I woke up this morning in a self-induced state of hell. We went out last night and celebrated one of the TCU girls’ 21st birthdays and I overdid it. Perhaps what was even worse was my coping with it by drinking a lot of water in the morning to try and re-hydrate. That ended with […]
ContinueFlorence, Italy: First Technological Casualty
I witnessed, and I guess caused, my first technological casualty in the trip just a few minutes ago. My charger for the rechargeable batteries I use for my external flash for my camera is now out of commission. Plus there’s a little brown spot on the electrical socket by my bed. It all started when […]
ContinueFlorence, Italy: Of Soccer and Soccer Mullets
Calcio – the Italian sport (yes, they claim it as their own) that the rest of the world knows as futbol or soccer. I’ve yet to make it to one of the games of the local team, Fiorentina, but I have three on my calendar. Hopefully I can get to at least one. The team […]
ContinueFlorence, Italy: Swimming through Cognates
You’d think while studying my third language I’d finally learn. Nope. I’m consistent: I never do the preliminary work to make my life easier. Before going to Seattle three summers ago I put off learning to do things which would make life easier — like learning how to cook full meals. Two summers ago I […]
ContinueFlorence, Italy: Can’t Escape Sodexho
Any TCU student knows to silently curse the word Sodexho whenever they hear it. This gigantic corporation caters large clientele like Marriott and also provides foodservice to SO many of America’s universities. Sodexho is the reason that TCU administrators give us for having to raise the amount required for on-campus meal plans. Sodexho holds the […]
ContinueFlorence, Italy: Grasping for Cloud 9
Have you ever noticed that, no matter how hard you try, sometimes you can never get to “Cloud 9?” I’ve been trying like crazy today, but there are always little details that slip me up. I started out the day going to the Central Market. For those from Texas, the Florence Mercato Centrale blows the […]
ContinueFlorence, Italy: In Love
Monday. My longest day of classes. I haven’t had Monday classes since the Fall of 2004. Ugh. This was a little hard to realize today. Nevertheless, I’m in love. No, for those reading this, it’s not to a specific girl: I absolutely love my Monday classes. It may not remain so as the semester continues; […]
ContinueFlorence, Italy: The Real Thing (Acoustics!)
Something I never expected to do in Florence was go to a classical music concert. I’d gone to symphony concerts for 5-6 years in middle school and high school and the thought that I should go to one (or now several) in Florence never even came to my mind. Luckily, it was exactly what Erin […]
ContinueFlorence, Italy: Siena and San Gimignano
Rain, rain, go away! The rain finally stopped this morning in Siena a while after we arrived this morning. We were soaked, but it ended up being a fun visit. We started the trip at the Church of San Domenico. This church is also the Basilica of St. Catherine. In it we saw not only […]
ContinueFlorence, Italy: Renewing Water
Sometimes it’s amazing how the most mundane things can bring us out of our ‘shells.’ Whenever I’m adapting to new cultures, my style is to first observe and then emulate. I’m one who looks at different cultures and doesn’t dive right in but instead tries to find niches to which I can adapt. I’ve been […]
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