The Dish on the Swiss

Wow. Time has completely flown by! So much has happened since I last wrote.

First, I had my first apperitivo dinner at a local cafe! Apperitivo is when you go to a restaurant at around 5:30-6 and they have a deal saying that if you buy a drink for like 6 euro, then you can eat from their array of delectable appetizers. Seriously, best deal in town. This was on Thursday night, and considering that this was my first real meal since I had made it to Florence I was in heaven haha. The hardest thing is just figuring out how they operate here, so it just took me a while until I realized how to actually buy dinner haha. But now that I've got it all figured out, there will be no more starving haha.

Other than relieving myself of hunger, I also went to Switzerland this weekend!!!! The original plan was for me to go to Prague last weekend, but since not enough people signed up for the trip it was cancelled and I had to re-schedule my dates. But seriously, that did not damper the weekend a bit! It just made it that much more exciting!

After my fabulous apperitivo dinner I left to meet Bus2alps, my travel group, at the train station. I have to say, this was a little intimidating since I didn't know a soul going on the trip, but hey, I feel like that is my new thing these days. So I got there, and right away I checked in and met this girl named Jessie. She is from Minnesota, and has this great accent haha. So it's more like Minnesooooooota haha. But we immediately hit it off and turns out she didn't know anyone either! From there we sat on the bus together and got to know each other. She is a pre-med senior who goes to some state school in Minnesota, and is here to study photography, drawing, and Italian. Doesn't that sound fun?! Throughout the 9 hour drive we chatted, watched a movie, and looked out the window to see the sparkling mountainside.

When we stopped at the gas station it was more like a mini supermarket, the ones in Europe are seriously top-notch people. They have everything from Fifty Shades of Grey to fifty flavors of cheese! Come on now Fairview station...

When we got there we immediately went inside the hostel where we got our keys and met our other roommates. Turns out that Jessie and I were rooming together along with 2 other girls and 2 other guys. Yes, guys. I know it's a little old fashioned, but I was kind of surprised haha. But after brief introductions we immediately crashed. I knew I was going to need my beauty rest if I was going to take on the Swiss alps in the morning!!

I was kind of surprised that when I was asking around there were hardly any people hitting the slopes. I met 2 guys on the bus who were skiing, and at breakfast I met 2 girls that were boarding. So while we were renting our stuff we decided we would be a little group for the day.

Now, when I say the mountains are beautiful in Switzerland, THE MOUNTAINS ARE SOOOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL IN SWIZERLAND! Everytime I looked out the window on the way up the mountain it was like looking at a postcard. I just couldn't get over it. I took a million pictures, but they just don't capture the beauty of seeing them in real life.  Along with the magnificent surroundings, I was also surrounded with all new people.

It is so refreshing to see everyone stepping out of their comfort-zone and ready to make friends! I have met so many different people, and I've only been here a little over a week.  For the rest of the weekend I explored the town of Interlaken.  We hiked to see both lakes, we ate swiss cheese fondue, we watched a chocolatier create a chocolate cow, and we danced with random swiss people playing in street bands. Needless to say, it was a weekend I will never forget. Prost!

First Days in Florence

Ciao a tutti!

I have finally made it to Florence, and it has been nothing short of exciting since I have been here. Upon arrival I quickly realized that my neon green suitcase was no where to be found, and after checking with the lost luggage people, we had determined that it was somewhere in Amsterdam. Lovely. However, I had a toothbrush and warm clothes on, so I was good to go. I got a taxi to the hostel, and I checked into a room. After wondering around the hostel for a while in search of my room, I finally found it. It was a room with five beds and one bathroom. My bed had a set of sheets, a blanket, and a pillow, and I was all set. After having only slept a couple hours on the plane, this girl was tired. I pathetically made my bed, brushed my teeth and totally crashed. Meanwhile my 4 other roommates were in the room, but after saying the initial ciao when I came in, I couldn't muster the energy to hold a broken conversation with 4 South Korean girls. So, I put my eye-mask on, like a diva, and I was out.

