Playing Catch-Up

I'm very sorry to all of my readers for not keeping up with my blogposts! I promise to try my best to update this at least once a week! hehe

So much has happened since the semester started that I don't know where to begin. We're going into our fifth week of school which means I haven't blogged for five weeks and midterms and SPRING BREAK is just around the corner! God has blessed me with so much this semester and everyday I wake up with more reasons to continue thanking Him for what he's done for me. For the first time (EVER), my close group of friends are all Christians. My roommate Madeline and I go to church and Bible study together and although at times it feels weird, I'm glad to have someone who will push me to go to Church when I have those days when I don't feel like it. Having such a close group of friends who share the same faith as me has made being abroad much more easier. My heart weeps when I meet other study abroad students who long to get "blacked out" and "shit-faced" drunk every night. There's nothing wrong with drinking but why would anyone want to wake up the next morning not remembering what they did the night before? 

Looking back at my photos, I'm coming to the realization that I've done so much within the first half of my semester! I went to Venezia for Carnevale and got to visit the islands of Murano and Burano. I visited Steph in Torino the same weekend that Mike was visiting her so I got to see another Italian city and see two great friends at the same time. I also got to revisit Pisa and take my touristy photo and see Joyce and Guido again in Montecatini. I went to Rome to have my own Lizzie McGurie adventure and I got to see Papa while I was there! But what makes me so happy about this semester is being able to fellowship with everyone from Church. Just last weekend, the weather was so beautiful and EVERYONE was able to come out to Cascine Park. It was so wonderful to be able to have a mini picnic and sing praises to Him. And the most amazing thing was being able to see how our worship to the Lord was immediately changing the atmosphere in the park. People kept looking our way to see what those "strange Americans" were doing and I know God will work wonders in all those who were there at the park that day. 

Last weekend, I had a mini breakdown. On Friday, my wallet was stolen again for the second time. This week was such a struggle to get through because I was running low on food and I had absolutely no money. Everyday was a test to my faith and trust in God. I was stripped bare of everything I had and the only thing I had left was my faith in Him. My wallet still hasn't been found but I believe that he will work another miracle for me. In the meantime, I only have more words of thanks to say to Him.

Enjoying the sun on the island of Murano with my roomie and Marie! 

Got to see these lovely peeps in Torino! 

Enjoying the night out and supporting DJ Simo!

On the Spanish Steps in Rome!

Enjoying a nice sunny day in Florence!

The Start of a New Semester

The day that I was most excited for and dreading finally arrived. Today, I got to move into my new apartment in Firenze. I was excited to finally have a place that I could call my own but I was so nervous about my new flatmates and having to go through the process of having to meet and make new friends. Last semester was a big realization to me of how introverted and shy I am. I do enjoy being sociable but I really need some time by myself to self-reflect and recharge for the next social event. Many of my friends at school only see the social side of me but that's because I could easily hide out in my room and take a day or two to refuel my energy levels. Last semester, there was no place or even any space where I could be alone. Sierra and Melody rarely ever left the apartment and there would be too many people that I would have to walk past around Florence to find a decent quiet space. I was overwhelmed and exhausted from having to force a smile on my face and make myself presentable to everyone else that I was meeting. I just could not deal with it anymore. So the very thought of having to move back into the city and start the whole process all over again, although exciting, made me very anxious and worried. Would my new roommates like me? What would they think of me? Blah blah blah.

My new roomie and I!

But God is so good. My new apartment is twice the size of my last one. We have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a loft, a couch that pulls out into a bed, a cute dining table, a cozy kitchen, and a little patio to have our dinners once the weather warms up. We also live on the other side of the river. It makes a huge difference what side of the river you live on. Last semester, as soon as I stepped out of my apartment complex, I would hear English, Chinese, Japanese, etc. but on this side of the river, I have only heard Italian being spoken. On top of that, my new roommates are the sweetest! All three are Americans. Two of them are from New York and the one I share the room with, Madeline, is from Iowa. And the best part is that Madeline is a Christian! Praise the Lord! All this time I have been praying for a friend/roommate who could go to church with me and God provided! I am actually looking forward to this semester! c: THANK YOU JESUS!

HO FINITO!

I am done with FINALS WEEK, packing, cleaning, and moving out of my apartment.

