So i guess the link in the last post had some problems. But this link should work.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2525772&l=8a7f6&id=1950065

Some pics from my first week.

Hi everyone, sorry this tok me so long, i was having some problems importing photos to the blog, but i found a way to share all the pictures through facebook. You dont't need an account or anything. Just click on the link below.

http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=1097423153841

So far everything is going so well. Classes seem like they are going to be a blast. And the language barrier doesnt seem as scary anymore. I'm picking up helpful phrases left and right which help a lot with sorting out confusion between venders and I. The kids in my program are really nice and we are all having a great time hanging out. I've stopped getting lost which is a good thing, and i'm remembering names of monuments and streets now and that really helps. The weather could be a little better so far. For the past week we've had a little drizzle on almost everyday. Although the first week we got here, we had some absolutel gorgeous days. And really I'd take lil rainy 40-50's over chicago weather anyday. 

I've been having great food at local restaurants every once in a while, but usually my rommates and i just cook dinner at home. Majority of the meals we make usually consist of some type of pasta, but hell its everywhere and its quite easy. I've been doing quite well cooking and keeping up my apartment. Just a few days ago I even made some pasta with Ricotta tomato sauce and wild boar sausage. It was quite a success, if i do say so myself. And my roommates are really helpful in keeping everythign clean, so thats a definite plus. Hopefuly by sometime early this week we'll have internet in our apartment and ill update more frequently ( as of right now I'm doing this all from a Gelato place down the street with free wifi). 

This past Saturday we traveled to Sienna and San Gimignano. Both were beautiful and I'll hopefully have more about them and the pics up this week. Until then hope all is going well for everyone. And keep checking back and I'm hoping to have some more pics of my place and the rest of my town, Firenze, up soon. 

Talk to you all again soon.

-Steve

In Florence!

Hi everyone! It's been super busy and I've barely had time to breathe. I've already traveled all around Florence and I'm very glad there are so many monuments and landmarks that make it easier to navigate the city. Which I'm glad because the street names all sound about the same. My apartment is very close to the river and very close to my school, Accademia Italiana. Which, by the way, is where you can send any mail that comes my way. It's Piazza Piti 15, 50125 Florence, Italy. My apartment is Via Dei Neri 33, Florence. The apartment is quite old, but has been maintained well and my 4 other roommates and I have even already hosted our first party for some classmates last night. Hopefuly I'll get some pictures up of my place soon. 

So far I've loved going into all the shops and restaurants and finding good deals on wine, paninis, pastries, and gelato. I lucked out actually, with no apartments having internet, there is a gelato place down the street with free internet. I'm sure it will help greatly through out the semester. We also had a tour of the hills and small villages on the borders of florence. There were gorgeous little villas and streets carved into the hillside. We got a beautiful 3 course meal and home made wine at one of the more famous little restaurants on the outskirts. He made his world famous gnocci in cheese sauce. 

Which brings me to my next interesting job of the semester. I got in contact with a small newspaper at U of I before I came and they're making a book for students traveling abroad, made for students by students. This semester is the first time they've done it and I get to write city, restaurant and bar reviews for them. So I've been carrying around a small notebook to take notes and then later I will send in reviews each month. In the end i get paid a small percentage of book sales. My teachers heard about the project and they wanted to help and may even give me credit for it. One of the teachers wants me to focus on restaurants that students wouldnt know about normally slightly outside of Florence and even hidden ones within Florence. So there going to show me all the great restaurants they found through the years and i get paid and i may get credit for it as well. Not bad. I'll update soon and hopefully i'll post some pics soon like the ones i took from the hills overlooking florence. Ciao till then and I hope all is going well at home.

btw, google search my place and you can do the street view and walk around my neighborhood if ud like.