September 18, 2011-Thunderstorms

September 18, 2011

I woke up this morning around 9:30, getting another ten hours of sleep! It sure feels nice to be able to sleep in and not have to wake up to an alarm clock. I had my breakfast on the balcony because it was sunny and beautiful outside-not too hot yet! At about 10:30, Franzi and I walked to the supermarket to get this week’s groceries. However, once we got there, we found out that it is only open on the last Sunday of the month, not every Sunday. Oh well, we got a nice walk out of the deal. By the time we got back home, it was pretty hot and humid out. I finished up my Italian homework and did some reading for my Medici class that starts not this week but next week. Then I read for a little while and made myself a little lunch. After a while, I sent some emails and looked into trains for fall break and a few other weekends to check times and prices. Then, although it was cloudy and kind of looked like it was going to rain, I headed across the street to the park and brought my computer, hoping for a better Internet connection than I have at home. Right as I was leaving, Daniella said that it was just about to rain but I headed out anyway. It FINALLY felt a little like fall today. I write this as I am sitting in the park, at a picnic bench, under some pine trees and a tree that has changed color! It smells lovely and it smells like fall. It’s been forty-five minutes without rain but I think I am finally feeling the first raindrops. I guess I’d better head home before it starts pouring down on me. I love the sound of the wind rustling the leaves and the leaves tripping across the path through the park. Gosh I love fall :) Okay, more later when I am inside and dry!

I got home just as the rain really started to fall; the thunder started to rumble and the gale force winds hit. The wind is just crazy. Florence seems so different in this kind of weather…but I guess I’ll get used to it because apparently it rains every day in November. I kind of like it though; at least right now. It feels so cozy to be inside, listening to it approach but being safe inside. I guess that feeling might change when I actually have to be out in the wind and rain for a class. Ooo the storm is getting stronger now and I can feel the cool air coming in. I am going to watch a little bit of Italian TV with my host parents…it’s in black and white and looks like an old Italian movie. Very fun :) I’ll write more after the movie and then after dinner!

 Although I did not understand most of the movie, it was still fun to watch. It was so cozy to be watching a movie and listening to the rain and thunder outside. I didn’t know that it thunderstormed here but I am glad it does! I hope to watch more movies and TV with my host parents over the next few months because I think it will also train my ear to the speed at which the language is actually spoken. I can understand fairly well when someone speaks slowly and repeats themselves but actual everyday conversation is very hard to understand. So I can be studying Italian and spending some quality family time as well. Now that the rain is pretty much over, it’s really chilly in the house, which feels wonderful! I already have jeans on and I might actually have to put on my sweatshirt instead of this cardigan!

I am in a sweatshirt, jeans, socks and slippers and I am STILL cold. It felt good at first but it’s making me a little nervous for winter here…if I need to bundle up this much for the fifties, what is it going to be like when it actually gets cold? Oh well, that’s what layers are for. It IS a nice break from the heat but I am quite cold right now :P

Dinner was delicious, especially after having such a little bit of lunch. It was just the two of us and Daniella because Andrea was out. We started with penne pasta with tomato, basil sauce that really warmed me up. We also had bread and salad with both the first and second dish. For our main dish, we had omelets with zucchini, which were also piping hot and perfect for a chilly day. For dessert, Daniella had made delicious chocolate pudding that melted in your mouth and I enjoyed VERY much :) Then we finished off with fresh pears. The perfect dinner for a chilly Sunday.

Now I am cuddled up in bed, finishing up this blog post and then I’ll probably be going to bed early again tonight so I’m well rested for the week and Venice this next weekend. I am very excited for Venice, by the way! We leave on Friday morning so this week will fly by, I am sure. Well, I’d better wrap this up so it doesn’t come out as long as yesterday’s post. I hope everyone is staying warm (if it’s still cold) or staying cool (if it’s warming up). Either way, enjoy the first signs of fall! It’s my favorite season :) I have a little pumpkin spice candle by my bed from Bath and Body Works that I can smell every night as I fall asleep. Remember to enjoy the little joys of fall for me :)

All my love,

Kari

P.S. As I am posting this, another thunderstorm is arriving. You can hear the thunder rumbling in the distance and the lightening…it’s beautiful. I love Florence thunderstorms.