Jen's Signature Pose

So apparently I have a signature pose in pictures...

Venice...

Casa Cares...

Sienna...

Florence...

The Parthenon, Rome...

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

The Colloseum, Rome...

The Courthouse, Rome...

Italy in Selfies

Plane #1...

Piazza del Campo, Sienna...

The Birth of Venus in the Uffizzi Museum..

Sisterwives and Il Duomo, Florence...

La Terrezza and Il Duomo...

David...

The Parthenon, Rome...

Vatican City...

Matteo and I at the Colloseum...

And being sad to leave...

Back in the South

I'm officially back in the States! 

After 19 hours of being on a plane and staying up 24, I made it home to my one-bedroom apartment (which seems huge compared to Italian living quarters). 

I had no trouble going to sleep that night, although now, Day 2 of being home, I'm experiencing some jet lag...not to mention some serious Italian withdrawals. 

How I knew I was back in the South when I landed at my first stop in Charlotte: I heard "Roll Tide" and "Bless Your Heart" within 30 minutes of landing. 

I plan on continuing the blog as I transition back into life in the States. I may have only been gone three weeks, but this experience has changed me. More to come! 

21 Shades of Happy

21 days. 8 Master's students. 8 suitcases. 16 empty pockets. 16 tired eyes. 1 Italian greyhound bus headed to Fiumicino Airport. 

We're all exhausted. We're all excited and anxious to see loved ones and bigger beds back at home. But no one wants to leave this place. Especially me. I've been extremely spoiled over the last 3 weeks: food, wine, bellinis, limoncello, history, art, views, friendship, love, and killer legs from walking everywhere. 

Walking on cobblestone streets and passing 1000-year-old buildings has become the norm for me. I love this feeling. My heart has been full every moment of this trip. This is happiness. 

At the airport, the group will be split 3 ways. 2 different plane routes, and Emilie will say goodbye as she embarks on the next part of her journey: 2 more months and ten more countries, with just a backpack and a stuffed elephant named Wallace. All of my love and prayers go to her. 

The next time I write I will be back in the United States, much closer to reality. But I will be bringing happiness home with me. Ciao! 

When In Rome

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. 

Well if this is truly the case, Romans drink fine wine on rooftops, move through Vatican City like cattle for hours just to see a ceiling, kneel in awe in front of an altar, start random conversations with Gladiators, and sweat enough to start another Tiber River just trying to walk to the Colosseum. 

At least that's what I've done in the past 24 hours. 

Even though I've been to Rome before, it's still a city that I cannot wrap my head around. Thousands of years later and the Colosseum is still standing. I can see where Ceaser was killed. I walked where gladiators went to their death. I walked where the Pope journeys to mass. 

In case you don't know, I'm a major art freak. Even though I haven't shared this with many, if I didn't pursue degrees in Psychology and mental health, I would have gone into Art History in a heartbeat. Three hours of sweaty, smelly people being herded like cattle to see the Sistine Chapel? Done in a heartbeat. 

The best part of Rome? Being able to share it with seven of my best friends, not to mention some of the best people I've ever met in my entire life. Ashley, Emilie, Julia, Whitney, Anne Claire, Keira, and Matt....I couldn't ask for a better group to share his experience with. I love you all so much. 

The Last Supper

Last night was my last night at Casa Cares. Two weeks, three roommates, thirty housemates, all the pasta and wine you can consume, and countless memories. 

This place became a home away from home. After our final meal together, everyone at the institute gathered in the small living room to share how this trip has changed our lives. 

After all the laughs and tears, we hugged each other goodbye and vowed to stay connected. 

It's currently 9:30 am, and I am sitting on a city bus headed to downtown Rome (at least we think that's where it's taking us). After a 3:00 am wake up call, we chartered a bus to Rome, where the UAB group parted from everyone else returning to the States. We are hot, sweaty, exhausted...yet beyond excited to take on Rome. 

Here we go! 

Santa Croce

Leonardo da Vinci 

Galileo 

Michelangelo 

David Selfie

David Selfie. Enough said. 

Leaning in Pisa

In case anyone is wondering...the Leaning Tower of Pisa is still leaning. so tried my hardest to push it back up today, but I was unsuccessful. 

After a quick photo-op in Pisa, we went to Lucca for the afternoon. The USB group discovered a vintage-inspired restaurant, Port Ellen Clan, where I had the best cheese plate of all time. 

That One Time in Firenze

It was just a typical Wednesday...sitting at a rooftop bar in Florence...sipping a Bellini...looking at the Duomo. 

More to come later, including the Uffizi o

Museum, the Duomo, and climbing the tower, but for now, I'm collapsing into my bed back at Casa Cares. 

Bonna Notte! 

The Newest Dragon in Siena

Today I spent the day walking around Siena! Siena has been in tons of movies, but the scenes don't do it justice! 

Siena is known for its 17 neighborhoods, each characterized by a different animal. If you are a woman born in Siena, you stay within your district until you marry. 

Our group from UAB decided to choose which district we would belong to, and I'm a Dragon! The Dragons' claim to fame is our fellow dragon ancestor, St. Catherine of Siena. I highly recommend doing a quick Google search on her - she was certainly one of the bravest women of all time. 

After climbing a million stairs, I got the best view of the entire city from the top of the tower! 

I also got to see one of the most marvelous cathedrals I've EVER seen, and that's saying a lot! 

Drinking Chianti in Chianti

Well I just checked off something on my bucket list: actually drinking Chianti wine in the city of Chianti! 

We travelled to the town of Greve in the Chianti region, about an hour away from Casa Cares. Even though it's a bit chilly and foggy, the views on the ride are indescribable. I'm determined to find out how the farmers get their grape bushes to grow in such straight lines. 

Another thing this region is known for is their porquetta - pork - roasted and served fresh off the pig just for you to eat! Doesn't get any more fresh than that! 

My favorite part of Chianti was visiting the Faroni Chianti Lounge. Located in an underground, massive cellar, this lounge includes tastings of hundreds of wines, liquor, and oil from right here in Chianti. And they shipped some wine home for me! 

Salute from the Sisterwives! We've decided to open one of these in Birmingham and call it Sisterwives. See me, Emilie, or Ashley if you're interested in investing! 

Casa Cares

Today I experienced my first full day of seminars instead Casa Cares. We began the day with traditional Italian breakfast: yogurt, granola, fruit, bread, and coffee. We then went on a very detailed your if the house...

Casa Cares, located in Reggello, Tuscany, was built in the 1600s. The first two floors of the villa are still intact. About 100 years ago, the villa was restored and expanded to become a home for young male orphans. It includes four total floors, a cellar, an olive oil press, chickens, and kittens meow-ing in Italian. 

We went through several basic orientation seminars, and have already eaten our weight in homemade Italian meals - salads grown in the garden, prosciutto, cheeses, homemade breads, ravioli, pesto, and olive oil that they press themselves from their own olive trees. 

Have I died and gone to heaven? I think so. 

My view!!! 

And if you look closely, you can see me waving from my bedroom window! 

San Gimignano

After wine-tasting our way through Chianti, we travelled another hour to the small, historic town of San Gimignano. Surrounded by a war-torn stone wall, it's cobblestone streets are lined with quaint shops filled with Italian leather, olive wood, and ceramics. 

My favorite part of this town? We found the world's best gelato! Literally! Today's choice of flavors: Cremw Brûlée and Stracciatella (chocolate chip).