I Know, I Know...

Yes, I know, I'm hopeless behind in my blog postings, in fact, almost two weeks now. It's funny how having your husband in town can occupy all of your time! Yes, he made it safely, and we've been going nonstop these past two weeks: Venice, Verona, Lake Como, Siena, and Rome. Sounds magical, doesn't it? We've also managed to find time to explore Florence together too. And I'll be posting photos of and entries about all of our adventures soon, I promise! Keep checking back!

Hubby Is in the Air!

In less than two hours, Chip's plane will land in Florence! Seven weeks apart has seemed like forever, but that will all end soon. Yes, I'm counting the seconds...

I finally got caught up with my blogging, but, as you can imagine, that won't last for long. On Monday Chip and I will hop on a train bound for Venice, then on to Verona, and than finally Lake Como. I'll report back on our adventures when we return.

Ciao!

Some Random Thoughts, Part IV

1. There’s one rule you should always follow, no matter where you go in the world: avoid any restaurant that has plastic models of the food it serves. What’s the point? Can plastic food models ever look appetizing? (Believe me, this plastic pizza looked MUCH worse in person!) A short time ago, a new crepe place opened in North Beach in San Francisco. Chip and I were excited about its arrival as we love crepes. But when it opened, it filled its display windows in the front with plastic models of the crepes, all looking artificial and disgusting. I said to Chip, “I give this place a month.” It lasted roughly that long, and I attribute its short life to those ugly plastic food models.


2. When you use the restroom in Italy, you never know what to expect. Last week, when my parents and I dined at Trattoria Mario with Pauline, my mom excused herself to use the restroom. I was surprised when she returned, only a minute or two later. Surely she couldn’t be that efficient! It turns out that when she opened the door, she was confronted with nothing but a hole in the ground. Not knowing quite how to handle this crude facility, she turned right around and returned to the table. Somehow a hole in the ground will give anyone a reason to “hold it”!


3. While walking down Via della Scala in Florence, I happened upon a restaurant named Coccodrillo (meaning “Crocodile”). If you’ve ever taken Franco’s Italian class, you know exactly why I was charmed by this restaurant’s name.


4. Graffiti is unpleasant enough to see, no matter where it appears, but it’s even more disconcerting when you see it on the wall of a building or monument that has stood proudly in Florence for 500 years or more. Just what are these “artists” thinking?


5. Museums and churches in Florence don’t keep standard opening hours. You really have to make sure what the specific hours are before you go. And if you ever happen to be there when a museum is about to close, be ready to leave, quickly! Lanny, Jane, and I were in the Museo di Storia della Scienza (the Museum of the History of Science), scouting out a scavenger hunt for a student field trip. We knew that we had arrived fairly close to closing time, but we were still surprised at what happened when that time arrived. An announcement came over a loudspeaker, stating that the museum would close in ten minutes. We were on the top floor, so we started to move quickly through the rooms. Suddenly, all of the lights went out, and the museum was thrown into complete darkness. We literally had to feel our way through the rooms to make it to the stairwell. When they say ten minutes, they mean it!


6. I’ve got mail, once again! My second piece of mail arrived, this time a letter from my mother-in-law. Thanks, Barbara! I can’t begin to tell you how good it feels to come home to mail from home!

7. Spring is here! The Italian’s call this month Marzo Pazzo (Crazy March), so I don’t know whether it’s here to stay, but the past few days have been glorious – sunny with highs in the 70s. One of my colleagues, Janet, definitely got into the spirit of things by going out and buying tulips and a beautiful spring hat, handmade by a local hatmaker. She looks simply marvelous!

Off to See the World

Thursday, the day before spring break, finally arrived. But we weren’t about to let the students off easy, for today the DVC students had to present their midterm presentation for their Italian Life and Culture class. During the second week of class, each group had selected an Italian-related topic to research. And on Thursday they had to present their findings to the rest of the students. Briefly, here’s what we learned about:

Gianna, Meagan, Holly, Sheldon, and Nick started the afternoon off with a presentation on the Italian Mafia, its history, its current status, and its Hollywood-like appeal for Americans.

Next, Karla and Maria Christina educated us about Carnevale, with a special focus on the celebration in Viareggio, which they both had the good fortune of attending. Their photos were fantastic!

We then learned about Tuscan cuisine from the presentation group made up of Julie, Geoff, and Jack. (Unfortunately, Robert was unable to be there, but I know he had a lot to do with the research.)

Next on the agenda were Frank, Zoe, Gillian, Alice, and Stephanie, who gave a wonderful presentation about the Boboli Gardens, strongly encouraging all of us to visit this beautiful Florentine oasis.

And then it was shoes! Yes, Italian shoes! Ellen, Katie, Lindsay, Mallory, and Stephanie gave a well-researched presentation on the history of shoes in general, including photos of some very painful-looking ones!

