China: Taking on Tianjin II

Touring around Tianjin

The first few days in Tianjin were rainy and gloomy. Much preferred over it being sunny and humid, so that hasn’t stopped us from seeing a few sights and exploring the area around where we would be living. Fellow teachers Lynn and Crystal took us around Tianjin our second day here. Our first stop was the Tianjin Eye, which driving from the train station to our apartment the day before, was the first sight I saw in the distance. They have just opened up a ferris wheel in Orlando, but I didn’t get to ride it before I left, so I was super excited to see this one! Unfortunately, it wasn’t in operation due to the weather, but it’s something to definitely look forward to.

Crystal and Lynn took us to Tianjin Ancient Culture Street, or Guwenhua Jie, an area not too far from my apartment where handmade local items are sold, such as clay masks of the Chinese opera and wooden hair combs. There are also plenty of traditional Tianjin street foods available. The items in the stores are expensive, as this area caters to tourists (maybe not so if you are better at bargaining in Mandarin than I am!) but the prices to sample local snacks were very reasonable. I had street food and survived!

I couldn’t tell you the names of things I ate, but can describe them. First were these delicious mini rice cakes with jam on top that had the texture of a cornbread muffin, an egg and flour crepe with bread folded into it, and tea soup. The tea soup wasn’t for me, but I loved the rice cakes and crepe!

11922934_10153138112762547_136573273_n — Adorable little rice cake queen.

11948065_10153138113012547_923147259_n — We’ve got strawberry, peach, blueberry, kiwi, mango, and mystery jelly!

We walked around a few different malls for the rest of the afternoon. I don’t think I will ever get used to how huge the malls in China are. The last one we ended up at had four floors, but there were basically two of these malls next to each other. Way too many to tackle in one day, so we stuck to a couple of floors. Clothes are more expensive than I thought they were going to be here. I mean, I guess it’s expensive for me, your friendly neighborhood professional thrifter. It’s a little disappointing considering I packed really light in hopes of picking up some things here, but it looks like that will have to wait. I did hear of a popular website for clothes though, called taobao.com. The entire website is in Mandarin, though, of course.

Our late lunch was a meal in one of the many restaurants of this mall, called TJ Tex Mex. I know it’s a little strange to want to eat Mexican while in China, but for some reason, I always crave Chipotle when I’m traveling. It just reminds me of home, and I also know that Mexican is always a safe bet with my allergies. I ordered a Guacamole Bowl, and while it wasn’t Chipotle, it hit the spot and I was very satisfied.

Crystal, Lynn and I at an outdoor food court in one of Tianjin's many shopping plazas. — Crystal, Lynn and I at an outdoor food court in one of Tianjin’s many shopping plazas.

11938057_10153138113367547_233712076_n — Guac Bowl, come to me!

Tianjin and I have gotten along quite well so far. As a bonus, I’m pretty sure I spotted a Mexican restaurant in the mall that was close to our apartment. And, I’m pleased to inform y’all that to this date, I’ve taught three classes! I will share more details about my teaching center, my first few lessons, and the students soon… but to say the least, it’s been great so far.

Here’s to a four day weekend to prep for my lessons to come. Hope you all have a terrific week!

Love from Tianjin ♥

China: Taking on Tianjin

Tianjin bound: August 30

Farewell, Beijing! You will be a quick half hour train-ride from my placement in Tianjin. Now, when I found out I was being placed in Tianjin, I was worried. If you don’t watch the news, Tianjin was where a series of chemical explosions took place earlier this month. How far was I being placed from where the incident occurred? Was the air safe? The food? What is the aftermath//cleanup looking like? I had so many questions and I was really hesitant about living there. After speaking with several teachers who live there, I felt reassured about the location of my placement.

If you know me personally, you know how much I hate when people worry about me. So don’t, pretty please! I’m a good three hours from where the incident occurred. And if anything, Tianjin is probably the safest place in China right now. As it was a fairly recent occurrence, everyone is on their a-game about security and safety. I promise, I am no less safe than being anyplace else in the world right now. C:

We were met at the station by three fellow teachers of MaxEn Tianjin: Aileen, Iris, & Maxwell. I really appreciated that they met us at the station. It can be quite stressful moving about in a country where you don’t know the language. All were very sweet and helpful, as is everyone I’ve met from MaxEn so far, which makes me even more excited to start teaching at their centers. They also got us lovely flowers for the apartment, and Maxwell got us pizza for lunch! I was so happy. I miss Western food. So. Much. But it looks like finding some here in Tianjin won’t be difficult.

11933064_10153136851322547_1135179616_n — Pizza Hut in China! Where they put corn on their pies.

