Florence Student Newsletter #8

REPUBBLICA 6 NEWSLETTER FROM THE CEA FLORENCE STUDY CENTER ISSUE 8, FALL 2015

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Living in Florence

By Nikki Berry In making the decision to study abroad, it was impossible not to fear that I would end up staying in a country for four months and not find a group of friends to pass the time with. I knew absolutely no one before making the choice to move here — I ended up finding a family.

Sure we were kind of forced together. Very few people in the program knew each other prior and just as it was in the days entering the school system, we desperately clung to each other. I am lucky enough to have been given an apartment in an adjoining hall of apartments with girls from the program. Our first night together we ventured out, ate sub-par pasta, met up with a group of (very scarce) CEA guys and walked for hours into what —at the time— seemed like the depths of Florence. Turns out we only strayed a block away from the Duomo, but that first night it was the vast outskirts of a city that we had only known for a few hours.

It has been just over three months that I have known all of my “roommates,” and our little Florence family has expanded substantially, leading to Monday night potluck dinners that resemble small Thanksgiving feasts. Our dinners are the perfect start to every week, and— despite weekends spent traversing Europe— are truly the nights that I look forward to the most. There is nothing better than getting to spend hours laughing with people that I have come to care more for than I ever imagined possible.

Thank you Florence, for giving me a family I never knew I needed.

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Pope Francis Comes to Town!

By Rachel Carroll The streets of Florence were quieter than usual on November 10 2015; Pope Francis was coming to town. He began his day in Florence by visiting the newly cleaned Baptistery. The small and elegant building had been under restoration for a year in anticipation of his visit. Next he entered the Duomo for a conference of Bishops discussing the Holy Family.

Volunteering at a Florence Elementary School

By Anna Black-Hogins

Later at Florence’s Artemio Franchi Stadium, Pope Francis gave Mass which I was blessed enough to attend. The Florentine Choir warmed up their beautiful, orchestra-backed voices and a priest led the rosary. As a Catholic myself I had never been in an environment where one thousand people were simultaneously praying the rosary. After the Rosary a procession of hundreds of priests began down the middle of the field. They were cardinals, bishops and priests from all over the world. Next came Francis himself. You would have thought that a boy-band concert was about to begin because everyone cheered and clapped and chanted “Fran-ces-co” (Francis in Italian). The stadium was electric but Pope Francis in his humility and calmness still brought a whole stadium full of ecstatic people to silence as he said the opening prayer for mass.

The most beautiful moment of the Mass came at the very end when Pope Francis gave his ending remarks; “Per Favore, vi chiedo di pregare per me” “Please, I ask you, pray for me.”

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Cinque Terre

By Emily Robinson On September 11th, all of CEA was invited to go together to Cinque Terre! The day began bright and early as we all crawled out of bed and stumbled, zombie-like, to the train station. We boarded busses and promptly fell asleep, waking up two hours later to arrive in the main station of the 5 towns! We were all given day passes to the trains and, more importantly, to the hiking trails. Then we were set free! Many people spent the first part of the day lounging on the beach or exploring the first town. My group, however, set off on a hike between Monterosso

views, but a beach with places to run and play. Hidden behind a

and Vernazza. After weeks of living in the nice, flat, town of

small cave about halfway through the town, this beach is a must

Florence, this hike was difficult for all of us! But the views were

for every student on the trip. It is a wonderful spot for ocean

absolutely breathtaking. The blues of the sea and clarity of the

lovers to sit with their cameras and their journals and their

water were the kinds of scenes novelists strive to capture but

amazing pizza from the shop right across the street and take a

never can.

little break from the hustle and bustle of tourist towns.

Because of how absolutely lovely Cinque Terre is, many

Upon arrival in Vernazza, we were greeted by humansized chessboards on the ground and Gelataria Vernazza, the

students decided to extend the experience past the CEA day trip

best gelataria in Cinque Terre. This town has spectacular views

and stay for the whole weekend. Those students who decided to

and little boats lining the roads near every house. Locals can be

remain for the weekend stayed all together at campsites outside

seen repairing their boats and enjoying the sunshine of lovely

of the main towns. The trip was only a couple of weeks into our

late Italian summer days. But the best part of Vernazza, the

study abroad semester, and the decision to stay was such an

reason we returned not only the next day but 2 months later, is

amazing bonding experience that allowed us all to get to know

the secret beach. A private, quiet section of Cinque Terre that

each other so much better. The whole experience was like a

only the locals know about, with not only the usual picturesque

dream, one we will treasure for a lifetime.

