Benvenuti a Firenze....Siamo Arrivati!!!

BENVENUTI TUTTI....!!!


Day 1: Tuesday, July 8th

The students have arrived without any problems!!!!! The staff and I are very happy and relieved. They seem like a great group of teenagers and we noticed immediately that they were all well mannered and behaved and not one complaint after such a journey...are we dreaming??

THE LIVING EXPERIENCE..THE RESIDENCE

Our program residence in Florence as you know is Palazzo Le Monnier, a very historically significant palazzo dating back to the 13th century (of course with many restorations taking place). The palazzo has a very grand entrance way with two large staircases (historical boot camp!!)leading up to some of the most grand student housing I have ever laid eyes on! The first floor of the residence (Piano Terra) contains 3 large apartments (apartment 8 is a huge wing and we are using the large living room for Art History lectures as well as Art Night). Each of the bedrooms over look Via San Gallo and the Lorenzo de Medici Scuola (14th century building with Loggia) and some even have a terraza and 16th century frescoed ceilings!!! Hmmm..dorm living will be hard to get used to after this!!

Upstairs, Primo Terra, there are three more apartments, all overlooking the interior courtyard with the Ragazzi pad being the most spacious of the three, contains a loft for entertaining.

We also have another section of the palazzo located on the next street (Via Santa Reparata) and behind the entrance of the Palazzo Le Monnier. There are 4 apartments here and although they are a little more modern in appearance, they are nevertheless as grand and spacious as the apartments on San Gallo. All of the apartments in both locations contain large amounts of living space: huge bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens with all the modern amenities available, (kitchen stocked with cooking utensils, washing machines). Indeed a lot of pleasant and fond memories will be created in these amazing apartments, and with some of the students, learning to cook and wash clothes being included - hopefully they'll remember how to cook when they get to college!!!


FIRST DAY ACTIVITIES

"The cellphones have arrived, the cell phones have arrived..phone home ET!!"

The students assembled in the hall and they were promptly given their room assignments then told to return back down to the Art Instructor's apartment (the art instructors res..Antonio, Patricia and Lindsay) at 6:00 pm to meet the Phone Rep.

Phone Rep arrives and all students phone home. I know you all are happy to hear their voices..thank god for modern technology..(nice thing cellphones..remember what we did prior to their invention..?? How did we ever survive??)

We had a lovely catered dinner of Lasagna with a red meat sauce and a pesto lasagna for our vegetarians as well as a bulger wheat and tomato, cucumber salad.

They went back to their rooms and at 8 p.m. we went on a group mini-tour of Florence's historical center so that they may orientate themselves with their new surroundings. The whole group was wide eyed as we passed the majesty of the Duomo, Chiesa de San Lorenzo, Piazza Repubblica, the Ponte Vecchio and over the bridge and thru Vasari's Uffizi and finally to the Piazza Signoria...(they can't wait to sketch the Reniasance scultpures in the "Loggia dei Lanzi").

We finally make our way back to the residence..it is a early check in at 11:00 p.m. and I notice as I make my way checking in the students that each one has fallen fast to sleep!! What a day!

DAY 2: WEDNESDAY, JULY 9th

Orientation....they look like such good kids but we need to remind them of all the Cardinal Rules, and guidelines reminding them that they signed a contract and if they do not abide by the rules they may risk being sent home. I like to emphasize this at the beginning so they know the importance of following the rules for their own safety and welfare. We discuss many issues regarding the program: the housing experience- stressing courtesy above all and apartment rules (no loud music after 10:30!!), curfew, safety: how to use your cellphone, pocket card with emergency numbers- who to call if you have an emergency, as well as safety issues; traffic, what to watch out for, pick pockets, etc..then the academic calender, classes and then afternoon and evening activities planned as well as are various excursions around Florence environs: (San Gimignano..this Saturday!!), Siena, Fiesole, Cinque Terre, Viareggio, and our three day trip to Roma.

After the Orientation, we discuss cooking groups. Two apartments join together to form one cooking group. They are joined with one member of our staff who will assist them with shopping for their breakfast and lunch food and they will also be on hand when the group cooks dinner (students are encouraged to find solutions for the best method of organization, working in teams to cook and clean as well as rotate all responsibilities).

