CIAO!!!!

Ciao....today is Wednesday and I've forgotten to bring my camera connecter to the school so I cannot load pictures yet. These last few days have been so fun.

Sunday was sleep day, although Antonio, my host father, took Blair (roomie) and I around Florence for a bit. Then the 14 of us had dinner out and walked around Florence until around 11. It is absolutely beautiful

Blair and I have made it a tradition to walk across the Ponte Vecchio, a famous bridge in Florence, every night on our way home. Our house is about a 6 or 7 minute WALK from and to school, which is in the center of Florence. It's so fun to walk around at night.

Monday was our first day of school. It is SO exciting to be able to speak a little. We also took a little tour of Florence with the group and Maria, our on site coordinator, who is very nice and fun. Monday night, we had dinner with our host families. Dinner with Antonio and Guiya is a blast. They are so fun to talk to. Between my broken Italian, Antonio's broken English, and face expressions/hand motions, we all have a great time communicating with each other and comparing cultures.

The food is delicious...although Guiya and Antonio don't understand why Blair and I can't eat a HUGE plate of pasta...they like to give us a hard time. It is very funny.

Yesterday, Tuesday, was our second day of class (8-1)...very exciting. Plus...my baggage finally arrived which makes a BIG difference considering I don't have to wear jeans, uncomfortable shoes, and a borrowed shirt that says "I'm not just a pretty face" anymore. Then we went to visit the Piazzale Michelangelo (spelling?). After climbing many steps we arrived at the huge church. The view was AMAZING...all of Florence in our sight. Plus, their were tombs everywhere. I got to run FINALLY yesterday. It was so nice to run around Florence...to run in general.

Dinner was very very good yesterday. Then a small group of us went to a concert a children's choir from INdiana had in a church nearby. It was nice. When we got home I had quite a fun discussion with Antonio about sports, and school, and work...very fun.

This morning I went running again. It is much easier earlier in the day...less busy. After school, I had coffee with some friends from SB...I won't tell you who. They are sending pictures to my mom to suprise her. :) we just spent a while walking around and we went to the Ufizzi gallery--there is some art there that is pretty out of this world. I am about to go home to study and maybe help with dinner. I think tonight we are going to try to find something around the Duomo to go to...It's Inderpendence day hahah.

Tomorrow we are taking a day trip...no school. I will check back with pictures