only 5 weeks left...

everything around here has been pretty low key since spring break, which is exactly what i needed! after a fabulous week of non stop traveling, it is nice to be back "home" and catch up on sleep and school work while making time to bask in the beautiful spring time weather. the only down side to the arrival of spring is the number of tourists who have taken over florence to also experience this wonderful time of year. i was talking with a couple of locals the other day and they joked that between april and september they "forget what native italians even look like". the tourists really do just flock to the city and fill every inch of the piazzas with their obnoxious yelling and double decker tour busses. my roommates and i had no idea that florence streets were even big enough to allow for those kinds of busses! i know that i sound snobby referring to others as tourists when, in actuality, i too am a tourist in some ways-- but i try to blend into the local scene as much as possible.

everyones parents have been visiting for the past week which makes me feel a little homesick sometimes, but the upside is that i have had a wonderful meal almost every night! its fun to go out to dinner and meet parents because you are able to see why your friends act the way they do. 

school continues to go really well. history of christianity is still my favorite class! my professor is such a wonderful person and a fabulous teacher. i finished the book 'under the banner of heaven' that i was required to read as research for my paper and wow--what an interesting book. i would recommend it to anyone!

the girls and i will be spending easter weekend in florence. we are really excited because weve heard that the city has some fabulous festivities to celebrate the holiday. we are going to cook a big easter dinner on sunday night and spend monday having a picnic at one of the local parks. on the monday following easter, the entire city is pretty much closed and its a tradition to spend the entire day outside! hopefully we can even get a little tan!!

it should be a fun weekend and i will make sure to post pictures sometime next week.

lovelovelove