November 2, 2011

November 2, 2011

This morning we had our Dante class on site at the Museo del Opera del Duomo so Franzi and I headed in early, dropping our stuff off at school and then walking over to the museum. However, today was my first day of using the crutches and let me tell you, they aren’t worth it. Florence was not designed to have anyone using crutches. Plus, after a morning of using them, my hands were covered in blisters and my wrists really hurt. They aren’t like crutches back home; they’re more like a cane of sorts. Anyway, I think I will only use them for onsite visits because, between trying to use them on the bus and just getting around the city, they’re more pain than they’re worth. I think it will do me better just to stay off my feet as much as I can. Anyway, we finally got the museum after I crutched my way across town and we tied bits of Dante’s Purgatorio into different pieces of art there and vice versa. It was actually pretty interesting to see some of the connections. I also had my oral presentation on Canto 10 of the Purgatorio, which went very well :) After our time onsite, we had a half an hour break and then we met for another half hour in the classroom. After class, I had lunch and then headed across the hall to my next class.

Today in Weaving the Tale we continued to discuss the Decameron. I am actually very sad that we only have one more day left on it because I have really enjoyed reading it. However, we did not read it in its entirety so I may go back and read some of the parts we skipped over just for fun! After that class, I had a meeting with my professor, Katy, about final projects for her two classes, figuring out what I wanted to do for each of them. Talking through my ideas with her was really helpful and now I am actually kind of excited for them so hopefully they will be fun to work on! After my meeting with her, I turned on my Skype and my friend Sofia Skyped me during the board meeting for the theatre organization at St. Olaf of which I am Co-President. It was so much fun to be “sitting at the table” with all of them and to see them all! I also got to vote on a project proposal and everything! It was really a lot of fun for me :) After that, I headed over to the train station to get tickets for next weekend.

So I just found out last night that I will be headed to Riva del Garda next weekend with Nikki, Becca and Alex! Alex is running in some sort of race there and so Becca and Nikki were going to go kind of cheer him on. Anyway, when he had originally asked if anyone wanted to come, I didn’t know my plans for next weekend so I didn’t say anything. Long story short, I was asking about it but they had already made hotel reservations. But Alex called in and they changed the reservation to two double rooms so I will now be joining them! It is an absolutely gorgeous city, nestled on Lake Garda, surrounded by mountains (Google it, seriously) and was, I now realize, one of the places on my “Places I Want To Go” list but completely forgot about. We leave next Friday morning and come back Sunday night, so I am very excited. Also, Alex’s parents were originally going to come watch him run but, because something else came up, they told Alex he could use their hotel reservation and invite some friends to stay with him instead, and they would pay. Anyway, it is a ridiculously nice hotel—five star and right on the lake. When Becca, Nikki and I looked at the website, our jaws dropped. See for yourself—http://www.lido-palace.it/. Anyway, we are definitely looking forward to our weekend of luxury :) Hopefully it will be amazing!

Once I got my train tickets, I headed home in the almost dark that now accompanies 5:15. The bus was very crowded but a very nice woman offered me her seat so I didn’t have to try to balance on the crutches (I was not so lucky this morning). Now I am home and, because I have already finished my homework for tomorrow, I’m just kind of relaxing. I might work ahead a little bit for some of my classes so I can relax this weekend as well but I also might watch a movie while stretching instead…we’ll see :) Okay, more after dinner!

For dinner this evening, we started out with spaghetti carbonata, which was absolutely delicious. It has egg, bacon and nutmeg and is so perfect and delicious for a fall night. For our main dish, we had “cheeseburgers” and cooked carrots, which were very yummy as well. For dessert, we each had half of an orange fruit that I don’t remember the name of but Franzi and I decided that it tasted like a cross between pumpkin and apricot and it was very sweet and delicious. Daniela was telling us that they need to be very mature to be just right and the perfect sweetness and Andrea cut in (in Italian of course) “Like me!” We all got quite a laugh out of that. While we were clearing the table, I walked past the heater in the hallway and got this blast of hot air. I kind of yelped a little bit, scaring Daniela, and everyone ran to see what happened. Andrea shouted (once again, in Italian) “IT’S A MIRACLE!” and we all ran around to feel the heat coming out of all the heaters throughout the apartment. I am sure we looked quite comical. Actually, Andrea took a photo of Franzi and I celebrating the heat so I know we looked silly :P So THAT was exciting!

Now that dinner is over and we’re basking in the heat, Franzi and I are going to finish up watching The Parent Trap, which I started last night and watched more of when I was stretching this afternoon. We’re almost done, which I am kind of sad about because I really do love this movie. After that, I might do a little bit of homework but then I need to get to bed early so I can get up early tomorrow. But, after tomorrow, it’s already the weekend! This week has just flown by! Well, I’d better go. I hope you’re all staying warm as well and enjoying your Wednesday :)

Warm wishes and love,

Kari

Soaking up the warmth :)