultural barrier.

Although my perception is gloomy at times, I can't even begin to describe the beauty here! We went to Siena and San Giminagno today and the view was breathtaking! Both of the cities are on a hill and showed you countryside as far as the eye can see! Everything was just so green and lush! Beauty doesn't just mean the countryside though, food can also be beautiful and ever since we got here it has been! I've decided that my favorite meal so far is tortellini with cream and ham! It's to die for! Things are so filling that all of us average only about two meals a day, but I know if I could eat more I definitely would just because everything is delicious!

But hey I have two more weeks to try everything!

Here's to many more delicious meals!

Ciao,

Caitie