First Impressions

Ciao i miei amici!

I apologize for taking my sweet time saying hello to my friends and family back home. I've been in Italy for about two weeks now, and I can say I am well on my way to feeling settled.
Here's a bit about my first week or so in Italy. My very first initial perception of Florence? Hot. My second? Humid. And my third? Extraordinarily colorful. The following are some of my most vivid experiences thus far:

The stifling bus ride from the airport – As I sat in the very back of the bus, I clutched the luggage that wasn’t somewhere between here and Frankfurt, and simultaneously wiped the sweat off my face.
Unfamiliar familiar Santa Clara faces – Will our generic hello's back at SCU morph into sincere conversations here in Firenze? And might these relationships continue once we’ve returned from abroad?
Tiny elevators – I thought people were supposed to fit inside these.
The 1st night’s walk to the Duomo – An exhilarating jaunt to the epicenter of the city I hope to fall in love with.
Cobblestone streets – “Look at the beautiful architecture on that buil–Oof!” I’ve learned to step lightly and never wear heels.
Overwhelming orientation – The onslaught of orientation packets, pamphlets, and papers drove me to the point of exhaustion. Well that of course, and the jet lag I am still recovering from.
Colorful and balanced meals – The delightful lunches during orientation fueled my spirits: pasta, vegetables, fresh fruit, and tomatoes so incredible, they deserve their own description below.
RED tomatoes – Tossed in the salad or eaten alone, these tomatoes were so fresh and colorful, I completely forgot that both my suitcase and laptop were lost somewhere across the Atlantic.
Lilita’s Italian baccia - Lilita is our new Mamá per quattro mese (4 months!). When she came to pick Meg and I up from Syracuse, she greeted us with a slight kiss on both cheeks – double the love!
Three course dinners – While I expected Italian dinners to be lengthy and delicious, it came as quite a shock when meat, potatoes, salad, and fruit followed an entire plate of spaghetti. Mom and Dad – it might be a good idea to widen the door frames before I get home.
Breakfast with Osvaldo – On our first morning at the Hardoy residence, Osvaldo woke early in order to show us the bus we take to campus. We ate our breakfast quietly (biscotti, peach jam, and tea), due in part to three tired people unsure of what to say. For those of you familiar with The Sisterhood, this experience mirrored that of Lena and her Bapi.
The language barrier – I arrived in Firenze with two quarters of college Italian, a few select phrases, and a dictionary under my belt. All preparation aside, communicating can be difficult. The Hardoy’s speak hardly any English (I couldn’t resist), and I have yet to acquire the vocabulary for, “I’m not too fond of chocolate for breakfast,” or “my sheets are scratchy.” I do love the challenge, and speaking only Italian throughout dinner each night and during class each day has been an incredible way to learn the language.
Comfort and respect – Lita and Osvaldo are very considerate of our needs as college students spending a semester in a foreign city. Because they have two grown daughters, Meg and I like to think of ourselves as their pseudo-children. In fact, just the other night, Meg, Osvaldo, and I had an absolute blast painting our nails and doing facemasks. Syke.
Matteo - Matteo is 5 years old, grandson to Lita and Osvaldo, and quite the Italian firecracker. An entire room in the Hardoy home is dedicated to Matteo’s toys – floor to ceiling drawers accommodate cars, boats, action figures, dragons, animals, Hot Wheels, coloring do-dats, pictures, etc. Lita and Osvaldo spoil him rotten, as any Italian grandparents should. Tonight before dinner, Lita put two pairs of socks on his feet so he didn’t catch a cold.
Running with Meg – While on a run, Meg and I explored the most beautiful part of Tuscany – the country! We ran up into the hills of Fiesole, the charming countryside of Florence. A picturesque church and recreational soccer (or calcio) fields are local places worth re-visiting.
Our Sunday Immersion –Lita and Osvaldo drove us around town so that we might become better acquainted with the city. We took in the Florence skyline at the Piazza Michelangelo. Lita purchased a magnet to add to her collection (the refrigerator is completely covered), and together we shared a laugh over the modest David souvenirs. They drove us up into Fiesole where we visited with their daughter Julietta, mother to Matteo. Periodically, we stopped along the way and snapped pictures of the view from the hills. Che bellisima!

My first impressions are far from over, as I seem to continually experience new bits and pieces of the Italian culture: how to safely cross streets, line-dry laundry from the balcony, get on and off the bus, share living space with mosquitoes, avoid gelaterias near the Duomo, and plan my days around the wide-spread siesta. I do not plan to solidify any of my impressions. And in not doing so, I look forward to authentically experiencing Firenze, my beautiful home for four months!

I miss you all a bucket load.

Infinite x's and o's,
Genevieve