Quite the Sunny Thursday

Yesterday a friend of Sam and Cait's came into town. We decided to walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo, because neither Sam, Cait nor Christian had seen the view from up there. It was an unbelievable day, but just made me think about how miserably hot the summer is going to be. That might just be a price I have to pay to live here.

The Guermo

Last weekend I got the opportunity to walk up the top of the Cuppola of the Duomo. You know. that circular thing that makes the duomo so famous. The view was unbelievable and the highest view in all of Florence. I think I saw all the way to the ocean when I was up there.

The Cuppola was designed by Brunelleschi, but the frescoes on the inside were painted by Giorgio Vasari representing The Last Judgement.

All the original tools used by Brunelleschi to make the Cuppola. 

A Morning Stroll

Sarah and I woke up this morning and went on a two hour walk to Cascine Park. It was a beautiful start to the day!

 

I am aware that I look like a lumberjack.

You can never forget the classic senior photo pose. 

A beautiful little children's park next to a huge grassy knoll. 

Friends, Friends Everywhere

I really need to post more often, but here is quick re-cap of my week. Last Saturday we (Sam, Cait, Sarah and I) went out to an Irish pub with Giovanni (Sam's boyfriend?) and we met up with two Carabinieri men, one of whom I taught. We all love Giovanni and he refers to us as "his girls." 

Then fast forward to Tuesday, when the girls and I just walked around the city. I have yet to really use my zoom lens on my camera, so I took that out with us and snapped a few little shots. 

Now fast forward again to last night. Eight of my former students came over for dinner with two of their friends who had taken Spanish instead of English as their language. We somehow managed to fit all 14 of us in Sarah and I's apartment AND feed them all. Originally they told me there would only be seven of them, but when I met up with them, there were 10. It really was a lot of fun! A lot of them still call me "teacher" or "madam" every once in awhile, haha. 

They are all such great people!! I overheard Sam last night saying, "Seriously, how can we leave this life?" We are having such an incredible time here!

Why I Love My Students

This is a message I received from one of my students. I seriously am so sad to be done, but I know I will continue to see them around.

"Brie Darling .... I apologize if I write you only now but as you know our time here at school are always tight! Yesterday I wanted to thank Thee so at least a hug for your excellent work in these three weeks and some wonderful moments we had together, but unfortunately the time (ie during the exam) was not the best! I hope that we can review because it really made me many, many nice meeting you!! We miss you already, believe me !!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU, THANK pretty much everything and I'm sorry if at times with my bad English I could not understand you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! However, you were GREAT! A hug My DEAR TEACHER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a kiss!"

Keep in mind that he is a beginner, so his English is pretty good, relatively speaking : )

Heart-Broken

I have never been so heart-broken in my life. Today was the final exam for my Carabinieri students. I didn't even get to say a proper good-bye. I felt like I was stifling back tears as I left the room. The only thing that will help my heartbreak is a tiny bit of gelato. So, Vivoli here I come.

Just Another Saturday

This Saturday was wonderful! I woke up, went for a walk, stopped by Sam and Cait's, watched the neighbors kittens watching us, joined in a protest (again), ate amazing gelato, then went out with some friends. 

Still just in love with Florence as much as the day I arrived.

My Students

Yesterday was my last day of teaching the Carabinieri. It has been a wonderful three weeks and I actually got a little sad leaving them. I see them on Monday, but only for their final exam (both written and oral). 

The last week they organized a dinner to take me out and thank me for teaching. Seriously, I couldn't have asked for better students. They have a 10pm curfew, but they got it extended until 11pm for me! We met outside the school and they all looked incredibly handsome! I had never seen them outside their uniforms and they all looked like such gentleman and beautiful woman.

Sarah and Cait came with me (Sam was sick) and we went to a Napoletano pizza place. It was really a lot of fun, but I still felt like I had to have my teacher hat on : ) They were all so respectful; opening doors for us, letting the ladies sit down first, helping us order and they refused to let us pay a dime. They even payed for the two women carabinieri that were with us.

I thought the night was perfect and then they came at me with another surprise. They had gotten me the crest of the Carabinieri to say thank you!! I was taken aback by such a sweet present. They all signed the back of it as well. A girl couldn't ask for a better first teaching experience!

                                                   

You Are Beautiful

Yep, that is what YAB stands for. YAB is a club or a discotech (as the Italians say) in Florence. On Friday night they had a dinner starting at ten that eventually turned into a dance frenzy. It was really fun! We originally payed only 10 euro and got wine with our meal. They are a tricky ones, because by the end of the night I had paid 47 euro to get out of the club. It was ridiculous, but we learned our lesson and had an extremely fun night!