Right off the bat, after hopping in a cab from the train station, I can tell that this city is going to be different from Beijing. I could literally feel the difference, and it’s not just because it hasn’t stopped raining since we’ve arrived in Tianjin, the first rainstorm I’ve had to deal with since I got to China. It’s just so much less crowded here. There’s less people on the road and streets in general. The hustle and bustle of Beijing reminded me a lot of New York City, whereas walking around Tianjin, I don’t feel that anxiety. And I definitely feel a lot more comfortable crossing the streets here. Riding in their taxis… not so much. I think it’s safe to say that taxi and bus drivers across China rule the road.

The director of the center I will be teaching at, Belinda, took us out to dinner at this restaurant in a mall called Joy City, not even a mile from the apartment. You know, I don’t think I will ever stop being impressed by Chinese malls. The couple that I visited in Beijing were so nice, clean, and contemporary. Joy City was another nice mall with an incredible variety of restaurants, from Korean to Italian to Mexican and Mongolian. There were so many options, and it was great. I know where I will be getting many of my meals here.

But a highlight for me at this mall was the fact that there was basically an amusement park/camp/playground/arcade for children inside. I’m talking merry-go-round, rollercoaster, sandbox, arts and crafts… you name it, I’m sure this mall could distract you for hours on end, just on this one floor. Dinner was grand, I’m really happy this mall isn’t too far from the apartment (which itself, after some tidying up is starting to come together), and tomorrow we have a day of sightseeing in Tianjin. I’m very much looking forward to exploring and learning more about where I will be living these next few months!

China: Week One – Let’s Get Down to Business II

BEIJING SIGHTS – AUGUST 26

While in Beijing, we also had a day of sightseeing organized by LoveTEFL. We began the day climbing the Huanghuacheng section of The Great Wall. The Great Wall was originally built by seven different kingdoms. Each section of the wall is built a little differently according to what materials are available in that area. But, the walls were eventually united by The First Emperor of China. It served as a national defense structure of China, where troops burnt wolf dung during the day and bonfires at night to transfer signals.

It is over 5,000 km long, Definitely give yourself a few hours or maybe even most of your day to dedicate to exploring this world wonder. We only had two hours, and I was not prepared for how difficult it was going to be to climb the wall and climb down within that time span. But the view and the breeze makes the trek all worth it. As our tour guide Kathy said:

“You are not a true man unless you climb the wall.”

The Great Wall was followed by a tour of a cloisonné factory. Seeing the amount of detail that is put into the ceramic work is insane. It’s a very tedious process, and I had always wondered how those pieces were made. A lot of teamwork and patience. And some magic, because it really is incredible.

We visited the Ming Tombs, specifically the tomb of the emperor who moved the capital of China from Nanjing to Beijing. He spent 18 years building his tomb, and as a result, it is the largest tomb in the area. I learned that he had 16 concubines, all of whom commit suicide when the emperor dies by hanging themselves, and their bodies are carried from the Forbidden City to the area of the tomb. Ironically, the tomb itself hasn’t even been opened for preservation purposes, yet it is amazing how many visitors the grounds generates. The area of the tombs are really nice, though. Beautiful architecture, and plenty of shade, seats and trees about.

We quickly passed by Tiananmen Square, named for the “Gate of Heavenly Peace” to the North of the square, which is recognized as the entrance to The Forbidden City. The square is one of the largest public squares in the world and is the home to the National Museum of China, several monuments, and the Mausoleum of Chairman Mao Zedong. Zedong led the reconstruction and renovation of the square in the 50s to it’s present glory of being able to hold over half a million people.

We also saw The National Grand Theatre (also known as “The Giant Egg”) where they hold operas, ballets, and concerts. Very briefly we saw the Bird’s Nest (Beijing National Stadium) and the Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Center). Both were built for the 2008 Olympics and will be used again in the 2022 Olympics. It was a relatively busy area, and security was tight. So while it would have been neat to check out the inside of both structures, I understand why security had to keep an eye on the traffic in the area.

We concluded the day with a Chinese acrobatic show. It didn’t tell a story like I was expecting it to, but showcased a variety of acrobatic and stunt acts, from gymnasts, to jugglers, to motorcycle stunt daredevils. My favorite act were the female gymnasts who synchronized a performance on bicycles. For the finale, over a dozen of them managed to balance on one bicycle. Their performance was so graceful and mesmerizing.

I still unreal to me that I’m here in Beijing. The highlight of today was seeing and climbing the Great Wall. I think that was a highlight for all of us, to have been able to visit a Wonder of the World. It really is such an incredible site. It’s been such an amazing day, a nice break from the TEFL training and being cooped up inside for the past couple of days. I’m sad that I’m going to have to leave busy and bustling Beijing so soon, but I am grateful that it is only a half hour journey by train.

China: Week One – Let’s Get Down to Business

AUGUST 22ND – AUGUST 29TH

Phew. Well. Being able to find reliable internet in China? This must be what it’s like to win the lottery!

•••

If I could describe my first week in China, in three words, I would describe it as: overwhelming, dynamic, and different.

