See Facebook album "Lucca" for more.
24 February 2007
Back In Shape: all about me in Italy
Hey everyone,
OK, here we go -
THE VILLA
Georgetown University acquired Villa Le Balze (roughly, 'Villa on the Cliffs') in 1979 from a relative of the Rockefeller family. The property is tucked against the steep hills of Fiesole, a small village above Firenze well-known for its expansive views high above the city. Even arriving in January felt like coming to a retreat - the building is surrounded by gardens, with olive trees growing down the side of the hill below. The soil is clean, the leaves are green, the view is great. The air is smoky outside in the mornings because neighboring farms do a lot of burning of brush etc, but this and the morning haze burn off quickly. It is a steep but short walk up to the center of Fiesole (which looks, Parnass/Styles family, a bit like Niguelas in Spain with slightly more shops and traffic). Chiesa di San Girolamo, the church where "The English Patient" takes place, is a hundred meters up the hill. See the website, villalebalze.org for more.
THE PROGRAM
We're not exactly exposed to the sharp wild edges of Italy while wrapped up in this Villa program, but with an intrepid attitude you can get out often. Classes here, unlike most abroad programs, factor into our GPAs back home. This is "Georgetown extended" up here - faculty are considered international GU faculty and we are under some strict guidelines here that we'd often prefer to live without: no overnight guests of any kind (!), no wine on the premises besides at lunch, etc... the downside of holding ties to an American school structure.
THE KIDS
27 of us -- 20 girls and 7 boys. Eight live with families nearby; the rest of us are in the bedrooms in the Villa. For coming from a school of 6500 undergrad back in DC, a surprising number of people here know each other and have lasting friendships already established. This is something I have had to get used to, but I am trying to spend good time (not just chat-time at lunch) with everyone and so far I'm in a good place with it. A couple of them are difficult to deal with, but the rest are friendly and approachable (I'm sounding like Jane Goodall right now). Have even had a heart-to-heart with a few that I'm especially interested in being friends with.
THE FACULTY
I am taking 5 classes:
Italian language (Professor Paolini is a short Italian woman who is greatly enjoyable), Italian Cinema (Professor Fallani is funny and speaks English very well having lived in CA for many years and worked as a film editor on the Godfather trilogy and Dead Poet's Society), Italian Renaissance Art History (Professor Reynolds is tall, British, and very odd socially but is very clear with her material), Sociology of Italian Culture (Professor Birindelli is like a bearded, slightly awkward teddy bear who speaks English with a thick Italian accent - sounds uncannily like Arnold Schwarzenegger and can't seem to cover much material), and a great Psychology course called Madness, Genius, and Creativity taught by Professor Finkel, who came over with us from GU's main campus this term.
INTERLUDE
A technical note: scrap the Webshots idea. Sorry. It takes forever to get everything up. Most of you have accounts on FaceBook.com, and can see my photos on that site, okay? For those who don't, feel free to make a free Facebook account (should only take a minute), search for my name, and when you find my profile make a 'friend request' and you'll have access to my photographs. I'll bet you it's worth it. I will still put up occasional pictures on this page for illustration, so if you choose not to do the FaceBook option I'll try to tide you over until I return with piles of pics.
THE CITY
Florence has not been explored as much as I'd like, but I'm making headway. By now I can find my way around, having been to several art galleries, restaurants, shops, bars, and clubs, but usually I still need a map. I like to be able to wander freely, so I am trying over the next few weeks to feel even more solid in my bearings. It's really an incredible city - tightly-packed, somewhat dirty (the Duomo could do with a big hose-down starting 50 feet up) and, really, full of history. London, Paris, Berlin and the like have surpassed its grandeur in the modern age, but during the Renaissance this city was THE metropolis - the center of art and Christendom. Walking across the whole city does not take long, but you are guaranteed to get turned around on the twisting streets. This coming from the guy who can always find his way out of the woods.
