Goodbye Florence

Today is my second to last day in Florence but my last day with access to a computer and internet hence--blog entry! Finals were fine, studying was hindered by a short flu-spell (I had 102.5 fever--I haven't had a fever like that since I was 12). But I just didn't leave the house for two days and slept while Mama took care of me and gave me medicine. I did miss the student art show which I had two of my photos in and it is probably the only art show I will ever be in but oh well! Studying was slightly more relaxing than all the traveling I've done the past month (Venice, Paris, Rome, Munich--four weekends in a row).

It is a very strange feeling--I am sad to go but I am really want to see my friends and family. I guess it is similar to when I was leaving--sad to leave my friends and family but looking forward to the new experienece. I have been doing my favorite things in Florence: shopping and eating. Trying to finish up my Christmas shopping here and also eating gelato and pizza and of course Mama's cuisine. I have been to Pizzeria Spera three times in the past week and I had a good farewell on Wednesday, but I might make it back there again on Friday. My Italian has finally gotten okay/good. I talk to Italians and they speak back to me in ITALIAN! I also can hold a conversation! I got two compliments on my Italian from strangers (granted I was about to buy something from them) and Mama has been commenting on my improvement! Now, I am going to go home and forget everything! Well, hopefully not, I am signed up for a conversational Italian class next semester so that should help!

I will miss my host family a lot we have become really close over the past month. During my Italian final I started to cry (not because it was hard). The last essay was write a farewell note to someone in your host family and I wrote it to my fratello, Cosimo. I also cried when I said goodbye to my Italian teacher who was the professor I got the closest with. I gave her a framed picture of our class when we were cooking and she cried a little too! It was really sad but only because we had so many good times! I also had to say goodbye to one of the good friends I made here, Elissa. We both don't know when will see eachother next--Elissa goes to school at Bowdoin (Maine) and lives in Aspen. But with facebook and our blackberries we are not worried that we will have any trouble keeping in touch!

My roommate leaves this afternoon and Cosimo's mostra (art exhibition--I like "mostra" better) is tonight. Mama and I will be cooking all day! She "gave me a break" to come to school to check on my flight and turn in my key. Mama keeps saying she will be sad when I leave and that she has always wanted a daughter. Those are not good things to help me be okay with leaving. Oh, but I just found out my good friend Cassie will be staying with Fiamma next semester (I told her to request Fiamma). But I have all of Friday left and I am going to finish packing, do some last minute shopping, and eat! I leave on Saturday at 7:05 am and I am getting to the airport at 5:00 am when it opens!

I have had such a great experience here and its funny to look back at how I so clearly went through all the stages of culture shock. It took longer than expected but I found friends, fun, family, and a new culture in Florence. I will miss this place a lot but I am ready to go home. I am so thankful to my parents and Whitman for letting me come to Florence and have this amazing experience.