This is the first time I’ve ever been to Asia, and the longest period of time I will be away from home. My first couple of days in Beijing, I experienced a bit of culture shock, and homesickness. We are staying at the University of International Business & Economics for our first week of orientation, training, and sightseeing in Beijing, and learning our official placements on Thursday. As an international campus, there are students here from all over the world, living in China to learn Mandarin as part of their programs. It’s a huge campus. As part of our accommodations, we have a meal card to use for every meal, which we can spend as we wish between two cafeterias, two restaurants, a fruit market, convenient store, and two coffee shops.

ORIENTATION + CHINESE CUISINE

Unfortunately, my appetite was basically non-existent upon arrival. Culture shock at it’s best. To even think about the fact that I was actually in Beijing felt really overwhelming. But for the first couple of days, I really made an effort to try at least something different for each meal from the “Canteen,” our cafeteria on campus. Adjusting to having Chinese for every meal (when back home, I eat Chinese once every couple of months) has been really difficult. And I’m not the only one who has been in dire need of variety when it comes to food. A good deal of the group has gotten ill this week handling the culture shock as well, and we have ended up taking multiple necessary trips to the 7-11 down the street from campus.

That being said, we’ve grown tight as a group over the past week and found ourselves little niches of friends who are dealing with the same sort of surprises and frustrations over being in a new place. That and the long, seven-hour or so teacher training sessions we have had this week with LoveTEFL have functioned as a great bonding experience. They have been helpful training days, though. I haven’t looked over my TEFL course material since I was certified last December, so it’s been a great review. And as I stated in an earlier post, I have zero teaching experience, but it seems like the majority of us are in the same boat. Having to prepare and present a couple of lessons for the class has been very good practice, and both of our leaders, Chris and Graham, (both of whom are experienced English teachers as well), have been very supportive and knowledgable.

As an added bonus to our teacher training days, we even had a Mandarin lesson, which I was really excited about! The tones are the hardest for me to distinguish (zh/ch/sh for example, are just slightly different from each other). We learned greetings and phrases (thank you/xiè xie, pronounced “sheh sheh”) and some basic vocabulary, such as the different members of the family. I can’t wait to put some of these phrases into practice. I know Mandarin is one of the hardest languages to learn, because of the different characters, but five months is the perfect amount of time to try and practice and pick up as much as I can.

In total, there are 73 of us by the week’s end (two people I know of have decided to return home). I am one of five Americans, with everyone else being from the UK and a couple from Australia. After spending a week being surrounded by a majority of people from Great Britain, I can see myself leaving China with a British accent. How crazy would that be?

Aside from campus meals, we have enjoyed a handful of eats out at local restaurants, also organized by LoveTEFL or the schools we have had training with before we leave for our prospective cities at week’s end. Whoever said that I wouldn’t survive as a pescatarian with food allergies in China lied. Every place we have eaten at has served us more than enough to eat (and I say “us” as there are at least a dozen vegetarians, or “vegetarians” for this internship). My favorite meal to date has been a Hotpot lunch. I loved being able to cook everything in our own boiling broth pots in the middle of the table. It doesn’t get fresher than that!

A couple nights the group has headed to Helen’s Cafe, which is basically the coolest bar I’ve ever been too. It’s located in such an ideal location too, just a couple blocks from the campus. It’s frequented by backpackers and travelers alike as they serve both Western and traditional Chinese fare. There’s graffiti all over the walls and ceilings, signed by people from all over the world. Bars in Asia > Bars in America.

Placement

I learned that I will be placed in Tianjin, about 30 minutes by speed train from Beijing. I will be working with MaxEn, similar to a Kumon center in Canada and the States. We would be teaching afterschool hours and on the weekends, anyone from the age of 3-17 (but mostly younger children). The center we trained at was very nice. They are a very well resourced program and have everything from computer labs to interactive whiteboards we are able, and encouraged to use for our lessons.

We spent three days with MaxEn Beijing, learning about the different softwares and workbooks with lessons and activities that we had access to. We each came up with our own demo lessons to present to our centers via webcam! I did farm animal sounds. I opened with a game of duck, duck, goose, played a few games using flashcards, and ended my lesson with Old MacDonald. It was a lot of fun and the atmosphere was a lot more relaxed than when we presented lessons during training with LoveTEFL, despite the fact that this time around, we presented individually. I’m really excited to start teaching with MaxEn, although I am very sad to be parting ways from everyone in our group who is still waiting to be placed or staying in Beijing. But, I am excited to meet the teachers of Tianjin who I’ve only been able to contact through WeChat and webcam, and also to experience a different area of China.

Me + Beijing vs. Chicago. And a burrito.

Traveling is never without its hiccups. My 24+ travel-time from Orlando to Beijing was no exception. Troubles began with my layover in Chicago. What was supposed to be a three hour layover turned into a five hour layover due to “airplane maintenance…” but I like to look at it as though they were double, no, triple checking everything to make sure we all landed safely.

