sunsets, gelato, and Pisa

Sorry i'm so bad at updating...my days are long and full and whenever i have free time, i sleep! But a couple nights ago we walked up to the Piazza Michelangelo, which is a plaza that overlooks Florence. We walked up what felt like 1000 steps and had a great view of the city at night! The only bad thing is that the pics didn't turn out so well since there wasn't much light, but oh well! The next day, Samantha and I went shopping at an outdoor market, full of little shops with "real" leather bags for only 25 Euro!...yeah right. I didn't get anything but it was fun to just take it all in. I did get a ticket to the last soccer/ futbol game of the season though!! It's Florence vs. AC Milan and we had to buy seats on the Milan side because Florence was all sold out, so we were kind of bummed about that...until i googled Milan's team roster to see if i recognized any players and found out David Beckham is playing for them!! Apparently he is on loan from his LA team and this will be his last game for Milan before returning to the US. I'm SO excited!!!! I can't wait to see him and real futbol!! So yeah, that's tomorrow at 3 but we're not sure what time to get there because it's first come first serve tickets...so i'll update you on how that goes tomorrow...

florence

Today we took a train to Pisa and hung around there most of the day. And don't judge, I took one of those cheesy "holding up the tower" pictures. We climbed up to the top and had a good view of the city and surrounding mountains, and it was beautiful! I've done so much walking every day and my feet are covered in blisters and calluses :(. But there's just so much to see, i have to keep going! So here's some pics of that! I just love it here and surprisingly i already feel settled in. Of course, i wish all of my friends and family were here :) Miss you lots and love you even more!

Pisa

firenze

Ciao! Well i safely made it to Florence with no problems, and it is beautiful here! It's everything i thought it would be and more...cobblestone streets, loud italians, vespas, gorgeous flowers, gelaterias on every corner...the whole deal. My apartment is really old but classically beautiful. I love it! Classes don't start until Monday so we have plenty of time to get settled in and find our way around. At first, the streets were super confusing because they go in all directions and are a different name at every block but i think i'm actually getting the hang of it! As long as i know which direction the river is, i can get home. So yeah, i've already taken a bunch of pictures so i'll upload them because they do a better job of explaining my beautiful surroundings. :) enjoy!

italy!

home :)

una settimana

Today i realized that i know zero italian so i figured i should look up a few key phrases, particularly, "do you speak english," "are there any nuts in this," and "help." Thanks to worldlingo.com, i now know those are "parlate inglese," "è ci tutti i dadi in questo," and "auito" respectively. Whether or not i actually remember those words in a time of crisis is another thing...

I seriously can't believe i leave for Florence in a week. I google mapped my route from my apartment to my school and my daily walk will take about 20 minutes and will be a scenic one in which i walk along the narrow cobblestone streets and across the Arno River. I can't wait to cross the Ponte Vecchio bridge every day to go to class. ^^

The biggest obstacle I have yet to face in preparation for Italy is my packing situation. Go figure. How does a fashion major fit clothes for a month in Italy and 2 weeks of backpacking in convenient luggage?? Let alone leave room for souveniers. I'm going to have to compromise somewhere...sigh. I should probably get a start on that.

8 days till gelato, art, yummy food, and all that is tuscany.

baby jamaican punch with cream

I have concluded that this tropical treat is the thing I will miss the most from Waco. Whenever I slurp a bit of this shaved ice from Bahama Bucks, I can't help but let out an "MMM" that rivals Bob Wiley on "What About Bob." Seriously, just ask my roommate Courtney. It's the best shaved ice there is, the kind that just melts in your mouth and doesn't skimp on delicious flavor. And each one actually looks like that picture, complete with an umbrella (of which i have about 10 of in the glovebox of my car... obsessed?) Even though they are the Starbucks of snow cones and a tad overpriced, they are worth every penny. Just thinking of them makes my mouth water. mmmm

officially done

I am officially done with school for the semester! You have NO idea what a relief it is to be finished with my classes. For now at least...hah. Yes, I'm implying that I may not be passing all of my classes this semester. Not something I'm proud of, at all, but I can honestly say I deserve an A for effort. If only Economics was graded that way. At least I know I'll never be burdened with trying to rescue the economy. I don't know what it was about this semester but it seemed like whatever I did, no matter how hard I tried and how many countless hours I spent on something, it never turned out like I hoped; sing, school, my housing situation, I just couldn't seem to catch a break. Thank goodness for amazing friends and an amazing God who supported me every step of the way.

This is what my understanding of economics looks like.

One night I came across Acts 17:24-28 and it fit my situation and feelings completely:

"The God of the world, and everything in it, is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. He is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because He himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they may inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him, and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him, we live, and move, and have our being."

Reflecting back on this semester, I realize that even if I didn't master economic theories or textile definitions, I learned something eternally more valuable: No matter what I plan or expect to happen, and no matter what actually turns out happening, I am not in control, and that makes all the difference."For in him we live and move and have our being."

ends and beginnings

funny how stumbling upon the most random things can make you analyze life and your place in it. i love life and love where it's taking me, but i can't help but long for more. my quench is only satisfiable in One way: to love Him is to love life. and that is why i do.

As the school year is drawing to a close, I am busy studying for my finals, which are threatening to dominate me. The light at the end of the tunnel is my summer abroad. I can only dream of the experiences that lie ahead in Italy and Europe, but I know they will be incredible. Going out on my own in a foreign country will certainly put me out of my comfort zone, but I'm thinking it'll be okay :) I'm starting this blog to keep friends and fam updated on everything I experience overseas. Hopefully it will be somewhat entertaining and make them not miss me so much. ha.