THE LIFE
During the week it's tricky to get far out into the city, since Monday through Thursday is pretty thick with class. Once or twice a week we will go downtown for some drinks and socializing (Everyone gets along surprisingly well and we often go out in groups of 6-8 and up). Fiesole also has a Post Office, restaurants, and a small grocery store, which provide good opporunities for walks and runs between classes. The computer lab downstairs (4 desktop computers) is our opportunity to get in touch with friends and family (it is where I sit now, in fact). Many of us have cell phones on a group plan with free calling within the group, so finding each other is never too difficult. Free time during the week is often spent doing homework outside in the sun. I plan on putting up a photo album on FaceBook soon of what this property looks like and where we hang out.
WHERE HUNTER'S BEEN
We have taken organized trips to Pavia, Milan (where we saw the Last Supper), Vigevano, and most recently Lucca (yesterday, actually - check out the lovely pics on FB). With various groups of friends I have also taken substantial trips through Padua, Verona, Siena, Bologna, and Venice. Each of these destinations has a respective photo album on FaceBook.
HUNTER'S PLANS
Spring Break begins at the end of this coming week. I will be in Paris from March 2 to March 7 and then in Barcelona from March 8 to March 12. I will be in Rome from March 23 to 24 on another organized trip. Much more to do, and now it's time to pack it in.
So that's what I've been up to.
Here is a picture of the view onto Firenze from our Villa patio:
Here is most of us, from the first night (I'm taking the photo):
And here is me at a bar downtown, wishing you the best until next time.
All my best to you. Missing home, but increasingly comfortable here,
Love,
Hunter
OK, here we go -
THE VILLA
Georgetown University acquired Villa Le Balze (roughly, 'Villa on the Cliffs') in 1979 from a relative of the Rockefeller family. The property is tucked against the steep hills of Fiesole, a small village above Firenze well-known for its expansive views high above the city. Even arriving in January felt like coming to a retreat - the building is surrounded by gardens, with olive trees growing down the side of the hill below. The soil is clean, the leaves are green, the view is great. The air is smoky outside in the mornings because neighboring farms do a lot of burning of brush etc, but this and the morning haze burn off quickly. It is a steep but short walk up to the center of Fiesole (which looks, Parnass/Styles family, a bit like Niguelas in Spain with slightly more shops and traffic). Chiesa di San Girolamo, the church where "The English Patient" takes place, is a hundred meters up the hill. See the website, villalebalze.org for more.
THE PROGRAM
We're not exactly exposed to the sharp wild edges of Italy while wrapped up in this Villa program, but with an intrepid attitude you can get out often. Classes here, unlike most abroad programs, factor into our GPAs back home. This is "Georgetown extended" up here - faculty are considered international GU faculty and we are under some strict guidelines here that we'd often prefer to live without: no overnight guests of any kind (!), no wine on the premises besides at lunch, etc... the downside of holding ties to an American school structure.
THE KIDS
27 of us -- 20 girls and 7 boys. Eight live with families nearby; the rest of us are in the bedrooms in the Villa. For coming from a school of 6500 undergrad back in DC, a surprising number of people here know each other and have lasting friendships already established. This is something I have had to get used to, but I am trying to spend good time (not just chat-time at lunch) with everyone and so far I'm in a good place with it. A couple of them are difficult to deal with, but the rest are friendly and approachable (I'm sounding like Jane Goodall right now). Have even had a heart-to-heart with a few that I'm especially interested in being friends with.
THE FACULTY
I am taking 5 classes:
Italian language (Professor Paolini is a short Italian woman who is greatly enjoyable), Italian Cinema (Professor Fallani is funny and speaks English very well having lived in CA for many years and worked as a film editor on the Godfather trilogy and Dead Poet's Society), Italian Renaissance Art History (Professor Reynolds is tall, British, and very odd socially but is very clear with her material), Sociology of Italian Culture (Professor Birindelli is like a bearded, slightly awkward teddy bear who speaks English with a thick Italian accent - sounds uncannily like Arnold Schwarzenegger and can't seem to cover much material), and a great Psychology course called Madness, Genius, and Creativity taught by Professor Finkel, who came over with us from GU's main campus this term.
