Ritorno a scuola (Back to School!)

Today I had my first class, Italian 111 (beginners) with Michela Di Franceschi.  I guess it is true, my brother said ALL beautiful women here, she is very pretty!

About Lorenzo de Medici-Tuscania 

 Anyways at Lorenzo de Medici-Tuscania, there are only going to be FOUR students for the entire semester studying here, myself, my roommate Cam, Iva (awesome girl who is from Croacia) and Noah, a freshmen from Iowa.  Currently there are around 15 people total because the Three Cities Tour girls are here, but will be traveling to Rome and then Venice for each a month to take classes at the other LDM campuses.  Do I know how this is a full-functioning school with WIFI! No, will I ever, probably not.  But I am getting the small school (very small school) experience that I would never have gotten.  I could not imagine this town with a large school in it anyways because then it would not fell like home.  This town is considered a small/medium sized town with about 7,000-8,000 people, where EVERYONE knows EVERYONE, which I think I will like...

So, being that I only have one class a day (except Wednesdays, I have three) there is tons of free time.  Which brings me to my next topic, volunteering!
Mei, our academic adviser is helping us get the full Italian culture experience through volunteering with the Red Cross and the Kinder gardeners and Preschoolers in Tuscania. This I am VERY excited for, being an elementary education major and a former Chicago Park District Lifeguard.  I look forward to maybe switching the roles of the teacher, and learning some Italian from the little Bambinos!

Well, the language barrier seems to be getting a little better with the help of my first class, even though I say things in Spanish not Italian sometimes! I still don't know my way around town, nor have even bought one thing for myself or any body else! Its sad, I haven't been in all the stores, I need to stop being a baby because I want to spend some euros :), plus I will be in Tuscania for 3 months...mind as well learn where I'm living.


If you would like to send me a letter:
Stacy Coglianese
C/o istituto lorenzo de' Medici
Largo Della rocca 7
01017 tuscania (vt), italia


Also, if you feel the urge to make an expensive phone call here is my number:
+ 39 377 168 7211

Ciao!
Another Day Another Adventure!

Eva and I!

Quanto Costa?

The phrase I used all morning! Well and Ciao! I say Ciao to everyone and everyone I walk past, I just love saying it!

 Today we went to the local supermarket at 9:30 a.m, Its every Friday morning.  So Mei, our academic advisor who is sooooooooooooo nice-she seems like she really wants us to have an amazing experience while here took us and taught us where certain sections are for used clothes and new ones.  There were many different types of areas for meat , cheese , produce, honey, clothes, shoes, toys, cooking items. EVERYTHING.

Of our long list of things to buy-some including pancake mix and pancake syrup (not likely we are going to find that)- we bought a pack of toilet paper for 1€ , the brad was called "Smile" lol and some really good coconut smelling soap for 1€ as well-Cam and I split it.

I have been trying to keep track of all the money I'm spending, so every time I get a receipt, I save it.  But I didnt get any this time.
The market also had really really cute scarves, but I didnt get any, they were 5€ each.  Which is about $7.  I have to keep reminding myself that 1€ does not equal $1.

Well, its currently 11:00 a.m here and 4:00a.m back at home, this time zone really blows my mind! I called Andrew as soon as I woke up today, and I woke him up, it was 2:00 a.m for him, I figured he would be up playing COD or something like that lol.

Ciao!
Another Day another Adventure!

Finally made it

Hello all!
I finally made it to my destination! Italy! The whole 9 hour plane ride and 3 hour layover was NOT fun.  I dont think anyone could pay me enough money to want to do that again.  I didnt get one ounce of sleep, couldnt get  comfortable and still am tired after 2 days!  They didnt give out any complimentary peanuts either :( but since it was my first flight ever, the flight attendant brought me free toblerones, apples, biscotti cookies and a whole bunch of other stuff, so Alvin hooked me and my friends up.

So the only exploring I have done so far was really  just a walk to a restaurant at night for a welcome dinner.  And boy do they EAT!  In Italy I guess there its regular to have a 3 course meal.  My meal included First Pasta (very thick and filling, only finished half the plate) Second, chicken (I promise you it still had some feathers on it!!! I only had a little of that dish) It had olives with it, but almost choked because I forgot the pit was still in it! So I had a interesting time cutting my live with a knife and fork! Third, dolce (desert) AMAZING!!! Some sort of whipped flan with raspberry sauce it on, it almost was a white-mousee type looking thing.  I promise I will go camera crazy when I get the chance!

Our cute little apartment, the street is on the left

Also I live in a small town called Tuscania, it has cobblestone roads, the orangeish Tuscan colored houses.  I live in an apartment in a gated area with my roommate Cameron, shes from North Carolina and super nice! Our landlord is the mayors sister, she is very friendly, there are many kittens in our courtard that just chill, I hope they are friendly so I can have a little pet while im here :)

There are so many little shops and buildings here that I havent gone into yet but I will.  I feel very lost and confused, man its hard studying abroad lol.  ALSO NO ONE SPEAKS ENGLIH. So I will either learn my Italian very quickly or will be talking with my hands a-lot.  Hopefully since my mother talks with her hands ALL the time, I wont be bad at it lol.  I live outside the city walls, 5 minute walk from the school.  Its freezing in our apartment, but I guess thats supposed to change soon. 

Well thats all for now, another day, another adventure

Ciao!!!

-stacy


p.s i miss my family and boo like crazy!!!!!

To pack or not to pack

So, the day is coming EVEN closer.  And I am just beginning now to get things together.  This 50lb- one suitcase ordeal is going to be VERY tricky.  I am not looking forward to having to take things out and whatnot.  I am also not looking forward to feeling overwhelmed in the airport in Rome.  \

I was just talking about it with my brother Matt, who went to Europe a few years ago, he was telling me that him and TWO friends were lost in the airport for about a half hour when they went.  GREAT.  I will have only been in one airport in my entire life by the time I get to Rome, and will have to navigate my way to the meeting spot where my school, Lorenzo de' Medici will be picking me up.  I will be meeting them is the "Chef Express bar" in front of the Tabacci Shop, is it just me or do these places sound like Chinese Restaurants?
Thank the lord they gave me an emergency number to call in case anything comes up, lets just hope I don't have to call the number!

Well, that's all for now, I have to get back to packing my life in under 50lbs!

Another day, another adventure!

-Stacy

13 Days to go

Well, this is my first post, thought I would try to take some advice I have recieved and start a blog about my adventure: study abroad.

Its a bit hectic trying to start to think about what I plan on packing.  I mean, how do you prepare to go live in another country for 3 months?  There is so much to think about and get together, its a bit NUTS.  I have not even been on a plane, let alone an airport, I pray that nothing goes wrong, and that we have good weather.

Oh right,

For those of you who dont know, I will be studying abroad in Italy from January 25th to May 11th.  I will be taking a cooking class, a wine tasting class (cant belive they are considered classes) an Italian language class and a history and english class.  Its nice because in Europe, they dont have classes on Fridays, so I am very excited!  As the day draws near, I am feeling more and more anxious becaues I know I will be leaving the ones I loved!  Especially Andrew and Bennifer and Abby (my dog) and mom and dad and brother (no specific order).  I am also getting freaked out about that whole Amanda Knox deal that happened 4 years ago.  Its about a girl who was studying abroad, her roommate ended up getting killed, and now Amanda is in prision for 25 years in Italy.  Not sure if shes innocent, but after reading the Wikipedia version, it seems like she isnt. 

Well,

Thanks for reading.

Will be blogging soon!

<3 Stacy