DANCE: THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE

Dance, math, music....I think these could all be classified as universal languages - no matter where you go, steps, numbers and music notes generally do not vary.

Last night I had my first private Italian Latin dance lesson. It was truly more than I could have ever hoped for. I learned 5 or 6 new things - related to technique, in addition to new moves - in 45 minutes. That's more than I learned during last semester (granted I was teaching the ballroom lessons 95% of the time...).

I'm so excited and happy! Two months without dance is no way to live! I will be taking private lessons every week for the rest of the semester - or at least that is my goal (wish I had a job to replenish my poor bank account!). I hope to return to Ithaca a much-improved dancer. :)

In terms of language, Davide, the teacher, did not speak any English. One of the ladies that had a lesson before me interpreted for the first 15 minutes or so of my lesson before she had to leave. Afterwards, we were on our own....and that was okay. As I said, dance is definitely a universal language. With an International syllabus of recognized moves, it was much easier to communicate, because "Natural top" is the same move no matter where in the world you are. Davide ended up speaking Italian while showing me what I should be doing - stepping on the outside of my foot for a spiral, tucking in my butt, making sure my thighs stayed together, etc. It was not at all frustrating, and he didn't seem to be frustrated either. But, it would be nice if I could eventually get to the point where I understand some of the things he is saying in Italian. Guess I have 11 more weeks to work on that. :)

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On another note, today has been the MOST beautiful, sunniest, warmest day since I arrived in Siena. I went out and laid in the Piazza with some other girls from IES. Definitely felt great to soak up some Vitamin D. I plan on trying to get out there a few times a week, since I seem to be the poster-girl for being WHITE. Goodness.

And....Mom and Dad are officially NOT coming due to the fact that Mom broke her ankle a little over a week ago. Disappointing, but life throws you curves - you just have to go with it.

Off to make dinner....Ciao!

CARNAVALE!

Apparently Brazilians and New Orleans folk aren't the only ones to celebrate this time of year - Italians are enthusiastic participants as well.

To me, Carnavale seems like the Halloween-equivalent, although I am told that Halloween is also celebrated here. Depending on which Carnavale festival you attend, festivities can range from Masquerade Balls (Venice, Italy) to everyone simply walking around in their costumes, music performances, fried food, and lots of silly-string and confetti (Viareggio, Italy - where I was yesterday).

Although I haven't been an active participant (a mask and costume wouldn't exactly fit in my suitcase, nor did I even think to bring any), I have been an interested and amused observer. :) While on the Piazza del Campo taking these pictures, I suddenly became the target of 5 and 6-year olds with silly string. I quickly protected my camera lens and ran away from them, but they were already on to their next victim (thank goodness!).

Tuesday is Mardi Gras and I am going to a mask party at Gallery (the local club) - should be interesting....since Italians seem to know how to party. ;) Have to say...don't think that anyone can party harder than the Serbians I met on the Vineyard this past summer...

Italy is always filled with surprises, though. :) I wouldn't have it any other way!!


(Side note: I deactivated my Facebook account last week - I came to Italy to experience life and culture, not sit on Facebook and waste time...which is basically what I was doing. To be honest, I find it very liberating - one less thing to obsess over! And, I realize how ridiculous it is how wrapped up people are in it - today, Facebook came up as a topic of conversation AT LEAST 8 times in the course of 2 hours, "Did you see the pictures....", "Oh my gosh! They're dating?!", "Did you get the message about...?" And I just sat there thinking, 'Wow. What has this world come to?' Yes, I will eventually put Facebook back up again, but not right now. If people need to contact me, that is what AIM, email, snail mail or phones are for...)

Orchestra of Tuscany

Just returned from a jaw-dropping night of music at the Teatro di Rossi - featuring the Orchestra di Toscana.

WOW. That's the only word that seems to fit. They played the first 6 bars of the first song and I was blown away. They were SO good - dead on. They sounded like a recording. Perfect intonation. Perfect dynamics. Perfect musicianship. Wow.

Not only that, but they also had two opera singers join them on a few pieces. They made it look easy - no strain on their faces or anything. Just stood there and belted it out - in between acting out the story.

This is the first time since I've been here that it is all starting to hit me.

Wow. I'm actually in Italy. I'm sitting in this gorgeous theater, surrounded by local Italians, and a few fellow Americans, listening to this phenomenally talented orchestra - after having an Italian dinner at a quaint restaurant on the Piazza del Campo. Fresh ingredients, warm bread, great company. Am I dreaming?

Nope. I'm really in Italy.

And, Italians sure know how to do it up right. In celebration of Carnavale weekend, the second half of the concert featured the musicians dressed as various things - a devil, an Arab, a construction worker. And, before the end of the concert, the conductor had already popped open a bottle of champagne....part of the program it seemed, but also part of the lively Italian drinking culture.

Oh Italy...I love you.

How Quickly Life Can Change...

