I haven't written anything in awhile because things have gotten SO much busier that sitting here for half a day waiting for my pictures to upload to blogspot just wasn't going to work out anymore. Our internet at the apartment is PAINFULLY slow, where even connecting to the internet gets so choppy that loading facebook takes 3 minutes. For now on, this blog will be written posts only and picture can be seen on facebook. Sound good? Anyways, after my Italian class today, it was so beautiful out that I decided I wanted to take a walk around the city. During this time I realized how little i've been blogging so here it goes.
It's funny now because I have been living in Florence for 2 months now, and I've realized that I consider it home now. It's "my" city. I know my way around, can navigate, speak to locals, etc. People even think I am European, which is kind of cool. Usually Americans stick out like a sore thumb, but today while walking I had 2 people come up to me. The first was two American girls who were trying to speak really rough italian for directions. The other was a guy who asked if I was Albanian. I don't know why.
One of the reasons I'm sure Italians don't pick me out as American anymore is that my style has completely changed! People dress so differently here, and the first month we were here was the primetime sale season, soooo..... new wardrobe? Kinda. Speaking of what I wear, its a necessity to COVER UP. I as well as the rest of my roommates dress considerably modest for a really good reason. You show anything, legs, chest, whatever, you will be "hounded", followed, and really, really annoyed by the Italian men with their constant cat calls every 15 feet. I wish it wasn't true but it is. I know that this is a different culture with different customs, so it has been something to get used to. What I am still trying to figure out, though, is whether it is worse for girls who are foreign or if they do that to every woman they see. I'll update when I know.
When I was on a walk I stopped in small little store and ended up buying a few things, and had a talk with the cashier. She was a small little Indian lady (she told me), because we ended up having a conversation about where we are from and whatnot. She seemed happy to be practicing her english. That's how it is in Florence, there are so many tourists that it's been difficult to become more fluent in Italian. The Italians here WANT to practice their english with you, so even if you speak Italian to them, they will respond in your language.
My spring break starts in 2 days! Thursday night I will leave for Berlin, followed by Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris and Barcelona. WOO!!
