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The classes went to Pietrasanta where there is a small company called Barsanti. They create art pieces made of
Pretty cool - here are the pictures. We stopped for lunch at a nearby beach, and it was a really nice day (although I am tired now).
On Monday we went to Frantoio di Santa Tea, a company that produces high quality olive oil. I bought some to bring home and the students had a great visit -- really nice weather. We saw Alli's dog buddy, Teo, who slobbered on a bunch of people while we toured around. He still likes to sleep in the pumice pile (dried pits and skins that they use to heat the plant, like burning wood pellets).
We left for the trip at 8:30 and two students missed the bus, but now everyone knows that the bus will leave on schedule. We got back to Florence about 12:15 and I worked in the afternoon to get material from the visit on the student's website, and they started writing about the visit at the same time.
It is turning hotter this week, and is supposed to reach 92 today. I got some new sandals made by the Italian company, Geox. So far they are very comfortable, and much better than shoes and socks on a hot day. I will do some more work this afternoon and a little shopping and laundry.
In the summer of 2006, we were in a little neighborhood area, but a pretty noisy one. A few restaurants on a piazza, a "sketchy" bar and an Irish pub. And World Cup fever. Last year we were on one of the main shopping streets in town and had an apartment where the windows opened onto an inner court in the building. Much quieter. This year I am on a nice quiet street with a window that opens onto the street so I can see and hear the goings on. More noise than last year, but less than the year before that. Great to be able to see the Duomo again every morning, though. Here are some pictures of the neighborhood.
I went with the two English professors, Margaret and David, to wander around Florence. Went all around taking pictures and ended up in the park looking over Florence, Piazzale Michelangelo. They were setting up an MTV concert while we were there, and there were three or four oriental weddings going on. The picture here from the Piazzale looking down on the Arno river and the famous bridge, the Ponte Vecchio.
These are some pictures during my walk from the school to my apartment. Not much to tell, but if you have questions, send me an email. I like getting email here.
Monday morning was the first day of class, and at 9:00 I had "most" people. Everyone eventually showed up, and we talked about how the class would operate, and what they needed to do. Much of the work they'll do is on a website, where they can share observations about Italian service processes (groceries, dining, buses, trains, etc.) and also analyze the companies we will visit.
After class, I worked on the websites and got things organized for Wednesday.
Tuesday was a pretty quiet day for some shopping (how many times will I go to the grocery store before I remember everything?) and some laundry. I also spent time at school talking to people there and catching up on things. I've been cooking for myself for breakfast and dinner, and getting sandwiches or something for lunch. The Oil Shoppe (Alli's favorite) is still there and the food is still great.
Wednesday was class again, and this time I had everyone (but one guy) when I started class. He showed up a little late, so eventually I had a full house. Here are pictures of the classroom I teach in.
Thursday I met with the person who will help me while the Penn State professor recuperates (he took ill and will come in June). Alan (the guy from the school) seems great and is proficient in Italian, so we'll be all set for all the trips. We go on three next week and he's really excited about going with us. Later I had a meeting with General Electric here in Florence, and they are going to host us again. We set up a very nice afternoon with them, with a presentation from some of their information specialists and a tour of a very interesting factory.
Today I actually slept in a little, and then went to school to work on the last details for the trips we'll be making. I'm going to test the train to one of our locations next week, and then I think we're all set for the rest of the semester. The students are all gone traveling to see stuff (a whole bunch went to Rome for soccer), and next week they will have a long weekend, since the school will be closed on June 2nd for an Italian holiday. Tried to get a computer problem fixed, but what they tried did not exactly fix everything. It works okay, so now I have to try to figure out whether to spend more time on it. Got some walking around picture taking time in, too. I'll try to process the pics and put them up on the web soon.
That's all for now.
(note: yahoo web hosting is giving me a little trouble this afternoon, so I will post in a couple of pieces so I don't lose too much work if my connection goes away)
After getting settled into the apartment on Thursday, I went to the airport to greet students on Friday morning. The school puts them in taxis to their apartments, and agents meet them there with keys and instructions (and to point out where the circuit breakers are). In the afternoon, I went to the train station to meet the bus that brought students who arrived in Pisa. Here they are:
On Saturday morning, we all met back at the train station for a bus ride up the mountain to Fiesole, for the orientation session at Hotel Aurora. Two years ago we took Andrew and Lauren and Rachel to that restaurant, and the views of Florence are great. The 165 students settled in for the lectures and presentations by the staff, and by a local police officer who explains the different expectations of Italians toward crime. I got to talk to some of the students on the break and during lunch, and I also had a chance to get to know the two English professors from UConn who are teaching a creative writing class.
On Sunday morning, more orientation started. The students got tours of the very confusing building that the school is located in. There are classrooms that are at the end of long passageways that do not look like they lead anywhere (my classroom is like that). I got pictures of most of the students to put on the class website so I can start to remember them (and they can get to know each other). They bought books and we were supposed to have a nice picnic in the park, but it was raining like crazy, so people just ate sandwiches in the building, or took them home.
This is the classroom where I teach, on the days we are not traveling to companies. Pretty nice, eh?
And note that the frescos on the walls are painted on flat walls. The three dimensional effect comes from the way the fresco is painted:
The kids fixed me a belated Mother's Day Breakfast-In-Bed, but it was really dinner. We had pancakes, eggs, bacon, juice, and lots of laughs. The boys played hockey with Barkley and had fun preparing dinner. Enjoy the rest of the pictures...I am here in Italy!
The flight from Hartford to New York was only thirty minutes and was fine. I had a bit of a layover at JFK, but I got something to eat and read a little. I met up with the other UConn faculty members, Margaret and David, and we talked a little and then boarded the plane. The eight hour flight to Pisa was pretty comfortable, and I even got a little sleep.
The plane landed and passport control was slow but they hardly did anything. We got our luggage and then got tickets on the TerraVision bus that goes to Florence. That took about an hour and a half - waiting for the bus to come and some traffic delays. A person from Palazzo Rucellai met us at the bus. She got a cab for me, and went with the other couple to their apartment.
The apartment agent, Antonio, was there to meet me at the apartment. It was in better shape than the one last year, and is just one big room with furniture dividers to make a kitchen and bedroom. The hot water heater was not acting right, so a plumber came this morning to look at it. We've never had much luck with water heaters in Italy.
First night I got a pizza at a place I like near San Lorenzo, and today I got a sub at the Oil Shoppe. I am getting my computer set up for wireless access all over town, and then will get my phone set up to be able to call home.
Some students arrived at 10:30 today and the rest arrive in Pisa at 5:30. There is an orientation in Fiesole tomorrow, and the rest on Sunday at Palazzo Rucellai. If the weather is good there will be a picnic on Sunday afternoon. Classes start on Monday.
Some pictures of the apartment next.
Today Jeff heads to Italy for his class in Florence. Beth & Alli will follow later in June, after Alli has a wonderful adventure in Bermuda with her 8th grade science teachers. Check back later for pictures from all of our summer travels.
Andrew and Evan will be working this summer and will not be able to travel with us. But maybe next time.
If you're planning to be in Italy, let us know and we would love to get together!
