FEBRUARY IN FLORENCE

WOW…. 1 month! I cannot believe that I have been here in Florence for 1 month now. I apologize for taking so long to post what I have been up to! I have been meaning to sit down and take some time for emails and photos and blogging, but it takes so much time.

Anyways, I miss everyone so much. I am having the time of my life, but there are things that I miss. (like all of you!).

So.. down to business!

School: School is going great. I am enjoying it more and more every single day. Classes are long, 3 hours straight, but we always have 1 if not 2 coffee breaks. I am drinking so much coffee!!! I started drinking caffe latte (which has like a shot of coffee and then the rest is warm milk… it fills me up and tastes amazing!) Anyways, here are some of the classes I am taking and some of the things I have been doing. On Mondays I go to a class called luxury management- we learn lots of things… all sectors of luxury and we have a lot of speakers and go on lots of field trips. Last week we had RIVA yachts come and speak to us. It was so interesting. They were talking about how they are changing the way they sell yachts in the us and that they need people to work in MIAMI!. I walked up to the vp during the break (coffee of course) and I spoke to him about job opportunities. I sent him my resume today! Yeah! So… well see what happens. How great… selling yachts in miami! Amazing! Anyways, I am so glad that I am going to this school because then I can explore other sides of luxury..not just fashion. I think that yachts would be a really great thing to get into. Anyways, then I also have a class called luxury shoes. It is so cool, last week we learned how shoes are made! From start to finish! And how they choose trends for accessories over 1 year in advance! Then on Tuesday’s I have my earliest class… 8:30 which is luxury management again. Then in the afternoon I have luxury merchandising. This week we went to the ferragamo museum. It is amazing. We saw the actual shoes that marilyn monroe and audrey hepburn wore. Ferragamo was an absolute genius. Most of the shoes in the exhibit now are from the 30’s, 40, 50’s and they look like they were made this year! Its incredible.

Then on Wednesday’s I have a class called knitwear. This week we went to a knitwear sample factory and learned all about how knitwear is made. The different gauges of knitwear and how the machines work. It was so interesting. And last week we went to pitti filati- like a fair for fabrics. I started talking to this guy, who own a company that just sold feathers. It was incredible! I asked him how messy his shop was! It was so funny… he said feathers everywhere! Basically they sell feathers to all designers to put on every bag, dress… etc. Most of the feathers in fashion come from him! It was so weird, but cool to see all the different sides of how a garment is made. Then on Thursday’s I have 2 classes- international marketing and then marketing. They are similar, but one teaches me more about how companies work and one is more speaking about marketing overall. One of my teachers- who we all cannot understand for the life of us---- was the assistant to prada when they became big in the early 90’s. haha, and he walks around with a cane and smacks it on the screen to point at things. Its so funny!!!! Lastly, on Fridays I have one class called intercultural communications. It is so interesting. We learn how to communicate with different cultures and how to be open to learning new things about different cultures. I love it! And its so cool because we are all from different places so its really neat to see everyones side of things.

Anyways, so future trips- I am going to milan for a luxury shoe trade show and to naples to go to the kiton and isaia factories- really high end mens suit factories. I am really excited.

Anyways, enough about school. Lets see. OH! I am going to VIENNA for 6 days at easter time. I am really excited. It will be a lot of fun. I am going with my friend kirstin who is from there, so it will be nice to go with someone who knows the city!

I have been working at a bar 1 or 2 nights a week. I started as a waitress… then moved to a bartender and now I also cook food! Haha. Last week, when I showed up to work for the superbowl (which started at 1230 at night and went till 4—terrible) I had to make 8 pizzas, risotto, crostinis, lasagne and eggplant parmasan. Omg! Hahah I was like what have I gotten myself into. So funny!!!!

Anyways, life in florence is amazing. I have made so many friends. It is so nice that we can all hang out together and get along so great. There are about 12 or so of us that hang out on a regular basis. Its so amazing. And we all live so close to eachother so we can get together all the time! I don’t go 1 hour with out seeing one of them! Hahah. This week was a crazy week. There was carnivale on Tuesday! My friends and I dressed up and went to a huge rio de janero party! I dressed up like a pirate with my friend pep! It was so much fun. Then last night I had a party that the riccis invited me to. They have their own club in florence made of 80 members from around the world and they have parties every month. It was a doctors and nurse party! It was so much fun. I got to bring 7 of my friends and we had an absolute blast. I think the best party was trying to find an outfit! They don’t have any party cities here! Haha. Anyways, I am just loading up some photos to ofoto of random times In florence! I hope you enjoy them

Well, I miss you all, and email me if you can, I would love to hear what everyone is up to,

Love
Sarah
Ps. Went to mexican food last night! AMAZING, I put like 20 jalapenos on my fajita! Hahaha I miss spicy food so much!


HERE ARE SOME MORE PHOTOS!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowsePhotos.jsp?&collid=38937481806.435826945306.1202578318025&page=1&sort_order=0&navfolderid=0&folderid=0&ownerid=0