Benone! I have survived my first week of classes! The academic environment is much chiller than Georgetown. The classes are very casual and every period is based mostly on discussion, which makes for a much more interesting lecture and class dynamic. I am taking Basic Italian language, which so far isn’t too exciting. I now know how to introduce myself and ask how people are and I know some geographical words, but not much. So far, only one verb… but thankfully I am learning a lot at home and I am able to retain some words that are similar to Latin or Spanish! My host mom, Flavia, is adorably patient with me, and thankfully, in the house, Sarah (my roommate) does most of the talking. I do understand a lot, but my vocabulary is so limited that I can barely form a sentence.
At the villa, I am also taking Italian Cinema. Our professor is fantastic! She has actual Hollywood experience (Godfather III and Dead Poet’s Society) and has a great personality. So far we have watched L’Utimo Baccio (The Last Kiss) which was really good. Some of you may know the recent American version with Rachel Bilson, which was terrible compared to the original Italian version! We also watched Rome, Open City, which was a great war drama that was quite remarkable for its time (1945), considering the director faced potential capital punishment for making it.
Next, I am taking Producing Fascism, a history class, with our only American professor. He’s an expert on the rise of Nazism in Germany, not Italy, so the Fascism class is a learning experience for all of us. It is pure discussion and really an intense focus on the Italian case.
Then, Art History, which is actually the biggest disappointment. I am so used to the style of class at Georgetown, and our professor at the Villa is brilliant, but just lists everything she knows about each work of art. We go so quickly and there is barely any time to digest what she’s said. There is also absolutely no accountability in the class. We are not responsible for memorizing works, it’s just for fun (?), kind of, so most people spend the 2.5 hour class surfing the internet. Hopefully our field trips with her will be more thrilling considering we’ll be in front of the original works! This Wednesday we take a trip to the Uffizi for a day filled with art history information!
Lastly, my government class if titled, “Italy, Europe, and the Wider World.” Basically, it’s a class about globalization. There is little focus on Italy, but the professor, Professor Wanrooij, is fantastic! He’s the villa director and has a great accent and personality and really tries to make the course as stimulating as it can possibly be.
Now for the good stuff! My first real weekend has been so incredible. Filled with food, fines, and fantastic purchases! My first trip into Firenze… I got a 45 euro fine for not swiping my bus card… silly me! But I quieted my misery by buying a fantastic leather jacket in il centro di Firenze! Sarah, Mariana, and I spent the day shopping at San Lorenzo market and went to Piazza Santa Croce for the chocolate festival… which yes, is as amazing as it sounds! I gave in to my dark side (literally and figuratively) and bought some dark chocolate from a gourmet chocolatier in Firenze. On Saturday, a group of us from both homes and the villa went to an opera in Firenze!!! We were a little late, and the view left something to be desired, but nevertheless, it was quite an experience. We saw Pucini’s Madame Butterfly, which was so beautifully tragic. Thankfully I looked up the synopsis ahead of time, because the text was purely in Italian and I of course, don’t know enough to determine the plot of an opera! Yet the music was beautiful and the voices beyond compare!! (the picture above is Mariana, Me and Sarah at my house before the opera)
Overall, it was a great start to my time in Florence. It already seems to be going by so quickly and there is still so much left to do! So in the mean time, I continue to eat all the fantastic food and see the sights and take as many pictures as possible! Will write more later!
Ciao!