Sadly, I overslept and missed my train to the airport to begin my winter break adventures. I took the next train out, hoping that I'd still be able to make it to my flight but the heavy snow on the train tracks caused a slight delay and I missed my flight. Thank God for Michelle. She's letting me stay at her place in Milan until I flight out to Paris to begin my Winter Break adventures~! <3

This past semester has been an emotional roller-coaster ride. I've had the greatest of ups, the lowest of downs. But overall, I enjoyed every moment of it, or at least came to terms with accepting what happened. I had a rough start and ending with my roommates. The cultural differences made it really hard for me to understand them and for them to understand me but I think we ended on a positive note. I've made some amazing friends and I will never forget their friendships. I'm going to miss them so so so much! I can't imagine Florence without them... But cheers to the end of the semester and for the new adventure that lies ahead! c:

Some thoughts on the Korean Culture

I think I'm starting to experience a little bit of culture shock.  But its not the Italian culture that's putting me into this phase of shock and disbelief.  Its the Korean culture.  As I've mentioned before, both of my roommates are from Korea.  I guess you could say that they're your typical average Korean girls who live a very Korean lifestyle.  But even though I knew that my roommates were going to be Korean before I even came to Italy, I never expected to feel disoriented by the Korean culture.  After all, I had grown up with it.  My parents were strictly Korean in their ideologies and their way of life.  Maybe the generational factor has an influence but I am truly undergoing culture shock.

A couple days back, while have a chat with both of my roommates, we discovered that Melody had undergone plastic surgery to change her mono-lids into the infamously desired double eyelids.  The conversation swiftly switched gears to the list of things that both Melody and Sierra wanted to fix under the knife.  A nose job, double-eyelid surgery, breast implants, jaw restructuring...the list went on and on.  I was very much in shock.  Here were two already beautiful girls and they wanted to completely transform their faces to conform to the set ideals of Korean beauty.  I asked why.  Their response was simply that all of their friends were doing it and they didn't want to be "the ugly friend."  I guess my face must have clearly expressed the disturbance I was feeling at having heard this that one of them ventured on to ask me, "You're perfectly content with the way you look?"

To be honest, I know for a fact that I've never felt pretty and I would never describe myself as being pretty.  I have a very average face.  I don't think anyone has ever felt appalled by looking at my face but I know that my face is far from perfect.  I mean, who has a perfect face?  But even with all of the imperfections that I may have, I would never get plastic surgery or change my face in any way.

Lets just say that both of my roommates were clearly offset by my being fully satisfied with my looks.

Siena and San Gimignano

Sorry its been awhile since I last updated this blog.  I never realized how hard it was to keep the world posted with your life until I started this blog...hehe.  But I'll try my best to post every weekend at the least!

Today was my first trip outside of Firenze, unless you count Fiesole.  My roommate Sierra and I adventured through the breathtakingly beautiful towns of Siena and San Gimignano with Bus2Alps.  It was a pricey ticket for what we did (50 euros to get a basic tour) but our three course meal and wine-tasting for lunch at a Tuscan villa was probably what made the entire trip worth every cent.  Imagine Tuscany.  Beautiful rolling hills of green and fresh, crisp air.  Yup, that's where I ate my lunch today.  Carlos, our host, gave us pointers on how to properly drink vino (wine).  From how to hold your glass, the number of times you have to swoosh the wine, and how to smell and drink.  We probably tasted about five different types of wine.  I have to say that my favorite was the Chianti DOCG, a light wine usually drunk with the first course.  The lightness is probably why I loved it so much.  Since I just recently started drinking, I'm not as strong a drinker as everyone else and I could definitely feel the throbbing of the wine after my third glass or so.  The three course meal was delicious!  It was your typical Italian lunch, starting with a small appetizer consisting of fresh greens drenched in olive oil, a slice of bread, salami, and some cheese.  I'm definitely used to much more spices overflowing in my mouth so this was a bit bland for my taste.  But I did have a bite or two of salami, which is surprising considering the fact that I haven't eaten meat in roughly six years or so.  The second course, which was my favorite, was a hearty soup made with the freshest vegetables.  According to Carlos, it took a total of seven hours for the soup to cook!!  SEVEN!  The soup wasn't too rich or too watery, but just right.  I loved the burst of vegetables in every spoonful.  And when I dipped some bread, mmmmm.  Soooo good!  The third and last course was lasagna drenched with truffle oil.  I'm not the biggest fan of lasagna (because of all the cheese and beef in it) but you could just taste all the heart and care they put into making this lasagna.  I couldn't finish it because of all the wine I drank, but this meal will probably be one of the best meals I'll ever have in Italy.

First course: salad with olive oil, toast, salami, and cheese.

Vernanccia di San Gimignano (LEFT) and Chianti (RIGHT)

Second course: soup!

Third course: Lasagna with truffle oil!

Siena.  Everyone that has been to Italy has told me to visit Siena.  Now I can see why.  Its a much smaller town in comparison to Firenze but it possesses things that even Firenze does not have.  The views of the rolling Tuscan hillside, the greenery surrounding the city limits, and the fresh, crisp air!  Ohh, how I would love to live in Siena.  The medieval and renaissance architecture is present in almost every corner.  The Duomo is so much more outstanding compared to Firenze's Il Duomo, despite its stark black and white colors.  Something about the fine details just screams for your attention.  But my favorite part would probably have to be the circularly shaped Piazza Il Palio.  This is the famous square where Siena's horse races are held biannually.  The square was much smaller than I expected it to be but there's something about it that just commands for attention.

