Guten Tag!
WOW. What crazy times I've had in Munich, Germany.
To begin the adventure, I had to wake up in my appartement here in Milan at 5:00 am, catch the 6:00 am bus, ride to Cadorna Station where I rode the Malpensa Express train to the Malpensa airport (whcih takes 40 minutes) then got on my plane, changed planes in Zurich, Switzerland, then arrived in Munich where I took the S Bauh 8 to Ostbanhof Station, got lost and couldn't find my roommates, and then just took a taxi to the address of the appartment we were crashing at, found the roommates, then ate some darn good German food. Crazy. My life here is mostly all about transportation it seems.
So to backtrack a bit, the scene from my airplane window seat going into Zurich was incredible. I took a Swiss International flight there (which was awesome by the way because they give you a big bar of Swiss chocolate on every flight). The plane flew surprisingly low and it was completely clear so I had a perfect view of the captivating Italian and Swiss Alps! I've never in my life seen such a majestic sight! I really really want to take a trip to Switzerland now and spend some time there--and the city of Zurich looks so peaceful and green with beautiful countryside. I miss being around mountains so much since being at Tall Timber last summer--and the Alps look like killer mountains, blowing away the Cascades! It's amazing!
The city of Munich also surprised me. I didn't realize how green and lush Germany was. Munich almost felt like a European version of Seattle--the weather was very similar and also, it's an incredibly environmentally conscious community with biofriendly grochery stores and all. There was a mix of modern, sleek buildings, usually made of glass, and the beautiful old architecture of course. They refer to Munich as the "village of one million people" meaning that even though the city is large, it's a close-knit community in many ways. The people I met in Germany were incredibly friendly and it's a very English-friendly place. Some Germans explained to me that all Germans have to have a lot of english education and that they think it's very important (they also told me that they look town on other countries that don't emphasize english, such as the French who they told me tend to be isolationists).
The Munich metro system consists of the S Baun and the U Baun and they are fantastic! Once you get a hang of the German names of stops and stuff it's quite simple to use and it's very clean to ride. By the end of my five days there I was an expert.
The first day in Munich after meeting up with my roommates, we ate some delicious German cuisine at this restaurant owned by this really sweet German lady. The appartment we stayed at belonged to this guy, Ali, who is friends with Felix, a boy that once stayed at my roommate's house and who she has stayed in contact with. The boys were both once students at UC Berkeley and were super nice and fun to hang out with!
The next day we woke up and headed for Oktoberfest. Holy crap, Oktoberfest. It was one of the craziest things I have ever seen/experienced. It looks like a big giant German carnival--there are rides, neon lights, horse drawn carriages, and brawtworth stands and lederhosen everywhere. And of course, all the beer! There are enormous tents lining the streets that you wait possibly hours to get into--inside the tents are where you fight for a table (if you don't already have a reservation that you've made months in advance and paid rediculous amounts for) and only then are you albe to order your enormous stein of beer (which holds enough liquid equivilent to about 5 very alcoholic American beers) and it costs 8.50 euro. We got into the Paulaner tent (each tent is a different brand of German beer) and it was a good tent to be in since there were mostly authentic Germans and it wasn't overrun with tourists. The sight in the tent is almost unbeleiveable. People start drinking at like, 9 am and the fest doesn't end until 11:00 pm....and people just keep drinking more and more and the crowds get rowdier and rowdier. Oktoberfest is hundreds of thousands of drunk people in one area, literally. Nothing ever would happen like this in the States because of all the liabilities I'm sure. In the evening I saw tons of cops and people passing out and on stretchers needing medical attention which was frightening--but when you think about it, an event where 6 million people come to drink in tents all day long and not drink hardly any water and eat only salty German pretzels....there's bound to be problems. There's also live music in the tents complete with fun and festive German drinking songs that we didn't really know the words to. But for some reason, the Germans are OBSESSED with the beggining bass line of the White Stripe's song "Seven Naiton Army" and it was sung by the drunken crowds about once every hour. So weird. But basically Europe seems to be ten years behind the States in music. My roommates and I bought and wore drindls to get in the Oktoberfest spirit which was fun. Everywhere you look there are women wearing them in all colors and men and boys in their lederhosen. Love it.
After my roommates left Munich for Frankfurt, I was to meet up with Sarah Mier and Sarah Baresh, friends of mine I knew in high school, along with two of Sarah Baresh's roommates studying with her in Prague, Jill and Holly, and Srah Mier's friend from UCLA, Renee, who is studying in Florence. Before meeting up with them at the hotel we reserved I wandered the streets of Munich on my own for a while and saw the sights. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and took lots of pictures of the amazing buildings, beautiful parks, and German cathedrals, including the beautiful Glokenspiel of Munich. I eventually meet up with the girls at the hotel (all six of us were staying in one room with one bed to save precious euros which made for an adventure with plenty of cuddling in the night). With this group I spent two more days at Oktoberfest and by the end I was pretty Oktoberfested out. One day is tiring enough....yeah I was at the fest for three. Hardcore, I know. But there are many stories to tell.
