Italy!!

So I made it. I am alive and really busy.

I got here on Monday and everything has been going great! I have three roommates:

Renata from Brazil
Melissa from Argentina
And Ignacio from Venezuela.

We have a sweet apartment and I can see the top of the Duomo from the balcony, so it's pretty rad. We started language classes today and things have been going smoothly. Plus I finished all my work for CSUS! Yey! All I need to do is return and make sure they give me my second BA. Hahaha.

Classes are pretty easy, but I'm having trouble speaking Italian, since all I here is Spanish, Portuguese and Italian at the house. On occasion English too. Since i understand everything I get all mixed up and lately I've found it difficult to even speak in English, I keep forgetting simple words in English and instead I say them in Spanish. Oh well, hopefully with the spanish and portuguese lessons that I'm getting from the others I'll be able to distinguish all the languages soon enough.

I met the lady who is going to be my boss the other day. She runs a studio that does restoration. Since I know absolutely nothing, it's kinda of crazy, but I don't start work until next month, so hopefully I can get some books to read so I don't feel like a complete idiot, afterall I'm here to learn. Crazy though, she's ding restoration on things in the Uffizi and I get to watch her work, so it's pretty awesome.

There are four other people in the program. Sabrina (Brazil), Mariane (Brazil), Lindsey (USA), and Florencia (Argentina). And we all get along really well so it's great. Today we went as a group to tour the Duomo, Baptistry, and Santa Croce. But we couldn't go up the Campanile or to the Duomo, so we're going tomorrow. And if possible, we'll be hitting up the Accademia also.

We did go to the Museum of the Duomo, which was cool, since some of the plates of the real Gates of Paradise are on display there. Plus the Zuccone of Donatello and Donatello's Mary Magdalene in wood. Pretty awesome.

When we went to Santa Croce I had a great time. Plus it was just awesome to see everything there.

Ooo! Ignacio Melissa and I went out last night to the club. A place called Twice. Apparently when I'm tipsy I speak spanish really really well. Plus italian if I have to. Hahaha. Maybe I can learn portuguese too!

Anyways, I better get going. I plan to keep updating, but you never know. I posted photos on facebook so go check it out!

PS: Facebook people, beware of the virus that is going around the claims that your in a video. Don't click the link!

Italia, Vengo!

Ciao a tutti.

Vi comunico che l’appartamento dove soggiornerete è in Via Zeffirini, 1 (4° piano) Firenze (zona Viale Corsica – non lontano dall’aeroporto).

Nominativo sul campanello: Degl’Innocenti.

Woot! So I have an apartment in Florence! I'm so stoked. At first I wasn't as excited about Italy as I felt I needed to be. But with this news as well as the plans to get my Visa, I feel that everything is falling in place. I think it's finally hitting me.

Earlier this week I was pretty down. But now I feel so much better. Last night really picked me up, especially after working on the panel. I haven't had that much fun in a long time.

I still have so much to do before I leave, but I'm excited to know that things are a little more organized on the Italian end than the last time I went through the program. So - sweeeeeeet!

Time to head to class.

Oh. And I gave in - I returned to ansi.

Sono un italiano, un italiano vero!

Gentilissima Sig.na Castaneda

In data 23 settembre 2008 sono terminati i lavori della Commissione incaricata di valutare le domande pervenute per l’ammissione ai corsi previsti dalle Borse di Studio per la Formazione Professionale “Mario Olla”, anno 2008/2009.

In tale seduta la Commissione ha deciso di accogliere positivamente la sua domanda.

La invito pertanto a trasmettere la sua accettazione al corso, entro e non oltre il 30/09/2008 sottoscrivendo la presente lettera nello spazio previsto.

La informo che il Centro Diffusione Imprenditoriale della Toscana (CEDIT) si metterà quanto prima in diretto contatto con lei, per tutte le comunicazioni inerenti al corso stesso ed a tutti gli ulteriori aspetti organizzativi del suo viaggio e del suo soggiorno. I corsi inizieranno, indicativamente, i primi giorni di dicembre.

Resto pertanto in attesa di ricevere urgentemente la presente lettera, da lei controfirmata e per via fax, e le invio i miei migliori saluti.

Yes, it is official! I am going to Italy! Althought I am using exclamation marks, the excitement I should be feeling hasn't really hit yet. I suppose it just hasn't quite hit me yet.

However, it is super nice to finally know. Now I can actually plan accordingly. And since the dates for the course is December first as opposed to the beginning of November, my plans are going to change. I'm dropping my tutoring course and picking up the full 3 units of Art 106 instead of the 2 unit special problems course. More paperwork. Ugh.

It's nice, though, going later. Means I can finish up the graduate school applications and prepare for the GRE. The extra month is great! I just feel like I have so many things to do. Get a visa, finish applications, finish my classes, figure out all the details of the trip (which I will probably be informed about at the last minute in true Italian fashion), study for the GRE, take the GRE (o.0;;;;; GAH!), and a bunch of other things including socializing and trying to not freak out.

In the fun center (not that all this Italy talk isn't fun), but in other fun news, I am working on a short fim for the Art History Club Halloween Party (which has yet to be totally named). Making posters on Friday (maybe) and then working on a script and stuff so we can plan.

This weekend is going to be packed! Maybe that's why I'm anxious. Tournament this weekend, but I am missing Saturday to go into SF with the Art History Club to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit at the SFMoMA. Sunday I have games in the morning and hopefully in the afternoon (go team go!) followed by a Chapter meeting in the evening (if I can make it anyways).

I'm going to miss out on my yey relaxing kick the soccer ball day this Sunday. This makes me very sad. I had a lot of fun last Sunday. And what makes me even sadder is the fact that I may not even get to play on the team. The season starts in January and I won't be back in the States until March. I was so stoked to have a uniform (Racing Club style) with the number 10 or 11 too!!!! Kinda made me all excited to be on a team again with my number and stuff. It's possible I am more sad since I looked a some of the news reports from Quinnipiac and saw the new rookie wearing my number (apparently she's crazy nasty, so at least yey for representing #11). Regrets really suck. A lot. Heh.

On a happier note - I'm going to Italy (!!!). I definitely need to be more excited. I suppose I just have a lot of things on my mind as usual. Bah!

CC

"Another Girl, Another Planet"

It has been quite some time since I last blogged, but I feel now is as good a time as any to give an update about my life.

Not much has changed. I'm still busy, still trying to keep social, and still trying to figure out what I'm going to do next. The only difference is that I know have a BA in Art History to help me out with the last bit.

As of right now I have three jobs. I'm still coaching (which I think I'm going to continue to do until I die) and I just got two new jobs. I'm a sandwich maker at the Togo's on campus (oh so much fun [/sarcasm]) and I'm going to be a TA for one of the professors in the art history department (I am actually really excited about this).

I'm back in school, this time working towards a Second BA in Italian. I need 12 units to achieve this and I'm hoping to complete 6 by November and hopefully the other 6 during the four months I will be in Italy (cross your fingers).

Yes I said Italy, ladies and gentlemen. I'm waiting to hear back from the Region as to whether or not I will be attending a four month scholarship program in Tuscany. I really really really hope I get it. It's one month of language study followed by three months of working and learning to restore paintings. Absolutely perfect.

I've been reading Ron's Blog more and more now as he travels through Italy (I am so jealous), and it's making me more and more anxious to hear from the Region as to their decision. My uncle is going to be in Italy when they decide (within the first two weeks of September) and he's going to let me know ASAP.

That's all for now, but don't be surprised if you see another blog or two in the next couple days (I'm trying to get back into the swing of blogging, but we all know how well I stick to that, hah).

Ciao.

CC