First Day of School

I have homework.  Almost forgot what that was like, but now I've been amply reminded.  Today was my first day of graduate school.  And yes, I do feel like a big girl.  (Partially because all the roommates are undergrads and at least 2 years younger than me.  Yikes, am I old already?  ugh.)  I even brought along my glasses as to look extra studious and engaged in graduate-type material.  But I didn't ever get that nervous first-day-of-school feeling I always seem to have.

Well, I suppose you all ought to know the truth as to how small my school is.  And yes, I have been putting off posting about this because I can only imagine what you'll all think.  Let's just say that of my 3 classes today, the student:teacher ratio was 1:1, 2:1, 1:1.  Once you gather your jaw up off the floor, I'll explain...  Ok, my school has only 25 students.  I only realized this after the first day of orientation when there weren't many of us in the seminar room.  Hmm.  All I can say is, this place is legitimate, believe me, but apparently they're still in the growth period and next semester they're expecting 100.  I've been through recurring stages of stressed-out, wonderment, and blatant disbelief, but now that's all subsided.

"The Mosaic Room"

When I went to my classes today and started talking with my professors, I realized this is the right thing for me.  Sure you could probably fit the entire school in your back pocket, but I kind of like that.  Coming from a school where virtually no one outside of your friends knows your name, it's nice to have the entire staff know your name and course of study.  Everyone here is so accommodating and friendly.  Today the President, Dr. Bernardini, called me into his office by name and asked me if I'd like to meet once a week to practice my Italian informally.  He'd noticed I was the only non-Italian who wasn't enrolled in Italian courses and he thought I might like an opportunity to continue learning.  Now that type of personal attention I could never have experienced at UT - I'm not even sure I could tell you what Bill Powers looks like.

My Project Management/Policies, Law & Politics teacher from Malaga, Spain, is an artist whose work is exhibited all across Europe.  She used to teach at the University of Seville and worked at Christie's Auction House in London.  Now she works with a firm that helps private collectors build and improve their collection.  My Intro to Managing Arts Organizations teacher from Germany is a renowned Historian of 19th Century Italian Art who commutes 5 hours (one way) by train from Tuscany to teach two courses at my school - one of which only has 1 student :)  So I know I'm getting a legitimate education, guys!  Plus, it's hard.  Already.  I know it's only the first day, but I can tell.  I'm getting that nervous oh-shit-can-I-really-do-this feeling, but I know I can.  Plus I'm the only one in my program (and the first, btw) so I'd better!

Prayers, good vibes and general happy thoughts are all welcomed and appreciated.  Feel free to share your thoughts below.

xoxoxo

Tourin Turin

We all knew that pun was inevitable.  Let's just embrace it.

Yesterday my fellow students and I went on a walking tour of downtown Torino.  Our student services coordinator, Gian Lorenzo, gave us a native torinese's take on the city - we saw fancy shopping districts, fish markets, beautiful churches, public libraries, popular bars and royal palaces.  It was rather nice seeing all the landmarks of Torino, and at least I got most of my touristy photos out of the way (see below):

Sacrilegious?  Doubtful.  Offensive?  Possibly.  Good for a laugh?  Oh yeah.  This sculptural fountain is a representation of the river Dora, one of the bodies of water running through Torino.  The river Po is depicted on the other side of the street as a lounging man, but this one was more fun.  We spent a good amount of the day walking through piazzas and along the portico-lined streets of downtown Torino.  I found out the uninterrupted porticos that go for miles up and down Via Roma were built in the 16th century to keep the King and Queen from ever being touched by rain or snow.  Then we had a lovely picnic in Parco Valentino where we imbibed limonata and delighted in prosciutto-wrapped cheese.  Yum!

I can't imagine how much we walked yesterday, but we started at 9:00AM and finally got on the bus home around 4:00PM.  If I had to guess I'd say I walked 8 miles, that's what - 11 kilometers?  (Note to self: learn the metric system.)  So if I keep this up, I believe my fears of imminent weight gain due to gelato addiction shall be subdued.

Today we took the bus about 5 minutes to a place called Gallery 8, which our IT guy at school said has an electronic store and some shops.  Well, when we arrived we realized it was an actual galleria - a giant mall!  Imagine my surprise and uncontrollable excitement.  Luckily I got out of there with only spending 10 euro on a few tank tops since the weather here hasn't been much below 80 yet.

Lots of love,

Brittany Lauren

 

I Capture the Castle

I'm finally done with orientation.  It was a lengthy 2-day process explaining every possible thing one would need to know about being a student *yawn.*  I also had to begin the process of applying for my permit to stay, which is separate from the visa.  I like to think of it as a pointless document only in existence so Italy can legally pry 60 euros out of our poor student hands.  Ugh.

More exciting than this is that I moved into my apartment and met all my roommates.  All 5 of them.  Yes, we are six girls and there is one shower.  You do the math :)  They are all great, one is from France, one from Germany, two from New York and another (the girl with whom i share a room) is from California.  We are all in a 3 bedroom apartment in Torino several blocks from the bus which we ride 20ish minutes to get to Vinovo where the campus is located.

This is my little bed by the window.  We've got marble floors and old furniture, chandeliers and french doors.  Oh, and a faux-wood paneled refrigerator.  The lack of A/C means we're leaving the doors open all the time (at least until it gets cold) and as a result the mosquitos are coming in at night.  Catch 22, really.  I'm excited about living in the city, the other students are staying in the small town where the campus is, but you all know me, I like to be where the action is.  My roommates and I all get along rather well and we enjoy learning each other's languages.  And I'm the only one who speaks Italian so I'm now the designated translator and asker-of-directions.