The next morning I woke up around 4:00, no idea why because the U.S. is 6 hours behind Italy, and I waited until 8 until I actually got out of bed. Since I slept in the only clothes I had, I just got up and went right down to breakfast. There I met a nice Brazilian guy who was traveling before he started his masters. He was of course wearing flip-flops. Let me remind you that the high here has been around 40 haha. Anyhoo, after breakfast I went on the walking tour with the hostel. The lady who gave the tour was wearing a purple rhinestone hat and a pink scarf, a girl after my own heart. We toured the city center, and she told us all about the rich history that it holds. It blows my mind how EVERY part of this city has some historical significance, it's awesome.

Afterwards, I just took to the city in my own. For lunch I got some pizza, and then I had to go pick up my cell phone. After getting my new phone I immediately called the airport to see if my luggage came, and after about 3 different calls they said they had found it! So I headed over to the bus station and tried to figure out which bus went to the airport. This was probably the hardest thing I've had to do here because it involved asking people directions...in Italian. No easy task my friends. After wandering around the station for about 30 minutes I finally figured out where the bus was! Six euros later I was on my way to fetch my luggage and all was good in the world.

Yesterday I met 2 more friends on the walking tour! One was an Australian and was Mexican. They were both traveling alone, and they were so nice! Daniel, the Australian, was a chemistry teacher, and Caesar, the Mexican, was a student. They were really fun, and we talked all about their adventures all over the world. Right after the tour Caesar was heading to Pisa, so we didn't get to spend much time together, but Daniel and I climbed all 416 steps of the Duomo! The view was spectacular, and Daniel was hilarious while he was talking in his Australian accent.

Today, I have spent the day getting lost in Florence, and discovering the parts of the city I haven't seen yet. I actually went to go find the place where I will be living this semester, and it is so cute! It's a yellow building on a little backstreet right near a mini supermercado and a bunch of little cafès.

Tonight I am heading to Interlaken for my first trip with Bus2alps, a student travel group here. I'm so excited to glide my skis atop of the fresh Swiss power, and to make some more friends!

Keep me I your prayers, you are all in mine. I love you, and I miss you all!

Ciao,

Mason

Pictures coming soon...

Bonjour Mademoiselle

This trip has officially started out with a bang! Right when I am checking my suitcase at the Asheville Airport I get a call from Delta telling me that my flight to Paris is cancelled due to a snowstorm!  What the what?! So the very nice people at the Delta station in Asheville re-book my flight so that I am flying into Amsterdam instead of Paris, and then from Amsterdam to Rome to Florence. Whew. But I mean, I am just ready to go, so Mom and I are like let’s just do it. 

Then with a hasty and a little teary-eyed goodbye from Mom, I am off to Atlanta!  At this point it kind of hit me that I was traveling alone.  It was a little weird, but empowering at the same time.  I mean I have traveled by myself before, but this is like international people.  This is a big deal we are talking about.  So on the flight down to ATL I sit next to a young hipster man who works at a record shop in Downtown Asheville.  We chatted about our travels, and he was going to his grandfather’s funeral up in Michigan.  Sad I know, but he said that his grandfather had Alzimers for about 10 years so it was time.  Anyway, now we are friends on Facebook haha, the true sign of friendship.