When I woke up this morning, I had an email sitting in my inbox from Dad.


Mom broke her ankle yesterday. Slipped on the rug on the porch, she's going to have a metal plate put in on Friday.


Mom & Dad were supposed to come visit in 20 days. Everything is up in the air right now. It's probably a given that Mom won't be coming. After Googling "broken ankle", I discovered it typically takes 6-8 weeks to heal. Dad said he's not sure he wants to come alone. Whether he will look for someone to travel with (possibly my Uncle), come by himself or not come at all, I am not certain.


Please send your well-wishes and prayers my Mom's way...

Pompei

Went to Southern Italy for the weekend with 6 other girls and we had a chance to visit Pompei. If you ever have the opportunity to visit, I HIGHLY recommend it! It was absolutely phenomenal - both the ruins and the history behind it all.

~Culture Shock~

I thought I had escaped the grip of culture shock...until this past weekend.

A car ride to Northern Italy, meeting a friend's family: parents, sisters & grandparents; and four home-cooked meals later...I am missing my family and friends.

Italians sure have hospitality! I would argue that they have more than United States Southerners - or at least it seems genuine (sometimes the Southerners are faking their hospitality, I can tell). Not even my grandparents from West Virginia pushed food on me as much as my friend's mother did! Oh my goodness! I thought I was going to explode! Luckily, after saying "No grazie" for the 3rd time, she stopped. I am pretty sure I gained a kilogram (2.2 pounds) or two this past weekend.

Some of the students studying at IES Siena are in homestays and are experiencing the same thing with meals. However, even after saying "No" they still receive another 3 or 4 spoonfuls of whatever their host parents are serving that night. As I did, they felt guilty not finishing whatever was put in front of them....guess it's an American thing?

In order to find out my food preferences, I sat down with one of the sisters and we used a translator program to make my likes and dislikes known. Well of course I listed peanut butter as one of my loves. haha. I haven't had it for nearly a month!!!! That night, after dinner, my friend's mom pulled out a bag of peanuts!!!! So, it's not *exactly* the same as peanut butter, but it was the closest I am going to get while I am here in Italy.

..............

I also can't help but worry that I am missing stories, events and inside jokes in Ithaca while I am here in Italy. But, I suppose I am making my own stories and living my own experiences while I am over here.

Maybe I just need to stop worrying and start living. Yeah? :)

Dying to Dance

It doesn't look like the ballroom dance thing is going to work. Carolina is specialized in Standard, and I am a Latin girl. She knew a 24-year old guy who was looking for a Latin partner, and contacted him for me, but it turns out he already found a partner. And, of the 4 ballroom styles, Standard is the one that, this past semester, I decided I don't want to do anymore - at all. I can't do heel turns, therefore I can't be a Standard dancer. It's as simple as that.

My dancing has diminished to clubbing. And while that is all fine-and-dandy, I want to be polishing my ballroom technique...and dancing dirty in the club doesn't exactly satisfy that. Speaking of which, I think I failed to mention that my first time in an Italian club, I fell down. Completely sober. Yep. Not kidding. There were three of us sandwiched together, leaning/dancing our way backwards. I was in front, lost my balance, and three Americans toppled over onto their tush. Good times. Luckily, none of our classmates were quick enough to snap a photo - so there will be no blackmail. =P

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The pictures below are from my trip to Milan last weekend with fellow IES Siena students.

The Milan Duomo is the 2nd largest Gothic-style cathedral in THE WORLD.

And, we also were on Italian TV! Italian TRL & MTV to be exact! The Italian TRL studio is right by the Duomo, and while we were standing there they shot us in the square. 15 seconds of Italian fame...gotta love it! :)

Ridiculous

How silly of me to think that by moving to Italy for a semester, all the problems I had in the States would dissipate.

I reasoned with myself before I flew to Italy that this was not going to happen. I guess since I've been here that reasoning went out the window - like living in Italy is a fairytale and nothing can go wrong.


Well, let's just say I got a huge slap in the face and reality check last night.


....

This is going to be rough.

SPRING BREAK! (Update by demand, AKA: Carolyn)

I've booked my flight for Spring break:

I am spending 7 days in....*drumroll*.....ICELAND! I can't wait!!! I am going by myself - I've always kind of been Miss Independent. :) I am in the process of figuring out where to go and what to do before booking hostels.


On another note, IES Siena took a trip to Milan - the Fashion Capital of the World - from Thursday to Saturday. I have a whole new appreciation for Siena now. SO GLAD I didn't study in Milan....definitely not a city girl. If this is any proof: When we had a free afternoon on Friday, instead of going shopping, I went to the Milan Public Gardens with a couple girls and watched 15 dogs run around while their owners stood and visited in the afternoon sun (I'm also the girl whose favorite part of New York City is Central Park).

Pictured below is an archway in San Gimignano - where I visited last weekend. :)