Sooo...after all the groups have been announced, the students went off with their respective staff members and had lunch..(our group grabbed some delicious panini!! Yumm!)and then we all went shopping. We let the students choose their own food but specified only healthy food: fresh veggies, fruit..no peanut butter, soft drinks or candy!! We introduced students to how Italians buy produce, using plastic gloves to pick up fruits or vegetables and then proceed to weight them on a scale and place a ticket on the bag. They were told to think about what they all were going to eat and how much they should buy for the group. (I know that they never have shopped before as they did not compare prices!! I told them comparison shopping is a must for any budget!) Oh, and they do not bag groceries here so the students had to bag their own!!

ART CLASSES WITH ANTONIO, LINDSAY AND PATRICIA

I am impressed with the staff instructors, they are a talented bunch with a lot of teaching experience and are well established international artists with excellent reputations.

Each instructor takes their students out to buy art supplies as well as giving them the course outlines and the syllabi.

We also have a photography instructor, Davide, who lives in Florence and will be leading his students through Florence's many architectural wonders and printing their shots back at his studio's darkroom.

DINNER

After classes, students relax for a few and then we start cooking with the cooking groups. This was the first night and an interesting one as the students learned to work as a team and produce meals from the Abbey Road tried and true Regional Italian Cookbook....We had a wonderful insalata verde, saute chicken with artichokes and piselli and pancetta... parents I am happy to report, there are some real chefs in training!

After dinner, the students are into chilling and are happy to walk around chatting with new found friends and comparing apartments.

EVENING ACTIVITY: SCAVENGER HUNT

At 10:00 p.m. we set out for Piazza Repubblica for a Scavenger Hunt: they form groups of 5 and each group must have a digital camera. We provide a list of 10 different places ( example: photograph where you would like to be at 12:00 tomorrow)and they have to take picture of each ten places as proof (what better way to familiarize the students with Florence and get them excited about their surroundings?!) Each group set out and the first group to return was declared the winner..But I must confess that they are all too smart for us as they came back within 40 minutes!! Be forewarned..the next Scavenger Hunt will be a lot more difficult!!

Checked in and pretty much EVERYONE in bed by 12:00 p.m.!!!!

DAY 3: THURSDAY, JULY 10TH


Group Meeting at 9:00...

ART HISTORY

Students went off with Lior and Paola for a slide presentation and then off to my favorite chiesa..Santa Croce for a lecture with Paola and Lior in the chiesa. (they are in capable hands..(Paola gave her disertation on Santa Croce for her Ph.d from Syracuse University).

LUNCH..they have the fixings..and cook for themselves in their apartments.After lunch,

we decided to give the students some downtime as they still were suffering from the effects of jet lag.

AFTERNOON CLASSES..

PHOTOGRAPHY...soon to posted..pics of the Duomo, Piazza Repubblica, and Brunelleschi's, Chiesa de Santo Spirto with an elegantly sparse facade and imposing interior filled with light and angels.

PAINTING WITH ANTONIO

Students went to set up in the Art Studio.

DRAWING WITH LINDSAY AND PATRICIA

Lindsay had her students draw sculptures at Loggia dei Lanzi and Patricia's group went to draw the numerous sculptures, flora and fauna at the beautiful Boboli Gardens...perfect sunny day for sketching, great light and student's were very enthralled and inspired by their surroundings...natch!! pics of sketches to come!

COOKING GROUPS

We all cooked the per insalata: insalata caprese, primo piatto: spaghetti con pommodori e pancetta e pepperonata..brava tutti!! Good fun and we all ate well!!

RESIDENCE NIGHT..

We thought the students could use some quiet time and we had two scheduled activities (see the pics below..they had a blast!!)

FLORENTINE STATIONARY WITH LILLIAN

Our RA is a very talented young lady and showed the girls how to create stationary using homemade paper and stamps. Theresa copied the border design (see photo!)..amazing work..fun by all!!

ART NIGHT

Our two drawing instructors worked on their own artwork (Lindsay making our suggestion box while Patricia drew portraits of the students (see Samantha's pic!). Jason and Alexis Grant played the guitar, the rest of the students did their own "art thing".


Everyone was bushed and in bed by 12:00!!

That's it for now..please log on in the next few days for an update of,"Living Vicariously Through the Eyes of a Teenager"!!



A presto!!!!!!



Deborah Kerly
Program Director
Abbey Road Florence, Pre-College