It was finally starting to hit me, that the next flight I got on would take me to an entirely different continent, and that I would land at about 3AM Florida-time in Beijing, China.

When I went abroad last summer, what I craved the most was a burrito. There are lots of places to dine and make last minute purchases, but no Moe’s or Chipotle. Surprising, since O’Hare is such a big airport. It looks like my last “American” meal/snack was going to be an Asiago bagel from Starbucks.

I met up with Hannah, a sweet gal from Michigan who was also going on this teaching adventure to China. We had spoken almost everyday since April, sharing our fears and stresses over China. It was so wonderful to finally meet her in person.

Aside from our delay, other hiccups included:

forgetting my toothbrush
breaking the home button on my Ipad case
the lady sitting in the row in front of us rearranging her carry-on that was stowed up above in her compartment, and her socks and underwear falling onto Hannah & I. She didn’t notice, making it all the more awkward. I ended up having to chuck up her delicates, and I did so without her noticing, phew! I mean, we couldn’t say anything because we were laughing so hard.

We had a full flight, and there was very little legroom for thirteen and a half hours. I only wish that we had individual screens where we could choose what to watch. I caught a bit of Far From the Maddening Crowd, Hot Pursuit, and The Longest Ride… and when I say “a bit,” I mean that I couldn’t stay awake through any of the movies they played.

But just like my flight from Orlando to London last summer, the food, drinks, and snacks were plentiful. I love that for both meals, they offered a Westernized dish, as well as a traditional Chinese one. I was very open to trying a Chinese dish, but unfortunately, they didn’t have vegetarian options (ravioli + scrambled eggs for me!)

Out of the thirteen hour flight, I want to say that I slept for half of it, but it was very disruptive. I was, and still am exhausted. Adjusting to the time change has been so fun, fun, fun. I was pleased to learn that after getting picked up at the airport, the rest of our evening was free to rest up.

Getting on the Internet is difficult here, as is adding photos to my blog posts. But the air is clear, it’s currently in the seventies, there is a beautiful breeze, I just finished a basic Mandarin course, and I can’t believe I’m in Beijing!!!

More to come on my first official day in Beijing. But first, I have a group meal at a local restaurant to look forward to in a little bit!

Beijing Bound: ONE WEEK

I am excited to share that one week from today, I will be flying into Beijing!!!

————-•••————

The journey to this day, where I can finally share on my blog that I’m actually leaving, hasn’t been without its obstacles. I didn’t receive my Visa until this past Wednesday, which to me, is cutting it a little close. This is the first time I’ve had to acquire a Visa for traveling, so I’m not sure if the timeline is the same if I was to visit a different country for a prolonged period. Anyways, after I had that in hand, I purchased my travel insurance (also a first for me!) and submitted both these documents to LoveTEFL (more on that in a bit), and received this email yesterday:

it's really happening! — djkaljfkh!!!!!!

Lucky for them, I’ve been packed for almost a month now, aside from some toiletries. I’ve learned that the earlier I start packing, the better. I’ve always been a planner. This trip has been in the works for about a year. I committed to going on August 22nd last summer, and August 22nd this year is when I will land in Beijing. Surreal.

Why Beijing, you ask? Well for one, I’ve never been there before. And if you know me, you know that visiting new places is a favorite hobby of mine. Adventure is out there, and I think we need to take it upon ourselves to try new things, meet new people, and explore spaces and places that are foreign to us, especially if you’re young/able/still trying to figure things out. You learn so much about yourself, other people, and other cultures while traveling, not to mention the memories you’ll make! Traveling always puts me in the happiest state of mind.

After Europe last summer, I looked into going abroad almost immediately after returning home. And that was where I learned about the benefits of teaching abroad. I did a lot of research and decided to complete a TEFL course through LoveTEFL. LoveTEFL is a UK based company who provides accredited TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) courses, as well as teaching internships such as the one I am completing, recruitment for permanent placements, and more. I was certified last December, became a US citizen in January, booked my one-way to Beijing in May (because hey, if the stars align, I’d like to spend as much time abroad as possible), finally booked a return flight home a few days ago at a price I couldn’t pass up, and now here I am: one week until I leave for Beijing, and what looks like will be total of ten months being abroad. I’m still organizing my post-China plans, but I will keep ya posted on those as best as I can.

I liked that LoveTEFL offered an internship option, so I can experience what it would be like to teach English abroad without committing to an entire year. Aside from volunteering at my middle school, I don’t have any experience teaching or commanding my own classroom. But that being said, I really enjoyed the teaching course. Lesson-planning came pretty naturally, and the course itself wasn’t hard, but I know that teaching isn’t for everyone. You have to be patient, organized, disciplined, and basically ready for anything. I know I’m in for a few surprises, but I see this all as part of the adventure that awaits.