INTERLUDE
A technical note: scrap the Webshots idea. Sorry. It takes forever to get everything up. Most of you have accounts on FaceBook.com, and can see my photos on that site, okay? For those who don't, feel free to make a free Facebook account (should only take a minute), search for my name, and when you find my profile make a 'friend request' and you'll have access to my photographs. I'll bet you it's worth it. I will still put up occasional pictures on this page for illustration, so if you choose not to do the FaceBook option I'll try to tide you over until I return with piles of pics.
THE CITY
Florence has not been explored as much as I'd like, but I'm making headway. By now I can find my way around, having been to several art galleries, restaurants, shops, bars, and clubs, but usually I still need a map. I like to be able to wander freely, so I am trying over the next few weeks to feel even more solid in my bearings. It's really an incredible city - tightly-packed, somewhat dirty (the Duomo could do with a big hose-down starting 50 feet up) and, really, full of history. London, Paris, Berlin and the like have surpassed its grandeur in the modern age, but during the Renaissance this city was THE metropolis - the center of art and Christendom. Walking across the whole city does not take long, but you are guaranteed to get turned around on the twisting streets. This coming from the guy who can always find his way out of the woods.
THE LIFE
During the week it's tricky to get far out into the city, since Monday through Thursday is pretty thick with class. Once or twice a week we will go downtown for some drinks and socializing (Everyone gets along surprisingly well and we often go out in groups of 6-8 and up). Fiesole also has a Post Office, restaurants, and a small grocery store, which provide good opporunities for walks and runs between classes. The computer lab downstairs (4 desktop computers) is our opportunity to get in touch with friends and family (it is where I sit now, in fact). Many of us have cell phones on a group plan with free calling within the group, so finding each other is never too difficult. Free time during the week is often spent doing homework outside in the sun. I plan on putting up a photo album on FaceBook soon of what this property looks like and where we hang out.
WHERE HUNTER'S BEEN
We have taken organized trips to Pavia, Milan (where we saw the Last Supper), Vigevano, and most recently Lucca (yesterday, actually - check out the lovely pics on FB). With various groups of friends I have also taken substantial trips through Padua, Verona, Siena, Bologna, and Venice. Each of these destinations has a respective photo album on FaceBook.
HUNTER'S PLANS
Spring Break begins at the end of this coming week. I will be in Paris from March 2 to March 7 and then in Barcelona from March 8 to March 12. I will be in Rome from March 23 to 24 on another organized trip. Much more to do, and now it's time to pack it in.
So that's what I've been up to.
Here is a picture of the view onto Firenze from our Villa patio:
Here is most of us, from the first night (I'm taking the photo):
And here is me at a bar downtown, wishing you the best until next time.
All my best to you. Missing home, but increasingly comfortable here,
Love,
Hunter
03 February 2007
Restyling
Hello all,
I'm afraid it's been a couple of weeks since I last wrote. The good news is, I got to the Villa in Florence on January 18 and it's only the very beginning of February, so for all that I've done already I still have plenty of time over here in Europe.
Posting individual photographs to this webpage, while it can be handy and interesting, isn't the best way to go about it, I realized. So from now, I'll be creating albums for my photos on Webshots.com and with short introductions I'll put links to these albums on the blog. This page will be more text-based, with links to the visuals. You'll see more, and it's easier for me.
I'll also see if I can put some videos up on YouTube and link to those as well.
H.
I'm afraid it's been a couple of weeks since I last wrote. The good news is, I got to the Villa in Florence on January 18 and it's only the very beginning of February, so for all that I've done already I still have plenty of time over here in Europe.
Posting individual photographs to this webpage, while it can be handy and interesting, isn't the best way to go about it, I realized. So from now, I'll be creating albums for my photos on Webshots.com and with short introductions I'll put links to these albums on the blog. This page will be more text-based, with links to the visuals. You'll see more, and it's easier for me.
I'll also see if I can put some videos up on YouTube and link to those as well.
H.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)