Every place has it's good and bad people. You just have to find the perfect balance, because you can learn from both; you can learn what not to do, as well as what to do to live a beautiful life.
One Italian saying I'm already loving, is that the morning was made for waking up slowly. Maybe so that you open your eyes when you're ready, or maybe so that you enjoy the sunshine coming in through your window. Sometimes laying in bed stretching is far more delicious than actual sleep itself. Whatever the reason may be, I agree with them. However, breakfast is at 7:30.
How contradictory of Italian culture this school is!...just kidding. The beautiful thing is, there is a cafe close by where you can get everything from pastries to martinis. Yes, they drink before noon here. In fact, I saw a lady come in and drink at 10:00 am.
This culture is nothing like American culture. And it is nothing like Guatemalan culture either. Italians and Florentines have a taste of their own.
I like food, so I'll try to explain it that way. Imagine seeing a bright fruit for the first time. Because of it's brightness, you would assume it ripe, and you would expect it to be sweet. So you buy some of the fruit, you go home, wash it, and eat one. You were right, it is in fact sweet. However, it has an aftertaste that you are not familiar with...not a bad one, just somewhat tangy and unexpected. The next day, you eat another one. It is sweeter then, and the aftertaste is more familiar. By the third day, the fruit is delicious, and the aftertaste takes up residence in your taste buds.
That is the best way I can describe how these people make you feel.
Not to say that I am completely convinced to become one of them in every sense though. There are still a couple of things I have not gotten used to. For example, they marry very late. I keep seeing men over here who are well over thirty who are still wandering around with no rush to get married. Maybe it was just my little American concept of Italians...but I thought they were really quick with these things. I guess there's not so much of a rush as I thought so. Not that I'm feeling rushed...or that I can even think about marriage right now, but I do see myself married before thirty.
Another thing, the men are very verbal. The first couple of days, it was flattering. After three or four days of them yelling out at you and staring with absolutely no shame...things change. I am a little heartsick for some southern chivalry, if I'm honest.
To the people I have met though.
In every school there are going to be little closed off groups of people. Exclusives, outcasts, rebels, sillies. This is no exception. However, I've found that if you sit with them and just listen and laugh, they appreciate it, until you get clearance to speak even when you've not been asked a question. Then you become a part of them. I'm a roamer though, so I like having a part in every group.
I can't remember if I've told you about the Cafeteria situation yet, but I will anyway. At the school itself, there are people from everywhere: Romania, Georgia (the country), Brazil, the US, and Italy. So, when we sit down to eat and to talk, we speak a mix of languages. For example, when I am speaking, I speak in Spanish for the most part...mixing in the few Italian words I know, and asking in English if I am correct. And so if you were to come in and sit through a meal, you would hear a little bit of everything. French, Portuguese, Spanish, English and Italian. It's really cute. And I'm slowly accepting that instead of learning Italian, I'm going to learn whatever crazy mix I hear in the Cafeteria. (Just kidding, mom. I really am learning Italian)!
I can't believe it's been almost a week since I've been here. This time last week, I couldn't even imagine what it would be like waking up in Florence.
But I can't imagine waking up any other way now. With my arms outstretched, my toes pointed, my mouth curving in a smile, and my eyes waiting for the right moment to open and love this place all over again.
I still miss and love you,
Mary
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