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Friday, September 9, 2016
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Moonlit Walk
The days here in Florence are numbered leaving only the option to enjoy every last bit. The other night Kirsten, Sarah, Cate and I went for a walk around Florence; we had been to Piazzale Michaelangelo, and the river before, but not at night. We climbed the many steps to the overlook, and breathed in a magical view. Since we were in no hurry, on our way back over the Pontevechio, we sat while a street artist strummed his guitar. The fog smoothed the glowing streetlights, music echoed on the river, and there was nothing more beautiful in that moment.
Life in Florence has taught me to take life slow, be in the moment, and never say no to an adventure. There is a contagious peace, and relaxed attitude about the Italians and it has become a part of me, changing my life for the better. Thank you Italy for reminding me to slow down and not take for granted this beautiful, wonderful life which is a gift from God.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Volunteering at RFK
Earlier in the semester my roommates volunteered at a preschool just around the corner from our apartment. Despite preschoolers charm, I prefer to work with primarily adults. I had a meeting with Luca, the school volunteer coordinator to see what projects or organizations best suit my interests, abilities and talents. It turned out and organization called the Robert F. Kennedy Center (RFK) European branch was in need of a couple volunteers to host guests at their Freedom Fighters Art Gallery. RFK center originates in Washington D.C and was created to continue the fight for human rights and celebrate our victories so far. This opportunity is especially exciting because I am passionate about art and human rights. Since Passion conference 2013 my eyes have been open to the world wide depravity of human rights, and I count myself an activist specifically to end human trafficking. I am thrilled to be a part of a prestigious organization like RFK and to continue the fight for human rights while abroad, even if I am just greeting people as they come into an art gallery.
I have volunteered at the gallery four hours a week for the past eight weeks. (excluding spring break). My position is slightly mundane, but I can do it with joy knowing the gallery would not be able to open resulting in less people being enlightened about the human rights issue.
The exhibit below captured the spirit and beauty of women throughout history who have fought for human rights. The artist Marcello Reboani titles the exhibition Ladies for Human Rights, and uses choice recycled materials that reflect each character uniquely. These are just a few of the works, there were many other inspiring activists. Captions are taken from the exhibition booklet.
Toni, Luca the coordinator and I on my first day at the gallery |
You can check out the RFK center here: http://rfkcenter.org/
Sunday, April 13, 2014
A Sunday Afternoon
The bar before drinks were poured |
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Germany part two
Munich Beer Garden |
The next two days Annick and I explored the city. Greg's time was split between waiting outside of shopping stores, and working on a class project. He usually joined us for meals, because most of the days we were either shopping for clothes, window shopping in home goods/design stores, and browsing art galleries.
Inside of part of the Shopping Mall |
Canoe Shelves?!?!?!?!!!!! Yes please |
Everyone needs a couch this big, and that human statue on the table is just priceless. |
The last night we ate at the world renowned Hofbrauhaus! I had visited the Hofbrauhaus branch in Pittsburgh, needless to say it was nothing like the original in Munich. The restaurant is three stories high, the bottom floor is a huge room three times the size of the Pittsburgh branch with long wooded tables and benches. Seating is a free for all on the first floor. Since I was with Germans and not a tourist while i was in Munich, we ate on the second floor which is more restaurant style. There was live music and the waitresses and waiters dressed up in traditional German outfits where we were as well. Not only did I eat the most German meal, I also had the most German experience eating on the second floor. Below you will see the roast and potato dumpling, which was so delicious I just had to finish even though it was bigger than my stomach.
Other highlights were the two art museums we visited. I bought a couple postcards to hang in my room. Ironically they were works of a painter originally from New York. Apart from viewing art in every city I visit, another goal of mine is to eat ice cream/gelato everywhere. This was not a difficult request for Annick to plan because she too has a sweet tooth for ice cream. She raved about a place she kept referring to as the crazy ice cream place, later I found out it literally translates to Crazy Ice Cream Shop. The flavors were outrageous, including one of their most famous flavors, beer. The beer flavor tasted like a beer milkshake, which surprisingly was good. The atmosphere of the place matches with the name, the owner always wears a top hat, the interior is covered in paintings, customers sit on mushrooms, and there are quotes from the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow and John Lennon. Maybe there was a secret ingredient that made the ice cream so flavorful.
Annick's friend with the walls of the Crazy Ice Cream Shop behind her. |
The Castle was worth seeing! |
The last day was spent back in Offenburg, visiting with the family and walking along the river separating Germany from France.
A view of two rivers from a tower, on the far left you can see France! |
Annick and I |
I had a wonderful time in Germany, my experience would not have been the same if Annick and her family had not opened their home to me. Thank you for making me feel like part of the family!
