Super bowl Sunday in Firenze

Last night we all went to the Fish pub near the Duomo to watch the super bowl.  For our entry fee, everyone got a free hamburger.  Because all Italians associate hamburgers with Americans.  It was really cool to see everyone get so excited during the national anthem, but people were too drunk to notice Christina Aguilera messed it up.  Unfortunately there were only Italian commercials during the game so I'll have to look them up online later.We only stayed til 2:30 because we had early classes and were tired from the weekend.

Tiff and I are getting pumped to go to Sicily this weekend, and we just booked our trip to switzerland for next weekend to go skiing!

Kat, Tiffany, and me at the Fish pub

Tiff waving a lighter during the national anthem

everybody during the national anthem

Central Market

Yesterday morning we woke up early and headed to the central market.  There they have the fresh vegetables, meats, and cheeses.  Some of the meats were pretty gross looking like tripe, which are pig and cow stomachs. The butchers were all very friendly in there and I was able to use my favorite new phrase "sto solo guardando" (I'm just looking).

After that we went to a famous Florentine place for lunch called mario's.  It is right next to the market and every day they change their menu by going in and buying different items from the market.  It was very authentic Tuscan food and I have to admit that I am still getting used to the differences between American Italian and actual Italian food.  For instance, there's no such thing as fettuccine alfredo in Italy.  The only heavy cream sauces you can find, at least in Florence, are cream of mushroom.

 Later, Tiffany and I decided we need to update our wardrobes with Italian fashion.  We literally went to every store in Florence. I really love how much smaller Florence is than it actually looks.

Last night we went to a bar close to where we live for low key night.  We met a woman outside the bar from Turkey and she said her dream was to come to America and do the "sex and the city tour".  I guess there is an actual tour that they advertise around Europe that women can do in New York.  The show might be even more popular in Europe than at home.  The woman also told us her ex boyfriend was from Texas, when Tiff asked where in Texas she said North Carolina.  At least people are friendly.

Now were off to go to a pub to see our first rugby match of Italy vs Scotland.

Ningrone

Last night we went to a bar my teacher recommended for me to go to for appertivos.  It was an Italian bar and it was obvious that they didn't want Americans in it the minute we walked in.  We wanted to try and change their impressions of americans as loud and obnoxious.  We ordered the Italian signature liquor drink that my teacher recommended called Ningrone.  It was a super strong whiskey drink that we pretended to like.  The best part of appertivos is that with your drink you can eat the food they have out.  They served gnocchi, bruschette, salad, and a lot of other italian finger foods.  We limited ourselves with the food so we wouldn't reaffirm the stereotype of American appetites.

I have worn heels most nights and have become and expert at walking the cobble stone streets in heels.  I have also gotten a lot better at handling the cars around here.  An instant sign that someone is American is when they hear a car coming, turn around, scream and run to the side walk.  I have learned to act like the other Italian women while walking which is to not act scared when there is a moped coming at you at what seems like 100 miles per hour. They simply move an inch to the side and act like nothing passed them.

Since we don't have class today were going to get lost in Florence and hopefully get some good shopping in.

wine class

Today I had my first wine appreciation class and it was ten times harder than I thought it was going to be.  I believe I will be a wine expert when it's over.  For the final all the bottles will be black and we have to do gustatory, olfactory, and visual analysis.  I only know what one of those words mean so it looks like i have a lot to learn.

After class tiff and i went to the train station for the first time to buy our tickets to get to Rome for our flight to Sicily next weekend.  The area and train station itself was super different than Florence with a lot more gypsies, homeless people, and tourists traps.

Now were off to get appertivos at a bar across the river that my comm teacher recommended to me because it is a very Italian establishment where we can be more immersed in the culture.

Tiff and I came close to being medavacked out of the duomo stairwell after about step 400.  Once to the top it was definitely well worth it. From the duomo you can see a complete 360 degree view of the city.  We were also able to see where we live due to our closeness to the Basilica of Santa Croce.  Its pretty crazy that we live right next door to where Galileo, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli are buried. 

I had an extremely boring class today and it is going to be tough to sit through 2 and a half hours of it.  However, I still have the rest of the day to explore Firenze some more. I tried the washer about an hour ago and it is still going.  There is no such thing as 35 minute laundry cycles in Italy.  They said to never leave the house while clothes are in the washer so I am currently waiting for it to overflow.  Of course, after it's done I need to hang dry my clothes from our window.  There is a laundromat down the street with a dryer but I figure I am going to try to assimilate myself as much as possible instead of creating a mini America.

After I finish my laundry I am gonna get the rest of my textbooks, reserve a table at a pub for the super bowl this Sunday (it starts at 12:30 am here), and then check out the famous Boboli gardens.

I am impressed with how much I already know of this city in terms of area and directions, and I am very excited to consider myself a Florentine by the end of my trip.

Ciao Ciao!

Views of Florence from the top of the duomo

We live right next to the church!

First Day of Classes

Yesterday I had my first mass communications class and today was my first italian class.  I liked both of my teachers a lot, and my comm teacher told me of places to go for appertivos and dinner.  Last night we went to one of the restaurants and we were able to get a discount because I mentioned my teacher's name.  Eating healthy in Italy is pretty impossible so we decided last night to save money and calories that we will eat in during the weekdays.
Afterword we got cocktails at a local bar and then went to an irish pub to see about reserving a table for the superbowl.

In my comm class I learned a lot about the Italian prime minister (Berlusconi) and how corrupt the government is since he owns the 3 main tv networks in Italy.  He won't allow anything negative to be aired about him, or any questions/statements about his numerous affairs.  The European Union is a union of about 30 countries in Europe that all have to follow a set of standards and laws to join.  There is a lot of controversy because Turkey isn't allowed to join the EU until they become secular and stop censorship online.  However, Italy would technically not be allowed to join the EU either because of Berlusconi's manipulation over the Italian media outlets.

On a lighter note, its a beautiful day out so were gonna climb to the top of the Duomo and take some good pictures!