Hey! I'll give a quick overview of how things have been so far :)

The first actual post that I'm making from Italy, sorry it's taken this long. The flight over was "okay". We got in from O'Hare 30 minutes  early and our flight to Florence was supposed to leave at 11. Due to over booking and technical difficulties, we didn't end up leaving until around 2ish, which was a drag to sit in the airport for that long. The first thing I noticed when flying into Florence is the landscapes: absolutely stunning. After we landed and went outside, I remembered that 50 degree weather has never felt so good before.

Our apartment is nice. It is a little cute, quaint place, just big enough for two people - nothing special. It is on the fourth floor of our apartment, all the way at the top, and dragging two 50lb suitcases that far up is not my ideal thing on the first day. Oh well, the view from up top is amazing.

We've had a lot of orientation stuff going on but on Wednesday night we just had to go out, experience Florence. We wanted to find a nice Italian place but ended up stumbling into one of the most Americanized bars in Italy. We stayed for a while (drinks are so much more expensive here) and then went to a place called TwentyOne (also American). They had a huge dance floor and I've never seen a place so crowded. Needless to say, Gina and I didn't get back until around 4 in the morning.

Yesterday was kind of a chill day. We had some more orientation on classes and later that night we went on a huge long walk up a narrow road (at first I thought I was going to be swiped by a car).  On the way up it was all up hill and the view when we reached the top was absolutely stunning. I think the walk itself was about 5 miles but totally worth it. We later  cooked dinner for the rest of the SNC people studying in Italy: pasta, sauce, bread, olive oil & balsamic vinegrette, and of course, wine. 

Today we have very little to do: some orientation stuff we had this morning, a walk later this afternoon to find the best parts in the city, and later tonight we're going out. 

Tomorrow I will have my  wireless internet in the apartment so I will be sure to post some pictures and what not.

I hope everyone back hope is doing amazing - Florence is absolutely stunning.

From Italy to the US,

-Alicia

Six Days Until Takeoff

Well welcome! My name is Alicia and I will be studying in Florence, Italy for a semester abroad. I'll be taking amazing classes, living in a furnished apartment, cooking my own food, meeting new people, traveling to new places and making my own memories. 

I am excited to leave - six days! The countdown has gone so fast and I just finished packing my first suitcase today: I actually managed to fit all of my clothes into one suitcase (but we'll see how the rest of the packing goes).  

I'm stoked and ready to go

 and leave the snow and sub-zero temps of this blasted Wisconsin winter. I know that the inevitable missing of the family will hit me when I get there but I'm excited to explore on my own and become a better chef (but the fact of not having a dryer might be trouble in the beginning).

Here's to the start of an adventure!

-AB