..and, post-fall-break begins

Being back this week has been a whirlwind of events. I was so happy to see everyone when I came home on Sunday, which was spent shopping/eating/going to the grocery with Laura, followed by "homemade" Napoli pizza with Laura and Grace, an obligatory facet of Laura and I's diet here (capers, anchovies, and oregano on margharita pizza). Then on Monday, Sahel and I planned an impromptu halloween party, at which only Sahel and I dressed up (not counting David wearing the mouse ears I gave him). Hannah and Sam also came over and we watched Insidious and No Strings Attached, a movie selection that suits us well.

I was a superhero!

Then on Tuesday was, of course, Election Day! On campus they were screening CNN's coverage of the election, so I decided to stay over. Me, David and Sahel, along with about 30 others, stayed up all night, watching the intricate and overdone coverage of the election. David and I played a stellar drinking game– 1 second of wine every 20 electorals for Obama, 2 sips every 20 electorals for Romney– and then we of course celebrated Obama's victory. Needless to say I was barely conscious all day on Wednesday, as I was running off of a 1.5 hour nap on a couch on campus.

yay Obama!

On Friday, there was an event in Florence called "Occupazione". I'm still not sure exactly what it is, but it has something to do with protesting school by doing a cultural event instead (ironic that we don't have class on Friday, and yet went to school to protest school). Every Italian teacher was assigned different activities for their classes, and my teacher's project for her 3 classes was performing for an elementary school class and teaching them about American Halloween. So, all semester we've been practicing Halloween songs and a skit to perform for them. Honestly, it's been the most bizarre thing I've done here, and I was dreading it. But it ended up being the most fun. The kids enjoyed the songs so much, and they were the cutest. It really made me miss being around kids all the time.

On Saturday, Hannah, David, Laura and I, struggles excluded, made it to Siena for a day trip. We had all gone out together the night before, so everyone woke up late, but by some miracle we all made it to the train station for a 9:10 train.

Siena!

None of us were quite sure what to do in Siena, we had just heard it was a beautiful and really small Tuscan town that was a must see. Then the night before, we heard rumor of hot springs in Siena, so naturally we wanted to go. So, when we got there we got sandwiches from a deli that supplies the majority of the restaurants in Siena (so says Frommers). And then, we went off in search of the hot springs. And so began the most ridiculous journey ever...

Hannah suggested we ask for the "Acquecaldo" (hot water, in Italian). So, asking around, we were pointed in the direction of the #10 bus and to get off at the last stop. Mind you, none of us had done any internet research so we were going blind. We got on the bus and David asked the bus driver where to get off, and she told him when. So, following our directions dutifully, we got off the bus and saw signs pointing to the "aquecaldo," and walked for a stretch towards a big building with a rugby field and a track next to it. We went inside the building, which clearly held a pool, and excitedly went up to the front desk, thinking we had found the promised hot springs.

David: Is this where the pool is?
Front Desk Lady: Yes.
Hannah: How much is it?
Front Desk Lady: It's 5.20, and you can stay until 4pm.
Hannah: Only 5.20? That's so cheap.
Front Desk Lady: Okay, all of you?
David: Yep
Front Desk Lady: There are a few open lanes for swimming, and you have to wear swim caps. Did you bring your own?
Chloe: No.. what if we just want to sit in the hot pool?
Front Desk Lady: Uhm.. yes, you still need them, I might have some extras..
David: Wait, is this the natural hot springs?
Front Desk Lady: No.. this is just a pool.
....
David: But it's called "aquecaldo"?
Front Desk Lady: That's the region. The Siena hot springs are about 40km outside Siena.

So, basically, we had ended up at the Siena YMCA, and we were hot spring-less. Not wanting to go and sit in a pool in a gym, while wearing swim caps, we went outside and laid on the grass, outside of the Siena-YMCA, and marveled at how ridiculous we were.

exemplary of our absolutely bizarre day

the Siena YMCA

We took the bus back to the center city of Siena and did the little amount of sight seeing we could manage (i.e. went to the Duomo and got gelato). Then we wandered to find a bar, had a beer, and went back to the train station. All in all, a totally bizarre and hilarious day.

the Duomo and Cathedral

David, Hannah, Laura and I

new thing: watching a scary movie (and not falling asleep) and Candied Chestnut gelato at Grom