Un prodotto d'Italia: Frollini

[This is a new mini-post that I should update quite often that will give you some sort of insight into my daily life with a focus on some Italian product that I deem delicious or bizarre]

These tasty little nibblets are the best cookies that Italy has to offer, out of the six varieties that they offer.. They have slight hints of cocoa [cacao] and hazelnut [nocciole] and a wopping load of deliciousness. The tiny white stars imprinted on top and the heavy dusting of sugar granules take you back to a sweeter, more simple time and the fact that they only cost a euro doesn't hurt. If you ever find yourself walking the streets of Italy and craving a sweet treat, stop by and get some of these frollini to dip in your coffee or nutella. YUM.

Rainy Week in Firenze

Sadly the rain prevented me from traveling to the beaches of Cinque Terre as previously planned, but I will make it there eventually I am sure. It has all worked out for the best anyway, because this week classes officially started and wow, grad school is definitely a step above undergrad. Readings are intense, sometimes boring and always long. I am very glad that I know without a doubt that I am doing the right thing for myself, otherwise I would having a much harder time coping with the amount of work. Also, I am pretty sure I have yet to adjust fully to my new timezone seeing as this weekend I repeatedly went to sleep at 5am and slept until 2pm.

Over the past week we have had the chance to be part of a film festival of independent short and full-length films highlighting the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. It has been a mixed bag of some very insightful and entertaining films along with some cocmpletely off-the-wall, experimental pieces. Regardless, I have a renewed desire to travel to and explore Berlin some weekend this year.

The first pangs of missing the U.S. has started to hit as well. Dreams of Taco Bell and utter hatred towards the impossibility of purchasing dryer sheets and paper towels anywhere that would normally sell such products. This evening, however, I did give in and paid a visit to one of two Florentine McDonald's. PURE HEAVEN. Even though I spent €7 on a value meal [the same amount allowing me to purchase 10 McDoubles off of the dollar menu in the states] it was completely worth it. Sadly, Taco Bell does not exist outside of the U.S. as far as I am aware. The Crispy McBacon will have to suffice for now.

________ + pasta = good

I haven't had much to really post about, seeing as I have been sitting in orientation sessions for the past 2 weeeks and haven't traveled anywhere since Pisa. I've been spending most of time getting to know Florence/Firenze and trying to figure out the good and the bad places to do my everyday things.

One thing has not changed. While living with a window that overlooks a piazza is quite nice sometimes (i.e. this morning when I woke up and there was a street fair going on), the noise at night is relentless. I just try to drown it out with simplynoise.com (a white noise thingy) because its cheaper than sleeping pills.

Classes start tomorrow and my guess is they're going to be pretty intense, but I'm looking forward to is regardless. Oooo next weekend me and few other people in the program made reservations to visit Cinque Terre (as everyone, especially John Heiner has advised me to do) to go hiking/beach lounging. I'll let you know what it's like after I go of course, but here's a preview of it:

I have also discovered the art of the international drunk dial, as many of you are probably aware. Based on the correlation of the time difference and my sociability, it really has worked out quite well. Thanks Skype! Other things I have discovered to be nice: tuna in pasta, €1.69 liters of wine, linen pants, deli-turkey in pasta, the town of Fiesole, wizzair.com, green beans in pasta, well really anything in pasta that is cheap...

I guess that is it for now, but do not worry, I am slowly collecting postcards to send to everyone as long as you have given me your address. (if not just put it in the comment box below here)

PREVIEW: I am going to Venice, Prague, Bratislava and Budapest for fall break. Trying to finalize plans and book everything tomorrow. If you have any advice, throw it at me.

Miss everyone!

Welcome to "Graduate School"

After spending nearly 48 hours in airports/planes [completely not normal for transatlantic travel] I have arrived in my new home, Palazzo Capponi, for the next year. Even though it used to be den for squatters and drug dealers/addicts, JMU has done quite the lovely job at making it livable, air-coditioned and IKEA themed. The neighborhood we are living in is on the not so popular side of the river and is known as Santo Spirito. It is lovely during the day and has an open air market, but for some reason at night the piazza outside my window [see image below] becomes an open air party for the homeless of the city and fills my night with the soothing sounds of dog fights and bottle smashing.

Just to to give you an idea of how seriously all 17 students are taking the program thus far, we have to this date: gone bar hopping, completed a scavenger hunt, wandered around Florence aimlessly and sampled at least 4 different gelatarias. In other words, classes don't start until a week from Monday.

Sorry this post is so long, but I just wanted to give you a general overview of life thus far.

Tonight has been themed blackout night by the rest of the group and we are planning on playing a rousing game of wine pong in the kitchen of our building, seeing as large quantities of beer are non-existent in Italy. This should all make my day trip to Pisa quite interesting tomorrow. You will obviously be updated on this.

Which brings me to the game....

What Florence does not have -

-Taco Bell

-Hot Showers

-Splenda

-Vagrancy Laws

-Paper Towels

-Cars larger than an oversized suitcase

-The History Channel

-People who wear too much deodorant

-Total Cereal

Things Italy does have-

-T.B.D. (not that there is nothing I like, just that listing things now would not be fair to Italian culture)

Alright, I shall leave you for now, but I think you should probably keep up with this blog because I am quite sure that things will get much more interesting with time. Ciao!

OH. Skype: nsdoleman and/or follow me on Twitter: @seff86