Benvenuti a Firenze, Italia

"For apart from [God] who can eat or who can have enjoyment?" - Ecclesiastes 2:25

After four-plus days of adjusting to the wonderful city of Florence (Firenze), I've finally decided to make a blog. While this is not my first time traveling, nor my first time in Italy (thanks Mom and Dad), I still think it is important to keep track of and share the many new experiences that are sure to come throughout my semester abroad. So enjoy!

Gelato (fragole)

The verse quoted above has been on my mind since I arrived in Italy. While I was on the plane from Rome to Florence, I was asking myself why exactly I was beginning this four-month adventure

Gusta Pizza

across the Atlantic. Food, drink, merriment, travels, academics, music, friendships: all of these things are
sure to categorize this coming semester. But like the author of Ecclesiastes asserts, all is "vanity" or "meaningless" if I have these things without God. He gives it all meaning and every good and perfect gift is from above! I'm certain I'll be seeing many of His good gifts while abroad (like the pizza and gelato pictured). I plan to start, walk through, and finish this physical and spiritual journey with Christ as my motivation and guiding light.

It is very evident to me how He has already been guiding me. My trip got off to a rough start at JFK airport. We were trying to figure out how to get my luggage sent directly from New York to Florence. I doubtfully would have been able to go through customs, baggage claim, and re-check my luggage in Rome during my one-hour layover. Moral of that story: If you talk to the right people and are persistent you can make almost anything happen. Shedding a few tears doesn''t hurt either.

In the airport in Roma I met my current roommate for the week, Vanessa. We've been getting along great and will be in the same apartment building (called Nice - pronounced "nee-chay") for the duration of our stay in Parma. There are 23 people in my program, 5 males, and everyone seems to be meshing pretty well so far. No one person seems to be left out, which is great! We all stay in the Hotel Meridiana together for our one week in Florence, then we'll all be split up a little more once we arrive at our separate apartments or home stays in Parma.

"Gates of Paradise" - Ghiberti

We've all been taking Art History together with our professor Rocky. He's from Rhode Island and went to college in the States, so he understands American students pretty well since he was one once. I know nothing about art, and have never been particularly interested in it, but Rocky makes it understandable and enjoyable! Directly visiting the sites we're learning about also makes it more interesting than simply looking at pictures in a textbook. As he said, "Some people would cut off their right arm to see some of these paintings." So I'm really trying to take it all in. So far, we've been to the Bargello, Casa Buonarroti, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gallery, and Museo dell'Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore. Among many pieces of brilliant Renaissance art we've seen, most notable have been Michelangelo's statue of "David" and "The Holy Family/Doni Tondo" painting, Botticelli's "La Primavera" and "Birth of Venus," Da Vinci's "Annunciation," and Ghiberti's "Gates of Paradise" doors. The amount of history in this city is unfathomable. Unfortunately, I could only take pictures of the "Gates of Paradise," since most museums prohibit photography.

Among places I've visited outside of class are the Duomo, Basilica di Santa Croce, Boboli Gardens, Palazzo Pitti (Pitti Palace), several leather shops to try on jackets I can't afford, and Gusta Pizza, as per the recommendation of every BC person I've talked to who's been to Florence. If I think the food is good here, I can't imagine what it will be like in Parma! My diet mainly consists of pasta and cheese...it's a good thing we've been walking an average of 9 miles each day!

View from the top of the dome of the Duomo

Boboli Gardens with Palazzo Pitti in back
(a.k.a. future wedding location)

Basilica di Santa Croce with some new friends

Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) in the background

I would also like to wish a VERY HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY to Annie! Wish we could be celebrating together but I'm sure you're having a great time in Dublin! Much love to my family and friends...more to come soon :)