Dia sedici (June 20)

I woke up this morning, and the first thing I thought of was Target. I don’t know if it’s because I’m missing summertime in Lake St. Louis, or just the convenience of being able to drive anywhere in a 15 minute radius to get what I desire. I could really use a Starbucks coffee right now. Anytime anyone says that name, I forbid them to mention it again because it makes me miss it too much. I texted the girls the other day and told them, that yes, believe it or not, I actually CRAVED Mexican food. Now those of you that have lived with me know that I almost always refuse Mexican, because my brothers, and roomies alwaysss want it at any given time, but I think for once I might be a little Italianed out. I haven’t had a burger, brownie Sunday, Chickfila, or sat in front of a TV in almost three weeks. I’m enjoying the things over here that I’ll never get again,  but I do miss the conveniences of America as well as all you people and a normal poolside summer. Oh what I’d do to play a little sand volleyball. I think I’m going to check out the bocci court soon, because the only bit of sports and games I’ve done while I’ve been here is run.

On the flip side, I’ve retorted to reading Harry Potter before I go to sleep at night to settle my mind. During the day it gets filled with so much, that I needed something to put me at east before bed time.

Don’t get me wrong though, I’m still loving it here! We’re sewing our first two books in class today, and I can’t be more excited. I also finished my first graphics assignment, and I learned how to stitch together a panoramic photo J

I think its going to be interesting at the end of the summer, the list I’ll have in my mind of all the things I can’t wait to do once I get back to the states. I know for certain, the first weekend after my jet lag, moving in, and 2 weeks of recruitment and school starting, I’ll be treating myself to a spa day with a massage, mani/pedi, cut and color, please.

Miss you all so much xoxo! 

Dia quindici (June 19)

This morning R.G. took a group of us on a 2 hour hike across the mountain to a little monastery! If you didn’t know it was there you’d never see it hidden in the little crevice of the hillside. It’s where St. Francis first stayed in a cave. I took lots of pictures and started fiddling around with the film settings on my camera – recently inspired by all the videos Abbey Warren, Allison Johnson and I have been watching lately with little snippets of natures, and I’m starting to collect pretty clips to thread together when I get back in the states! Here’s a sneak peak – some of the film stills J

Afterward, Nikki, Taylor and I headed down to down to grocery shop, but the produce stands were all closed because the weekends are so tourist-infested. The town puts on a bit of a difference face than the usual working town that it is the way we see it day-to-day. I got the usual sandwich #6 at Molesini’s – Inza (The Cortonese program director) owns it with her husband!

Mid-day I went into the studio and worked on the two books that we’re going to learn how to hand bind tomorrow in class. I could LIVE in that studio making books all day long – especially in the open air studio with the view into the valley that I have.  Then I laid out on the balcony and tanned while I read my art history book – I know my life is so hard… ;) But really, they keep us pretty dang busy here. I successfully completed my second hand-washing laundry cycle and I didn’t realize how much die comes out of certain colored clothes each time you watch them – kinda interesting. (yes, my blog includes all monotonous details of my day.) Oh! I also got my first guitar lesson today. I learned how to play a scale and three cords! It really hurt my fingers though. I’ve been really inspired because Kellie keeps going into town to get Italian lessons from a Cortonese guy who met his wife while she was studying abroad here, so I’ve decided to learn any and everything that I can while I’m here!

Tonight we all had to be at the city hall by 5:45 – the mayor greeted us and handed out the scholarships for certain students. We learned that tourists from over 64 nations have visited Cortona. Then the entire town had gathered around Piazza Senorelli and the flag throwers put on a show for us. It’s a tradition that has been happening since the Renaissance! They had people dressed up in costumed clothing that depicted the two tales of how Cortona was formed in 2700 B.C., a marching band with drums and trumpets and the flag throwers. Hundreds of people surrounded the whole piazza, and it was all for us UGA kids. We’re so blessed to be here and loved by this city. As soon as it was over, all the restaurants got instantly crowded, but luckily Spivey had warned me, and since we were all dressed up we decided to splurge and go to the restaurant with the best view in town. Oh my GOSH was it worth it!! There were hundreds of birds flying overhead the entire time, and we had a perfect view of the stairs and busy piazza. We dubbed Sunday night “family dinner” and Kellie’s buying a cook-book so we can cook together or eat out, just the five of us. So basically, we’re sitting at the 2^nd most expensive restaurant in town (the director is the table near us… so we know we made a good pick) and we immediately make a connection with our waitor. Here’s what I ate (because it was extravagant and innately Italian and scrumptious… annnnd, because I took pictures of it: ) I had a vegie soup, which wasn’t really a soup, but sooo good, and I had HAND-MADE pasta. Buon appétit!

the view from JDK at night. 

