it doesnt look like christmas here at all

Its been crazy here recently. I cant believe I only have 17 days left here. I don't even want to think about leaving. But at the same time I cannot frikin wait to see you all! Its been harder than I expected to be away from everybody. But I have a little family here that I'm going to miss so much. Why is it that I always have to be missing someone?

Last weekend I went to Vinci, the small town where Leonardo da Vinci was born. Because I kind of think he was the coolest man to ever live and Vinci is so close that I just had to! It took a train and a bus to get there. I went by myself and got a little confused when I had to find my bus but I figured it out in the end.

The town was absoltly beautiful. I think I could have easily been a renaissance woman if I was born in Vinci. Its very inspiring. Beautiful stone buildings with an amazing view of the countryside all around. 

I went to the Museo Leonardiano. It was a very well done museum. People had studied he sketches and actually made working models of his inventions. There were flying contraptions and pulley systems and cannons and machine guns and boats with wheels!  (these are illegal pictures!)

After the museum I had some time to kill before my bus came so I found a little path that led past farmhouses and vineyards. It was a beautiful, peaceful walk, with chickens and everything!

 

On Sunday me, Lexi, and our friend Chapman went to a nearby garden to take pictures at sunset. Lexi was the best model. 

 

I have cool friends.


This week has been preparing for final projects and writing papers! Today in Fashion Photography we shot a look book for an organic clothing company called http://www.altarosa.it/?lang=en. Here are some of my favorite shots. They are not really lookbook appropriate shots, but I realized I'm less interested in Fashion Photography and more interested in taking interesting pictures of people.

I go to Rome on Friday!

miss you all :)
 

Lets get rich and buy our parents houses in....TUSCANY

Warning: This post is very long and newsy. I would suggest scanning. 


I just had the most amazing weekend. It feels like a dream almost.

Friday I did what I've been waiting and saving up for all semester: HORSEBACK RIDING EXCURSION! I wrote in my journal before I came here that I wanted to ride a horse and a vespa while I was here. I'm still working on that vespa ride.

Me and my apartmentmate Emily went together. We went through this program called Fun In Tuscany, which sounds super lame but its not. There were nine other girls we didnt know, all of whom were very interesting. First we had an hour long car ride though the countryside, which was beautiful obviously. Then we got to this adorable farm house with the stables. 

 When they began to divvy out the horses, the Italian man who owned the horses kept pointing at me and speaking in rapid italian. The only word I could make out was "brutta," which means ugly.  So I was all like "Is he calling me ugly?" and our guide laughed and said "No, Bruta with one "t" means Brutal, which is the name of your horse."  So I was like "oh fantastic." But they told me her name was a joke because she was so gentle.  Which was true, but she was also very hungry. She tried to eat everything.  The guide kept yelling at me to pull on her reigns and I was trying but it was hard and I really wanted to say "I'm sorry Im not as strong as a frikin horse!"

 Anyways, we had an amazing two hour long ride though vineyards and farmland and beautiful country side. I could not stop smiling the whole time. The weather was perfect, I was finally riding a horse, I was blissfully happy.

This one lady was telling this other girl to "show the horse you're in control. You're the boss." But it wasn't like that with me and Bruta. We had a mutual relationship based on love and trust. She gave me a ride and I gave her a back rub and an apple. (although I think I might have gotten the better end of the deal). But seriously, who do these people think they are? No matter how tame a horse may be it could always buck you off in seconds if he really wanted. Silly humans, always thinking they're in control!

After two hours my bum was ready for a break. We went to this resturant near by and had a delicious 35723857 course Tuscan meal. Then we went to a 13th century castle called  Monteriggioni where we had a little wine tasting before heading home.

Then on Saturday I went back to the Uffizi for the 5th time because I can. After Lexi, Laura, and I took a long walk out to suburban florence to take some pics and get fresh air. 

Then in the evening we did another thing I've been wanting to do: Calcio! In other words, Soccer game! It was Fiorentina vs. Milano. Almost everyone in my program went all together as a big group. It was so so so fun. The people at the game were so excited and so into the game.  Milano is number 3 in the league and Fiorentina is 13, so I expected that we would be defeated pretty easily. But, Fiorentina held there own and it was a scoreless game. But exciting none the less.

you know how it is with me and all the boys...







Yesterday Becky, my roomate, and our friend Ed went to a nearby hilltown called Lucca. It was so cute! So italian. The town was tiny and the whole thing was set up like one big antique market!

We went for a photography festival that was going on. It was so fun because the exhibits were set up in churches and old buildings all throughout the town and it was like a scavenger hunt to find them all. My favorite photographer who exhibited was Kenro Izu. He had so many beautiful photos from the most amazing interesting places all over the world. I want to be his assistant!

Overall, one of the best weekends. I really miss all you guys. I'll see you in 4 weeks!

At this moment from where I sit, None of it seems real

Ciao tutti! (tutti means everyone, just so you know its not a word for flatulence)
its been another busy week! Things are different recently. Before fall break I still kind of felt like I was on an extended vacation. But these last few weeks, I've really felt like I live here. Im comfortable, I know my way around, I have friends, I know about events going on, I'm a regular at a cafe, I've been to Italian people's homes for dinner, I've been to artists studios, etc. I really love it here.
I cant wait to see you all, but I really dont want to leave here. I only have about 35 days left. That seems very short. I have so much to get done! But I have also done so much.

I've been doing quite a few paintings and prints and drawings, but I did something even more exciting on Wednesday.  We finally did something in Fashion Photography! We had a photoshoot for an Advertisement for a boutique chain here in Firenze. The boutique is called Gerard and one article of clothing is worth more than I am. 900 euros for a dress? Crazy. But the clothes are really beautiful.

Anyways, we got the awesome opportunity to shoot at an old opera house, with a model from an agency in Milano. You know, just the fashion capital of the WORLD. We had live birds and candles and bird cages and everything you could imagine. I felt like I was working on America's Next Top Model. It was so cool.  The theater was beautiful. Everything you could ask for in a theater.

Here is an unedited sneak preview:

Then we went to an artists studio to take some more shots. The artist was seriously the most interesting, quirky person I have ever met.  He had a bird named Pui Pui and he snorted when he laughed.  I loved him.  He didnt speak much english, but he asked me to sit next to him and chat when everyone was cleaning up. I was able to have a full conversation with him in Italian. I was so proud!

Unedited shots from the studio:

I have just had the coolest opportunities here. I've met the most interesting people and seen the most beautiful things. It doesn't seem real.