Overlooking the harbor in Monaco
On Mondays, I wander the Old City.
On Tuesdays, I go to the market and learn Italian.
On Wednesday, I have two courses: Italian Cooking and Everything Chocolate.
On Thursdays, I have three courses: Italian Vegetarian Cooking, Daily Life in Pompeii, and Italian Language.
On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, I travel.
Everyday, I eat gelato, of course (cheesecake, wildberry tiramisu, yogurt and nutella, cookies, almond, fig, mango, dark chocolate hazelnut).
It’s a fairly loose schedule, which leaves me many hours to fill with an assortment of activities.
I spent part of an afternoon reading on a bench in Monaco: this was my view
Amidst all of the things to do, there are people to meet. This is what is currently occupying my time. I come from a small, private college at home that prides itself on having a strong campus community. I’ve come to the conclusion it is completely justified in mentioning “community” as much as it does, because establishing a community in a foreign country, with classes you have just once a week, is quite a bit more challenging. Being intentional about making plans with potential friends is essential—because visiting potential friends involves a 25-minute walk down shady side streets sometimes not listed on Google Maps. I’ve developed a social schedule in addition to my class schedule:
On Mondays, I have a roommate date at Dante’s (who provides free wine, t-shirts, and tiramisu to students).
On Tuesdays, I make dinner with a friend (this week’s menu is pumpkin-filled ravioli with brown butter sage sauce).
On Wednesdays, I Zumba with friends, then sit on the bridge and eat gelato.
On Thursdays, I have yoga with a friend, and then pack my bags for traveling for the weekend.
On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, I make new friends for the weekend.
I am learning the value of close friendships, intimate conversations, and maintaining friendships. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to travel to all of theses places (Pisa, Cinque Terre, Mammera, Isola del Giglio, Monaco, French Riviera, and Oktoberfest, so far), but it is more wonderful when you can share these moments and adventures with other people, especially friends. While I miss all of my friendships at home, it is interesting and surprisingly delightful to meet people from across the country and world and learn about different worldviews—from the German man I met at Oktoberfest (who had lived in my home state of Iowa for a year), to my roommates from both coasts. This experience has made me understand the paramount importance of true friendship, and I encourage you all (and myself as well) to seek out friends and be absolutely vulnerable with them, because it is people who shape your experiences more than the location that they occur in. (Also, if you get the chance, you really should visit the French Riveria, because it’s the most beautiful place I have ever been).
I ate lunch with friends, with this as our scenery to look at
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Danielle is a student at Northwestern College studying at Florence University of the Arts during the Fall 2013 term.
