I have a place to live!

So, finding an inexpensive lodging from the comfort of one's computer is not so easy. Especially, if you are looking for a lodging in a foreign country. All the appartments on craiglist for Florence were mainly geared toward tourists planning a short-term romp in the land gelato, pizza, and the Renaissance. So, I just started doing general searches in Italian and stumbled across this Italian site that was akin to craigslist and found loads of offerings.

I set my heart on this one shared room that had cheap rent, high speed internet, and a washing machine. I first expressed my interest via email, probably a month ago, and was sent additional information and then was told they were still deciding for about a month. Foolishly, I had invested all of my hopes in this room and hadn't worked out a back-up plan.

Sunday I received an email that said the roommates would decide who their next cohabitator would be and was asked "Sei ancora interessata?" Are you still interested? Nonchalantly, I replied, "Si, sono ancora interessata." Then several hours later, I thought, "Playing it cool will not work; I'm down to the wire!" So, I wrote an email that said, "Actualmente, voglio la camera con tutto il mio cuore!" Actually, I want the room with all of my heart.

Monday, no word.


With Italy being 8 hours ahead of Mountain Standard Time, I had expected an email to be in my inbox when I woke up. I checked my email nearly every hour until I realized it was 2 am in Florence. I had resigned myself to believing that my correspondent had found a better potential roommate. I frantically sent out emails to every other room that I was potentially interested in Monday night.

Then, Tuesday morning, my email inbox was full. Several of those I had emailed in my desperation provided information about their rooms, but I glanced over those to read the one from Angela, the landlady I'd been writing to.

La camera e' la tua.

i think this will be my room

Now, with such wonderful news I should end this post. But, I want to treat myself to a miniature rant. The Honorary Vice Consulate, a lawyer in Salt Lake City, will be gone until Monday! So I can't send my papers to the official San Francisco consulate until he gets back and I can apply before him, in person.



However, while they say there can be crazy hold-ups on visas, I was told to expect that I should have it back in 2-3 weeks--once it is sent out.

NYU in Florence

So, I am a graduate of Brigham Young University with a Bachelor's of Arts in Humanities with a history emphasis.

Thus, a new adventure begins...

I applied to the Italian Studies M.A. program at NYU, hardly expecting to be accepted; however, around mid-may a large envelope bearing NYU insignia arrived in the mailbox. I thought to myself, "They don't send rejection letters in such sizable envelopes. Maybe I've been wait listed." But no, glory be, I'd been accepted. I immediately began to peruse craigslist for housing in Manhattan.

Then...twist!

Turns out NYU has a center in Florence where they offer graduate classes in a setting where that Master's degree can be earned in a year or less. Turns out that they will also give you $3000 and a 30% tuition discount to study there. Turns out it is set on an 65-acre estate donated to the university in 1994 with grounds and an art collection worth $500 million. Turns out, housing can be a lot cheaper in Florence.this is a picture of the Villa La Pietra

So, I have a one-way ticket purchased to leave the ol' US of A for Italy on August 25.

Now I just have to hope my housing and visa go through!