Last night I slept for 12 hours. I tried to write last night but it ended up looking like gibberish because I fell asleep the second I sat down.
Yesterday was very long and challenging for me. I wanted to do nothing but go to MY bed and sleep sleep sleep. I wanted to talk to no one and learn nothing.
I figure I traveled from 5PM- 12PM EST straight without stopping. Mentally, that was draining.
My apartment is right by campus and the river and the Duomo. Let me tell you my adventure getting there:
After FINALLY arriving in Florence we had to go through a mini orientation, getting our keys and phone(aka the first Nokia ever made).. things like that. Then they said okay off to your apartment you go. At this point all I knew was that it was on the top floor. Yea, that would be on the top of 5 very steep flights of stairs. I am talking straight vertical steps. Need I remind you that I have two 50 lb bags, a massive backpack, and a computer bag coming up the stairs with me. Oh boy- was that fun. After I made it up, I put my key in the wrong door, the door of a local woman, and got it stuck. She did not speak English. I can barely breathe and trying to explain that no, I was not trying to break in, I was just confused. it was a bit of a challenge. Thank goodness a nice man was there to help explain.
^^The extreme staircase with my roommate Alex.
I was so exhausted, I could not even enjoy my first tour around the city- which is ridiculous and somewhat unbelievable since my mood has drastically changed since then.
It should go without saying how beautiful it is here. I have already met amazing people who I have become fast friends with. Two roommates, are from Puerto Rico so I may come back speaking both Italian and Spanish. They are very traveled and have been helping me a lot already. My other roommate is from New York, I should not have to explain how I love that.
All of the buildings and streets are so old and breath taking. It is surreal to think that for the next 3 1/2 months I am going to wake up to this.
The lifestyle is so different from America. Everything takes longer, little things even - like the washer. Or calling a handyman to fix the shower. The heat can only be on 8 hours a day and the required heat level in an housing unit is 20 degrees. 20! And I thought my house was cold. I have already realized how America uses twice as much electricity, if not more, than everywhere else in the world.
Everyone might be wondering why I only have one picture, of my staircase of all things, but I will have some touristy pictures uploaded by the weekend!
Ciao
No comments:
Post a Comment