I met all kinds of interesting people at both Oktoberfest and in Munich in general. We talked to lots of Germans of course, Austrians, Irish, English, Italian, French, Swiss people and a New Zealander. I've really enjoyed having discussions with Europeans about what they think of America (most of the time they say they think America is a great place and that Americans in general are unfairly stereotyped). Also, Europeans in general know A LOT about American politics and keep up regularly with what's going on with current election news. The Germans loved us when we told them we were American, but they loved us even more when we said we were from California (the men, mostly). And I got many curious questions when I told them I was from San Francisco regarding the homosexual population. Oh sterotypes, no surprise there.
In summary, Oktoberfest lives up to it's infamy times ten--it's one of the craziest festivals in the world, I'm sure of it. And of what I've seen of Germany so far, I love it! And I love what I've seen of its people and really want to go back and see more while I'm over here!
There are many more stories that I have about the fest and Munich, but it's too much to really contain in a blog. And some are just better shared in person so ask me later.
Now I'm back in Milano and I started classes today (finally). It's so weird that I haven't had class in so long so it feels good to get back into some sort of routine. I had Art History of the Renaissance focusing on Leonardo Da Vinci this morning and I think it's going to be more challenging than I had anticipated--but so far it seems awesome. We have field studies where we go visit sites in Milan that Leonardo made or took part in (including of course, The Last Supper). Leonardo is a big aspect of Milanese history, so it's cool that I get to take a class on him right here in Milan. I also had a literature class that is a comparative course on British Lit and Italian Lit that incorporates lots of history, poetry, film studies, etc. (basically it's a lot of Dante versus Chaucer) and it seems like a good class too. Tomorrow I have Masterpieces of Italian Literature in Translation, and later in October I begin my Italian language course (which is long overdue becasue I still can't speak Italian which has proven VERY difficult while living in Milano). With classes and homework and such during the week, I also am trying to plan my weekends which will mostly consist of traveling, traveling, and oh yes, traveling. I hope to go to either Switzerland or France to visit a Whitworth friend next weekend, and then after that I'm going to Prague!
It also happens to be my 21st birthday this thursday, October 2nd. So that's weird. I feel super old.
Ciao ciao my friends/family! You are all wonderful and I miss everyone A LOT.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
L'oggi era un buono giorno! Bravo!
Ciao!
So I woke up this morning, thinking to myself, today might potentially be yet another stressful day in Milano. I needed to register for classes (which has been a frustrating and disorganized mess with the Cattolica, my University) and I needed to pick up my ATM card (for Milanese public transit) which could involve hours and hours of waiting in lines and language issues. Also, since I don't officially start classes until next week (most people are taking a pre-intensive Italian class and I am not, so my classes haven't started yet) it's been a little awkward having so much idle time. So I've been filling my time with exploring the city of Milan and traveling (I leave for Munich on Wednesday) and my roommates are already in Germany so I've had the appartment all to myself for a couple of days. With all this said, I wasn't expecting today to be as good as it was--but it was a great day in Milano.
First off, it was a clear and crisp autumn day which is a precious thing in Milan since most of the time it's overcast and hazy. I took the 57 bus as usual to Cadorna station in order to retrieve the precious ATM pass. This pass allows me to use all metro lines, buses, and trains in the city by swiping one single card, instead of constantly having to go into Tabacchi stores to buy one for one euro. It's a student pass which I had to fill out tons of paperwork in Italian for two weeks ago. It costs 17 euro to renew every month but it's totally worth it. The whole process has been a little agonizing. Today I went to pick it up and had to wait for about an hour and a half in a crampt and chaotic room down where the underground metro is and patiently wait for my number to be called. I showed thme the reciept and my card was given to me and I felt a great sense of acheivement. Seriously, I walked out of that station with such pride--I feel like I'm actually starting to conquer the ways of this chaotic city.
So there was an extra spring in my step as I strolled down Via Carducci, my victory lap as I approached the University where my next potentially stressful endevour awaited me. Registration for classes and looking at class scheduling and time tables as well as the communication wiht the university has been absolute hell. So I was extremely relieved when I entered Lea's office (the coordinator for ISEP/IES students) and she went over my classes with me and registered me for all the ones that I needed to get in to. Wonderful!
