La Bella Vita by Michelle Farhang

Over the past weekend, I finally had a successful weekend trip! It was more amazing than I ever imagined it would be. I went to Interlaken in Switzerland and it was such an adventure. 

After an eight hour bus ride, we got in around 3:00 in the morning and went straight to sleep. The next morning I woke up with butterflies knowing it was the day of a pre-paid adventure. I'm glad I paid for Canyon Jumping a week ahead of time, because if I hadn't I might have chickened out! A group of us got picked up in the late morning and we drove higher up the mountains. When we got out of the van, our instructors pointed out where we would be jumping.  It was so high that we could barely see the platform!

Once there, we hiked for about ten minutes, but it felt like an hour with the nerves building. Once we were at the top of the cliff, my mind and body completely blocked out my nerves and thoughts and I tried not to think of anything at all. I was still excited, and watching one of our instructors go down to help us at the bottom made it look so easy. We got harnessed and took pictures and made our way to the platform area. The fear did not really hit until it was my turn to jump. I was somehow able to look and smile at the camera when I jumped up, and then screamed my lungs out when I started falling. I had no idea it would be that scary! It felt like I was falling for such a long time, and then it became a swing at the bottom which was like flying. It was such a rush! 

All of my life, I have been a disaster in the kitchen. From lighting things on fire to melting meals, the kitchen and I have never gotten along. I even have trouble with frozen foods. No matter what I do they seem to end up exploding in the microwave.

Photography, on the other hand, I love. Developing my pictures in the dark room is actually relaxing. So when it came time to choosing my classes for Italy, a photography class was my first choice. I chose Advertisement and Commercial Photography because it seemed like there would be a lot of opportunities to be creative. Unfortunately, when I got to class, it turned out that there had been an error with the prerequisites. It had said that an introductory photography class was required, and I had already taken three photography classes at Chapman. What hadn't been clear was that an introductory course in digital was necessary. The professor told me that not knowing Photoshop would put me really far behind in the class and that it would be best to change courses.

This is how I ended up in my advisor's chair, looking at a packet of open courses that were available to switch into. I came across a nutrition class called Italian Style Cooking that was in the exact time block I needed. I figured that I would need to overcome my conflict with the kitchen at some point, so I might as well do it in Italy.

Last weekend, Zach and I attempted a trip to Rome that was, unfortunately, a huge failure. It was cold in Florence, and my classmates told me that Rome is almost always warmer than Florence. I decided to trade my boots in for flats and my warmest coat for a slightly lighter one and got on the train without looking at the weather forecast for the weekend. We were only going for 24 hours so I did not bring extra boots or another coat.

Two hours into the train ride (we took the slow train to save money) there was snow pouring outside. I did not worry too much because I had no idea where we even were in relation to Rome. 

Then we got to Rome, and off of the train. Within a minute my feet were soaked in icy snow and frozen. Our bed and breakfast was a five minute walking distance from the train, but we had to get a cab. Even the taxis seemed unable to drive in the weather. Once warm inside, we decided to go back out and brave the weather–and possibly find me some furry boots. We barely made it a few feet down the street where we decided to get inside and eat at a restaurant that had good reviews. The televisions in the restaurant were all showing breaking news of the unbelievable weather conditions. Our waitress told us that Rome had not seen weather like this in nearly thirty years. Everyone seems nervous, which wasn't very comforting.

Florence has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Our apartment is perfectly located right between the Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo, and I spent my first weekend in Italy walking for miles (often in circles) just admiring everything about Florence. There is a reason places like these are tourist destinations. They are so amazing that they don't seem real. I keep having to remind myself that they are not part of a movie set or a replica in Las Vegas. 

Before I left for Italy, the only thing I had really heard about the Italian people were that the men "loved women", especially American women. What has stood out most to me about the Italian people, however, is how unbelievably warm and friendly they are. Even when I am stumbling through trying to order a cappuccino or ask directions to the market, the locals are so patient and eager to help me with my Italian. A woman smiled and gestured with her hands to keep trying during my first lunch out when I was trying to order flat water instead of carbonated, or water "with gas". The man that works at the coffee shop around the corner from my class room taught me how to ask for my pastry to-go, a rare availability anywhere in Florence. 

The New Beginning: 
      I chose to study abroad in Florence, Italy for a long list of reasons. The one that may have had the most impact on my decision, though, was the fact that every single person that I talked to about their previous experience studying abroad in Florence was a rave about how it was an indescribable life-changing experience.
      The year of tasks leading up to studying abroad were more stressful and overwhelming than I ever thought they would be, but once I landed in Italy it felt like it had never even happened. Even though I hadn't slept in well over 35 hours, I somehow made it to what turned out to be my absolute best meal so far in Italy with my roommate and her parents. The appetizers of pear and cheese were the most amazing flavor combination, my ravioli came to the table still sizzling, and we somehow made room for three desserts after, including a pear and chocolate cake. I have a new infatuation for pears.
      I slept until five o'clock in the evening the next day, so it was lucky that my flight had gotten changed to be a day early because I was somewhat rejuvenated by the time it was move-in day.
      My apartment is just as I imagined it would be. We live on a cute little "via" that cars are not even able to fit on to drive through. Vespas line the sides, including one filled with beautiful flowers that is on my list of things to take a picture of. I didn't think much of living on the fourth floor in terms of stairs, but each floor is two flights of stairs, so by the time we get to the top we are absolutely winded (but secretly grateful and hoping that we are working off that pizza and gelato we had for lunch). Everything about the inside is small, old and quaint, and I love it. My bedroom window opens up to the backside of the Museo di Palazzo Vecchio, which is gorgeous. I am so excited by everything, and I don't think it has actually hit me that this is really my home for the next four months.