These are the steps of the Basilica di Santa Croce. By day they are a constant tourist attraction. However, by night the steps are crowed with Italian youth. It’s the hang out place. A few shops along the way sell beer, and even open/proved cups for your purchase. Instead of going to the bars, a lot of people come here, at least when the weather is nice.

In the last four weeks I actually got to settle down into my apartment, meet my roommates, and start classes. It was also at this point where I actually started experiencing life as a resident, and not just a tourist, though I’m sure a lot of locals still think that I am a tourist. I opted not to take the three weeks Italian intensive language course, though I took a brief intro class a few months before I left. I’ll be blunt; my Italian is “molto male” (very bad).  At first I simply tried to get through the market/my day with saying as little, or nothing if possible. However, I have come to realize that the Italians are so happy when you at least attempt. It is through my daily interactions that I am slowly learning their language.

I am currently in the Fashion Certificate Program here at SAI/FUA, and honestly I had never even touched a sewing machine before I arrived. I never doubted the fact that the machines were/are a work of art in themselves, but to see and be thought inner workings is very fascinating. Here my teacher opens the over lock machine to re-thread a needle.

The very first day I touched a sewing machine I was not allowed to work on fabric, however, we were given paper lines to trace.

There is a little shop named DiVino down the street from me, where I take empty wine bottles and have them refilled at a very low coast. The wineries in Italy are only allowed to bottle a set quantity, and whatever is left over is sold to shops like DiVino. The woman who owns the shop is very sweet, and has clippings of Johnny Depp all over one of the walls. Her English is minimal, but much better than my Italian. Since she is someone I see weekly I try to engage in some kind of conversation to establish a relationship. I do not want to spend my time here never getting to know the people who really make up Florence.

Finally vino (well, vini). These are the bottles that I repeatedly take to DiVino to have refilled. She also provides bottles at a low price if you do not have one. The tag sports her logo, and on the other side she hand write the nice of your wine of choice.

The other week when I went visit the shop, there was a missing cat flier taped to the counter. I am a cat person so I immediately asked if it was hers. “Non…Mi amica” (her female friend) she responded. I took out my credit card, which sports an image of my cat, and showed her it. “Il mio gatto” (my cat).  She replied; “Your cat? Benissimo!” (wonderful). I than further tried to tell her his name, Holmes, after Sherlock Holmes. “Chiama Holmes” (He’s called Holmes). She gestured a house with her hands “Casa?”.  “No, not home…..Holmes” and I exaggerated the “L” sound. She understood very quickly, “Ahh….Holmes”. Once again she gestured with her hands this time making an “L”. “Si. Sherlock Holmes”, which only confused her. This is where I often get stuck with people and my Italian. I couldn’t think of a way to say he was named after this well known figure. Further more, I wasn’t even sure if Sherlock Holmes is/was prominent in Italy. I said what I could in Italian, “Molti libri di Sherlock Holmes” (many books of Sherlock Holmes) “L’uomo di investigazione, Sherlock Holmes” (man of investigation Sherlock Holmes). I had to pull out my English to Italian dictionary for investigation. She was still looking at me like I was crazy. Knowing that she watches American movies via her infatuation with Johnny Depp, I asked, “Do you like Robert Downy Jr?” She nodded her head with excitement, and put her hands on her heart. I continued, “Robert Downy Jr played Sherlock Holmes with Jude Law”. She got it, “OH! SI! SI! Sherlock Holmes! Oh, your cat Sherlock Holmes. Gatto di investiazione!”. Regardless that the conversation I had was over my cat’s name and Robert Downy Jr., I walk sway very happy that there was an actual understanding between us. It was an actual conversation. The following week when I returned to her shop she told me that the missing cat had returned home. We both smiled.

This was in a window display that I passed on my walk home. Having a degree in Illustration I stopped to examine it closer. The packaging, marketing, and illustrations are fabulous, and worth recognition. I am unsure of the artist.

Finally vino (well, vini). These are the bottles that I repeatedly take to DiVino to have refilled. She also provides bottles at a low price if you do not have one. The tag sports her logo, and on the other side she hand write the nice of your wine of choice.

AperiTivo is something that I didn’t learn about until my roommates explained it to me. For 5-9 Euros (usually) you’re allowed to eat from a buffet of house-cooked food and an alcoholic (or non alcoholic beverage) of your choice. It’s nice since most plates at any restaurant have the same price tag. All the places I have been for AperiTivo have been wonderful!

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Kelly is a student at Carroll University studying at Florence University of the Arts during the Fall 2013 term.