All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone

This is going to be a long post so hang in there with me. It will be mostly pictures.

Another crazy exciting week! All my classes wen well. Fashion photography is really exciting. Were working with models from Milan and making an actual advertisement for an upscale Boutique in Firenze.
Im still not really sure what were doing in my mixed media class. My professor basically just talked about Italian politics for 2 hours. And shes german!

For fashion photography we have to take pictures of anyone we find interesting on the street. This has proven most difficult. Its very hard to take picture of people sneakishly or to communicate why you want to take their picture. Here are my favorites so far:

Firenze is just amazing. Its so beautiful. And theres always something going on and interesting people to meet. Im so lucky to be here.

BUT.  Im homesick.
I miss:
My family
My cat
My friends
Wegmans
My shower
My room
My job
English
Waffles
Hummus


For Florence sketchbook class we had to draw "simple" objects in our sketchbooks with various pencils. Here are mine:

The last one was drawn at the Boboli Gardens, these massive gardens behind the Piti Place, which is also massive. It used to belong to the Medici family but now it holds several museums and gardens. The gardens had no flowers which was kinda weird but it was nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city and be around green things again. I went there with my friend Lexi and her friend Laura. I believe they may be kindred spirits. I felt very comfortable around them. 

Speaking of getting away, I went to the Cinque Terre yesterday with 2 of my roommates. It was even more beautiful than I remembered. I really really really wished my family was with me again. I felt happy and lonely at the same time. For those of you who dont know, Cinque Terre means 5 Lands. They are 5 little towns built into the hillside of these beautiful mountains.

 We hiked from one end to the other. The last one was a killer but I felt sooo good after. And we were rewarded with a beautiful beach.
I also got two new friends this week:

Sitting on a park bench thats older than my country.

So I had my sketchbook class yesterday. It seems super awesome. We will go to various monuments and museums and build up a sketchbook of Florence. Then we will come back to the studio and work from our sketches on bigger paper. Im really excited because I have never worked like that before. These sketches are going to have to be good.  This week we have to draw 5 different simple objects using pencils with different levels of hardness. A very "beginning of the semester" assignment but I'm trying to make it interesting.

Well, actually the Florentine's make it interesting. Last night I was at the Piazza Santa Spirito drawing a fountain (not exactly simple but whatever).  My experience so far with Italian boys has been that if you are alone, they will approach you. So I wasnt too surprised when this guy came up to me and started trying to talk to me in Italian. He got super frustrated that I couldnt understand him, but he proceeded to teach me Italian words. With his few word of English, my very limited italian, and much miming, we ended up talking and joking around for quite a while.  Then two of his friends came over. One of them spoke english a little and proceeded to tell me all about the metabolic process he was studying for his exam in the morning. I nodded and pretended to understand, but honestly I wouldn't have had a clue what he was talking about even if he was speaking fluent english. My roommate says I attract interesting people. I'm ok with it.

One weird thing I noticed is that whenever I go out and sketch, people seem so amazed with my drawings. As if we weren't in a city bursting with greater art than I could ever dream of creating. Seriously people. 

Today I had Italian which i was really looking forward to. Im tired of being the stupid American who can't read or communicate. But instead of teaching us Italian, my teach took us on yet another walking tour of the city center.  It was hot and long and there were too many slow tourists. But, in our syllabus it talked about a conversation exchange with students from the local university who are learning english. So im stoked for that. But I'm starting to think that 3 studio classes plus a 6 credit Italian class may be too much in combination with moving to a foreign country. I dont think I'll really have any time to travel.

I went to the market again today and brought my camera with me:

  They have EVERYTHING at this market. Fruits, vegetables, cheese, pasta, herbs, olive oil, wine, meat (i got lost in the meat section today and kinda freaked out) dried fruit, and even a few places selling sandwiches and pizzas.

I just got fruits and veggies today.

And I'm trying to make a point of getting something I've never tried before everything I go to the market. Today I found this crazy green tomato and super long squash.

These tomatos have to be the reason some people consider tomatos fruits. SO FRIKIN GOOD.

Some day, we will be remembered.

Today we went on a walk up to the San Miniato Church. You can see all of Florence from up there. Its absolutely breathtaking. It goes on for forever! Like Lake Ontario.

We got to go inside the church too. I had to wear a shawl because my bare shoulders were offensive. Understandable.  The frescos inside were incredible. There were unfinished paintings. It was so cool to see the process. It made me think, why dont we build churches like this any more? Why isnt great art and architecture used in churches to glorify God like this anymore? Ive been reading this book Tony Pisani gave me about art for the glory of God. Its so sad that Christians aren't making great art. I will try to!

Ive been taking walks around by myself and discovering cool things. Lots of little art galleries. This is truly the city of art.  There are paintings everywhere. And sculptures. Frikin amazing marble and stone sculptures everywhere. I'm so excited to be studying art here. I just want to soak it all in.  Classes start tomorrow! Tomorrow I have Florence Sketchbook, Tuesday is Italian, Wednesday is FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY!!!! Thursday is italian and mixed media. and I have Fridays off. I cant wait to have projects to do. 

Two Star Hotel, where the stars dont mean anything.

HOLY ZANG.
this has been the longest week of my life. Over all its been good. But it has been one long crazy hectic week. I cant believe I was in Rochester only 7 days ago.

I moved to my beautiful new tiny apartment on wednesday. It was a really long day of trains planes airports and cars.  I've discovered that I love going new places, but i kinda hate traveling. oh well. you gotta do it i guess.

Florence is amazing. View from my window: 

 ive been so overwhelmed. Major culture shock. everything is different, i cant read or speak italian, and i have no idea where anything is.
But, eveything is so beautiful and fun and exciting and new! its been very weird.
Im starting to know my way around a little. I got kinda lost the first day, but there are enough landmarks that its easy to find yourself again. and i found my way to the market and back by myself yesterday. I was so proud.
The history in this place is out of control. The city center was built during the Renaissance an the rest was built in mid-evil times. We just don't have anything like that in America.

It is the most surreal thing to turn a corner and suddenly be confronted by an enormous monument that you have only seen in art history text books.  I almost cried when I first saw the Duomo. It is absolutly flawless. I hope the amazement of it never wears off. Its so huge that i feel like a miniature mini midget dwarf pygmy toad in comparison.

 I cant get the whole thing in one picture.
I've been sketching everyday. I cant wait for my sketchbook class to start. 

I think I may have met a kindred spirit today. so thats good.

I miss you all.