Tonight we’ve decided to download Under the Tuscan Sun, so we can see how Hollywood depicts cortona.

Time to call daddio for father’s day.

Xoxo

Americanina bella (what the bikers passing called us today) 

Dia tredici y quattordici (June 17 & 18)

I can’t express the kind of feeling I get when I wake up in my little bungalow room of JDK to sunshine and fresh mountain air. We keep all the windows open here, for better circulation, and yes, we do get a few bugs, but it’s SO worth it! I wake up to the birds chirping and the bells of Saint Margarita’s cathedral ringing at 8 am each day. It’s like a dream!

Today was the first day of classes, so I caught up on a little reading and e-mails before class and headed down to town to get Frances’ necklace and mail my post cards.  I made a world-record errand run and got to book arts in time where we made two minature little accordion fold books. After art history (2 hours of sitting…. This might not work out…) we had a normal night at Toninnos and chillin at the JDK.

This morning we headed for Sienna. On the bus, I started reading Harry Potter 7. It’s wonderful to re-read it because it makes day-trip travel go by so much faster and I’m going to read it in anticipation of the movie that we’re going to see in Florence! So excited!

Pics from Sienna:

muah!

Our day trip was very educational – althought I opted out of viewing some saint’s skull and thumb – I’m just not buying the whole praying near relics makes your prayers better heard thing. We saw some cool art and then headed around the city to shop and eat. We had lunch at quaint little bistro and I found Abbey her PERFECT leather bag! Two girls got lost, so we left Sienna late, and once we were back I got really sick so I think I’m going to go to bed early L

-Arrivederchi 

ITALY BUCKET LIST -->

·      Hike to the top of the mountain and see the Monastery

·      Wine tasting in town

·      Wine tasting in Montopulchiano

·      Collect beautiful maps

·      Find a coin ring

·      See sunrise from look-out at the peak of the mountain

·      Photograph Sunset from town

·      Make a fresco

·      Make a mosaic

·      Possible carve a marble egg with R.G.

·      Build up my running tolerance to begin training for a half marathon

·      Take a bus town to the Market in the valley

·      Italian flea market 

·      Shop at the Prada outlet (Montevarchi, Tuscany)

·      Take a weekend trip to Milan

·      Stay in a hostel (Florence)

·      Keep a blog and a physical journal that I sketch in and do handwritten typography

·      Make extra book samples as souvenirs

·      Wake up early one day and sit in on the photo class to capture the morning light

·      Cinque Terre

·      Make a meal from scratch with fresh supplies from the Market

·      Wash clothes by hand

·      Take pictures in the sunflower fields when they bloom

·      Learn from the chocolate man (+learn how to make gelato)

·      Sunday “family dinner” Mexican fiesta

·      Visit Emily in her castle on the beach
see the premiere of harry potter
go to the hot springs
horseback riding in the valley
go to the beach or lake 

·      Watch “Under the Tuscan Sun” while in Tuscan

Dia dodici (June 16)

Our first day of classes! It’s just “drop/add” here, so we’re on an abbreviated schedule but it was SO good to get into the studios and get a better idea of what our summer semester is going to be like! I made eggs with Kellie this morning for some good protein, and for lunch I made a salad by hand with cherrie tomatoes, onions, oil/vinegar and fetta. I’m feeling more and more self-sufficient – I feel like I’m getting a grip on the kind of satisfaction I always see Kayla having for being so frugally savvy with her meals and other aspects of her life.

