After a trip that was supposed to take me from chicago to zurich, zurich to florence (i would then take the train from florence to bologna which is really only an hour but a slight hassle). everything was going as planned until we were about to land in florence. i must add first that the flight was a little rocky and we were all ready to be on the ground, but as we were about to land the plane started ascending again. of course we really didn't know what was happening and until the pilot said that the tail winds were too high and that we were too heavy to land there right now so he thought that if we flew around for a little bit and then burned some fuel we would be able to land. well after 30 more minutes of flying around and us all being quite anxious he says that we are running out of fuel and can't land in florence, but instead we are landing in.....bologna!! I was honestly the only one the plane who was happy about this and i started clapping (not uncommon as most italians clap when the plane lands anyway). so long sotry short- we landed in bologna and i was spared a train ride!
This past week has been filled with things:
1.) apartment searching: this process is so exhausting and very hard at times. this is something that is done all in italian from reading the adds to calling the people, to actually visiting the house and talking with the roommates. this is also difficult because they ultimately have to choose YOU. its intimidating but hopefully worth it in the end. essentially when you are accepted into an apartment you are being accepted into their, for lack of a better word, "clique".
2.) making friends: i have been getting to know the other people in my group as well as other italian students. for the most part, everyone is super nice and fun to hang out with!
3.) orientation things- aka the boring stuff: everyday during the week we meet at the bcsp office and have orientation paperwork and things to do.
4.) eating and enjoying life: this is what is all about right? bologna has absolutely amazing food! everything that i have tried here has been delicious and i can't wait to try more! yesterday, saturday, was such a great day and a true example of how life in italy is and should be! it was a very relaxing day- but i had two apartment showings in the morning, one which i really want to live in so cross your fingers for me. later i met up with my friends maggie, britta, and laura and we had lunch at this place called tamburini- its a very old deli in the city but it has a cafeteria style lunch we went there it was amazing! we then got a gelato, sat by the fountain and just enjoyed life! later we went to dinner, walked around some more, and we had heard through the grape vine from some other people on the street that there was a concert in piazza maggiore so we made our way over there. the day was great and i hope to have many more in bologna!!!
a presto!!