So after that success of the day, I thought I'd go to park. And just to make my day even better, Devin, an American friend in my program that I've made here joined me. We strolled through Sempione park which is a beautiful oasis in the middle of Milanese craziness. Autumn is in full swing all of a sudden here and all the leaves are turning color. We sat under some trees, talked about life in Italy thus far and all the weird cultural subtlties we're discovering that make us similar and different to Italians. This park in particular is sort of Milan's version of Central Park. There's always events going on in various places, concerts or currently, an international film festival that sets up huge movie screens every evening. Elderly people, families with young children, and couples, business people, students, are always meandering the park pathways. There's benches for people watching everywhere and gelato/pannini stands too. Little kids may be kicking around a soccer ball, people are reading in the grass, people are jogging, or there's couples expressing way too much PDA in the grass. At the end of Parco Sempione nearest the Duomo there is an old castle called Castello Sforzesco that's really cool with a big courtyard that's always open to the public and there's a big fountain in front of it for more people watching.
After an afternoon at the Park, Devin and her roommate, Rita, joined my at my appartment and we went to a restaurant around the corner from my place for cocktails. I have been to this restaurant a couple of times and the owner is the coolest ever! He is so nice and gives us lots of free things and discounts every time I'm there and he's so incredibly hospitable. He knows that my roommates and I are new to the neighborhood and don't know our way around so he gave us his number and says that if we ever need anything at all that we can ask him. The restaurant seems to be popular with the locals and it's such a hole-in-the wall little place, you would never assume the food was so good and the service so friendly. So I think this restaurant is officially "our place". It's quirky, the owner is always giving out free bruchetta and free little candies or big bowls of popcorn. And there's alwasys funny American R&B or Hip-Hop music playing. Anyways, my 21st birthday is next week (ugh, I'm so old!) and the owner said he'd buy me a drink.
Overall, it was a very pleasant day in Milan, probably one of my best yet despite how ordinary it may have seemed to most people. In my experience so far, I've learned to find great pleasure in the little things, taking it one day at a time, and noticing all the little details that make this a true cultural immersion. I find joy in little victories like getting a transportation pass that I've stressed over or having a conversation at a cafe with an old Italian man about politics in America. It's all in these little everyday things that I'm learning so much. I know I will return to the States a changed person, and that navigating any city in the States will be a piece of cake compared to Italy! No language barrier, no problem!
Very early Wednesday morning I leave for Oktoberfest in Munich and I am so pumped! I change planes in Zurich, Switzerland, then I will meet my roommates in Munich, Germany and join the beer festivities in all its glory!
Until next time...ciao ciao!
So I woke up this morning, thinking to myself, today might potentially be yet another stressful day in Milano. I needed to register for classes (which has been a frustrating and disorganized mess with the Cattolica, my University) and I needed to pick up my ATM card (for Milanese public transit) which could involve hours and hours of waiting in lines and language issues. Also, since I don't officially start classes until next week (most people are taking a pre-intensive Italian class and I am not, so my classes haven't started yet) it's been a little awkward having so much idle time. So I've been filling my time with exploring the city of Milan and traveling (I leave for Munich on Wednesday) and my roommates are already in Germany so I've had the appartment all to myself for a couple of days. With all this said, I wasn't expecting today to be as good as it was--but it was a great day in Milano.
First off, it was a clear and crisp autumn day which is a precious thing in Milan since most of the time it's overcast and hazy. I took the 57 bus as usual to Cadorna station in order to retrieve the precious ATM pass. This pass allows me to use all metro lines, buses, and trains in the city by swiping one single card, instead of constantly having to go into Tabacchi stores to buy one for one euro. It's a student pass which I had to fill out tons of paperwork in Italian for two weeks ago. It costs 17 euro to renew every month but it's totally worth it. The whole process has been a little agonizing. Today I went to pick it up and had to wait for about an hour and a half in a crampt and chaotic room down where the underground metro is and patiently wait for my number to be called. I showed thme the reciept and my card was given to me and I felt a great sense of acheivement. Seriously, I walked out of that station with such pride--I feel like I'm actually starting to conquer the ways of this chaotic city.
So there was an extra spring in my step as I strolled down Via Carducci, my victory lap as I approached the University where my next potentially stressful endevour awaited me. Registration for classes and looking at class scheduling and time tables as well as the communication wiht the university has been absolute hell. So I was extremely relieved when I entered Lea's office (the coordinator for ISEP/IES students) and she went over my classes with me and registered me for all the ones that I needed to get in to. Wonderful!