Upon arriving in Atlanta, approximately around 4:50, I had to make my way over to the international terminal, which is veryyyyy nice.  I had forgotten I was there last spring break for Jamaica, so I actually knew my way around pretty dang well.  Anyway, I found my gate for Amsterdam and found a seat next to a plug and made myself comfortable because my flight had been moved back until Midnight!  Talk about straight chillin.  Then as I am working away at downloading a new book, a girl behind me asks if I am going to Paris.  I tell her that I was before, but that my flight had been changed to Amsterdam.  Then we got to chatting and turns out that she is going to be studying yoga in India for a semester! Legit right?  Then we made the ultimate bond when she asked me if I would watch her stuff.  That is friendship people.  From then on I went to the bathroom, she went to the bathroom, and we didn’t have to lug our stuff around.  When it came around 8:30, people started saying that the Paris flight was back on, and it’s a long story, but my flights were changed back to my original route of Atlanta to Paris to Florence.  Hallelujah!  That meant my flight was leaving at 10:15 instead of 12, and I could make my way to Europe!  Sam, my new yoga studying friend, was going to be on my flight but it turned out that her flight from Paris to India was cancelled, so we had to say our goodbyes at the gate.  But now we are Facebook official too haha!

I have to say that AirFrance is probably one of my new favorite airlines just because they greet you with a “Bonjour”… not to mention the flight attendant looked like Ben Afflack.  Yes, I would like some sugar with my coffee haha.  There was a full dinner served, and it was definitely one of the better in-flight meals I have had.  Smoked salmon, brie, pasta, banana chocolate torte, finished up with coffee or tea.  Yes, I think Europe and I are going to get along just fine haha.  After dinner I brushed my teeth, got out the neck pillow and eye mask , and took a Benadryl.  Out like a light people.  I woke up with an hour to go, and watched as we descended with the falling snow.

Now I’m in romantic Paris waiting for my flight to Florence.  Hanging out in the terminal has been nothing short of boring.  The people watching here is phenomenal; I swear people are just plain cray, especially in airports.  But I have loved seeing what everyone is wearing; I think that is my favorite part. The men are all wearing scarves and leather shoes, and the women are in tall boots with huge purses decorated from head to toe.  Not only are the people great, but the food is so fancy! Espresso, quiche, pastrys, sparkling water, can it get any better?  I had a café latte and ensalada quiche for lunch, and I shared a table with the nicest man who had just arrived from Dubai.  Sadly we did not become huge pals seeing as we are not Facebook friends haha. 

Now I am just waiting to see where the rest of this adventure takes me!  …Hopefully it’s to a nice bed in Florence, but who knows what could happen.  Au revoir!

Ready for takeoff

Snow covered Paris!

Check out the bathroom in Paris!

Ze in-flight meal

First sighting of Italia!

"Nothing Says Italian Like Ferrari"

Tonight is the night.  My last night in America has come, and now it's almost gone.  This whole break has gone by like the blink of an eye, and it has been nothing short of amazing.  However, tomorrow my life is about to take on a whole new direction.  Am I ready?  Ready as I'll ever be. You should just take a look at the suitcase.

Packing was a monster in itself, but I was ready for the battle.  I started thinking about what I was going to wear in Italy since, well since I decided I was going to study abroad.  Struttin your stuff like a fashionista on the cobble stones of Italy is part of the fun, right?  Normally I would wear all my fun colors, and sparkles, and the works, but this is Italy we are talking about.  These people are all about black.  So, sadly I have had to conform just so I don't stick out like a soar thumb.  My hair is a statement in itself. So don't be worried if you see me wearing dark colors all the time, I'm not going goth anytime soon.  Anyhoo, other than the fashion, I have compiled a packing list so ridiculously detailed that it could actually be mistaken for a work of genius...and it all fits in ONE...let me repeat ONE suitcase people.  Check it:

Had a little stowaway in the packing process...

Final Project

I know the packing thing just blew your minds a little bit, but let's get back to the title of this post because I know you all are DYING to hear about this Ferrari.

