After 17 hours of traveling I finally made it to Florence!

the first thing I saw: an Ikea

the first thing I did: went through Customs and told the guy a corny joke because I was nervous

the first cab ride: about hit 15 pedestrians. I quickly learned that I CANNOT walk like I am in Chapel Hill. Must pay attention.

—also—I realized they do not have lanes, roads or turn signals in Italy. Just roads that drivers fly on and hope not to crash. It took Maddy, Sami and I almost 10 minutes to cross a 4-way intersection.

the first thing I ate: white pizza

the first freak out: I was walking with my friends to a pizzeria (delizioso!) and thought a man was trying to pick pocket me (really he was just whistling). I spazzed out, grabbed my bag and ran away. Oh boy, it is going to be a long 5 weeks of paranoia.

the first thing I did at my apartment: hauled my 50-pound suitcase up four flights of stairs and almost cried because my key (which is almost 4 inches long…I think it may be a skeleton key…) did not work. Then I realized I was putting it in upside down. The next thing I realized is that in our quaint little doll house-like apartment, there is a rather lewd sexual painting. Yep, hand-painted and quite creative, the bottom corner of the painting reads “salute” = health.

On a side note, I have met neat people have great roommates. Florence is beautiful—and I can’t wait to go exploring.