So after that success of the day, I thought I'd go to park. And just to make my day even better, Devin, an American friend in my program that I've made here joined me. We strolled through Sempione park which is a beautiful oasis in the middle of Milanese craziness. Autumn is in full swing all of a sudden here and all the leaves are turning color. We sat under some trees, talked about life in Italy thus far and all the weird cultural subtlties we're discovering that make us similar and different to Italians. This park in particular is sort of Milan's version of Central Park. There's always events going on in various places, concerts or currently, an international film festival that sets up huge movie screens every evening. Elderly people, families with young children, and couples, business people, students, are always meandering the park pathways. There's benches for people watching everywhere and gelato/pannini stands too. Little kids may be kicking around a soccer ball, people are reading in the grass, people are jogging, or there's couples expressing way too much PDA in the grass. At the end of Parco Sempione nearest the Duomo there is an old castle called Castello Sforzesco that's really cool with a big courtyard that's always open to the public and there's a big fountain in front of it for more people watching.
After an afternoon at the Park, Devin and her roommate, Rita, joined my at my appartment and we went to a restaurant around the corner from my place for cocktails. I have been to this restaurant a couple of times and the owner is the coolest ever! He is so nice and gives us lots of free things and discounts every time I'm there and he's so incredibly hospitable. He knows that my roommates and I are new to the neighborhood and don't know our way around so he gave us his number and says that if we ever need anything at all that we can ask him. The restaurant seems to be popular with the locals and it's such a hole-in-the wall little place, you would never assume the food was so good and the service so friendly. So I think this restaurant is officially "our place". It's quirky, the owner is always giving out free bruchetta and free little candies or big bowls of popcorn. And there's alwasys funny American R&B or Hip-Hop music playing. Anyways, my 21st birthday is next week (ugh, I'm so old!) and the owner said he'd buy me a drink.
Overall, it was a very pleasant day in Milan, probably one of my best yet despite how ordinary it may have seemed to most people. In my experience so far, I've learned to find great pleasure in the little things, taking it one day at a time, and noticing all the little details that make this a true cultural immersion. I find joy in little victories like getting a transportation pass that I've stressed over or having a conversation at a cafe with an old Italian man about politics in America. It's all in these little everyday things that I'm learning so much. I know I will return to the States a changed person, and that navigating any city in the States will be a piece of cake compared to Italy! No language barrier, no problem!
Very early Wednesday morning I leave for Oktoberfest in Munich and I am so pumped! I change planes in Zurich, Switzerland, then I will meet my roommates in Munich, Germany and join the beer festivities in all its glory!
Until next time...ciao ciao!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Firenze
I just got back yesterday from wonderful couple of days in Florence! It was my second time visiting this beautiful city and I would go again--it's no wonder it is considered one of the best cities in all of Europe!
Me and my roommates, Tara and Nancy, have not been too savvy when in comes to trains. On the way to Florence, we accidently sat in first class and were kicked out. On the way back from Florence, we ran to the station in the cobble stone streets in our italian boots thinking we were going to be late, but instead we got on an earlier train to Milan which was not the train we purchased our tickets for. oops. So we sat next to the bathrooms between traincars with all our backpacking stuff and had to get off in Bologna, wait an hour, and get on the correct train to Milan. We found humor in our dejectedness and shame as we sat on the train with no actual seats--all a part of the adventure!
While in Florence we walked everywhere and crashed on the floor of an appartment of some other students studying there. We enjoyed red wine and a home-cooked meal at the appartment, shopping and barganing in the markets, and viewing the statue David. It was my second time seeing the David (lucky me!) and still, it was awe-inspiring!
Another highlight of our time spent in Florence, we found an edgy little hair salon and decided to get chic Italian haircuts. I chopped a lot of my hair off which I've been wanted to do since last semester but never had the guts to do it. I figured short hair would be easier for traveling and fun to do while here in Italy.
We arrived back in Milan in the evening and still had to ride the metro to Cadorna Station then take our 57 bus for 40 minutes or so to where our appartment is located. We do not have an ideal commute to say the least. Today we woke up, tried to figure out how to register for classes (which has been a very frustrating process with our university), got some lunch, and I saw Tara and Nancy off as they took the bus to stay in a hostel for the evening to wake up early and fly to Munich. On Wednesday I will be meeting them in Munich (I have to take the bus at 6am, then take a train to the airport, then change planes in Zurich, Switzerland, then I get to Munich). We are staying with a friend of a friend in Munich then I will be meeting up with two friends I knew in highschool, one is studying in Germany, the other in Prague, and we will partake in Oktoberfest celebrations until Sunday when I fly back to Milan and start classes on Monday. Huzzah!
My time here so far has been great but also strange and irregular. Since I haven't started classes yet and I'm not in a routine, I haven't found my life's rhythm like I typically do at Whitworth. Things will be crazy with having to commute in the city to class everyday and then planning traveling/backpacking expeditions for the weekends. For now I feel somewhat displaced and disconnected being so far away from the family and friends that I miss so much, but I just have to brace myself, embrace the adventure, and look forward to the day when I can be home again as a more experienced, independent, and traveled individual. I'm sure the big adventure will be all over before Ieven know it.
