Orientation and the start of classes

The first few days here were "orientation" to welcome us to the school, show us around Florence, and get all the necessary paperwork squared away.

Saturday we signed up for out "Permit to Stay" and all got Italian cell phones with free incoming everything and a pay-as-you-go plan for all incoming. So, unless I need to call someone, I don't have to pay anything for it!

It started raining while we were in our sessions, so we all went our separate ways to get dry and continue settling in.

Sunday was a 2+ hour tour of the important places in Florence and around the school. We saw both buildings where our classes are held, the cinema (movie theater), post office, change/ATM locations (which are all over the city), what a pharmacy looks like, how to buy stamps, different markets for leather, food, and other goods (and some not-so-goods), the train station, the bus station, and the hospital.

We then stopped for pannini's for lunch and were treated to our first gelato's in the city by our tour guide Enrico (who also happens to be one of the Italian language professors and possibly one of the best professors I've had. ever.)

We then all went back to the school to meet some of our professors and heard a little bit more about some of the classes we were/could take.

After that we all went our separate ways to relax before the start of classes the following day...

Monday brought classes and all that they entail, starting with Italian at 9 a.m.

My classes are Monday-Thursday, with Italian everyday: grammar 9-10:30 and conversation 11-12:30.

I then got lunch on the way to the other building for the final part of our orientation: a meeting with an officer from the Italian state police about things to watch out for, laws that may be different from what we're used to, and overall safety tips.

From there, I met with my internship adviser/professor (Katia) to get to know each other, our expectations for the semester, and a walk around to see one of the library's as well as her studio - where I will be spending the majority of my time during my internship hours.