Friends in Florence (Wed. 3-10-2010)

I am behind on my posts of each day, but here is what the rest of the trip was like.

Wednesday started off quite well because we were to sleep in for a change.  We began our day officially with a wonderful lunch at the Villa with our Harding University friends and several other important guests.

We were celebrating 30 years of the Harding University Florence Program (HUF).  So we had many people invited to share this meal with us including movie director, previously mentioned, Jay Russell.  The main special guests were Eugenio Giani — Presidente del Consiglio; a representative from the consolate; Tuscan American Association Presidents Lynn Weichman and Sergio Pezzati and Dr. Andreina Bianchini, Director at the Palazzo Ruccellai.

I was able to interview this interesting and kind accomplished woman to hear about her journey starting as a professor for Trinity College at Hartford and transitioning into the position she has today.  She is the main director for the international program in Italy for several universities including University of Connecticut, Roger Williams, Arizona State and Virginia doing work much like Harding's own Robbie and Mona Shackleford.  Read more about her in-depth story that will be posted later on the Link.

Later I did some more shopping with my friends in the HUF program until it was time for teh intercultural exchange that night.  It was so nice to spend time with friends who have been overseas for this semester, but even more fun was spending time with students from other cultures that night.  That evening we shared dinner with several Italian and Albanian students at a wonderful restaurant called Movida and afterwards went to the Florence Church of Christ to learn about these students' culture.  We specifically were taught about the art of dancing by the Albanians, which was very entertaining as American students' tried to keep up (myself included).  In authentic beautiful costumes, we were shown the ways of danceby our new friends.  Lots of laughs were shared, and many great memories were made!

From Arkansas to Arezzo

Today was spent solely in the city of Arezzo.  Known mostly for its unique medieval architecture, Arezzo is believed to have been one of the twelve most important Etruscan city-states and an important Roman city. It truly came alive in the form of art during the Middle Ages when many churches were being built.

Some of these include the Pieve di Santa Maria, an example of Tuscan Romanesque architecture, the Gothic Cathedral, the Church of San Domenico (later embellished by the Crucifix painted by the Cimabue) and the church of San Francesco.

In fact, one famous aspect of this city is the story behind Piero della Francesca. Francesca created his absolute masterpiece, The Legend of the True Cross in the church of San Francesco picking up where painter Bicci di Lorenzo left off during his work.  The artwork throughout the entire church was so moving I was almost in tears walking around in this extraordinary place of sanctuary.  Unfortunately, we are not allowed to take pictures inside (not that any of the beauty could be captured in pixels) but I encourage everyone to make an attempt to research it and possibly one day make it to Italy to see it yourself.

The most significant public space is the Piazza Grade. This site easily is recognized easily from scenes in the Academy-Award-winning movie "Life is Beautiful."  It was a really neat feeling to be standing right where the film was shot and see the amazing architecture of this public area.

Despite the snow falling steadily all day, I thoroughly enjoyed walking literally all over Arezzo.

 

Fun in Florence

Yesterday, Mar. 9, was definitely the best day of the trip thus far! 

It started off with a delicious breakfast and meeting movie director/filmographer Jay Russell.  He has worked on the movies, My Dog Skip, Tuck Everlasting and The Waterhorse, so he had excellent advice to give from experience.  He told stories in a descriptive way that only a movie director can and gave advice about how to find good stories and capture them in an intriguing way.  He encouraged everyone to get out among the common everyday buzz but see the unique in each situation.

After a beautifully prepared lunch, some friends and I decided to go into Florence again but this time on a mission!  We made a list of five main attratction in Florence and made sure to visit every one of them.  It was such an amazing experience and such a feeling of accomplishment to have gone to the city and acutally to have seen/done everything we planned.  This also was the first time I felt like I knew where I was going and what I was doing in this glorious foreign country.  I am directionally challenged when I am in my own country, so to get this kind of feeling is a BIG deal.

