Week One was Interesting

Now that I am going back to retrace my steps a bit, I'll start out by talking about when I first got here. After a long plane trip from Oklahoma City to Washington D.C. and then to Rome, I was beyond exhausted when we landed in Italy.  With emotions running high I think I only slept about 30 minutes the whole eight hours in flight to Rome.  When we arrived (I was fortunate enough for my supervisor in Norman to accompany me and get me settled) it was hours before we got to Arezzo.  I'll spare all the details, but the waiting, the shuttle, and then the train were quiet the experience, especially on little to no sleep. You can see me privately if you want to hear the specifics on that story.  I will say, though, that I was mesmerized when I looked out the window and saw the Colosseum on the way to the train station.  I couldn't believe I was in Italy! It was an intense moment and that's when it got real for me.  I can't wait to go back to Rome for a vist!

When we finally got to Arezzo my supervisor here in Arezzo met us and took me to my apartment.  It was so amazing and I was so excited!  I still love it, too.  I'll put pictures up at some point.  Sometimes it makes me laugh that I don't have a base for my shower and I am only able to cook in a toaster oven and on two gas burners, but having a terrace, plenty of storage space, my own little private area on the top floor, and air conditioning definitely makes up for the Italian idiosyncrasies that Americans may see as inconvenient. I am very happy with my apartment and where I live.  I am about a 10 minute walking distance from the OUA Center and right across from the train station, so I am kind of in the middle and it couldn't be a better location.  

After arriving and getting in touch with my loved ones in the States we had a great dinner that night and I had my first real Italian Pizza (without cheese).  I am not a cheese fan and that still boggles the minds of several Italians I interact with.  The only cheese I've tried so far that I do like is the mozzarella they use here.  It tastes different and I can handle it, although I'll get no cheese if I can.  Throughout the next few days I visited all the student apartments to learn about the specifics, toured the town a bit, worked on paperwork, recovered from a case of strep throat (yes), met the students and helped them get acclimated with an orientation session, and classes began for them.  It took me a couple weeks to get in a routine and follow an office-hours schedule.  It also took me a while to get adjusted and to transition, but I finally feel settled and the feelings of being overwhelmed at times have deceased, which is why it was high time to start this blog.  Not to say I will never get homesick again, but I am feeling really great about my experience here and I am happy to be here.