Fall Break!

What a week. I arrived back in Florence this morning at 6am. I will post soon about what I've learned, the people I've met, and the things I have on my heart to share, but for now- here are some pictures!

Prague...


Vienna...
Salzburg...

ready to run

This week our director Alessandro said, "Don't worry about grades for one semester- just learn." How refreshing. Why don't professors in the states have that mindset?


Yesterday, Janelle and I arrived 35 minutes late to class because...well, we needed to make travel plans for this coming weekend, and gelato was calling our name. When in Florence, huh?

For fall break I had planned to go to Greece with a travel group for study abroad students, but unfortunately they canceled the trip this past Monday. Janelle and I have been working all week to figure out alternative plans for our break that starts...today. And we finally have them! We leave tomorrow for Prague, Vienna, and Salzburg! see ya in a week :)

Life and Travels

Last week I bought myself a container of Nutella, and yesterday I successfully finished the WHOLE thing. I guess that’s what happens when you eat it by the spoonful :)

Last Friday my wine class took a fieldtrip to I Vini d’ Italia- a prestigious wine tasting of Italy’s 200 best wines of 2010. Our teacher had to get permission to bring us to this event, and although I was completely underdressed and inexperienced among the crowd, I loved the opportunity to taste the most expensive wines I will ever, ever try.

Last night, Katy and I had a 30 minute conversation with our momma in Italian. Its so fun to see Marina’s face light up - she truly appreciates and loves when we make an effort to speak her language.

This past weekend, five of us JMUers traveled to the Amalfi Coast with about 80 other study abroad students. We stayed in Sorrento for the 3 nights, but took day trips to Capri, Positano, and Pompeii. All three towns/islands were distinctively different and yet all, absolutely beautiful. I cliff jumped, cave swam, and… rode on the back of a vespa. Also, Positano is now top on my list of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.

And now, I’m back in Florence- taking midterms. Happy Tuesday!

fun tid bits

My to do list for Oktoberfest:

1. eat weinerschnitzel- check!
2. take a picture with a Munich man in his Oktoberfest get-up- check!
3. get a liter beer- check!
4. visit Dauchau- check!
5. buy a beerstein- check!

Catching a cold wasn't on the list- but that happened too. Yes, Germany is cold and rainy.

On the train ride to Oktoberfest we sat with a German couple and an Italian guy. None of them spoke English, which made conversation a bit more challenging yet we all understood each other. How cool is it that humans can connect and have one conversation in 3 different languages?

Much needed update.

Well wow, am I behind on updating or what? I'm so busy living and experiencing Florence, that sometimes I just don't have the time or energy to sit down and write about it. To say the least, I am having the time of my life.

Last weekend some of us went to Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest- what an experience! We spend one day at the fest, and saw downtown Munich and Dachau the other days. Here are some snapshots.


This weekend we've stayed around Florence. Although I love traveling on the weekends, its been nice to relax here for a couple days. Today we went to Assisi, a small town nearby and tomorrow were going to a Fiorentina soccer game!