The Scotland Scene: Italy :)

See bottom of the post for photos from ITALIA!! it was everything it was promised to be and more! I stayed in Empoli with Ylenia, Giulia’s (my flatmate) good friend from home. The first day was Giulia’s graduation from the University of Pisa. Graduations are quite different in Italy: friends and family gather to hear the student defend their dissertation in front of their thesis advisor and a panel of professors. This panel deliberates, then the candidate and family are called back into the room for the graduating grade to be announced. Giulia received a 110 cum laude- the highest possible mark-and she deserves it! The laurel crown is traditionally given to graduates as a mark of academic achievement. After a champagne toast and photos, Giulia’s friends and I walked down the street to the famous leaning tower, battistero (for baptisms), and cathedral. SO COOL for me, totally ordinary for all of them! We had lunch in a great pizzeria, and the owners brought out a nutella-mascarpone dessert pizza to celebrate our graduate J Later that night, we had a celebratory dinner with the whole family at ’Rifugio’ complete with a spread of starters, a 1^st seafood dish, a 2^nd pasta dish, main course (meat and fish), and dessert. Giulia has a wonderful family and an amazing group of friends..it was so neat to meet them all!

I was so fortunate to have Giulia and Ylenia showing me the Tuscany region over the next week. They were the best hostesses, making sure I tried everything ‘typical’ that Tuscany had to offer. Being with them made the Italian experience so much richer than I could have ever experienced as a tourist. We visited the most famous sites, but they also took me to lesser known secrets (like the pastry shop that opens at 3 AM to start baking for the next morning…if you knock on the backdoor you can sneak in for fresh pastries-still hot!) I got a glimpse of the Italian social life: aperativos (drinks and a spread of food- really cheap and great to meet up with friends before going out!), 3 surprise parties to celebrate Giulia, and an unforgettable night at Jump Rock club. I met two truly amazing Italian families, who welcomed me with kisses and smiles, and always the best and biggest portions of delicious food! Ylenia and Giulia took me to visit Vinci (the birthplace of Leonardo di Vinci) and Artimino to see the Hunting Lodge of the Medici family (also known as the 100 chimneys villa). I spent two unforgettable days in Florence, the highlights being the Duomo, Uffizi Art Museum, Palazzo Vecchio, and Punto Vecchio. I hiked up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a panoramic view of the city, which we returned to at night later in the week for a champagne toast for Giulia- even more stunning with all the lights! On our last full day, we went to Siena in the morning where I entered the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta: the highlight of my trip! Walking in stole my breathe away- I have never seen anything so magnificent! The front face is so ornate, made of green, white and pink marble (common to the Tuscany area) that continues on the inside. The floor was divided into beautiful marble mosaics depicting biblical scenes and characters. There was so much to see-paintings, alters, statues, adjacent rooms, gold and silver ornaments- each of which were masterpieces of art and architecture alone. My mouth was hanging wideee open the whole time I was inside! We next went to the Piazza where the famous Palio horserace is held, and enjoyed a siesta in the sunshine. We left Siena and drove to San Gimignano-a medieval town with lots of towers and little shops, which had the most stunning countryside surroundings (the drive to and fro was beautiful!) On Thursday the girls showed me around Empoli- the Thursday market and central square before sharing one last gelato (which was my favorite of the week!) and catching our plane back to Edinburgh.

So that’s the abridged version- nothing to the 27 pages in my journal- but nonetheless some of the highlights. We had 7 days of my idea of perfect weather-70 and sunny- uncommonly warm for October, even in Italy. Of course, I can’t conclude this post without elaborating just a bit on my culinary experience in the food capital of the world. My appetite finally met its match, and the score stands Italy-1, Metabolism-0, as I’ve returned home 4 kilos heavier than I left. Italians do pizza, pasta/risotto, and gelato arguably better than anyone in the world. But other highlights for me (although the aforementioned can’t be understated in their excellence) were tapliata (tender meat left rare in the middle but seared on the outside), octopus salad, roasted chestnuts and chesnut bread, Porcini mushrooms, new olive oil (so green!), ricciarelli (biscuits), and cheese (burrata and stracchino in particular). The hot chocolate was rich and thick and without a doubt the best I have ever had in my life.

I spent Friday morning unpacking, only to repack for the Rotary District 1020 Conference in Glascow Friday through Sunday. Friday night, was a great night of fellowship with the other scholars and Rotarians. We had a welcome reception, followed by a delicious dinner and rounded off the evening with two brass and pipe bands. On Saturday, we listened to a number of speakers including entrepreneur Tony Banks and Naoko Kurachi, a past Ambassadorial Scholar and QMU graduate (from my program!). We learned about Rotary of Britain and Ireland’s newest partnership with the Stroke Association. I went to Catriona’s (Jackie and Ken’s daughter) house for lunch Saturday afternoon. We had a delicious, formal dinner Saturday night, followed by a big Ceilidh with Kilter (a GREAT band)!! Sunday, a number of the ambassadorial scholars were interviewed followed by more presentations including key notes speaker Pat Kane and Geoff Mackey- a tremendously entertaining public speaker- to round off the conference. The weekend was full of laughs and inspiration, great conversations and meeting new people. I’m excited about Rotary, excited about all they are doing in the UK and globally, and so appreciative for the opportunity and experience of this year that they are providing!

I have a very long week ahead, as I’ve just spent my ‘reading week’ away from classes doing everything but…reading. But I’ve ‘caught the bug’, Italy was such an amazing experience that I’m already looking for the next adventure. I have two huge assessments due for my first two classes, which finished right before reading week (reading week also should have included some writing). I have two new classes beginning on Monday- Research Global Health and Social Development, Policy and Practice. For some reason, I’m not nearly as worried about getting my assignments done as I should be..I’m still wrapped up in my Italian dream J I speak at the Rotary Club of Musselburgh tomorrow night and then have an ‘International Night’ with Rotary in Portobello on Halloween! Time is flying too quickly..is November really just around the corner?!?