MAKING NEW FRIENDS... IN ITALIAN! Language Exchange

By Susanna Chang One of the greatest advantages of learning Italian in Florence is that we have the unique opportunity to regularly converse with native Italian speakers. CEA’s language exchange program allows us to connect with local university students, but as a beginning Italian student I knew very little Italian when we first met our partners. So, naturally, I was more than just a little nervous to meet them. But after an hour or so, we became surprisingly comfortable with each other.

We used so many hand gestures that my arms were aching, and we over-enunciated so much that my cheeks felt numb, but it was worth it. We now follow each other on every form of social media, and we talk via Facebook messenger almost every day. She would tell me about her favorite places to eat and to dance, and we would get gelato together after school.

Meeting up for school assignments didn’t feel like a chore, it just felt like an excuse to have fun with my new friend.

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Interning at Libreria delle Donne

By Christina Mincin Everyone has a story.

Everyone has a story. In fact, stories epitomize the imprints that human beings leave behind in this world. Yet, everyone does not have the opportunity to share his or her story. Fortunately for the stories that are often overlooked, Libreria delle donne serves as a place that brings these stories to light. Apart from selling books and hosting presentations, which nurtures the improvement of my ear for Italian by providing the optimal opportunity to put to the test my Italian language abilities, as well as immerse myself in the Italian language, culture and community, this bookstore embodies something much more. Notably, Librebria delle donne provides a medium for individuals to vocalize their stories. Why, then, is it important to share a story, especially those that are unnoticed?

Owing to my internship experience, I now understand that perhaps sharing one’s story is not necessarily for one’s own self, bur rather for others, particularly for those who find happiness in hearing a story other than their own, and for those who seek support and assistance. Apart from tremendously improving my Italian comprehension skills, collaborating with Libreria delle donne allowed me to recognize that everyone has a story, and to understand that everyone’s story deserves to be heard.

Place Findings

By Xinhang Cai Our class visited Prato on Friday, September 25 which is just a 20 minute train ride from Florence. It is a nice small town and is much quieter than Florence. Even though its churches are not as grand as those in Florence or Rome, they have their own spirit of being exquisite and moderate. The city also gave me the same feeling. For example, a flower shop on the corner, some decorations near house numbers, a small fountain on the center of a square...etc. Everything in Prato made me feel really relaxed and comfortable.

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Gelato, Gelato, Gelato!

By Elizabeth Fernandez Italy is known for a lot of things. Pasta, wine, art, and gelato. In Florence there are so many places to go for gelato that one can go just about anywhere and try all kinds of flavors without too much hassle. Even though I have been to quite a few, my favorite gelateria would be the Gelateria Santa Trinita across the Arno on the Ponte Santa Trinita bridge. While the outside may not look like much the inside is welcoming and warm. The workers are super nice and will give recommendations if you aren’t sure what to get, and the prices are pretty good too. The gelato is fresh and delicious, the other customers are friendly and the workers always have a smile.

Definitely a must go-to for gelato!

WSU OVERNIGHT TRIP TO VENICE

BY ANNALEA OVERA Colorful stone houses line the blue-green canals like a patchwork

comes to Venice every two years, so we were lucky to be able to experience

quilt. Each one unique, filled with different memories and stories, creating the

this amazing exhibition. After we crammed all the art we could into our minds

spirit of Venice—the city on the sea. Many dream of some day walking the

we enjoyed a Venetian aperitivo, complete with a mix of fried seafood and

narrow alley ways that weave between the canals or enjoying an authentic

meat paired with a glass of prosecco. Immersing yourself into the heart of the

Venetian gondola ride. Studying abroad in Florence, this was a dream that

city is the best way to experience somewhere, and that is exactly what we

we were easily able to achieve.

did. Our second day was spent exploring the nooks and crannies of Venice

It all started with a relaxing two hour ride on the fast train. Stepping

and getting lost among the unique architecture lining the canals.

out of the train station into the cool foggy air of Venice was like a fairy tale.