In front of the Duomo with the roomie!

San Gimignano.  I have to admit, I've never even heard of this town.  But honestly, besides the lunch, this little town would probably be my favorite part of the trip.  The drive up to San Gimignano is enough to fall in love.  There's so much greenery--its literally the epitome of Tuscany!  Its what I imagine when I think of Tuscany.  And to make things even better, this town is home to the world's best gelateria.  Yes, you read it...THE BEST!  I tried the kiwi and lampone (raspberry) flavors this time and mmmmm mmmm mmmmmmm...soooo goooood!

Eating gelato from the best gelateria in the world! Flavors: kiwi and lampone (raspberry)!

If I have the chance, both Siena and San Gimignano are places that I want to visit again.  One day is never enough to see an entire city, no matter how small!

Fiesole

I finally made it out to Fiesole.  As soon as I stepped off of the bus, I felt as if I had jumped into the scenery of a painting.  It was breathtaking.  The air was so crisp and fresh.  The trees danced subtly with the wind.  The streets were clean and waiting to be explored.  I must say that I am more in love with Fiesole than I am with Firenze.  Something about the serene atmosphere of the entire place had--in the best words possible to describe it--almost a spiritual epiphany-like quality.  Its a place where I just want to sit, breath in everything surrounding me, and just come to appreciate the beauty.  I feel so blessed to be living in Italia.  I'm living a life that many others can only dream about.

On another note, the trip to Fiesole was an interesting one to say the least.  I had originally planned to just go with a new friend I had made in class, a fellow "Hawaiian" named Mahea, but my roommates and I had all planned to go to Fiesole together eventually so I invited them along c:  After finally arriving at San Marco, we almost got ripped off trying to buy our bus tickets.  We only needed a ticket to and back from Fiesole but the old man at the bus stop kept trying to tell me that I needed four bus tickets to go to and back.  #touristproblems.  But all my bitterness towards the old man went away as soon as I stepped onto the bus.  I've never seen such a cute bus.  The colors were bright yellow and orange (the main reason why I liked it so much!) and you can't not be happy when you see such bright colors like those!

Fiesole!

To give a little background on the quaint town of Fiesole, it existed even before Firenze was built.  Firenze was all wet lands back when Fiesole was thriving!  You can still see some of the leftover Greco-Roman art here and there throughout the town!  Today, Fiesole is a tourist attraction for those visiting Firenze and want to take a break from all the artwork.  They can come to Fiesole   Mahea pointed this out today but I guess I never really realized it until she said it: Being in Italy is like living in my textbooks.  All those monuments and artworks that I've read so much about, written countless papers on, its all here right before my eyes.  I was a little disappointed because the amphitheater had an entrance fee that all of us were too broke to pay for.  Maybe next time!

Greco-Roman Art!

After exploring the town for a little bit longer, we found a mini park and decided to have our lunch, picnic style.  If it was just a little bit warmer, it would have been the best picnic ever!  We stopped by a pastry shop on our way back to the town center to grab a cup of coffee and enjoy a pastry!  Mmmm...Fiesole is definitely my kind of town.

Picnic time!

Yours truly enjoying her shot of espresso!

FREE Admission!

As you may know, I'm a sucker for FREE things c:
So when I found out that the Santa Maria del Fiore (St. Mary of the Flower), or better known as Il Duomo, was open to the public for FREE, I was ecstatic!  Il Duomo was built in the honor of the Virgin Mary and the cornerstone of the Duomo was laid on September 8th, 1926, following the Festa della Rificolona (read about it here: Festa della Rificolona).  So in her honor, the terrace of the Duomo's cupola was open for FREE on that day!!  Thank God for Virgin Mary!  Since the cost of admission is usually 6 euros, my wallet is definitely thanking me!  As for my legs, the 400 steps was a good but tiring workout and they aren't too happy about it.  But saving money is always a good thing c:

Il Duomo from the top of the Cathedral Cornerstone! 

Roomies~!

400 steps to the top >____<;;

Finding FREE events like these make my day.  I'm always searching the Internet to find free or cheap things to do around Firenze.  I think I might try Firenze's happy hour next time!  Buy a drink, get FREE buffet dinner or aperitif!

Firenze la notte~!

My friend Michelle told me that Roma comes alive at night.  And you know what, so does Firenze.  The day time is great and all but sometimes trying to get past large crowds of tourists can become a challenge and an annoyance.  At night, the real Florentines come out and mingle with the leftover tourists who haven't ran away to their hotels to rest after their daytime adventures.  And I'm not talking about bar hopping or pub crawling.  Although I'm sure that's another wonderful aspect of the Florentine nightlife.  The streets just come alive with musicians, artists, and performers who just love to put on a good show.  Its a great way to enjoy the nightlife without spending all that $$$$$.  I've seen so many talented musicians and artists just doing what they love.  They never fail to put a smile on my face!