Here is what we did in our incredible day of Florence fun!
1.  Went to the Ponte Vecchio
      This is a famous bridge full of history.  Long ago the nobility refused to mingle right along side the commoners, and therefore, a top section of the bridge was built so that the nobles could walk above the rest.

2.  Explored the Uffizi art gallery

     It was full of spectacular statues and artwork including a wondrous fountain just outside the main gallery.  One of the big attractions is the fake David statue that stands tall and powerful among many others.

3.  Made a stop at the Piggy Market

     This market is known for the legendary bronze statue of a big with a fountain.  Supposedly if you touch the pig's nose, you will return to Italy one day.  Needless to say I definitely rubbed that pig's nose!

4.  Had some gelato

     During our trip we had to make a stop at a highly recommended gelato store, Grom.  This place, a favorite of Harding University students traveling abroad, had a variety of flavors that were absolutely mouth-watering.  Gelato as a reminder is similar to American ice-cream but richer and creamier than back home.  I had to try the special crema de grom and dark chocolate.  My verdict - DIVINE!  They also different fruit flavors and flavor of the month was green tea and white chocolate.

5.  Finally, we couldn't see the main points of any city in Italy without including a church.  So we stopped at a church called the Santa Maria Novella.  Its design and architecture overall was lovely.



I also was able to do some shopping while going through the different markets.  I bought presents for Mama and the sister/ friend or two while also sneaking in an item for myself. I still need to get a few gifts for the other important people in my life as well. I was happy that I even bartered with the merchants and was able to get some items for less than they were priced.

I even did a stand-up or two on these sites for a story on the Link, which made me miss the journalism aspect of this trip.  All that being said, it was a fabulous and enjoyable day in Florence!

A Beautiful Day

"Today is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."


This day began beautifully in worship service when we attended church with the congregation in Florence. Everyone was so welcoming, and the Italian service truly was heartfelt. When the singing started, it was moving. I was able to experience a church service in authentic Italian language which is beautiful speaking and even more when singing worship to God. Afterwards, we were served a delicious meal by the members of the church.

From there, I went exploring through sites in Florence. The main attraction on which I decided to focus was the Duomo! The architecture and design of the cathedral is absolutely breath-taking. I went inside to view the paintings, statues and actual place of worship. It’s amazing to think about people literally meeting in this incredible and sacred building to worship years ago. All the stained glass and candle-lighting makes it seem truly holy and special.

I wanted to go to the top of the Duomo, however the climb to the top was closed on Sunday. Therefore, I ascended to the peak of the neighboring bell tower instead. Four hundred and fourteen steps later, I attempted to take in the astonishing view high above the city! The stairway became increasingly narrow as I reached the top, but it was worth it. The bells still melodiously sound from the top which add to the glorious experience.

I made my way down and surveyed the market that just moments ago seemed microscopic from the top. The booths all over Florence are even more intriguing than the Scandicci flea market I visited on Saturday. These merchants shamelessly make comments at the passersby and extremely sketchy individuals come at you in the middle constantly. However, it is an excellent time to obtain great souvenirs and items at great prices. They even barter on sometimes low prices which help.



Later that night, I enjoyed fellowship with students studying overseas at the Villa this semester and engaged in a devo that was honestly a powerfully moving time of reflection. It was then that I remembered how I got to this point – exploring the beauty of Italy with some of the greatest people I could imagine. As I have said before, I could not be more grateful for the blessings that I have received throughout my life and most recently with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Oh the people you'll meet...in Italy

Today was all about exploring places in Italy and being exposed to the different personalities throughout the area.  From the merchants of the Scandicci flea markets to the fans of Florence soccer (football) games people of Italy are quite interesting. 

I went to a Scandicci market where you can find all kinds of items and food.  Everyone was raving about the bambino pastry, so of course I had to indulge myself.  This delicious sweet was similar to a doughnut but filled with nutella and creme covered in powdered sugar.  Yes this probably clogs your arteries faster than you can say heartattack, but the melt-in-your-mouth taste is divine.