Ciao ciao from Milano!
Me and my roommates, Tara and Nancy, have not been too savvy when in comes to trains. On the way to Florence, we accidently sat in first class and were kicked out. On the way back from Florence, we ran to the station in the cobble stone streets in our italian boots thinking we were going to be late, but instead we got on an earlier train to Milan which was not the train we purchased our tickets for. oops. So we sat next to the bathrooms between traincars with all our backpacking stuff and had to get off in Bologna, wait an hour, and get on the correct train to Milan. We found humor in our dejectedness and shame as we sat on the train with no actual seats--all a part of the adventure!
While in Florence we walked everywhere and crashed on the floor of an appartment of some other students studying there. We enjoyed red wine and a home-cooked meal at the appartment, shopping and barganing in the markets, and viewing the statue David. It was my second time seeing the David (lucky me!) and still, it was awe-inspiring!
Another highlight of our time spent in Florence, we found an edgy little hair salon and decided to get chic Italian haircuts. I chopped a lot of my hair off which I've been wanted to do since last semester but never had the guts to do it. I figured short hair would be easier for traveling and fun to do while here in Italy.
We arrived back in Milan in the evening and still had to ride the metro to Cadorna Station then take our 57 bus for 40 minutes or so to where our appartment is located. We do not have an ideal commute to say the least. Today we woke up, tried to figure out how to register for classes (which has been a very frustrating process with our university), got some lunch, and I saw Tara and Nancy off as they took the bus to stay in a hostel for the evening to wake up early and fly to Munich. On Wednesday I will be meeting them in Munich (I have to take the bus at 6am, then take a train to the airport, then change planes in Zurich, Switzerland, then I get to Munich). We are staying with a friend of a friend in Munich then I will be meeting up with two friends I knew in highschool, one is studying in Germany, the other in Prague, and we will partake in Oktoberfest celebrations until Sunday when I fly back to Milan and start classes on Monday. Huzzah!
My time here so far has been great but also strange and irregular. Since I haven't started classes yet and I'm not in a routine, I haven't found my life's rhythm like I typically do at Whitworth. Things will be crazy with having to commute in the city to class everyday and then planning traveling/backpacking expeditions for the weekends. For now I feel somewhat displaced and disconnected being so far away from the family and friends that I miss so much, but I just have to brace myself, embrace the adventure, and look forward to the day when I can be home again as a more experienced, independent, and traveled individual. I'm sure the big adventure will be all over before Ieven know it.
Ciao ciao from Milano!
Monday, September 15, 2008
My City Life
Today I felt.....independent.
I woke up in my appartment alone (my roommates were in Cinque Terre visiting a friend for the day). I got dressed, grabbed nutella on toast for breakfast, then walked around the block to wait at the bus stop for the 57 Cordona, the bus I take to town everyday. I got on the bus, held on tighly as the driver squeezed around busy Milanese streetcorners, ignoring all caution. I walked all over the city, running errands, taking pictures, enjoying the sights and sounds. I had lunch at the University cafeteria (which is very good by the way). In a way it's like Saga, students do the Saga stare, tray in hand, but the food is incredible. There is always a heaping pile of fresh pasta, roasted peppers, spinach, cheeses, yogurt, an assortment of fruits.
After lunch I went shopping in the city. I had to pick up a backpack and few other things. During the afternoon as I was strolling through the Piazza del Duomo, Milanos central Piazza, this Italian man who I would say was thirty-something, came out of no where and struck up a conversation with me. His english wasn't very good and I don't speak Italian except for a few words. At first I thought, ok what does this guy want from me. He asked me about where I'm from and we talked in short simple sentances about San Francisco. He asked what I was studying at the University, and when I say "english" people get confused, and I don't knwo the italian word for literature, so he didn't know what I was talking about at all. He told me all about Milanese weather in the fall and winter and that he works 8 hours a day. I started to get anxious and wanted to come up with an excuse to leave when he started asking me about where my appartment was in the city. So I headed towards the metro as he followed me, and I took in a sigh of relief when I noticed he wasn't going to follow me down the steps. As we parted ways, I said, "it was nice to meet you, Guiseppe" and went in for the handshake. Instead, he ignored the handshake a laid a big wet one on the face. It was gross. But funny. I think all he wanted to do was kiss an American girl.
I took the metro to Cadorna station, then waited for the 57 bus going in the opposite direction, then got on, Radiohead in my ipod. I got back to the appartment exhausted from all the day's walking. Next, it was time to go to the local grochery store just around the block from my appartment. I love the wway italians do supermarkets. They are small, but they have everything you need. And everyone seems to know each other there. I even like the way the italians package their fruit, cheeses, and slices of meat. I thought I was racking up quite a bill, piling my basket high, but it came out to only be 17 euro. I purchased the following: a package of sliced swiss cheese, mozzarella balls and 6 tomatoes for a caprese salad, a package of lettuce and mixed greens, a bottle of basalmic vinegar, Ace juice (orange, carrot, and lemon flavored juice that's really good), apricot yogurt, some toasted bread things for nutella, foccacia bread, and frozen spinach and cheese filled fried thingys. Not bad.