Just after the Festa della Rificolona "ended" (after the Cardinal's speech), my roommates and I were on our way back to the apartment when we strolled past a large crowd watching an Italian Charlie Chaplin putting on a mini comedic skit!  It was quite amazing!  And I loved the way he incorporated the crowd into his acts!  I only wish I could find the words to describe what I saw.  But maybe pictures would suffice.

Giving a kid in the crowd a balloon c: but for a price! 

The smiling faces!

End of the show! 

Festa della Rificolona: Festival of the Paper Lanterns

Friday night was supposed to be the roomies and I's "night-in."  Sad right?  I was feeling pumped and energized but I guess my roomies aren't exactly used to intensive walks so going to San Niccolo was a total workout for them!  It was gonna be a dinner and a movie kinda night with the roomies!  But halfway through Batman, we heard a loud commotion outside our windows and rushed over to see what was going on.  There was a parade band and large crowds of people following the band with what looked to be paper lanterns held at the end of a stick!  Even though we wanted a quiet night in, we couldn't resist missing out on this and rushed out the door to follow the crowd!

Apparently it was the annual Festa della Rificolona or the Festival of the Paper Lanterns.  This festival is always held on September 8th, the day that the Virgin Mary is assumed to be born.  The festival is held in her honor and since the large basilica of Santissima Annunziata in Firenze is dedicated to the worship of the Virgin Mary, the festival takes place in Firenze.  Back in the olden days, this festival was one of the primary reasons to make the pilgrimage to Firenze and many farmers, peasants, workers, etc. would bring with them large amounts of their goods such as cheeses, honey, the season's vegetables, and handmade items.  Since the journey began at dawn, paper lanterns held at the end of a stick were used to guide their way.  This tradition is continued annually in Firenze on the night of September 8th.  The cardinal leads the crowd through the streets of Firenze from Piazza Felicita to Piazza Santissima Annunziata, where a short speech is given and a party ensues afterwards.

This cutie saw me trying to take pictures of him and he smiled for the camera! 

Paper Lanterns 

The crowd at Piazza Santissima Annuziata

They offered to pose for the camera c:

I'm really glad I actually got to see this take place!  The paper lanterns that the children were carrying through the streets were so colorful and beautifully made.  Many of the boys were carrying spit wads with them and spitting at the lanterns, which I still can't figure out, but it made me wish I were a kid again so I could join them in all the fun they were having!  Hopefully some day I'll make it back to Florence to participate in this festival!

Night outing with the Roomies~!

Tonight's adventure began with the quest to find dressy clothes for our Welcome Dinner on Monday!  But since we went out at 8pm, all the shops were just closing up. ):  Luckily for us, Firenze is all about the nightlife~!

We passed by so many random street artists on our walk back home (after finding the stores closed).  My favorite was a man creating a replica of Johannes Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring on the sidewalk with pieces of chalk!  

Amazing right??

There were these two singers who serenaded us (the crowd but mainly us :P ) on the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge.  And then we ran into a small concert outside Palazzo della Signoria, right next to the Michelangelo's statue of David.  If every night is like this in Firenze, I don't think I ever want to go to sleep!

Roomies & the Apartment Life

As promised, here's a post on my new casa and my adorkable roomies!

My bedroom.  I took the side with the window c: teehee

The bathroom was surprisingly very spacious!  I still can't figure out what the toilet next to the toilet is though :/

The hallway/living room.  Very small but cute!

The kitchen!  I don't cook so hopefully I won't be setting this place on fire!

There's even a laundry room!

Finally a closet big enough to fit all of my clothes!  And with room to spare! c: hehe 

I was very surprised when I first saw the apartment.  I was comparing the place by American standards so I was expecting something more similar to an apartment-style dorm.  I didn't realize that what the Italians meant by "student housing" was that they would find an apartment somewhere in Florence for you.  Even though I love my new home, there definitely are some ups and downs.  The quality of the housing is significantly much better than a dorm but its also been very difficult to meet everyone else.  It doesn't help that our apartment is located on the opposite side of the Duomo from where all the other students are staying.

My roomies: "Sierra" (L) and "Melody" (R)

My roomies, "Sierra" and "Melody" (I'm using quotations around their names because they asked me to give them pretty American names).  Both of my roommates are from Korea and even though they both go to the same university, they never actually met until we all moved in.  I was a little worried at first on how I'd get along with them (since my Korean isn't as great as theirs and their English isn't as great as mine) but after a week, I think I'm going to enjoy what this semester has in store for all three of us! c:

It also feels great to finally be the girl with the biggest boobs in the group! (They're both sooo skinny!)