I have a feeling this week is going to fly by. See you in seven days, Beijing. ♥

My Best Friend’s Wedding: The Maid of Honor Speech

Dear everyone/anyone/whoever stumbles upon this blog,

On the off-chance that you’re a bridesmaid or maid of honor for an upcoming wedding and you’re looking for some inspiration, look no further. Below you will find my incredibly embarrassing-but-for-all-the-right-reasons-speech I presented for my best friend’s wedding last summer.

If my speech eases your burden of one of the most dreaded wedding party duties in some way (maybe you needed a reference, or what’s more likely, reading my speech has made you ten times more confident about yours because you think mine sucks), please do share!

•••

Good evening everyone.*

For those of you who I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet tonight, I’m Jackie, Kim’s right hand lady. And on behalf of the Bride and Groom, thank you all so, so much for coming out to celebrate their special day.

Now, once upon a time, Kim and I both ended up in Ms. Noel’s 9th grade English Class. And in class, you know, we were assigned some really wonderful, classic texts to read. But in our freetime, we liked to enjoy our own books.

One of the series we got into, which you may have heard of, goes by the name of Twilight. I’m sure some of you are familiar with the story, don’t be ashamed! But for those of you who aren’t – it’s a love story between a girl who falls in love with a guy who ends up being a vampire.

And we loved this series to pieces. We memorized quotes, dreamcasted our own characters for the movies, and when the cast of the film was announced, don’t even get me started. We may have gone to every. single. midnight. premiere. It’s safe to say we were obsessed.

We became one with the characters, the plot line, the passionate and forbidden love between Edward and Bella, forever cheering them on. The only time Alex, Kim and I ever played hooky in high school, we ended up at Target where we bought matching Team Cullen T-shirts. Yup, that was thing. It was ridiculous how crazy we were about the characters in a novel. Looking back, it’s downright embarrassing – but I’m proud to say it was all just a phase. As obsessed as we were with this series, we couldn’t help but wonder about our “Edwards.” Kim got so depressed after reading the second book that she died her hair black as an act of mourning!

She was so worried that no one would love her the way Edward loved Bella and she’d end up much like Jane Austen who we learned about when we were assigned to read Pride and Prejudice for class. But as her best friend, I knew she was being silly. She’s beautiful, talented in so many ways, and has one of the biggest hearts out there. All the guys we went to high school with – they just really sucked (no offense to Henrique). They just didn’t stand a chance to our Edward Expectations.

Enter David. You should be really proud of yourself, sir, for sweeping Kim off her feet. But it’s not like you had to try so hard since you’re just so naturally dashing, charming, and most of all, have such heartfelt affection for Kim. You two are truly meant to be.

I only wish you guys the most dazzling future – an eternity of happiness, love, and adventure – strength to overcome whatever hurdles test your relationship, and everlasting joy in each other’s company. I adore you two. Here’s to Kim and David’s Happy Ever After ~

*Disclaimer: I have never been comfortable about public speaking. Of all the duties being a maid of honor requires you to fulfill, I was dreading completing this one the most. The struggle was REAL. But I did it. It happened. I know I talked way too fast because I was so nervous and just wanted to get it over with. And then I burst into tears afterwards. And that was that. So if you’re nervous, from one incredibly anxious public speaker to another: you. can. do. this!!!

POW! is right. Despite my nerves and feels, I think I did a pretty decent job. Anything for this gal. ♥

I’m a very lucky girl.

My parents celebrate 24 wonderful years of marriage today. Congratulations you two crazy kids! This post is for you. It expresses a smidgen of how much you guys inspire, motivate and have taught me about support, teamwork, love, and hard-work. I’m lucky to be your daughter. I adore y’all, so much. ♥

•••

Dearest Mother & Father,

You two have always been my biggest fans. Through every little victory of mine (like, everytime I finish a meal that weighs more than me), and every major milestone (such as graduating from college), you two have been there, and I am so fortunate to constantly have your support. I don’t think I could put into words how grateful I am for both of you. You taught me discipline, the value of a penny, and the importance of having a goal and working towards it. Despite the fact that my sisters and I grew up without having a so-called “allowance,” we were never without anything we needed. You guys always made sure of that.

But it was because I was raised without an allowance that I knew I wanted to be able to earn and pay for things myself without having to go to you guys. You’ve always provided me with anything I could ever need, and you both work so hard. So from my thirteenth birthday and every Christmas for those next few years, I saved money I had been given, giving it to father to put towards what I called “My Retirement Fund. To be thirteen and saving for retirement… yep, I’m definitely y’alls daughter.

You two have always stressed the importance of school from when I was very young. In high school, I became aware of how important grades were for scholarships and getting into college. I’d always been a good student (I like to think), but I made sure to work extra hard in high school, completing the IB program and receiving both my high school and IB diploma come graduation. All that hard work paid off. I got into a beautiful school with a great art program located in the ever-so-lovely St Augustine. Fortunately, I also received a generous amount of financial aid between the school, Bright Futures, and private donors. Again, getting into college and receiving the financial aid I did would have been more difficult to accomplish had I not had you two behind me, cheering me on and encouraging me to put 110% into everything I do.