It's so bizzare that my first experiences of truly living independently in the city are not even happening in my own country! At the store people would ask me things in Italian and I felt so bad and so stupid just starign back blankly. I was told I look very Italian today...but I'm sure if they watch my actions more closely they would see I have no idea what I'm doing! It's in the little things like hesitating to pick up your grocheries after purchasing them because you're waiting for them to be bagged, then in a split second you realize, "wait, gropcheries are bagged in America. Here, you bag them yourself and you probably only get one bag to do it."
Now my fridge is stocked, my packages are stowed away, there's laundry drying and I'm meeting some friends for evening entertainment. What a life.
Ciao!
I woke up in my appartment alone (my roommates were in Cinque Terre visiting a friend for the day). I got dressed, grabbed nutella on toast for breakfast, then walked around the block to wait at the bus stop for the 57 Cordona, the bus I take to town everyday. I got on the bus, held on tighly as the driver squeezed around busy Milanese streetcorners, ignoring all caution. I walked all over the city, running errands, taking pictures, enjoying the sights and sounds. I had lunch at the University cafeteria (which is very good by the way). In a way it's like Saga, students do the Saga stare, tray in hand, but the food is incredible. There is always a heaping pile of fresh pasta, roasted peppers, spinach, cheeses, yogurt, an assortment of fruits.
After lunch I went shopping in the city. I had to pick up a backpack and few other things. During the afternoon as I was strolling through the Piazza del Duomo, Milanos central Piazza, this Italian man who I would say was thirty-something, came out of no where and struck up a conversation with me. His english wasn't very good and I don't speak Italian except for a few words. At first I thought, ok what does this guy want from me. He asked me about where I'm from and we talked in short simple sentances about San Francisco. He asked what I was studying at the University, and when I say "english" people get confused, and I don't knwo the italian word for literature, so he didn't know what I was talking about at all. He told me all about Milanese weather in the fall and winter and that he works 8 hours a day. I started to get anxious and wanted to come up with an excuse to leave when he started asking me about where my appartment was in the city. So I headed towards the metro as he followed me, and I took in a sigh of relief when I noticed he wasn't going to follow me down the steps. As we parted ways, I said, "it was nice to meet you, Guiseppe" and went in for the handshake. Instead, he ignored the handshake a laid a big wet one on the face. It was gross. But funny. I think all he wanted to do was kiss an American girl.
I took the metro to Cadorna station, then waited for the 57 bus going in the opposite direction, then got on, Radiohead in my ipod. I got back to the appartment exhausted from all the day's walking. Next, it was time to go to the local grochery store just around the block from my appartment. I love the wway italians do supermarkets. They are small, but they have everything you need. And everyone seems to know each other there. I even like the way the italians package their fruit, cheeses, and slices of meat. I thought I was racking up quite a bill, piling my basket high, but it came out to only be 17 euro. I purchased the following: a package of sliced swiss cheese, mozzarella balls and 6 tomatoes for a caprese salad, a package of lettuce and mixed greens, a bottle of basalmic vinegar, Ace juice (orange, carrot, and lemon flavored juice that's really good), apricot yogurt, some toasted bread things for nutella, foccacia bread, and frozen spinach and cheese filled fried thingys. Not bad.
It's so bizzare that my first experiences of truly living independently in the city are not even happening in my own country! At the store people would ask me things in Italian and I felt so bad and so stupid just starign back blankly. I was told I look very Italian today...but I'm sure if they watch my actions more closely they would see I have no idea what I'm doing! It's in the little things like hesitating to pick up your grocheries after purchasing them because you're waiting for them to be bagged, then in a split second you realize, "wait, gropcheries are bagged in America. Here, you bag them yourself and you probably only get one bag to do it."
Now my fridge is stocked, my packages are stowed away, there's laundry drying and I'm meeting some friends for evening entertainment. What a life.
Ciao!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Tentative Travel Thoughts
Wednesday September 24th fly to Munich (or to Frankfurt and take the train to Munich) for OCTOBERFEST with Sarah & Sarah. Return on the 28th.
September 29th, CLASSES BEGIN.
October 2nd. MY 21ST BIRTHDAY. Devin & Calli come to visit from the UK?
October 10th to 12th, three day weekend. Visit Caitlin in Budapest or meet up in Prague?
Visit Annie in Grenoble soemtime????
