The Desperate Housewife

Amicis,

Heard that the weather at UConn is in the single digits today.  Go Storrs!  That's what I'm talking about!!!  I'm bundled up over here too.  

Living in Florence has been an adjustment for me, and after about three weeks here, I am finally starting to feel at home.  There is much more to the study abroad experience than just classes and traveling.  I've never felt so independent in my life.  UConn prepared me for living on my own (to a point), but this is a completely new level.  I mean, I bought my own Tupperware containers yesterday.  Toilet paper is a weekly purchase.  Cheap hand soap excites me.  My transition from student to housewife becomes more and more obvious as they days go on.

My roommate Margo is an incredible cook, and has taught me everything that I know about seasoning meat.  I've graduated from grilled cheese to grilled chicken, which is a VERY big step for me.  I make dinner for myself almost every night, and I pride myself on how far my skills have come.  With the help of my roommates and some of the guys who live next door-- the "Iron Chefs"-- I hope to return home as a new woman!

Balsamic chicken with capers.... My own little creation!

Aside from cooking and cleaning, your girl likes to get the hell out of the apartment.  Italy has given me energy that I never knew existed...  There have been instances where I leave at 8:30 a.m. and stay out exploring until eight at night.  I am overwhelmed by the amount of things to do, see, and learn from this city.

I visited the Francis Bacon exhibition at the CCC Strozzina for my Business of Art class.  I've never walked through a contemporary art museum before, but I'll say that my first time was interesting.  Francesca (my professor) acted as a guide during our tour, which I really appreciated, since it seemed like every artist's piece had a story.  Francis Bacon's art involves extremely graphic and emotionally raw imagery... he was a bit of a tortured soul.  One of my favorite pieces was a black wool thread installation by Chiharu Shiota:  The last room of the exhibit looked as if it were filled with webs, with doors placed randomly throughout.  At first, I'll admit that it was a little creepy walking through the pathway surrounded by the threads, but I learned that each connecting string symbolizes a person's memory in their lifetime.  The threads are interwoven to demonstrate how each individual memory is connected to form a person's life story, and the open and closed doors illustrate chances taken and opportunities missed.  I like the deep stuff.  

My favorite piece by Chiharu Shiota

I've been visiting the San Lorenzo Market more frequently and am learning the sweet, sweet skill of haggling.  My mom has always found bargaining with vendors to be a blast, and I never understood her.... until now.  It's ridiculous walking through the rows of tented shops-- the merchants are RELENTLESS.  On a Saturday, I walked through the middle of the market with Margo and the vendors made every effort possible to get our attention.  Margo denied a guy who shoved a red wallet in her face, and the vendor in the next tent screamed out, "Forget the wallet, how about a boyfriend?!"  It's a complete free for all.  I get such a kick out of the whole market scene, and the biggest plus is the fact that I get to practice my Italian numbers.  I hear any price over venti (20) and I keep it moving... I bargained for a great deal-- tre (3) scarves for undici (11) euros.  Shout out to my mom!  Makin' you proud girl!

The Florence Central Market is a whole other story.  I was too intimidated to go during my first two weeks, but now I'm starting to get the hang of it.  Basically, the Central Market is a giant Costco but with only the freshest of meats, cheeses, vegetables, and wines.  There are samples of balsamic dressings and breads, which is right up my alley.  I've become best friends forever with the dried fruit woman and chicken man-- they're so patient with my naive American questions.  Through them, I've tried things that I never knew were edible!

The Florence Central Market

"Trying" is going to be a major theme during these months, and so far, I've become a more well rounded foodie by doing so-- I've eaten (and actually enjoyed) liver sauce, Tuscan sausage, and dried aloe.  Who am I?  I feel like my dinners are gradually getting more exotic through my experimentation.  I have a tendency to marinade chicken in wine and then shake on 10 different spices.  Pasta with sauce just isn't cutting it for me anymore.

At the end of the day, there's nothing I love more than slipping into my Hoodie Footie (pictures unavailable) and snacking on some cherry tomatoes.  I'm loooooving this life as a housewife!  

A domani!

- A