I am very, very excited to say that today was a great day. Ever since we arrived, we have all been in a funk. We felt dismayed, confused, and just plain frazzled. Nothing felt like home and even though gelato would seem to make everything better, it wasn't. I think we each had teary eyes at multiple points in the day and we all just wanted to go home. But, today, I didn't want to go home!
Today I was excited to be in Firenze! Which is surprising because today was a record low since we've been here (I think 27 degrees this morning walking to class), and when I got to my building, it wasn't open yet. I stood outside for almost 30 minutes waiting and then the class had no heat. BUT, that didn't stop my good day. In fact, my day only got better from there. My graphic design professor is simply incredible. I am terrified for the class but I am more than positive that I will walk away from this class a significantly better designer and that makes me incredibly happy.
Last semester I wasn't able to take a graphic design class. To me, those classes are like Target...they are my happy place, the place that I go when nothing makes sense and everything seems to be screaming at me. Target and the Mac lab make everything better (along with music, coffee, ice cream, and a good hug). Anyways... I wasn't able to take a class so I am a little worried that I'm out of the game, but it's like riding a bike, just have to hop back on and you'll get your groove back. And that makes me incredibly excited.
Back to my graphic design professor. Well first of all, he is very Italian and that makes me really happy. Though I can't speak the language (yet), I love the people. I love interacting with them and their happy spirits. He explained all of the typical stuff about the class, the syllabus, projects, grading, attendance, etc., and then continued onto showing us work from previous semesters. My heart was racing the whole time as I tried to figure out how I would ever make anything that good. But, I know I have it in me, it just might take some digging to find it.
After he showed us past work, we took a break. Our class is almost 3 hours long and a break will be much needed, if not just to move around and warm up. When he announced our break, he also announced that he would take us to a bakery around the corner from the school. This was fantastic because the school is super close to my apartment and hence the bakery would be too. The shop was packed, people hustling around and getting their espresso before work started. I got a pastry called a "bombolone alla crema" that was basically a large doughnut hole filled with custard and covered in sugar. It was delicious and went perfectly with my cappuccino. Now, in the States (which is, by the way, what everyone calls it here...not America which is strange to me), I am NOT a cappuccino person at all, but hey, when in Rome right? Or in this case Florence. I'm so happy that I tried it because now I know that I love it. It's actually surprisingly close to our coffee in the States, just a little stronger but not strong like espresso. Interestingly (this is what my professor explained), a "cafe americano" isn't really coffee american style but is the same as it is back home, espresso with hot water added to it. I'll be a coffee connoisseur in no time!
Okay, moving on... and skipping some details in between since I clearly am a little wound up about my good day! Last thing about graphic design is that I was completely drooling over my professor's portfolio. He has ton a ton of logo work that is just phenomenal. I hope I can have half the clientele he has had, someday. So after graphic design, I headed to the other SACI building (the main one) and surprisingly did not get lost! In fact, I actually guided two people there. Even under pressure I was able to get there without a problem. I'm starting to get the hang of this!
I met up with Sally and Alex at school and we went across the street to a small cafe with our new friends for lunch. I spent €4 on a slice of cheese pizza (Sicilian style) and a drink. Then we headed back to the building for photography. My photography teacher was totally fun, too! I'm not saying that I don't have fun professors at HPU, because I definitely do, but I guess I was just expecting old boring artists, and they definitely are not that way at SACI. I love my class so far and now I'm just jonesing to take some pictures now. I forgot how much I love pictures that were printed in a dark room. I was not so thrilled about how expensive things are though, for 5 rolls of B&W film, five negative sleeves, and an anti-static microfiber cloth I had to spend €34.50. I haven't even bought paper yet!
My third and, thankfully, final class was creative writing. I have class from 9-6:30 with only very short breaks in between. By 4:45, I was ready for a nap. But my class seems like it will be a lot of fun. There are readings and assignments that correlate with those readings to help get us started. The assignments are completely optional though and if we have something else we want to work on, we are able to do that and have people give us feedback on that work. I'm really excited to start writing again. I might just start on that book I promised to write, Grandma :)
This semester will definitely be challenging but it will have a wonderful turnout. I cannot wait to see how I will progress over this semester. Now we just have to hope that I actually enjoy my classes in a few weeks ;)
Ciao!
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