I worked through college, holding a few different part-time jobs. Like you two, I like to stay busy. While not completely aware as to how student loans worked as a college Freshman, I knew what interest was and that it was not in my favor when it came to student loans. So, I started to pay off a bit of my loans with each paycheck, also budgeting for rent, books, art supplies and other necessities.

I am very proud of the fact that I never asked you guys for money towards school. Although, I knew that if I ever needed some extra funds, you wouldn’t hesitate to send me some. But that just made me want to work even harder to be able to support myself. You guys raised an incredibly independent daughter (arguably a little too independent). Although I have to say that I was always thankful for your visits during my college years when you would bring me groceries. Freshman Year, you told me that if I kept up my grades throughout school, you would pay what was left of my student loans upon graduation as my graduation present. I had forgotten this until you announced it as my graduation party *cue tears* in front of everybody.

Being the kind of driven student and person that you raised me to be, I am proud to say that I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree debt-free. Not too many graduates can say that. Money I would have spent paying off that last chunk of loans I instead put towards my month-long European trip post-graduation (another thing I had been slowly saving for for ages). I would not have had the same great experience on that trip without your support.

Even when it does get tough and you’re living that broke college student life where you’ve been living off nothing but pasta for weeks… we’ve all gone through, or are currently experiencing those tight times. But even when you feel like you’re at your low, things can only go up from there, especially with support behind you. Thank you mother and father, for pushing me to work hard, because hard work really does pay off. I learned that emulating the strong work ethic of both of you. I know better than to let anyone tell me otherwise.

I owe everything to you two for helping me see the silver lining through anything life has or will throw at me. Thank you guys. Love your favorite eldest daughter, Aiko. ♥

Rome // 07.10.14 — 07.12.14

Hey now, hey now Roma!

It was a little more than hour train ride from Florence to Rome. Going through the countryside was beautiful. Fields upon fields of sunflowers to look at! ♥ How I wish we could have stopped to run through them! Incredibly, our first day in Rome marked a halfway point for our trip. So unbelievable.

Our train station in Rome was in Termini. That area of Rome has a bad rep, so just have a heightened awareness of your things and your surroundings if you need to go through there to get to your hotel, like we had to. Some kid attempted pick-pocketing my friend as we made our way from the train station to the hotel. Despite the fact that all that was in that pocket was a Maxi-pad, that was not quite the welcome we were expecting shortly after arriving.

After that little incident, I’m sad that I have to report that our hotel was disappointing as well. Only one room ready, and we ended up being put on completely different floors! The one redeeming quality of our room was that we had our own balcony overlooking Rome’s rooftops. But to be honest, between the pickpocketing incident and having to sleep three floors apart from each other, we just didn’t feel safe there.

SIGHTS

Both the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain were undergoing construction when we went to visit. All I wanted was to have a Lizzie McGuire moment throwing a coin into the fountain and making a wish, but it wasn’t meant to be. Another disappointment.
Looking up from those sights, The Pantheon was glorious. Seeing that dome and actually being rained on through the oculus as a choir sang (no, really, the timing was impeccable) made up for the sights we had seen (or barely seen) thus far.
Take the Metro in Rome! €1.50 Euro every one-way is definitely worth it. Especially if you’re an hour’s walk from the Vatican, which is also a must-see while you’re in Rome. We spent a little under 5 hours in the Vatican museums, and a head’s up: five hours is not enough to explore those grounds.
- I was expecting to see mostly art from the Ancient Period (which I definitely did), but I was delighted to learn that the galleries housed a contemporary art collection, with Van Gogh and Fontana pieces. Something from every time period, so something for everyone to enjoy.
- My favorite gallery had to the be the Galleria della carta geografiche, or the Gallery of Maps. This room featured amazing handpainted frescoes of maps that just covered the ceilings and walls. They were all maps of Italy, and the details of the landscapes were so gorgeous.
- It was unbelievable to be in the Sistine Chapel. I spent a good half hour just admiring the figures, colors, and taking in the different stories different areas of the frescoes told. A priest gave a blessing while I was in the chapel, which was very special.
  Featuring a part of the Colosseum that was not under construction.
  
  The world’s largest dome.
  
