Fall back.

The week following a historic football match was always going to be a little on the slower side.  However the city did continue basking in the glow of victory for a few more days, with the local newspaper, La Nazione giving away a commerative poster on Wednesday.  A few copies have ended up in the study center and we will find homes for them soon...

Soon to be found on the walls of the AIFS study center.

Our friends from Pasadena City College were busy studying for Mid term exams as well as fine tuning travel plans as their Mid Term break began after class on Thursday.  Paris, Amsterdam, London and Barcelona appear to be the most popular locations and we're looking forward to hearing all the stories when classes begin again on Monday November 4.

On Tuesday, all our students attended a guided visit inside our local church, Santa Croce. It was a very pleasant afternoon, the Summer crowds have departed and the church was brightly lit but quiet, allowing Angela our guide to tell us all we ever wished to know.

Santa Croce Church

The students armed with listening devices enter the church.

Plenty to see, including the tomb of Michelangelo.

The remainder of the week has been fairly quiet.  This past weekend, Jordan and Nicole from Oregon took a trip upto Venice and Professor Lyons jetted down to explore Sicily. The Oregon students do have class this week.

Marta from AIFS chats to Nicole and Jordan about where to travel in Italy.

At the end of the week, the clocks changed, giving us all an extra hour in bed.  This has meant a brighter start to the day but by 5pm it is now starting to get dark.  Winter is coming. 

Halloween is also upon us, a quick stroll through the city reveals decorations and costumes are available but certainly on a smaller scale than in the USA.  No doubt some people will be in the mood to make the most of Thursday October 31 as Friday November 1 is the feast of Ognissanti (All Saints Day).  For the majority of Italians it is a public holiday.  It is traditional for Italians to visit the graves of relatives on this day. 

Sunset over Florence, viewed from Fiesole on Sunday October 27 2014.

Have a good week everybody.

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Fifteen years of hurt.

As part of our Study Abroad programs, we try and introduce the students to a broad range of experiences and emotions.  This past week in Florence is a perfect example.

On Wednesday evening, all the students attended and evening class about Chianti Wine.  Todd Bolton from Tuscan Trails came in and told the story of wine in this region from the Etruscans to present day.  This was followed by the chance to sample three types of local wine.

Three types of Chianti on offer.

Hopefully all the students will look at red wine differently in the future.

On Friday, we had another daytrip, this time taking in Pisa and Lucca.  Tuscany has so much to offer in terms of daytrips and activities so it was fun to see the tower and stroll the walls of Lucca.

Nicole and Jordan from Oregon.

The group just before they scatter to take "the" picture...

Then on Sunday, October 20 we introduced all the students to another aspect of Italian Culture.  Calcio.  The city had been brimming with anticipation all week and the stadium was sold out for Fiorentina v Juventus.  December 1998 was the last time Fiorentina beat Juventus in Florence, in Serie A.  Juventus are reigning champions but Fiorentina had gotten off to a good start to the season, so the match was well balanced.

Pasadena City College students proudly display their colors before the game.

A full house against Juve.  The empty seats are to creat a buffer to the traveling support.

The balance disappeared during a one sided first half that saw Juventus score two goals. Fiorentina did not play well at all and at half time, the stadium was silent.

Things did not improve much at the start of the second half, with a couple more chances for Juventus.  However luck began to change for la viola with a penalty which brought the score to 1-2.  At this point most in the stadium would have settled for a draw, even if that would have been undeserved.

The tifosi (including the students) start to believe.

Maybe the Curva Fiesole never stopped believing?

4-2 final score.  An amazing day.

However Giuseppe Rossi, the American born Fiorentina player had other ideas with a devastating display of skill and confidence, he brought Fiorentina level before claiming his hat-trick making it 4-2 to Florence.  From despair to euphoria, the entire ground was in disbelief at the turn around.  The final whistle brought jubilant scenes with the entire city cheering and taking to the streets with an outpouring of joy.  Fifteen years was a long time to wait.

You can watch the match highlights here. 

This coming week the students from Pasadena have midterms before starting their break on Thursday evening.  Our Oregon students have regular classes, including a visit to Santa Croce church as part of their Italian Life & Culture class.