The campus is very quaint, as is the town of Vinovo.  Please take time to note the picture below:

Oh wait, I'm sorry, I didn't mention before that it's a 16th century castle?!  My mistake.  (I forewarned you about these bursts of hubris, do forgive me).  So this is my school, once used as a getaway by popes, kings, even Napoleon.  As universities come (namely my Alma Mater) it's tiny, as this is the only building, but already I feel so welcomed by the administration, faculty and other students.  We are like a little international family here.  Castello della Rovere is still under renovations, but there are original frescoes and mosaics that are quite the sight to behold.  There is a cafe underneath the castle for grabbing lunch, sipping coffee or using wifi.  

All in all, I am rather enjoying the setting of my latest academic pursuit and I look forward to starting classes on Monday.  More updates then, and possibly laments about teachers/course loads/subjects.

Missing all of you so much :)

  

Ciao from Torino!

Well, I made it!  I got on a plane yesterday evening, said some teary goodbyes to Dad and Miguel, and half a day later I ended up across the globe.  I just got up from a 2 hour nap, which is quite literally all the sleep I've had since I woke up yesterday, but the adjusting will be done by tomorrow, which is good.

The flight wasn't bad - the plane had these individual screens and you were able to choose your own movies and tv shows, pretty cool.  Watched Date Night with Steve Carell and Tina Fey, mindless and entertaining.  Then I wasted 2 hours on the Miley Cyrus movie based on a Nicholas Sparks book, yikes.  And finally I decided to get serious (and, let's face it, look cultured to all those who could view my screen) and commit to Fellini's 3 hour long La Dolce Vita.  Oddly I'd never seen it: rather dismal outlook on Italian society.  Typical Italian film ending: sad and hopeless.  Even watching all those movies, I couldn't ever get to sleep, even with a little help from my friends (drowsy sinus meds).

After a stop in Frankfurt, I hopped on over to Turin airport where Elisa, friend I'd met in Austin last summer, picked me up.  She works at a chocolate shop here in the city and was happy to find me a vacant friend's apartment for tonight.  She even carried my oversized bag to the "third floor" walk-up apartment.  (Note: Italians say "3rd floor" for what we would consider the "4th floor" - not sure why they decided to disregard Mr. Groud Floor as a legitimate floor)  I was pleased to see a bed and a shower (stand-up, YES!) - not sure I required much else at that point.  She left me to rest and I swear I clocked the time for fastest hair-washing.  (See: Summer '06 Study Abroad in Rome, Host Mother yells at American Student for using too much Hot Water on undeniably thick hair.  See also: Psychological Damage and Subsequent Therapy)

I woke from my 2-hour nap to a lovely sound.  Mind you there is no such thing as air-conditioning 'round these parts and open windows are a necessity.  I almost thought I was hearing the alarm on my phone because it was so pleasant.  Shouting locals?  Zooming vespas?  Restaurant hubub?  Well, yes.  But above all this was the most delightful ringing of church bells.  I am now being gently reminded of the many beautiful subtleties Italy has to offer, and I'm looking forward to all my upcoming discoveries.

I miss you all so much already!  I'm moving into my apartment tomorrow afternoon and will send you the address as soon as possible.

Baci e Abbraci

End of an Era

As it turns out, I've had to say some goodbyes earlier than I anticipated.  On Tuesday of this week I accompanied my dad on a trip to Abilene to see my grandmother.  Lately she'd been getting worse as a series of small strokes had affected her speech and swallowing capabilities.  I can't say there was any way to prepare myself for what I experienced there.

Here was a woman I'd only ever seen cheery, full of energy and eager to please.  She was the kind of woman who gleaned all her happiness from contributing to the joy in other people's lives.  There never was a more humble, selfless soul.  And now all I could see was the husk that housed that woman, a portion of her left behind, trying desperately to sustain itself.  The two days I spent there weighed deeply on my heart -- I felt so helpless, both from not being able to help her, and from realizing I wouldn't have her in my life anymore.

 
Although I can't be sure she knew I was there, I held her hand and told her how much I loved her.  I was able to express my truest sentiments and reiterate that which I told her each time we spoke: I appreciated her and all that she did for me.  It was in that moment she opened her eyes, found mine, and managed to groan "you're...so...beautiful."  I stared in amazement and looked to my dad for validation that he'd heard it too; he did.  I cannot imagine ever being able to forget the way I felt in that moment.  Through all the discomfort and, undoubtedly, trepidation, my grandmother was able to release one final expression of praise.  Even in her last days, she was attempting to bolster someone else's spirits.  What I wouldn't give to be more like her.

I am thankful to have been able to say goodbye to her, albeit one of the most difficult situations I've ever experienced.  But if my grandma taught me anything, it's that there's always so much to be thankful for -- and many were blessed by having her in this world for 93 precious years.  It will be incredibly challenging to reevaluate my life without her in it; to consider my family in a new light.  

I am trying to feel happy that she's moved on, which is what she wanted at this point in her life.  But I can't help feeling selfish.  She was such a constant.  A lovely, divine constant.  She made the best cucumber sandwiches in the world.  She was approximately 100x better than anyone at crossword puzzles.  And she had the ability to make me feel uniquely loved in the way only grandmas can.

May your love live on through me.

Geraldine Lulu McCaleb Shultz

March 26, 1917 - August 6, 2010