Thursday-classes began. It was amazing. I love my teacher-she is so nice and we literally don't speak a word of English in the class at all. My homework for this weekend is to go to il bar (a café) and talk to locals and the barista about the different coffees and pastries in the café. HOW awesome is that? 

Thursday evening we had our welcome dinner at this restaurant near Il Duomo. Everyone was there from the entire program. There were so many of us! Probably over 130. We had a 3 course meal, it was delicious, but it hurt to walk afterwards. It was the best meal I've eaten so far here. It was amazing. 

After class on Friday, I bought the Firenze newspaper from the news-stand right outside my school on my 2 minute commute walk back to my apartment. I started reading it and although I can understand about every sixth word, it does help (not to mention, makes me feel awesome reading la Repubblica in the morning while I eat my breakfast). I have no clue what it is saying, but the more I practice, I will be able to. I'm trying to completely immerse myself into the culture here and keep updated with what is going on locally. 

For lunch after school on Friday, Cristel and I made our first Italian meal ourselves, as you can see from the picture. It was molto buona!

Friday, it rained during the morning and this morning it did as well. We got a little soaked because I forgot my umbrella in my apartment, but c'est la vie. (Italian AND French in one blog entry, si).

Friday night was our first night out with a big group and I had the most fun I have had YET. It was amazing. So much excitement and I got to speak in only Italian multiple times throughout the night. It was a blast and I'm learning so much. I love it because everyday I never know what to expect, but I'm always welcoming the adventure I'm about to encounter. 

This morning we had a 2 hour walking tour for everyone in the program, they broke us up into 8 groups, my goodness was it sensational! I learned so much about the city and about the Medici and the artists and about the wars and Ponte Vecchio.

I love it here. I wish everyone could see this city. It is the most beautiful city in the world.