  Favorite gallery at the Vatican.
St Peter’s Basilica was incredible. Such a huge, huge space. Next time, going up to the Dome is on the list. Also, side note: the postcards there were some of the most affordable I’ve found in Rome!
There is an unassuming church in Rome worth visiting, called the Santa Maria della Vittoria. My favorite aspect of this church was it’s ceiling. It was the first thing I noticed walking in. The colors were so dreamy, and the details were mesmerizing. Don’t forget to look up after stepping foot in this church. I think a lot of people tend to take in what’s at eye’s length, but whenever I explore new places, my instinct is to look up… #petitegirlprobs
- You never would have guessed it just passing the outside, but it is also the home of Bernini’s the “Ecstasy of St Teresa” (and what puts this church on the map for visitors to Rome). Bernini had a way of capturing expressions and body language to create a sense of drama through his sculptures. I saw this piece first on a slide in class, and then in person… boy, was I lucky.
Less than a mile from Santa Maria della Vittoria is the Borghese Villa, which was owned by the Borghese family. They were avid patrons of artists, and the villa is now a gallery featuring works of Bernini, Raphael, Caravaggio and the like. We did not get to visit the museum, as they were sold out for the day (I can’t stress enough how purchasing your tickets for as many sights and museums as you can in advance will save you a lot of trouble later!!!)
- Despite the fact that we didn’t get to visit the gallery, we spent a lot of time exploring the grounds and gardens of Borghese. It was a lovely area with a huge park that included a zoo! They even had bikes to rent. Strolling that area was really nice. The amount of greenery took me back to London’s urban spaces.
The Spanish Steps are worth seeing, despite the fact that all there is to them is that it’s a set of steps. But, the Steps are the widest stairways in all of Europe, a very popular spot for both tourists and locals. There were quite a few artists and vendors at the top of the stairs selling their goods. Down below in the Spanish Plaza, we recognized some familiar brands: H&M, Foot Locker, Vans… it felt a lot like the Premium Outlets we have here in Orlando. It was a very busy, very nice area.
- The Spanish Steps are actually very close in proximity to both the Trevi Fountain and The Pantheon. The street you want to remember to visit all three is Via del Corso. All three can be found right off this main street. There are even signs!
  Golden hour at Saint Peter’s Basilica.
  
  Looking up at Santa Maria della Vittoria. These colors, ahhh.
  
  Artists at the top of the Spanish Steps.

Food

Rome disappointed me in a few ways, and one of those ways was in their gelato. Maybe we just didn’t look in the right places, but I found myself really missing the gelato in Florence.
If you’re looking for a treat while at the Vatican, they serve a variety of pastries in their little cafe. I picked up a mini mixed berry pie to-go that I enjoyed at Saint Peter’s.
There was a bar right outside the train station in Termini that served calzones, sandwiches, and other authentic Italian fare for under €4. The area is rough, but they’ve got some cheap eats. I ate a cheese calzone and a couple of rice-filled balls called “suppli” from this eatery, and everything was delicious.
For our last Italian supper, we treated ourselves to dinner at a bar called Cafe Luna D’Oro, which was not too far from the Spanish Steps. Our waitress was so incredibly nice. Despite there being a bit of a language barrier, she was very accommodating to my food allergies. I had a plateful of gnocchi, and I have absolutely no regrets about that meal… except for the part where we tried Limoncello. Let’s just say that I was not a fan. I felt like I was drinking Lemon scented Clorox wipes in liquid form, but that’s me. Limoncello is not for weak, as are my tastebuds, apparently.
Cafe Luna D’ Oro.

My last treat in Italy was a cannoli. It was wonderful. I enjoyed it watching the sunset from our balcony. A sweet ending for our Roman adventure that had the most unexpected twists and turns out of all the cities we had visited so far. I remember feeling so incredibly excited to be in France the following day. Our of the three countries on our itinerary, I was looking forward to visiting France the most. Nice bound tomorrow!!!

10533698_10152181480447547_5947273536700950941_n — Ciao Roma! Arrivederci Italia!

Florence // 07.08.14 — 07.09.14

•••

I remember we all slept through our alarms the morning we left Venice for Florence. But somehow, we managed to make it to the train station in 40 minutes (which doesn’t sound like much, especially considering Google Maps said it was a 10 minute walk, BUT it was our most efficient trek through the Venetian jungle since we’d been there, so we were pretty proud of ourselves).

None of us were too experienced with riding trains, so it was in Venice where we learned that departures were listed by their final stop, and that we were in the right train station after all. The ride was very smooth. We had assigned seats and sat in two pairs facing each other, with a table between us. T-minus about two hours until we arrive in Florence!

CIAO FIRENZE!

My goodness was Florence different from Venice. You know how when you leave New York, everywhere else just seems to be going at a much more relaxed pace and your anxiety levels are no longer off the charts? Right off the bat in Venice, we were greeted with what felt like so much space and open air. It also only took us 10 minutes to find our hotel, not ninety, if that says anything about how easy getting from Point A to Point B will feel compared to Venice.

It was in Florence where we got the real hostel experience, staying at a really neat place called Hostel Archi Rossi. There is both hot and cold water readily available in the lobby, as well as access to a fridge, microwave, laundry facilities, and computers. I should mention that the previous two places we stayed at in London and Venice did not offer any of these amenities. Best of all, our hostel has a cafeteria, and all three of us were immensely excited for the continental breakfast this place offered!!!

