There's like, a blizzard hitting Italy. No. In other news my hand is in my ikea rose scented candle. It would burn if I could still feel my hand.

TONIGHT: Snowy and windy. Snow will become heavy at times late. Low 29F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulating 5 to 8 inches. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

TOMORROW: Windy with snow showers early. A steady, sometimes heavy, snow is likely in the afternoon. High 33F. Winds N at 25 to 40 mph. 6 to 10 inches of snow expected. Winds could occasionally gust over 60 mph.

When it's 55 degrees on New Years in New England and you're waiting on 20 inches of snow in Florence, you know you should stop buying those disposable water bottles. Also that no matter where you go in your life, you will end up chilly, sweaty, or confused.

This is the only ugly building in Florence. It's so ugly compared to everything else that I'm always using it as a reference point to get places. Just like in America, only reverse because cities only have one nice thing. You'd think the giant cathedrals would help here, but there's just too many of them. You might as well say it's next to a tree, it'd be about as specific.

View from my first class building. Nice.

On the way home from class today I was stopped by a group of girls who I thought might be american too. They were like "Market??"which is fair enough because incidentally there seem to be a lot of Italians here. So I responded and said to walk down the street, look for the big building with a flag and then it would be on the right, called "Billa." After explaining it one of them went, "Wait...are you American? Cus I couldn't hear your accent at all!" Uh...yeah. There's a reason we're so universally respected overseas.

Liz and I managed to talk a scarf seller down by buying them together...now we look like the Olsen Twins. So worth it though

While seeing the leaning tower of Pisa is a REALLY cool experience, I'll be honest, there's really not a lot to do there. I'm not sure where the city was, but the tower might as well have been a disney land replica because there's NOTHING around it except for a tourist market that extends about an eighth mile down with food places and souvenir vendors. So basically all you can do is try to eat a panini really slowly. That and take pictures with the tower. And taking pictures of other people taking pictures of the tower. I can't say I didn't look ridiculous too while I was doing this, but I also can't say these aren't funny.

Today we went to the ikea in Florence. It was really great because we were missing some important things like mirrors and blankets for a town that pretends it's summer all year long when it comes to "indoor heating". It was actually really nice because I LOVEE Ikea and it was a little taste of home.  Because really, no matter where you are, it's all swedish anyways. We were super tired so we tried to buy some coffee, depicted above. For 50 centissimi we got half a dixie cup filled 1/18th of the way. I can't imagine what people think when they come to america and see our medium coffees. No wonder our culture's universally hated. Also when everything is labled in TWO languages you don't understand the confusion is endless. I might have bought a down comforter that's actually a mattress pad? Oh well, I'll wash down my miseries with some ligonberry juice! Viva Ikea!

This is a picture of my first gelato. Not. I was too excited so I just ate the whole thing and forgot until it was gone. Oh well, if you want, I'll describe it to you in detail sometime. I really need to take more pictures...I think I may be the worst blogger ever.

Our beautiful garden. With a causal semi-naked statue. Luckily we live in the secret garden, unluckily this broad can give you quite the creeps at night.

I'm starting this late! I've been here a week! The thing is that I've had gelato everyday since being here and that's eaten up a lot of my time (hahah...hah...wait no one's gonna read this blog now...I take it back). So I'm a little behind. But I'm here in florence and it is beautiful and it's like living in a disney movie only you can't understand what anyone's saying and no one sings. Except for loud drunk italians really late at night and an opera singer at my internship at the florence opera house where I'm going to work. I was only there for five minutes and it was already like being in fame. People were tuning, singing, warming up, saying words to me. It was great. Can't wait to start on tuesday. Even though I have little to no idea what entrance to go into, thats besides the point. "Dov'e" is my favorite phrase. Other than like, gelato. I'll try to retroactively remember some stuff because I did some things and they were memorable. But they were ALL so memorable that I'll just send you the link to Liz's blog, my friend from BC. Then I'll stop being so lazy and try to write some stuff down. If I can put down the gelato. Fat chance...