Charlie, Victoria, Marina, Richard, and Meaghan presented next, this time on Italian wines. They had all attended wine-tasting classes, and some had even taken a tour in the Tuscan wine country, and it was clear that they had paid attention. They even brought a bottle of wine as a visual aid and poured glasses for Toni and me. Sorry, guys, that won’t earn you a better grade!

Next was shopping, presented by a group of students who have become quite expert at shopping while in Florence: Milli, Raychel, Lindsay, Natalie, and Andrew. Although their closets are bulging as a result of their shopping excursions, they chose to focus on shopping for food in Florence, sharing many useful tips.

And how can you have presentations about Italy without one on the national pastime, soccer? And that’s exactly what Drew, Esteban, Joel, and Jonathan gave their presentation on, complete with a soccer ball as a visual aid. Let’s just hope that they’re able to see a game before they leave!

And then, I love the nightlife! Kim, Kristina, Maria, and Lauren gave a presentation about some of the nightlife options in Florence for American students, making it clear that they had thoroughly enjoyed their research for this assignment. But they also gave a strong message: that we are representing America when we’re out there in the bars and discos; therefore, it’s important to be well-behaved and aware. Hear that, everyone?

The next topic on the agenda was a little more serious: Italian politics. Ben and John focused on two eras of Italian politics: Fascism during the Mussolini reign and current-day politics, which students are experiencing first-hand. I mean, whoever would have thought that Prime Minister Romano Prodi would resign shortly after we arrived? (His resignation, by the way, has since been declined, so he’s still in office.)


And the last topic for the day was presented by Justin and Kevin, who gave us a brief history of the Roman Catholic church and its beliefs, definitely giving us much to ponder.

And then, well those students shot for the door to catch planes, trains, and buses to all parts of the world. Although a few are staying in Florence for spring break, most are bound for great adventures elsewhere. Many are joining the AIFS staff for a trip to Sicily. And where are the others going? The real question is, where aren’t they going? I’ve talked to students who are going to the following: Paris, London, Ireland, Belgium, Prague, Amsterdam, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Greece, Egypt, Tunisia, Switzerland, and many others I’m sure I’ve forgotten. One student is even going all the way back to San Francisco to visit her boyfriend.

Wherever you’re headed, the Study Abroad faculty wishes you an exciting, memorable, and safe journey!

A Celebratory, Albeit Sad, Day

Well, my parents’ last day arrived, although we all kept hoping it would never get here. I had to teach during the day, so they spent it walking along the Arno and through the various narrow medieval streets, delighting at each turn.

I told my parents that they could choose anywhere they wanted for their last dinner, and they chose to return to Coquinarius, the wine bar near the Duomo. Bob and Janet and I had discovered this restaurant several weeks ago the day we returned from our trip to San Gimignano and Siena. It’s a rustic, cozy place with thick stone walls, brick ceilings, and a wine cellar. Best of all is the proprietor, a young man named Niccolò who goes out of his way to make his guests feel at home. This is a place I will return to again and again.

Once again, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal and wine. And we even ended the meal with dessert in a small pre-birthday celebration for me. My parents then walked me to my door, where we said goodbye. We were all a little misty, but we’ll always have our memories of this perfect week. I am so grateful that my parents were able to visit me in Florence. You two are the greatest!

To Second-to-Last Nights

My parents’ second-to-last day in Florence had arrived, and we began the day by meeting Pauline at her new hotel, Hotel Santa Maria Novella. We knew that we were going to lunch with her, but we had no idea where. With Pauline, it’s always an adventure! I was absolutely thrilled when she took us around the corner from her hotel to the famous Cantinetta Antinori Wine Bar, a location that has been on my to-do list since before I arrived in Florence.

The Antinori family has run a winery in the Tuscany region since 1385, and the family-owned company is now in its twenty-fifth generation. Amazing! They own villas and vineyards all over Tuscany, and also in Umbria and Puglia, and a palazzo in Florence. Although the palace is not open to the public (nor are any of their vineyards), they have transformed a portion of the palace into a wine bar, in which they serve their wines and an assortment of Tuscan dishes.

What made this lunch even more special is that a group of my International Business students actually studied the Antinori wine family and gave a presentation on the company to the class. I hope that before the semester is over, that I can arrange a wine tasting for them so that they can learn even more about this unique winery. Oh, yes, and the lunch was delicious!
But we weren’t quite through eating for the day! At 7:00 that evening, my parents and I met my colleagues Bob, Janet, and Rebecca at the Golden View Open Bar for dinner. (This has come to be quite the hangout for faculty and students alike! We even ran into Gillian and her two sisters, who are visiting from California). Also joining us were Rebecca’s two daughters, Leia and Keira, and her niece Lily. Lily, who has been visiting from New York for the past few weeks, was also heading back home on Thursday, so we toasted to “second-to-last nights.” If only the three of them could stay on until the end.

Walker, Wine, and Winding Down

Is it possible that my parents have already been here for a week? How time flies! When Monday arrived, with just a few more days to go, we had to make the most of it.

