This has been a month full of adventure! I have traveled to many cities and towns in Tuscany and finally feel like a pro when it comes to the train system here. A few of my favorite places were Sienna and Pitigliano. These towns were absolutely beautiful and looked like they had been ripped from the pages of a storybook. I felt like I kept having to remind myself that I was actually there and not dreaming! It is still very shocking to me to learn about the history of these places because I am used to American history where we only have a few hundred years to go off of. Pitigliano had centuries upon centuries of history to learn about! My mind can’t even comprehend it sometimes. On my trips I was able to take part in a wine tasting and also a cheese tasting. I loved getting to experience these authentic tours by seeing behind the scenes of how these products are actually made.

This month has also been exciting for my classes! There was a chocolate festival here in Florence, and for one of my classes we got to go to the festival and do a demonstration about tempering chocolate and making pralines. It was a little intimidating at first, but it was a great opportunity to show what we have learned so far! I have also had the chance to work in a bakery here in Florence, and this past week I got the chance to be a barista for the first time! After a few lousy cappuccinos, I finally got the hang of foaming the milk and I got a few compliments from locals on the coffee I made for them. That was so great to hear! I can’t believe I have been here for a month already. Time is flying by and I can’t wait to see what adventures arise next month!

Laura, University of Georgia