My German Family |
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Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Reunited after 4 years
I flew to Germany for Spring break to visit with my good friend Annick and her family. Annick was an exchange student my junior year of high school, and we have kept up our friendship since, we always hoped for a time when I could visit her in Germany. That time finally came, and it was so wonderful to spend a week with her, reconnect and live as a German (as much as an American can). A special thank you her family for taking me in, taking time out of your week to show me around, and for making me feel like part of the family. I would not have wanted to experience Germany any other way!
The first half of my stay Annick showed me around her area, we went shopping and sight seeing across the river to France, hiking in the beautiful Black Forrest, visited her grandmother, ate typical German food, and danced the night away Offenburg style.
I was amazed by how close Annick lives to France. Annick, her mother and I drove a little over twenty minutes to a beautiful city/town in France. We took a boat ride along the rivers that flow through the city, and spent the rest of the day in and out of shops pursuing our fashionista dreams. There is now a new dress in my wardrobe for all the summer weddings, and also so I can contribute to the sororities dress closet. You're welcome.
Riding through France |
Annick, her mom and I in front of a Cathedral in France |
Also we went on a random, yet awesome "roller-coaster car ride thing" that overlooked the Forrest. Just watch the video to understand.
I loved the first few days in Germany with Annick and her family. One of the nights her mother cooked a delicious pasta meal, and paired it nicely with champagne and wine. They caught on to my inordinate desire for sweets and surprised me with a bowl of ice cream with a flavor unique to the area. Everything was incredibly wonderful!!! Next post will be about our adventures in Munich and the second half of my stay. I know, you are amazed at how much German I experienced in 10 days. It is only because Annick and her family were so hospitable and determined to make my stay the best it could be.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Venezia
Venezia the main canal |
My Italian friend Fede and her family extended gracious amounts of hospitality toward me, inviting me in their home, feeding me authentic Italian cuisine and taking me around their hometown and Venice. It was so wonderful to be in a home, and comforting to sit around a dinner table with family. I am more than grateful for my stay with the Romors!
Fede is my Italian sister who studied abroad in the United States in my hometown last year. She became very good friends with my sister Ruth, and was always over our house when I came home on breaks. When she found out I was studying abroad she invited me to come stay at her home which is conveniently located just out of Venice and offered to show me the city.
The first day I attended her high school, she is in 13th year which is equivalent to freshman year of college. It was interesting to take English class at an Italian school. After school, which is only from 8:30-1:30 we went to her grandfathers house. Her Aunts prepared a feast, approximately four courses, and then three types of dessert. Side note, I gained 1.5 Kg that weekend which is equivalent of 3 pounds. Everyone spoke Italian, or their regions dialect, every once in a while I would mutter a sentance in Italian, usually saying Buono, buonissimo, mi piace.... (Good, very good and I like..) The pasta we had was Carbonata, which is a typical pasta dish with eggs and bacon. BUONISSIMO!!!!
Dinner with her Grandfather, aunt, cousins and friends |
That was only lunch, after exploring her hometown and the beach, we went back to her house and had dinner. There was more dessert including a homemade chocolate chip cheesecake. How could I resist that? Most people would be in a coma by the end of the night, but due to my high sugar intake I managed just fine.Something else I learned was that they eat sweets for breakfast. Sure, in america we eat pancakes with syrup, but it is different in Italy. When we make dessert in the US we eat it the next day after lunch, or after dinner, however, in Italy they eat it the next day for breakfast. So when I woke up the next morning still full from the previous day of feasting, I sat at the breakfast table with a slice of cheesecake, a platter of cookies, another slice of cake and biscuits in front of me. Shamelessly I ate one of everything to prepare my body for the busy day in Venice. I forgot to mention the fried dough was there as well, special to Carnivale season.
You get the picture, the food was AMAZING, and Fede's family was so welcoming. I also learned a lot of new Italian conversation words. Conversations were an exchange of languages. They would say something in Italian, I would respond in English, they would correct it to Italian, then it would go the other way around with me teaching them English. It was tiring trying to communicate, and I started speaking very theatrically so they would understand through my gestures. At times, I am sure this was a funny sight to see, and maybe they joked about how silly Americans are when I went to bed, so sorry if I made us look foolish.
Venice was amazing, and I have no need to try to describe the uniqueness and beauty of the City since you can marvel at the pictures. Even though most of the day was rainy and wet, the city is still very photogenic. One of the best parts of the day besides walking the streets in utter awe at the scenery, was being with Fede and her Italian friends. It was one of the first times I did not feel like a foreigner, and did not feel out of place. At the restaurant I got treated like an Italian, usually I get treated like an american or a tourist, and it is so much better to feel welcomed! They even gave us samples of their house drinks, which would never happen if we were just tourists. We also met up with my roommates.
Fede and I near her home town at the beach |
The trip was so wonderful and I cannot thank Fede and her family enough! They even gave me some of their family recipes.
The rest of my pictures will soon be posted on Facebook!
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