My last full day in the good ole U.S.A. has been preeeetty great.  It started out with going to breakfast with Momsie at Green Sage where we chatted about life, the biebs, and how much we love spinach omelets.  Then we ventured around Asheville putting on the final touches for my trip while listening to some down home country music.  When we got home I sent Mom off in a perfect outfit to go see Justin Bieber like all good daughters do.  Then, with a tear in my eye, I sent her off to Susan Black's house. (But don't be distraught people, she'll be here to send me off tomorrow at the airport) Then I was off to REI where I was scheduled to pick out the perfect winter coat with Papa Burril.  There we found the perfect weather-proof coat, black of course, and took Gadget for a stroll around Biltmore Park.  From there we ventured to the Mall, let me reiterate that, Matthew Burril was in the Mall.  While there we got him "styling" for the Detroit Auto Show, and we also witnessed a little runway show of the "models" of Asheville Mall.  Hilarious, let's just stop there haha.  Then I went to meet Benjamin May for some fro-yo, the calorie-free american treat, and said our final goodbyes.

This is where it gets good.  So I get home and all I know is that we are going to the Red Stag for dinner.  Papa dearest is definitely excited about something, because his little grin isn't hiding that.  When he turns the corner and I see the leather jacket, grey turtleneck, black jeans, accompanied with white socks and loafers I know this is going to be an entertaining night no matter what.  The man is stylin.  "We're going Italian tonight baby."  Haha I am totally loving this.  Then as we head down the driveway, he says we need to stop by the hanger and we park.  He gets out, and when the door is halfway open, and with a concerned look on his face, he tells me I need to come inside.  When I get to the door I see a fire-red vintage Ferrari.  "Nothing says Italian like Ferrari."At this point I'm just dying a little bit haha, it was a beaut!  From there we sped around Asheville then headed to dinner.  If that isn't going out with a bang, I don't know what is.  Props daddio.

I think I can rock it.

Ciao, you can call me Matteo.

But now, the night is almost over and tomorrow I go to Italy tomorrow.  Feelings? Mostly excited, a little nervous, but mostly excited.  I'm just anxious to see how things unfold.  This is going to be an adventure and I'm just ready to see it happen.  Leggo Italia.

The Mama of All Packing Lists

Florence Packing List

Important Docs:

o Address of School

o Credit Card

o Drivers License (copies)

o Letter from LdM (copies)

o List of Important #s

o Medical Docs

o Passport (copies)

o Proof of Insurance

Clothes:

o Belts

o Bras

o Camis

o Dresses

o Gloves

o Hat

o Leggings

o Raincoat

o Running Shorts/ pants

o Running tops

o Scarves

o Skinny jeans

o Skirts

o Ski Wear

o Socks

o Sports Bras

o Sweaters

o Sweatshirt/pullover

o Swimsuit

o Underwear

o Wool Coat

o Yoga pants

Shoes:

o Clogs

o Flats

o Flip-flops

o Frye Boots

o Running Shoes

o Slippers

o Wedges

Toiletries:

o Bath Towel

o Blemish Gel

o Blush

o Bobbi Pins

o Body Lotion

o Chapstick/Gloss

o Deodorant

o Eyelash Curler

o Eyeshadow

o Face Lotion

o Face Wash

o Fingernail Polish

o Flossers

o Foundation

o Hair Brush

o Hair Gel

o Hair Ties

o Highlighter

o Jewelery

o Loofah

o Mascara

o Nail Clippers/File

o Powder

o Pumice Stone?

o Q-tips

o Razors

o Shampoo/Conditioner

o Soap

o Sock Bun

o Sunblock

o Tampons

o Tooth Paste/ Special

o Toothbrush/ Sonicare

o Travel Size Bottles

o Tweezers

School Stuff:

o Flashdrive

o Folders

o Headphones

o iPad

o MacBook Pro

o Notebooks

o Pens/Pencils

o School Bag

Other:

o Advil

o Adapters

o Benedril

o Beer Opener

o Bible

o Blanket

o Camera

o Chargers

o Eye drops

o Journal

o Lint Roller

o Lock

o Memory Card

o Microfiber Towel

o Phrase Book (e-book/app)

o PicCell (cell phone)

o Reading Book (e-book)

o Sunglasses

o Travel Pillow

o Umbrella

o Water Bottle

o Wine Opener

o Wrinkle Release

o Zip-lock Bags