November 8th to 10th, three day weekend and midterms over. Anyone want to go to Amsterdam?
December 6th to 7th/8th, meet Caitlin in Paris.
December 20th FLY HOME.
These are some tentative plans, people let me know what works, what doesn't work, additional ideas, etc.
Other possible desired destinations: Berlin, Switzerland/Austria, Bratislava, Spain???
September 29th, CLASSES BEGIN.
October 2nd. MY 21ST BIRTHDAY. Devin & Calli come to visit from the UK?
October 10th to 12th, three day weekend. Visit Caitlin in Budapest or meet up in Prague?
Visit Annie in Grenoble soemtime????
November 8th to 10th, three day weekend and midterms over. Anyone want to go to Amsterdam?
December 6th to 7th/8th, meet Caitlin in Paris.
December 20th FLY HOME.
These are some tentative plans, people let me know what works, what doesn't work, additional ideas, etc.
Other possible desired destinations: Berlin, Switzerland/Austria, Bratislava, Spain???
Ciao Milano!
Whoa, hold the phone, it's been a crazy long time since I've updated the ol' blog. My sincere apologies, it's just been so so crazy lately! So since I last posted I have done the following in a nutshell: been to Rome (saw the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, etc), been to Naples (sick nasty) in order to get to Pompei and the beautiful island of Capri (saw the blue grotto, the bluest water in the world), and moved in to my appartment in Milano. The past weeks have been filled with excitment, apprehension, frustration, homesickness, lonliness, fun, learning, growing, discovering....a whole mixture of emotions.
A few highlights:
On the train to Rome, my mom's camera with 600 photos was stolen which sucked a lot. Pickpocketing is a favorite pastime here in italy.
I moved into my appartment in Milan which is decent enough--kind of in a sketch area and I have a half hour bus ride commute to get to campus. I live with three other American girls and so far we're having a good time trying to figure out life here together.
I had orientation at school. In the States, orientation for school is an organized ordeal that involves paperwork, instructions, that kind of stuff. Here in Italy, orientation involves chaos and chaos management. Point A sends you to point B who sends you to point C who sends you back to point A who then gets angry and yells at you in Italian. People do not wait in lines. Pedestrians do not have any sort of right-of-way. You fill out lots and lots of paperwork in Italian that is confusing and excessive. You apply for bus/metro passes that you pick up in 10 days....or 2 weeks....or...who knows. People take long lunch breaks and longer siestas. Everything closes down on Sundays. Politics are extremely corrupt and nobody likes the president. Taxis drivers may charge you 25 euro for a one minute taxi ride. People love soccer. And fancy things Italians love bad American music--they blast it at the nightclubs. They are obsessed with designers to the point that it's sickening. Some are very warm and friendly, some stuck up and rude. A lot of them tell me it's there dream to come to America. Italy is a lot of things, but if you try to make any sense of it when you're here, you will utterly fail.
After traveling throughout the various cities and towns of Italy, I have come to the conclusion that all its places are distinctly Italian, yet distinctly something in of themselves. For example, a man in Capri told me "Why are you studying in Milano!?! That is not the real Italy!" A Sicilian here in the north told me the south and the north are different worlds, but he prefers it up here....there is more economic opportunity. Milan is industrious, modern, cold and cloudy most of the time. Rome is ancient, hot and humid, slower paced. Capri feels like a tropical paradise where as Naples on a nearby shore is a hell hole--the crime and chaos is so overwhelming, the scene from the hectic streets is both appalling and mesmerizing. Florence is smaller, cultured, and contains fabulous art. Venice has a style that is distinctly its own, but it feels like a cultural disneyland when rundown with tourists. Tuscany and Cinque Terre are blissful, quaint, relaxing, more like the Italy I have always imagined. Overall, Italy is not as glamorous as I think most Americans perceive it to be--it's just like any other place really in some ways. But then sometimes I change my mind and think this place is on another planet. I came to Europe thinking I would hate America and be more critical of it than I already am, but I don't think I will be. I am learning to appreciate how America is orderly. Yes, it's ridgid at times and beaurocracy sucks but at least there's order, things somewhat make sense (maybe only because that is the culture I know best). But still, as controling as America can be, there are a lot of advantages.
I've had some great conversations with international students here. I've met people from France, Germany, Belgum, Sweden, Austrailia, Chile, Argentina, Korea, Japan, Portugal, and a whole lot more that I can't think of right now. I've enjoyed discussing cultures and politics, differences and similarities. Being a foreigner is humbling and talking with students my age from other countries is enlightening, broadening my worldview. I know my experience here is going to be one of the most challenging, eye-opening, and maturing of my life. I feel ten times more independent of a human being than I was when I got on the plane in San Francisco. Figuring out how to navigate the city of Milan has proved very challenging and everything here is expensive. Someone told me Milan is ranked as the fifth most expensive city in the world. Yikes.