Venice has such a unique character to it in comparison to other

Fog flooded the canals, seeping between the colorful buildings, giving the

Italian cities and we all really enjoyed getting to experience this. The

city a very eerie aura. We spent the afternoon trying to wrap our minds

picturesque city that we have dreamt of for so long truly lived up to its

around modern art from all over the world at The Biennale. The Biennale

expectation.

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Thanksgiving at CEA!

By Connie Chang Something to Be Thankful For Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday, which is why being away from home during this time of year is so difficult. But when I heard that CEA was planning a Thanksgiving feast for us I was beyond thrilled! I could not wait to taste that Thanksgiving turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and dessert.

However, Thanksgiving was not quite the spectacular event I was used to.

There were so many people, not enough food, and a type of chaos you get when you put 100 or so ravenous college students in one room. I returned home feeling more than a little bummed out—I didn’t get to eat any mashed potatoes, didn’t get any dessert, and barely got to taste the salad I made. I was sitting in bed feeling sorry for myself when I realized that this is not what Thanksgiving is about. Yes, the delicious meal is one of the high points, but the main idea is to reflect on what you have to be thankful for.

This year I am truly thankful for being able to study abroad in beautiful

Firenze. I have learned so many new things, met so many new people, and experienced moments that I will likely remember for the rest of my life. Being abroad has also allowed me to appreciate the things I have back home in the U.S. even more—little silly things that I had never thought about before: like the convenience of a car, fresh avocados, in-n-out, and so much more. To all my classmates, my teachers, and all the staff at CEA, being in Florence with you all has made this my most meaningful Thanksgiving yet.

Paper Marbling Workshop!

By Elizabeth Meddaugh One of the many exciting extracurricular activities that CEA set up was a paper marbling workshop! I was extremely excited for the workshop and the experience did not disappoint. The paper marbling class was held at a secret studio in the Oltrarno neighborhood of Florence. We were met by a very sweet and energetic maestro of paper marbling. Our instructor had studied the art of paper marbling and other Florentine crafts as a student and an apprentice. I could not have been more thrilled to learn such a cultural skill by a professional. We were given boxes and our choice of beautiful marbled paper to create our masterpieces. However, mine did not turn out so well.

I have not yet mastered the art of color combination as my colors were unharmonious and frankly quite unflattering. Although I discovered that I might be colorblind, the construction of my marbled box was exquisite! It was such a wonderful experience to learn the art of paper marbling in a city like Florence!

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~~~~CEA Staff~~~~ Emily Schiavone- Center Director Emily just got her Itallian driver’s license this year, but says she won’t drive much in Italy because she is “a chicken!”

Monica Francioso- Academic Director Monica has 11 fingers! Well, she has a growth that her doctor says is an undeveloped finger, an extra one!

Letizia Ialini- Student Services Advisor Letizia has four baby turtles, born this summer, named after the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Rafael, and Donatello!

Caroline Elo- Academic Coordinator Caroline’s middle name, Orsolya (Hungarian) means little bear!

Daniiele Bini- Student Services Assistant Daniele originally wanted to become a dancer so he could be Britney Spear’s back-up dancer! He loves Britney so much, he has a tattoo of one of her songs.

Vania Ruzzi- University of Florence Intern Vania has traveled to 13 countries in her adult life, 12 in Europe! (The other is the US)

Tutti Per Uno, Uno per Tutti

By Chloe Lum

Nazionale. She was always eager to join us on excursions such as to Cinque Terre and Turin. She organized multiple outings with us including our aperitivo at Il Rifrullo and our farewell dinner at Osteria di San Niccolò.

No matter the situation, Margherita was always close behind chanting “vai, vai” and for that, we are all grateful. Margherita constantly strived to deliver the most authentic insight into Italian culture inside and out of the classroom. As our professor of film studies, she selected films that revealed realities of the nation that delve further than the surface, to warrant an intricate understanding of Italy through the beauty of cinema. Within all of us, she fostered an appreciation for the complexities of film as an art, which was something that many of us had not considered prior to the course. We were all saddened to see Margherita leave Florence when September came to a close. She was a constant source of comfort in our home away from home. Margherita, and all of the staff here at CEA, truly make this program extraordinary. It is because of them that we are returning to Davis as a new piccola

famiglia—as Aggies fiorentini.

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Repubblica 6 Issue 8 Pia Wright and Claire Bonino-Britsch