It's vacation time!

I am currently in the middle of a 5 country trip--Austria, Germany, France, (back to) Italy, and lastly Switzerland! My sister is my travel companion right now and we are spending Christmas in Munich. It will be my first white Christmas and I am very excited. Then we are off to Paris, to meet up with John and Justin, two of my friends from high school and we will all be spending New Year's Eve there. After which, we will hop on a train, I will show them Italy and we will head to Switzerland for some snowboarding in the Swiss Alps! Details to come. Happy holidays! (P.S. I would have inserted line breaks, but the enter button is not working on this crazy German keyboard)

Los Angeles Native Experiences Autumn for the First Time

Florence is best known as the birthplace of the Renaissance. A place renowned as an area which has kindled the artistic abilities of many, resulting in one of the most highly regarded artistic movements of time. Amidst all this art and architecture, I have found the capoliveri (masterpiece) of Italy to be the autumn season that I have just experienced.

I have seen “The Birth of Venus,” I have seen Michelangelo's David, but the most beautiful thing that I have seen in Florence was a yellow-leaf filled park at midnight.

It was after three days of rainfall—the ground was saturated, spirits were low, and the sky had just become cleared of its nebulous beasts. The rain had prematurely beat down the bright yellow leaves, the bark of the trees were pitch black with rain water, and the moon was reflecting upon the dew covered leaves. It was magnificent and sadly, I don’t have a picture to show of it.

Since that night, the leaves have quickly turned brown, becoming a visible sign of winter, which officials arrives in two days. Of course, now that the leaves have officially become carcasses, I am fully armed with camera in hand. Without delay, my standing ovation to autumn as she takes her final bow...

The pictures:
Top right: Park nearby my school. Yes, that is a merry-go-round in the distance.
Top left: Me in the leaves.
Second right: More leaves!
Second left: The leaves on their hearse.
Bottom right: Naked trees.

"My professor makes the best gin and tonics" and other recent utterances

One of the many things that I will return home with is my newly reinforced ability to cook. Because I am afforded more time in the kitchen, thanks to my pleasantly relaxed daily schedule of activities (aka I am not working 30 hours a week like back at home), I find myself experimenting more with dishes and enjoying the process of cooking, therefore leading me to do it frequently.

I have even garnered a reputation among my friends here in Italy as an excellent cook and I am often finding myself at friend's houses cooking dinner for a gathered mass of hungry students. I have also become quasi-vegetarian while here because this country is so obsessed with ham and veal, things which do not excite me in the least bit. Also, because there is some chicken flu thing going around, no one is eating chicken, so the only meat I find myself consuming is sliced turkey from the deli at the grocery store.

One of my favorite new things to make is a from-scratch cappuccino! I never imagined that I would be able to make a cappuccino without a 200 dollar machine, but it can be done! They have these small teapot looking things here which make a cup of espresso, so I add warm milk to the espresso, and whip (by hand, which becomes tiresome if you have a couple of guests over) some more warm milk into foam, and there you have it. A 2.00 dollar Starbucks cappuccino brought to you my Krystle. (as seen at right)

When I am not feeding myself and my friends, I find myself at school, feeding my brain with lots of history and literature! Studying here is a great opportunity to be exposed to so many areas of literature and history that I probably would not encounter back at home. Moreover, without even trying, I am acquiring so much knowledge about art, architecture, and language than I ever could have imagined.

Recently, one of the facilitators of this learning opened up his house and hosted a Sunday Cocktail party for all of the American students that he teaches (most teachers that I've talked to in Florence teach at about 2-4 schools at a time). It was a great afternoon/evening and I came to discover that my professor has one of the most hip and interestingly decorated places that I have seen in years. (he's pictured left, moonlighting as bartender...and the best gin and tonic ever--which he made--is pictured right. gin and tonics are best served with heart shaped ice cubes)

Wireless and happiness

After four long months of anticipation, the wireless internet has been set up at my school! I could not be more pleased! You can send me a message on AIM on the screen name "blondeambassador," as I am certain to be online often now.

Other than the overdue arrival of free internet access, my life in Italy is going very well. I was bumped up a class in Italian, I have been learning about medieval and Renaissance Italian (and European) literature, I have been learning a great deal about music and opera, and I am developing ideas for my honors thesis.

As expected, the method of instruction is different than what I am accustomed to in the States. Although it was jarring at first, I quickly adapted and things are progressing splendidly.

The only thing I am experiencing adversity with is the weather. As a native Southern Californian, I am used to sun, sun, sun, wind, and some rain. As a temporary Florentine, I am abused by bitter, damp cold, lingering rain, hail/slushy snow, and a depressing, continually gray sky. Even though it may seem that I am completely opposed to the weather, I have found solace in the opportunity to finally indulge myself in the fabulous winter clothes that are unnecessary for the Los Angeles climate. Scarves, boots, tights, winter skirts, hats, coats, gloves--I am all over it!

More to come...and I will (someday) get up more of my travel adventures (with pictures!).



--Kate and I enjoying a peanut butter and jelly sandwich somewhere in Italy and desperately trying to stay warm!