I already have lots of homework! Art history has left me with two books to read, and for book arts we made our first three little tiny samples – just some quick folding – but they are so cute and I know I’m going to love having one really hands on class. It’s going to be really nice to get my hands messy, especially being in this kind of environment! I’m already seeing people with gesso all over their legs and those poor ceramics kids clothes are ruined by the first day. For graphics, Spivey gave us our full project schedule, day one. It’s exciting because I know exactly what I’ll be doing and the projects are going to be so fun, but she’s given us SO much freedom since the advanced class is on all different levels and I’m scared out of my living mind because I’m so used to her strict guidelines.

I was so overwhelmed after class and checking all of my e-mails that I decided to take a walk instead of a run, so I could empty out my head and listen to some good music. Mei Lin caught me half way down the stairs and we walked in silence together out back through the ceramics studio on a hike up the mountain. She seemed to be in a very adventurous mood and asked me if I wanted to hike all the way up or just go for a run. We took the hike and ended up climbing past the cathedral (which I thought to be the highest point) and kept walking until we found a glass elevator which took us 3 flights up further to an abandoned old ruin of a building that now serves as some sort of look-out museum/art gallery. There was no one working so we were free to peruse the rooms as we wanted. The whole time I had Jesus music blaring, and as I kept going up and up I’d catch glimpses of that beautiful view through the windows and trees. This was God as I have never experienced Him. At the top of the building we went out on a roof and I could literally see 360 degrees all around me – I was at the highest point of the mountain possible. I  snapped a few pictures on my iphone, but no camera could ever capture this grandeur. The songs on my ipod kept corresponding with each moment. Lyrics about mountains, being lifted high and feeling so small were so timely.  I just stood there, unable to even move, just looking. Looking around at the hugeness of God’s creations, the colors he chose, the landscapes he carved, the people he created. The professors and directors have told us that some things in Cortona are better left up to discover for yourself, and THIS is definitely one of those places! One day soon I’m going to get up at 4:00 and hike up there to see the sun rise and do my bible study. I’ll bring my cannon and then share a glimpse of my moment with y’all!

This experience tied in perfectly with my first reading for art history – the preface of Vasari’s “The Lives of the Artists” from the Renaissance. He wrote about how we celebrate the high arts and we attribute the first sculpture, architecture and painting to different people (some to the cave men, others to Egypt, etc) but how the first and truest sculpture was the earth itself, how we all merely mimic and draw inspiration from nature and how God is the true artist. WOW! That’s what I’m reading in my textbooks! He then wrote about how over time we slowly reached perfection in art until the classical age of Rome and Greece but how the barbarians tore most of it down and the Christians came through and ruined it in order to rid the places of pagan worship. This set the stage for the revival of such art in the Renaissance. And from here on out, I’ll be learning about it all semester!

After my walk, Mei Lin and I ran back to JDK and the run was also one of those magical encounters with God. My music picked up and I ran with my hands almost outstretched around the contours of the mountain.

We also went on a tour of the whole 5 acre campus, so here's a few of the studios:

leaving the stone carving yard

our little canopy :) 

the ceramics studio

ceramics

the panting studio in an old chapel of a monastery!

Holly getting flowers for her bday

Severini!

Book arts

view out from book arts!

We had a pointless meeting at 4 for drop/add and I didn’t make it to town until dinner, and I was on a hunt to find a necklace for Frances, but the shops were closed. I’ll have to mail my post-cards tomorrow. After dinner we walked to the edge of town to see the sun set below the lowest point of the mountain – another time when I wished I had my camera. But I know I’ll be doing that again. We got gelato from Snoopy’s and hung out at Tonnino’s on the outside terrace staring up at the full moon and the lights of all the houses down in the valley dotting the landscape. At 11 they had a party for UGA at Route 66 – the discoteca in town. I saw all my Cortonese friends and the students gave those Cortonese quite the dance party show.  Peter cut his toe open, so we had to go up, but it was another magical day in the land of Tuscany.

Ciao for now,

Brittany (Breetany- similar to the way you say it Nicolie!)