As for travel plans....I am going to Octoberfest in Munich, Germany the last weekend in September! Yes! My birthday is October 2nd....I turn 21 here in Europe. I am going to Paris to meet a friend the first weekend of december, and I also want to visit the same friend in Budapest, Hungary as well as meeting up in Prague, Czech Republic. On my list of travels is also Monaco and Cannes, France, Amsterdam, Netherlands.....I wish I could go back to London but I may have to save that for another trip.
I'm still waiting on pictures. While traveling around Italy, my mom and brother took all the pictures so they need to send them too me. Until then, you just have to trust that I'm telling the truth!
Ciao Ciao my friends! Love from Milano!
A few highlights:
On the train to Rome, my mom's camera with 600 photos was stolen which sucked a lot. Pickpocketing is a favorite pastime here in italy.
I moved into my appartment in Milan which is decent enough--kind of in a sketch area and I have a half hour bus ride commute to get to campus. I live with three other American girls and so far we're having a good time trying to figure out life here together.
I had orientation at school. In the States, orientation for school is an organized ordeal that involves paperwork, instructions, that kind of stuff. Here in Italy, orientation involves chaos and chaos management. Point A sends you to point B who sends you to point C who sends you back to point A who then gets angry and yells at you in Italian. People do not wait in lines. Pedestrians do not have any sort of right-of-way. You fill out lots and lots of paperwork in Italian that is confusing and excessive. You apply for bus/metro passes that you pick up in 10 days....or 2 weeks....or...who knows. People take long lunch breaks and longer siestas. Everything closes down on Sundays. Politics are extremely corrupt and nobody likes the president. Taxis drivers may charge you 25 euro for a one minute taxi ride. People love soccer. And fancy things Italians love bad American music--they blast it at the nightclubs. They are obsessed with designers to the point that it's sickening. Some are very warm and friendly, some stuck up and rude. A lot of them tell me it's there dream to come to America. Italy is a lot of things, but if you try to make any sense of it when you're here, you will utterly fail.
After traveling throughout the various cities and towns of Italy, I have come to the conclusion that all its places are distinctly Italian, yet distinctly something in of themselves. For example, a man in Capri told me "Why are you studying in Milano!?! That is not the real Italy!" A Sicilian here in the north told me the south and the north are different worlds, but he prefers it up here....there is more economic opportunity. Milan is industrious, modern, cold and cloudy most of the time. Rome is ancient, hot and humid, slower paced. Capri feels like a tropical paradise where as Naples on a nearby shore is a hell hole--the crime and chaos is so overwhelming, the scene from the hectic streets is both appalling and mesmerizing. Florence is smaller, cultured, and contains fabulous art. Venice has a style that is distinctly its own, but it feels like a cultural disneyland when rundown with tourists. Tuscany and Cinque Terre are blissful, quaint, relaxing, more like the Italy I have always imagined. Overall, Italy is not as glamorous as I think most Americans perceive it to be--it's just like any other place really in some ways. But then sometimes I change my mind and think this place is on another planet. I came to Europe thinking I would hate America and be more critical of it than I already am, but I don't think I will be. I am learning to appreciate how America is orderly. Yes, it's ridgid at times and beaurocracy sucks but at least there's order, things somewhat make sense (maybe only because that is the culture I know best). But still, as controling as America can be, there are a lot of advantages.
I've had some great conversations with international students here. I've met people from France, Germany, Belgum, Sweden, Austrailia, Chile, Argentina, Korea, Japan, Portugal, and a whole lot more that I can't think of right now. I've enjoyed discussing cultures and politics, differences and similarities. Being a foreigner is humbling and talking with students my age from other countries is enlightening, broadening my worldview. I know my experience here is going to be one of the most challenging, eye-opening, and maturing of my life. I feel ten times more independent of a human being than I was when I got on the plane in San Francisco. Figuring out how to navigate the city of Milan has proved very challenging and everything here is expensive. Someone told me Milan is ranked as the fifth most expensive city in the world. Yikes.
As for travel plans....I am going to Octoberfest in Munich, Germany the last weekend in September! Yes! My birthday is October 2nd....I turn 21 here in Europe. I am going to Paris to meet a friend the first weekend of december, and I also want to visit the same friend in Budapest, Hungary as well as meeting up in Prague, Czech Republic. On my list of travels is also Monaco and Cannes, France, Amsterdam, Netherlands.....I wish I could go back to London but I may have to save that for another trip.
I'm still waiting on pictures. While traveling around Italy, my mom and brother took all the pictures so they need to send them too me. Until then, you just have to trust that I'm telling the truth!
Ciao Ciao my friends! Love from Milano!
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