After enjoying this, I made my way to a booth with an intriguing machine making a different kind of dessert.  Chips that taste very sweet like cake called Brigidino were being made by some merchants who travel all over Tuscany to sell this secret desert.  With the help of a translator, I discovered that they were very particular about sharing information on the dessert itself saying that it is passed down and is a personal recipe that is not shared outside their family. 

Later that day, I shared a conversation with a friendly Italian man in a Gellato store.  We discussed the fact that many of us were going to the big game that night and how important it was to the people of Florence.

That night at the soccer game between Florence and Juventus, I saw how intense the fanatics of Italian soccer really are!   They took the concept of cheering and chanting to an entire new level.  An important fact to know, whistling at the team is BAD!!! Unlike in the United States where we can whistle and yell and even ring the occaional cow bells at games in support of our teams, whistling is done only at the opponents and in severe distaste.  This is equivalent to boo-ing, and this was done constantly at Juventus' players.

All in all, I had countless oppotunities to interact with the people of Italy today, and it was amazing.  Sometimes I was closer to strangers on bus rides and such than I would feel comfortable otherwise, but that's all part of the experience!

On Cloud Nine

Not only did I feel like I was on cloud nine travelling to Italy, but I realized I was up in the clouds. I have not been on a plane since I was about nine years old. That is just over 10 years ago; that fact alone is difficult to grasp. I am pretty certain that airports have changed in the past decade so this was going to be an adventure in itself.

Despite these concerns, I focused on the fact that I could not be more grateful for the blessings that I have received. Being able to gain experience in my career field and experience the culture of Italy exceeded any of my wildest birthday wishes (which was today).

After enjoying the flights from Little Rock to Chicago, from Chicago to Frankfurt and from Frankfort to Florence, I realized, “I am about to explore the beauty of Italy.” This has been a dream of mine since I was little, and it was coming true. The best word to describe how I was feeling would have to be elated!

On Mar. 5, 2010, I arrived in Florence and so begins this long and powerful journey of growth. Things were hectic getting from airport to airport and through security and checking luggage, but it was a thrilling experience when I saw my first stamp on my passport!

Walking around Italy, I was a sponge – soaking up literally everything I possibly could about the culture and the people. When I stood outside the Duomo, it was all I could do to hold back tears. This truly is one of the most extraordinary and amazing pieces of architecture ever created. Simply to stand back and look at it was breath-taking. I cannot wait to actually be able to enter it!

That night, we ate authentic Italian pizza and my dear friends made it known that it was my birthday. After being presented with a delicious chocolate dessert, the restaurant sang to me, and I blew out the candles. What a day of travel and happiness already!

Portfolio Entry

Besides my new obsession with learning about the intriguing and amazing country of Italy, I do my fair share of work with other important activities as well.  I have been writing stories and covering various events this semester as part of the Mass Media Writing course that I currently am taking.  For Harding University's website created by the College of Communication The Link, I have submitted several pieces including stories, photos, a video and an audio clip as I begin learning the many parts to being a journalist.
My first written paper was an evaluation of the various characteristics of web journalism.  Next, I wrote about the talented musician Matt Wertz coming to Harding University in concert with a picture of him and an audio clip from the concert to hear HU students singing with him.  I also wrote about the snow day that thrilled the campus and included an entire photo slideshow of the beautiful winter wonderland.  I have submitted a video with a partner on the interesting flea market of Judsonia, Arkansas, called Thackerland.  This showed just what one might find at such a market.  Recently, I posted a story about the vacated position of Harding's Student Association Vice President being filled by Nik Arezina with a photo of the new VP.  This feature story allowed students to see how things work within the SA and to gain more insight into who is chosen to lead them as a student body here on campus.

These are the links to those stories on The Link:
Music warms Harding's snow-covered campus
Snow blankets campus
Thackerland: 15 years of flea market success
Arezina steps in as new SA vice president

Check out my work and my other seven posts all about the boot-shaped country, Italy!  I will be there in a few short hours and will be posting my experiences on this blog daily.
Ciao!