Getting Settled

I finally arrived in Florence on Thursday, May 26th after two flights from Miami – Zurich, Switzerland then Zurich – Florence. I am glad to finally be out of the hustle and bustle of the airports. My flights were smooth and I sat next to decently normal individuals without having to deal with a stinky European anywhere near me. Win.

When I arrived in Florence, I shared a taxi to our housing check-in meeting point at Via del Giglio 4 with a girl I met on my plane that was taking classes at my college, Lorenzo de Medici. I got a brief introduction from a woman with broken English about where I was to go, how to use the key that looks like it is from the medieval times, and the rules about housing. Luckily, with my rolling duffel suitcase, small carry on bag, and backpack, I only had to walk down the block to find my apartment building.

I walked into the main door of my building to find three sets of stairs to reach the my door. *Side note: in Italy, second floor means third floor as it goes Level 0, Level 1, Level 2, etc.* After lugging my huge (but surprisingly not too heavy) bags up the sets of stairs, I found myself sweaty, tired, and frustrated. The directions of “Second floor, first door on your right, first room on your left” were completely backwards. My apartment is located inside of yet another sub-door, with 4 apartments inside of that one. On the verge of tears from being exhausted and irritable, I tried the key in Apartment A with success! Once I turned the key what felt like 17 times to unlock the 4 bolts in our door, I opened my eyes to find a beautiful newly renovated, clean flat! The kitchen has all red appliances, equipped with a gas stove and drying cabinet above the sink for the dishes, a small oven, refrigerator with small freezer, and the smallest washing machine known to man.

Our Precious Ikea Kitchen!

Our living room has one large, comfy, brown sofa with an ottoman, small table and a 15” TV with one English speaking channel – the history of Tuscany. The bathroom is just as great with a tiny shower you can touch both elbows to the doors if you stand in the middle and hold your arms by palms facing each other extending your elbows out to the side. (Needless to say, it sounds like there is a fight going on in the bathroom when one of us is showering if we aren’t careful.)

Our Living Room

My bedroom is a single with the shortest twin bed I’ve ever seen – think Napoleon size with the lowered level for a training bed – but it is just fine. I stripped the sheets and loaded the mattress with so much bed bug spray that the mattress was damp thanks to Jillian’s advice and slight paranoia. I have a desk, armoir, three small shelves above my bed, and a faux-window. What is a faux-window you may be asking? See below for yourself. It is a chimney type chute with a small window at the top on the side to allow air to pass through. The window on my end can be opened or closed with a humorous mural painted inside of it for my viewing pleasure. Italians.

My Bed Room

My Faux-Window

My roommates, Alyssa and Emily, are from New York and have a double. Their room is just as cute as mine with two of the Napoleon twins, two closets, a real window and two desks.

Although our Internet signal blows, we have managed to suffice. You can often find us sitting on the couch with our computers on our knees hoisted in the air to attempt at a better signal. Luckily enough, Jillian’s brother JP is now living in Florence and was able to show me around to the Vodafone store to get my international (nokia brick) cell phone, show me where the markets were and helped me pick up a few groceries. Once Alyssa and Emily arrived, we unpacked and headed out to our first dinner together at a small restaurant on Via Nazionale fairly close to our place. Then, I slept.