Dia undici (June 15)

After dinner last night we heard presentations from a few of our professors on their life accomplishments and then went into town to celebrate Holly’s birthday. There are four Sigma Kappas and all of them have their birthday’s within one week! As we were walking to the Lion’s Well, I decided gelato over alcohol and was pleasantly surprised with the best treat I’ve had since my snickers. Cheesecake with a scoop of dark chocolate underneath. Perfection! I was honestly starting to doubt the gelato, and I must have had some crappy kinds, because now I understand what everyone’s talking about! As we’re walking to meet up with everyone we hear a few whistles. Not bothering to turn around, I hear “ohh breetanny” and it’s none other than one of the guys I met our first night in town… Christian and his gang. By the time midnight we decided to call it a night and Kellie and I got up at 9am to start our day off right with a run. 

Today was a free day for the program, so I woke up early and went for a 2.5 miles run around the mountain. I had to stop and walk at times – my lungs just can’t take this altitude yet, and my legs certainly aren’t used to the mountainous incline and cobble stones.  Feelin good, we came back for some breakfast, and I decided that yogurt is the only thing I like that they offer so Kellie (my precious roomie) and I galloped off down to town and went produce shopping. I haven’t been carrying my camera around Cortona like I should, but I promise to post some produce pics as soon as possible, because their little fruit stands are hole-in-the-wall shops providing the most colorful array of fruits, veggies and nuts. We got peaches, nectarines, lettuce for salads, strawberries, eggs for breakfast, tomatoes, onions, oil and vinegar (only dressing in Italy…no such thing as Italian dressing here). It’s not accepted to just grab your food here when shopping we practiced our Italian and pointed at what we want. They’d ask if we wanted our fruit soft or hard, ready for today or later, etc. It was a very enjoyable learning experience. We kept giggling because we feel like true Cortonese in the making!

Then I picked up some post-cards to send you all and including postage it cost me 16 Euro! Yikes! We had lunch at our favorite grocery store and I got my second stamp on my sandwich card (if I get 10 I get one free!) I had another snickers – a piece of home I’m GLAD to have with me still!! We picked up some quick art supplies from the store and hiked back up to JDK where I was extremely productive! I washed 3 loads of laundry BY HAND! Yes, mom – be proud. I’ve learned the full process of suds-ing, pre-rinse and final rinse, and it’s hard work! It’s something that has really helped me to see how much we take for granted in the states.. and it’s also shown me how dirty our clothes get! We never see all the dirt and grime come out in the washing machine, but it was sickkkkkk. Hand-washing and then hanging all the clothes on clothes line out back was so fulfilling. I know it sounds like a monotonous chore, but we had a little party in the laundry room. Its nice to have control over exactly how your clothes are handled and it made me realize that there are so many things I can actually live without. Ok… enough about laundry!

I continued my day by writing all my post cards, finishing my hand-written journal by taping in all the things I’ve been collecting, and heading on down to dinner. It was just one of those good ole getter done kinda afternoons.

At dinner Holly got a giant cake! It was my favorite desert yet.

After dinner we were all encourage to go into Piazza Signorelli for a concert that the town was putting on for us. We didn’t really know what to expect, but when we arrived they had an entire orchestra set-up and the instrumentalists were all dressed to the t for a nice show like one you’d see at the Fox. They had the chairman of the Cortona Philharmonic Symphony address the town (there are 900 Cortonese total, and I’d say a good half of them were there) to welcome the students of UGA. They had a translator for us, and the first song they did was our national anthem followed by the Italian national anthem. GOOSEBUMPS. We were all practically swooning in our seats at how these people were greeting and almost romancing us. They were SO generous and had an hour and a half show prepared for the 100 of us that had just arrived. They played a little Bach and classical pieces but most of it were songs that the conductor had picked out for “the young Americans.” The philharmonic here had risked dying out a few years back but has since been revived largely thanks to a partnership with the schools here. The young musicians did a few songs for us as well and there was a 9-year-old drummer that was out of this world. It was the most magical moment I’ve had yet, watching the sun go down with the hundreds of birds flying overhead and all of us integrated with the Cortonese, watching this welcome show. I saw my friends Christian and Michele and they greeted me with kisses (which I’m learning isn’t so weird at all for me anymore). It was the perfect ending to the first few days of Cortona.

X

-B

P.S.  Peter found out that Milan fashion week starts Saturday, so we’re looking into going!