I really enjoyed staying here because even though we were only in Florence for a couple days, there’s a certain sense of community this hostel gave us. Almost all of our fellow guests were youngins, the walls were covered in really fun murals and bright colors, and it felt very much like dorm-lyfe in college, except that we were in Italy. And that we had a huge room to ourselves (we lucked out and the four of us ended up sharing a room meant for 8 people). This hostel also offered a free walking tour, which was the first thing we took advantage of after checking in.

FOOD

Of course, one of the first things that was asked while we were on the walking tour was “where is the best gelato in town?” Easily the best gelato in Florence, and of the entire trip (I think), was at a place called “Gelateria Santa Trinita.” I think we had gelato there three times our first day in Florence. It was both a blessing and curse for this place to be within walking distance of our hostel. The girls and I ate more gelato than anything else in Florence (I mean, when in Italy…) This place is an absolute must if you have a sweet tooth!
Now if you need something other than dessert to sustain you, we adored our dining experience at a little place called Cucciolo, a little off the Piazza del Duomo. It had the best price in town for the quality of food, and the size of the pizza I had was more than enough! The gentleman who I believed owned the restaurant, was also very sweet. As soon as he saw us walk in, he immediately cleared off the counter and waved us in to sit. We just felt so welcome there. SIGHTS

The Ponte Vecchio: the walking tour was great. It gave us a good sense of where things were in the city, and we learned a lot. My favorite tidbit was how the Ponte Vecchio, one of the most, if not the most iconic bridge of Florence was originally occupied by butchers. I never would have guessed that, considering there were mostly jewelry shops bustling with shoppers the first time we walked that bridge. I also never would have guessed there was a secret passage above all of these shops built by the Medici family, just so that they could efficiently get from their home, the Palazzo Pitti, to Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall.
We saw the Santa Maria Novella!!! I wrote a final paper on the façade of this stunning structure and Leon Battista Alberti’s work on it for a class in college. I was literally shaking as we came upon the plaza. Being in Europe felt like one big dream, to be honest. I kept having to remind myself that I was really there. It’s one thing to learn about things in school and see them in textbooks… but to be able to see things in person… indescribable.

Despite the fact that we waited an hour in line for the Uffitzi Gallery, it was worth it. You definitely want to try and get there early. But time flew swiftly as the courtyard next to the gallery entrance had tons of local artists selling their goods and skills. There was lots to look at. In the gallery, we spent three hours looking at pieces by all the major Renaissance and Baroque artists (Bernini, Caravaggio, Da Vinci, Cimabue) and three hours was not enough!
A must see in Florence is the Duomo. You can climb to the top, which we didn’t get to do, and looking back, I wish we had. We strolled through the cathedral though, and while I didn’t love the interior as much as I was impressed by the exterior (aside from the marble details on the floors), I remember enjoying it a lot more than San Marco. The main difference in architecture between Venice and Florence is evident when comparing their churches. The green and white marble exteriors of the Duomo and SMN are very distinctive.
Caravaggio, anyone?
When in Florence, visit the Bronze Boar or “Little Pig” located at the “Little Pig Market,” where our tour-guide suggested we do most of our souvenir shopping. The myth of the Bronze Boar as told by our tour-guide was this: rub the nose of the boar, and you will return to Florence. Visitors upon visitors participate in the bronze boar tradition, so instead of dealing with the daily crowd, we took it upon ourselves to go on a little evening adventure to find the boar, which we did!
- We returned during the day, though, to visit the Little Pig Market, and it was really neat. There were plenty of goods to look at, from coin purses, to bookmarks, to stationery. It was quite the bustling little area. I think all four of us left the market with a souvenir or two in hand.
Before stopping by the “Little Pig Market,” I recommend that you walk along a sidestreet called Via Faenza, which was not too far from our hostel. Despite the fact that our tour-guide recommended the “Little Pig Market” to pick up souvenirs, we wandered down this street afterwards and found a shop that was selling souvenirs for a much better price (ex: 7 postcards for 1 Euro, the best deal I’d seen our entire trip). I didn’t write down the name of the shop, but a little old lady was running it, and she was a little bit sassy towards us (although we did arrive around closing time/her dinner time).
Our last day, we took a trek to Piazzale Michelangelo. While it was a bit of a workout going up a hill, the view was more than worth it. There was a lovely garden called Giardino della rose about halfway up that featured a handful of bronze sculptures throughout. And then at the very, very top: a panoramic view of the city, which was breathtaking. Oh, and a copy of David was up there too, but when you’re surrounded by that view…

That hike marked our final outing in Florence. I definitely enjoyed our stay here moreso than Venice. Coming off the walking tour, I was surprised at how small Florence was. It makes a lot of sense at to why visitors take trains to nearby cities such as Sienna or Pisa while they are in the area. I would absolutely return to Florence, if only for some gelato. I mean, I rubbed the nose of the boar, so I know things will fall into place for me to visit again. ♥