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Calcio and Cooking

You can tell Halloween is around the corner when every Students favorite store "99 cent" is suddenly filled with black and orange objects.  Along with the rapidly darkening evenings and chilly mornings that Winter is on its way.

The place to go for Halloween supplies.

This past week, the students got all sporty with the start of the Inter School Soccer tournament. AIFS has entered a team that takes part in a league made up of other University and study abroad programs in the city.  The first game was on Monday and this was our best ever start to the competition, with a 5-4 victory against CEA.

A fine team don't you think?

2 games so far, one victory, one loss, still all to play for.

It is still early days of the competition, with plenty more games to come, including three this week, beginning Monday October 14.  We will keep you updated.

As well as sporting endavors, our students also turned their hands to another important skill, cooking.  On Wednesday evening all our students gathered at a Cooking school in Oltrano to make a three course meal.

The menu was "Sformato di verdure” followed by hand made “Ravioli di spinaci e ricotta” and the one and only “Panna Cotta” for dessert.

The students are briefed on the program for the evening.

Time to get to work and make that Panna Cotta.

Over the course of a couple of hours, the students worked together to produce all the food and then enjoyed it at the end.  They even got a recipe book to take home.

Otherwise things have been running smoothly here in Florence.  For our Pasadena City College friends, the mid term break is only ten days away, so they have been busy making plans for that.  

In Italian news, sadly there were further deaths of immigrants trying to get to Italy, this time off the coast of Sicily.  This has led to the Italian defence minister saying there will be an increased Naval presence in the Southern Mediterranean.  

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Fall arrives in Florence.

With the world cycling championships on Sunday September 29, it appeared Fall finally arrived.  The heavens opened and there was a deluge.  The event went well, despite the rain and by the time Monday morning came round, everything had been cleared away and it was if nothing had ever happened.

Riders start the descent from Fiesole on Sunday September 29 as part of the Road Cycling World Championships in Tuscany.

The ever wacky world of Italian Politics kicked off (again) with a certain Mr Berlusconi making mischief (again), threatening to upset the coalition government, currently led by Enrico Letta.  For the full details, it is explained well here, otherwise a crisis was overted (again) and all is well for the time being.

Sadly another emotive topic of Italian life was also in the news, with a boat carrying immigrants capsizing on Thursday, with the loss of hundreds of lives.  The accident happened off the coast of Lampedusa, a tiny island that is actually closer to Tunisia than it is to the Italian mainland.

The island has been in the news alot over the past couple of years, with people fleeing the troubles in North Africa, hoping for a better life in Europe.  The Pope visited the island in July and threw a wreath in the sea and condemned the "global indifference" to the plight of refugees. 

Latest news on the tragedy is available on the web:  BBC / Al Jazeera / CNN

A screen grab from Al Jazeera news shows a glimpse of the scale of this tragedy.

Back in Florence it is safe to say everyone has now settled in and are calling Florence home.  Courses have settled down, students have been taking part in language exchanges with local people and enjoying Italian life.  On Thursday all of the students went on a visit to the Uffizi where they were taken on a tour of the highlights.  All of our students have Amici degli Uffizi passes as part of the program, so they can return as many times as they like for free (we will be encouraging them to do so).

On Friday October 4 it was time to take all the students on a daytrip to Siena & San Gimignano.  Its always a favorite for students and staff and it is nice to get out of the city on a regular basis.

Piazza del Campo - Home of the Palio horse race held twice a year.

Nicole and Jordan from Chemeketa Community College in Oregon enjoy some Gelato in Siena.

After a guided tour of the city, the students enjoyed lunch and free time before we made our way Northwards to San Gimignano.  We passed by row upon row of vines, heavy with grapes, ready to be picked soon.

Some students ventured into the Torture Museum, others made a beeline for the Worlds best Gelato, everyone was happy strolling around and enjoying the view.

Jillian and Allison from Pasadena City College enjoy the view.

With the day coming to the end and dusk falling, we made our way back to Florence for the weekend to begin properly.

This week the students have the first match in the Inter School Soccer tournament they have signed up for, as well as a Cooking Class to enjoy.

Please look at our Facebook page for regular updates.

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