My parents started out the week by joining my class on a field trip to the Museo Nazionale Alinari della Fotografia (the Alinari National Photography Museum), located on the Piazza Santa Maria Novella. My International Business class came here to see a special exhibit of photography by Walker Evans, an American photographer who did his work for the Farm Security Administration during the Great Depression. They had to fill out a worksheet which required them to speculate why the FSA would feel it necessary to hire photographers such as Evans and Dorothea Lange to help it meet its goals of getting money into the hands of poor rural farm families. They also had to choose the one photograph that they best felt illustrated the effects of the Great Depression and explain their reason for that selection. But mostly I wanted them to see this important exhibit. Most of these students are young and have never lived in the United States when it wasn’t prosperous, so the photos were a real eye-opener for many.

Prior to the field trip, I had also told students that my parents would be coming along. I also explained that my dad was with Kodak for his 30-year career and that they should “pick his brain,” And many of them did just that. Countless times I came upon my dad lecturing away, surrounded by a group of students. He was the real teacher on this day! My mom also thoroughly enjoyed it and was moved by the photographs, many of which were taken the year she was born. She kept returning to the special exhibit room, each time noticing something new.
And did my students get anything out of viewing this historic photograph collection. Here are just a few of the comments they wrote about the photos that they felt best documented the Great Depression:

Sharecropper, Hale County, Alabama, 1936: “This image grabs you. At the same time I wanted to look away; it’s uncomfortable to see such grim honesty. I stand here in my clean clothes, reflecting on a comfortable life. This man quietly—but intensely—conveys hardship. His expression is serious, his eyes glance off, not absent-mindedly, but as if he is thinking of tomorrow’s day of work in the fields. His clothing is worn and dirty—no doubt his only clothing. The dirt and tears are handprints of his life. Though this man appears to cry inwardly for a break, he asks for no sympathy and seems to accept that he must work this way to survive.” (Rebecca)

Sharecropper, Hale County, Alabama, 1936: “It amazes me through one photograph a thousand words can be said. Feelings strongly show through in the sharecropper. He looks so sad that you can hear him speaking even though there are no words. I’m tired, help me. You can tell a story about him simply by looking at him. He has a family, he works hard to make a little to feed them. H loves his children, wants to see them grow up healthy. Longs for a better life for them and works hard to one day see them get there. This to me it the most impactful because you can see his pain and suffering through his unforgiving eyes.” (Meagan M.)

Child’s Grave, Hale County, Alabama, 1936: “Although maybe not the most powerful right off the bat, this picture was the one that truly stuck with me. The image of a freshly dug grave (that is so small) with a plate on top of it is just wrenching to me. It made me think as well—Could they afford a funeral? Nice clothes for the child who died? A coffin even? This photo to me really expressed just how devastating that kind of poverty can be with a sense of no way out—being able to even feed your child.” (Gianna)

Untitled (Negro Quarter), Tupelo, Mississippi, 1936: “I chose this photograph as my personal best documentation of the Great Depression because it shows a very old, leaning, broken house with a man peeking inside a window. The yard and background surrounding the house is lifeless and filthy. This photograph portrays, I feel, the lives and attitudes of many during the Great Depression—empty and lifeless with no hope to thrive once again.” (Lindsay K.)

Cotton Tenant Farmer’s Wife, Hale County, Alabama, 1936: “It shows an entire contrast, she looks as though she is on the verge of breaking down, yet part of her face and eyes stand resolute against the backdrop of the Depression. Symbolic of both the hardship people face and the courage it took to carry on through this Depression.” (Anthony)

Untitled (Landlord), Hale County, Alabama, 1936: “There is one picture that I feel best depicted the Great Depression. The landlord of Hale County was a good representation of the Depression for multiple reasons. At first glance, he looks like a well-groomed business man, but once you look closer, you notice that his suit is wrinkled. When you look into his eyes, it’s apparent that he is thinly veiling a look of worry with his proud demeanor. He also is wearing a wedding band. This brings to mind that he has a family to support. All of these things bring out the concern of the people of the Depression. This picture shows a man who once had security and now it’s gone.” (Meaghan G.)

Roadside Stand, near Birmingham, Alabama, 1936: “His photo showcased the fact that some families were completely destitute, but others used the Depression to cut a niche for themselves. To see the prosperous and by what means they prospered shows the needs of the masses more closely. Food brought this family success.” (Lee)

Sharecropper Family, Hale County, Alabama, 1936: “The main reason behind my choice is that you can see the whole family in the frame. It shows that it was not just one generation that was touched by the helplessness of their situation. You can feel the sadness radiating from these people. Their loss, their poverty, their exhaustion. To capture all of this in one frame is amazing. Walker Evans let his subjects do the talking; that’s what I love about all of his work.” (Sarah)

Yes, they got it. And these images will stay with them a long time, as they stayed with my parent and me throughout the day. That night we had dinner at a small wine bar near the Duomo called Coquinarius. We found ourselves even more grateful for the abundant food and wine served to us that night.