I am here in Firenze!

Hello to all! I am here in Florence, day number two! I arrived yesterday around 3 in the afternoon, after a 5 hour layover in Switzerland and a short flight into Florence. I met two roommates of mine in the airport in Switzerland so we were able to get really excited together before boarding our flight. When the plane landed we all shreaked in excitement, it was a beautiful warm day with big puffy white clouds and the sun shinning!

When we got into the airport, we collected the millions of pounds of luggage that all of us girls traveled with and went outside to board the bus. There wasn't enough room for all the students, so four of us got into a little VW van taxi and drove to the SAI (Study Abroad Italy) office to get keys and check in. We also recieved our cell phones, so feel free to call and say hi every once in a while, i would love it!

After check in, we loaded our luggage into another taxi and went to the apartment. It is sooo cute! And really big, actually. (Pictures to follow in another blog, i havn't taken any yet) There are two bathrooms, instead of the one we thought we had, and there are three showers total, so that was a relief! My roommate is really nice, and we were able to set up the room pretty easily with no issues on space for clothes and shoes, so that was nice.

After we got setled, we had to fill out paperwork for out residency permits, which was challenging because they were written in Italian! But we managed!

Dinner was a bit of an excursion because by this time it was dark, and we really didn't pay much attention while in the taxi. We found a little pizzeria around the corner from our house and ate there. It was very yummy!

Today was the first day of orientation. I woke up this morning feeling pretty refreshed as I had slept almost 12 hours! :) We all got dressed and ventured out to find the supermarcado. (Store) We only had one roll of toilet paper, so we needed to get the basics. I bought some produce and risotto so that I would have some things to eat at the house. The market was amazing, tons of fresh food everywhere, and massive amounts of meats and cheeses. (Pictures to follow as well!)

Now I am just relaxing a little, I am going to Venice this weekend with my roommate and her father to check out the city. I am pretty excited! Tomorrow we have another orientation where we pay our school fees and get supplies. I heard word that we are getting new chef coats, and new knives! I am very excited for that!!

Keep me in your prayers as I continue to find my way around the city!! I don't have Internet in the house yet, so I will try and get on the computer again soon. Love you all! Ciao Bella

Italy update- two days and counting!

Hey there to all my wonderful friends and family! The time has come, I am leaving in two days to begin my travels in Europe until June. I will be in touch in a few different ways, facebook, this blog of course, and I will also have a phone that I can be reached on, its free for me for you to call, but it will cost you, so check with your phone company before you call so that you don't freak when the bill comes. I also can get mail the old fashion way, which will be really fun for me! It is not recommended that you send packages because they can be held in customs and also cost me a fortune to pick up. My email address is sprout1213@gmail.com, so feel free to write and I will respond for sure!! love you all so much!!!

Ciao Bella, Carlyn


phone number- 011 39 335 714 6783
you have to dial all these numbers in order for it to work!


address-
Carlyn Whitaker
Apicius International School of Hospitality
Via Guelfa 85
50129 Firenze, Italia

More at the Block

Pictured above- The menu item titles Land Sea and Air Mixed Grill. Wild boar sausage, quail and shrimp served with asparagus. Pictured below, a terrine, which was made with beef tongue, among other ingredients, but I peeled the skin off that tongue! So Fun!

Wow, what an experience I was able to have this week here in Winchester, VA. I spent a total of three shifts at the restaurant and I really enjoyed myself. I was able to cook entrees, prep for lunch and dinner menu items, talk with both front of the house staff and kitchen staff, learn from the sous chefs and the executive chef/owner, and watch with wide eyes at the magic that comes from this kitchen. Thank you to all of the staff for your help, and thanks to Chef Ed of One Block West, I am truly grateful for your patience with me and the opportunity you allowed me to have. I will send postcards from Europe and certainly be back through in May before I return home to California. Maybe I will work another shift with you!

ONE BLOCK WEST

We just had a delicious meal at a restaurant called One Block West. This place changes their menu daily according to what the freshest ingredients are available in the area. It was so good, I had a roasted duck breast with a cranberry risotto and for dessert, pictured above, was a take on bananas foster with pineapples. It was very yummy!

Bye Bye Baby

I made in to the first stop in my four month adventure. I just landed in Virginia from a 5 hour red eye flight. My aunt and uncle, Bryan, Trevor, Nick and Ms. Ruth came with me to the airport and we had a yummy mexican meal. I only cried for two seconds when Ruth asked if she could go on the airplane with me! She was so sweet. I will miss all of you sooooo much, but I will keep everyone updated as much as possible!

New Years!!!!

Molly and I through a New Years party to celebrate the end of 2008 and the New Year of 2009. It was lots of fun, lots of crazy, and lots and lots of mess the next day!! But all worth the work! Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season and may all your 2009 wishes come true! Two more weeks till I leave for school!!



Ariel, Caitlin and Jamie


Molly and I- The Hosts


Thanks to Jon Saad! I cleaned champagne off the ceiling an walls!