Day 1 - Ha finito!

On the way to the school (Pic stolen from Giuliana)

I finally arrived at the home of my host family - Stefania and Daniele - last night around 8:30 PM, after over 24 hours of flying, taking trains, buses, and taxis. Long story short (because there are a lot of other exciting things to share) we flew into Milan --> 1 hour train from Milan airport to downtown Milan --> 2 hours-ish fast train (Frecciarossa) from downtown Milan to Florence --> 2 hour (non-fast, unfortunately) bus ride from Florence to Siena. We experienced some ticketing issues in the Milan train station so TIP #1 if you are buying for multiple people but paying separately: BUY THEM TOGETHER. Our issue was that I bought one ticket, then one second later when my friends tried to buy them, the whole train was sold out. After waiting in an hour line to refund my ticket and buying three tickets together for a train 3 hours later than we intended, we learned our lesson. TIP #2 the guys waiting around to "help" you at the self-service ticket machines or to help you with your luggage are NOT your friends - ignore them and go on your way.

Out on the balcony

Now to the fun things! I am staying with a single mother, Stefania, her fiance, Daniele, and Stefania's 6-year old son. Their apartment is nice and in a beautiful location where our balcony overlooks some hills and fields.We are only a short 10-15 minute walk from downtown Siena and our school, although outside of the walls. Stefania will provide us with breakfast and dinner for each night we stay here and after what I have already tasted, I can't wait. The weather is similar to what I left in Utah but we are looking at 70-80 degree gorgeous weather while we are here. Luckily, it doesn't feel as humid as I had heard so that is a major plus.

Today was a lazy day. Alaina (my roomate) and I slept in until 11:30! am and by the time we were ready and unpacked, we ate our "breakfast" around 1. We met our group in the Campo in Siena (one of the big squares in the city) and Giuliana, our professoressa, walked us to the school and around some streets. There are so many shops, gelato places, and restaurants squeezed in between everywhere you look. We didn't really get a chance to fully explore - our tour was kind of short - but I'm sure by the time my trip ends I will know downtown like the back of my hand. Stefania and Daniele dropped us off at the edge of town to meet the group, but we were left on our own to make our way back (AHHH!).

We had a lot of time and there was still a lot of light left in the day so the two of us wandered around Piazza Gamsci through a park and somehow got close to familiar territory. On the way back we found un mercato dei fiori, a flower market, in one of the parks close to our house. The whole place reminded me of my mom and I wish she was here to look at all of the flowers with me, especially because today was Mother's Day and I missed her. :)

The BEST thing about today was the dinner conversation we had. The first night we arrived, both Alaina and I basically forgot all of our Italian the second we walked in the door to our house. Travel and lack of sleep were catching up with us, which not only makes communication in English hard, but a second language you're not proficient at is next to impossible. So last night's dinner was as awkward as you could imagine, not knowing what to say and the lack of simple small talk and understanding was just...a one-of-a-kind experience. Tonight however, we ended up talking with Stefania and Daniele for almost 2 hours! All in Italian. At first I was nervous and racking my brain for things to say or ask but conversation just flowed and flowed. I realized as I was speaking how many mistakes I was making with conjugations, noun plurality, etc. but I just kept trying my best and explaining what I could. They both were so patient and helpful whenever we made mistakes and told us they can understand us just fine. Even as the conversation went on, I was able to understand more of what Daniele was saying (he has a Florentine accent) and Stefania's explanations. We talked about everything from soccer and tattoos, to public schools in Italy and America and what the phrase "Born in America" means here. (That one was hilarious.) Tomorrow before school starts we have a speaking conversation placement test with a teacher and after tonight, I have so much more confidence to speak, even if I make errors.

The whole study abroad group (Pic also stolen from Giuliana)