melissa grace kreider

My apartment has not yet been blessed with the beautiful, beautiful gift of Wi-Fi. We were supposed to get a visit from what we are referring to as “the internet guy” on Monday morning, 9:30 AM, but apparently in Florence it is common to not show up to work. Mama Mia!

      I arrived on Wednesday the 25^th in the Florence airport, jet-lagged and fatigued, and the thing I feared most happened-my luggage had not been loaded on to my plane! Thankfully the things I needed most were not lost, simply left behind in Rome.

      Nonetheless, it didn’t arrive until Thursday afternoon and I had to wear the same clothes as I did on the plane to my host college’s orientation. I don’t know if you have ever traveled for thirteen hours straight, but your clothes do not feel clean afterwards. I explored the streets around Hotel Mediterraneo during our break and found necessities and a new shirt. Note: any excuse for shopping in Italy will be used.

       This city is teeming with beauty! Each time I leave my apartment I laugh to myself because I literally can’t believe I’m in Italy. THE Italy: the cheese-making, wine-tasting, beautiful-people capital of the world.  I wander through the streets and I’m taken aback by how unique everything is.  Florence is steeped with history and you can feel it when you walk.

        When I have some extra time, I’ll be sure to clue you in on some of the many cultural differences I’ve experienced already! For now, though, you’ll be getting a lot of photos from me!