A Day In The Life

So lately I've really only been blogging about specific events, but I thought it would be easier to keep up with posts if there were also just some normal, wonderful Tuscan days and their events involved. True, over the summer and occasionally now there were days when Italy didn't feel quite as beautiful (or rather, didn't smell that way...aka travel days full of ripe trains)....but when I am back in Arezzo, I am always able to find a quiet spot in one of the several parks to remind myself why I love this place so much.

I spent the afternoon yesterday at the US Consulate in Florence, which is a pretty impressive building. The fall group had a meeting there for a tour and to briefly discuss security, and I was very happy to join them. I think that because this September 11th has been particularly sensitive due to things currently going on in the States, the security around the offices was pretty heavy. I arrived about 45 minutes early, but was asked to sit along the part of the city wall that wasn't immediately in front of the Consulate, as traffic was not allowed to stop there. It was a strange feeling, actually, to see our flag waving above the street so isolated from everything else, when all of the other consulates on the same street were surrounded by people just casually walking by.

The talk was pretty standard, and afterwards I walked back towards the train station to head home to Arezzo. Not without stopping at my favorite homemade popsicle stand, of course! The weather has been so beautiful lately, though it seems the shift from summer to fall was sudden. In about one week the temperature has dropped a good ten degrees, the wind has picked up, and it's starting to get dark just a little after eight. It seems that no matter where I am, fall is still my favorite time of year. There's something about crisp air, smoke from a fire (no more cigarettes, thanks...I think I smoke about 2 packs of second hand a day), and a comfy sweater. Elisa has been begging to make an apple pie lately, so we're going to find a good recipe and get to work soon. I just love when everything starts to naturally slow down, and it seems more and more evident here that the pace of life is guided by the seasons much more so than at home..hence making everything about fall feel that much more tangible.

When I got off of the train in Arezzo there was a fair going on, and I stopped by to pick up some dessert for Elisa's family. I am fortunate enough to have dinner with them every Friday, which has become my favorite day/tradition. Not only is the food incredible but I love spending that time with her and her family. I cannot wait for Elisa to come home to visit and I can return the hospitality that she has continuously shown me. The first few stands were full of dried fruits, fresh olives, homemade breads, cookies, and...cannoli's. Now, I am not a huge cannoli fan, I must admit. But these were the real deal, ricotta filled, Sicilian masterpieces. I picked up a few of those, some coconut macaroons (also incredible)fresh olives (my new favorite snack!, and headed home to get ready for dinner. I left for dinner around 7:30, just as the sun was setting, and when I got up to the top of the hill that looks over the countryside on my way to Elisa's, I had to stop for a second and just take it in. The green hills with villas and vineyards speckling the landscape against the beautiful orange/pink/purple sky was stunning to say the least. I love how everything just gets quiet around dinner time when you get out of the center, because everyone is at home eating with their families. Our dinner was amazing as usual, and I think I could have eaten an entire second meal of just dessert. Enjoying the Italian 'diet' (it's anything but)has been difficult for me at times, as there is so much to eat that even after the best meals you are too uncomfortable to fully appreciate it. But, I think it has been so great for me to be able to constantly eat so many things that I just wouldn't eat regularly at home-like plates of pasta and heavy desserts. I rarely see anyone terribly overweight here, and though they are also not as thin and 'fit' as some people in the US, the girls and women, especially my age, just usually look so healthy and it makes meal time so much more enjoyable. It has given me more confidence in myself, even with a few extra pounds. The culture here is extremely genuine, and it's refreshing to feel so unconditionaly accepted.

After dinner I came back to the apartment and was a little too full to fall asleep, so I sat down to work on my resume a bit. On my way home from Florence a friend pointed out in one of the local newspapers that Syracuse University was looking for someone to work in their student life offices. I studied with Syracuse over the summer of 2008, and have so much respect for their program. I ended up submitting my application before going to sleep last night, more out of curiosity than anything! Regardless of the direction that opportunity takes, it was good to sit down and really sort through my resume anyway, as I will be applying for jobs when I get back home in December which seems a little surreal! I think I'll enjoy my last 4 months without getting too ahead of myself.

Well...there's a normal day! Some include much, much less productivity but I had to start somewhere : ) I think I'm going to get to bed early tonight...I'm still recovering from the Giostra and my ticket adventures. Arrivederci!

PS..Kara...I think I may have stolen one of your fabulous pictures for this : )!