My Daily Schedule!

Ciao Friends,

For the last three weeks of class I have been slowly getting more organized and conditioned for the daily life of a study abroad student. Currently, I am enrolled in five classes and volunteering for about five hours a week. I will bring you through each day and try to give you a basis of what I do in each class.

Monday... I have Foundation Drawing from 1200-1430, which is a typical drawing class where we sketch still life's with pencil, charcoal, and pastels. The teacher is very helpful with showing techniques developing my skills further. Maybe when I get back I can draw a picture of one you for a Christmas present. After Drawing class I have History of Christianity, from 1500-1730 with Dr. Simon Young who is a British Professor who lives in Florence. I would have to say this is one of my favorite classes because Dr. Young is a brilliant and great man but also because I am learning much about my own religion. I have learned something new every day. However, during the first class I mentioned I was a Neuroscience and every since then, Dr. Young thinks I know everything about science and medicine. Haha. That is my last class of the day. But I usually come home and have a Via Martelli dinner. To Note: I have both these classes with John, and Drawing with Clio, and Christianity with Caroline.

Tuesday... It's another late wakeup... I have Italian at 1200 with both my roommates, Tony and Davis. This class goes from 1200 to 1315. My Professor enjoys listening to music while teaching--this has both positive and negative affects on the class. I find that some days I will jam out to some of the songs and then some days I will want to fall asleep to the music, and then some days he will get the right mix and I will be focus like never before. My professor has an interesting teaching technique and I get very excited to try out some of my Italian with some coworkers at my volunteering place. So after Italian I usualy grab a quick bite with my roomies at a local panino shop. At 1430 I must report to the Misericordia. The Miseriacordia is a free service in Florence that helps the elderly and disabled with any needs. In addition they offer an emergency service as well. For more information you can visit this site: Click Me! In this article they say that, "the Misericordia is considered the most prestigious, engaged existing association of charity, the most estimated and loved Florentine institution, the most ancient one in the world with a continuous activity, since more than 760 years." So I am very lucky to be there. After two hours of duty I hurry home to get ready for my Tuscany and its Wines class with Massimo. I have heard that Massimo may be considered one of the top 50 wine consultants in the world. So I consider myself very, very lucky to be in his class. During this class we learn about how wine is classified and made. Then we test our abilities by tasting three good wines and talking about what we see, smell, and savour (and spit to finish the four s's). I would consider this my favorite class this semester. Once finished with the wine, my roommates (who happen to be taking the wine class, as well) will grab some dinner before going out for the evening.

Wednesday... I am not so lucky to sleep in on these days, due to reporting to the Misericordia by 830 for an early shift of volenteering. Usually, a nice shot of espresso will help my wake up. After serving, I will head back home and take a nap and do some work before my Supervision and Leadership class at 1500. I was most looking forward to this class before arriving in Florence, however it has turned out to be a dull class filled with lecture that should be discussion and role play. However, I think I still will learn a lot from the class and the experience will help. I finish with that class at 1730 where I will usually stop at the local grocery store Standa and grab some fresh food for dinner that night. Wednesday, is usually a night everyone will try and hang out at a bar.

Thursday... Only one more class until the weekend officially begins. Again it's Italian from 1200-1315. After this class, I have usually gone home and either wandered the city or hung out with friends. In the future I hope I will have plans to go some places in Italy, otherwise I will be stuck in Florence the entire time--though that still is not horrible.

So I have taken you through my normal class schedule. Today is Wednesday, and I am staying in, because Kelly is coming tomorrow. On the Itinerary, is a wine vineyard with Massimo, piazza Michelangelo, a few churches and muesums and maybe some gardens. It should be a very fun weekend. Kelly is looking for a leather bomber jacket, so maybe we will find that for her, too. Anyway, there will be updates soon, sorry for no picture but there hasn't been much. Until the next post! Ciao!!