Day 45: Stories from a Red Book: The Beginning of a Different Life.

(I recommend reading the first few posts first, click here!)

When I first arrived in Florence, I, along with other study abroad students, stayed in the Hotel 

Mediterraneo, right next to the Arno River.

I was exhausted, my internal clock was out of whack, I hadn't slept for how long and was just in a stupid daze. All I knew was...

that I was pretty damn tired...I saw the a woman from Syracuse University sitting at a table when I first came in. I felt relieved. Like I could finally rest. 

I ran into this room filled with couches..and eased myself into comfort.

This was it, they would let us into our rooms and sleep I thought...

I was terribly wrong.

I stared into the womans face, I wanted to know why? Why can't I just sleep!? I'm here in one piece, I didn't end up in Africa, did I actually sign up for some kind of boot camp!?

In a loud, booming voice, this crazy woman explained that her name was Beth, and that she would set my internal clock straight, by making us all walk to Villa Rosa, the name of the main building, and all over Florence.

It was 12 in the afternoon or so. 

she planned on having us stay awake til 7...

oh joy.

I don't remember much of that day, or my days at the hotel. I just remembered feeling scared and lonely. I tried to write every night, but I would just end up collapsing. They were doing a good job at setting our internal clocks. All I can remember was going out a few times trying to find stamps and a adapter for my chargers.

Finally, it was time to leave the hotel and move into our new homes. 

We went to Villa Rosa again, and there we would wait til much later in the afternoon.

Some people chose to stay in the apartments. 

But others, along with myself, chose to stay in home stays. 

I was pretty nervous, I wasn't sure if I had made the right choice to live with a host family. I didn't like the idea of having a curfew (not that i'm a bad girl or anything...) But I didn't want another repeat of what I have to deal with my own family, for another semester. 

But it didn't matter, as long as I didn't have to take another mode of public transportation..

I would put up with everything else. I wanted to be able to walk to class for once and not travel 2 hours each way, everyday.

I made that very clear with the housing director. 

They didn't tell us beforehand who we were going to live with. 

when I finally found out who I was living with..

Isabella, a widow, lives with her two sons: Lorenzo(32) a doctor and Alessandro(28) a law student. They love soccer and sailing. They are 2 minutes walking distance from campus.

I was so ecstatic, relieved..

(to this day, I still believe that the housing director was playing around with me when he put how close they were to the school..)

The next worry was what they were like. I still didn't know what they looked liked.

Around 4pm, the homestay students were assembled into a large room. I saw in the audience, people who were clearly not students...and I felt myself getting more nervous.

The first woman I saw that stood out from the crowd was carrying a Dachshund. In my eyes, she was an elegant, classy Italian woman. I thought to myself, if she saw me, she would think I was some kind of dirty, hobo child or something. I kept hoping that I wouldn't end up with her.

It seemed like forever when they were calling out our names and arranging us with our families. 

I was one of the few left..

Finally I heard them call out "Isabella"

and I saw that the woman with the Dachshund stood up..

I froze. Paralyzed.

Then I heard, 

"Crystal Moon"

I felt the blood rush away from my face, I got up nervously, timidly...

I forced myself to look into her face.

She looked into mine, smiling and gave me a butterfly kiss. I felt like a bumbling, fool when I tried to do the same.

I followed her out of Villa Rosa. 

Earlier, at the hotel, they had taken our luggage and we had to pick them up later in a lot two blocks or so away from the school. Our first conversation consisted of trying to find the lot and talking to the Dachshund, named Caligostro.

I only had one large wheelie bag and a smaller duffel bag. I was also carrying around my backpack, that was full of books, a laptop etc...to put it bluntly it was freaking heavy. The two bags weighed about 55 pounds, my backpack, 30 pounds..

I had to figure out a way to carry this all by myself, I wasn't sure where her house was, all I knew that it was supposed to be 2 minutes from the school...but what part of the campus were they talking about? 

I had to figure out a way to carry this all back by myself. She offered to help, but she was a delicate, older woman already carrying Caligostro.

She apologized profusely that her sons couldn't help today, that they were busy working.

I told her that it was totally ok, that I have carried much worse, heavier things in my life, everyday for school.

(Iies, though I am used to carrying many, heavy things around during commuting..just not this bad.)

I struggled up the block, dragging the jabillion pound bag, centimeters at a time.

It was a cold, January day, and I was panting/sweating like it was summer. 

She walked up ahead, (because I kept stopping every 5 mins or so to catch my breath/let the blood back into my fingers) she stopped sometimes, looking back at me, smiling with a look of pity written all over her face. Every time she stopped, I thought we were at her home..and laughing somewhat crazily to myself when she started walking again.

Finally she stopped, I smiled and laughed nervously again. I was shy and feeling self conscious because of all the sweat and panting I was doing.(Way to make a first impression..loser)

I got closer to her and I saw she didn't move this time, just smiling at me. 

I smiled nervously, 

Her home was right next to Villa Rossa's garden, 


the Housing Director wasn't being sarcastic with me at all.


I stood outside the door, smiling and laughing so much.
(like a crazy person?)


I was so happy