A twofer: Thursday, February 1 and Friday, February 2

Susan:

Boy does time fly when you're bleary. Somehow two days have gone by and while nothing of huge significance occurred, you might say everything was significant as we continue to learn to make our way in the world here. Don't get me wrong, nothing is a hardship, but everything is an adjustment to some degree when it comes to establishing "home" for a bit and it's in Italian to boot. Luckily we have Betty, a retired Meredith faculty member who now assists with the study abroad programs, and her British husband, John, who are knowledgeable and fun and versed in the local culture and language, to guide us through. In addition, there is Sara who runs the palazzo and smoothes our way here in Sansepolcro, and local professors as well.

Yesterday was all about logistics: the kitchen set up (how to follow the extensive and strictly enforced local trash, recycling, and composting rules), the chore teams which the students (and Jake) are divided into, how classes will run, the palazzo rules, the semester calendar, the excursions, on and on.

Afternoon was a walk through of the bus station and a trip to a local museum, guided tour courtesy of one of Betty and John's friends, a crossbow shooter extraordinaire.

After that we took an informative, hilarious shopping trip to the Co-op, or Coop as it appears and Jake pronounces it, a less expensive option than the closer shopping center (Pam - which the students call Crabtree Valley - local peeps will get that one- due to its slightly more high end nature). It has both groceries and household goods so was a good place to stock up on non-supplied food, toiletries we elected to buy here rather than travel with, etc. Labels are an unpredictable mix of Italian and English (sometimes none, sometimes a lot). We made great use of our translator apps and used rudimentary Italian on the store employees. All in all I think we provided a good deal of entertainment in the crowded store. Did you know that peanut butter is not a thing here? There's one tiny section of jars in the middle of a thousand jams and jellies and the choices are... Skippy. :)

Last night was apparently catch up night for sleep, finally. I slept for twelve hours then wondered how long everyone else had been up. Turns out most all students (including Jake) were still asleep and had to be awakened to make lunch at 1:00.

Quick note about lunches... We are ridiculously spoiled. Margherita, a multi-talented local woman with supreme chef skills makes an elaborate spread for lunch, our big meal of the day. It's always followed by a dessert she made. Sigh...

Today, after lunch was a long, lovely walk outside the city walls, through the countryside, to the Tiber River. Afterward a 'meet the faculty' gathering with the local Italian faculty who are part of the teaching team.

Enough for now. Feel free to skim. This is not only a way to keep those interested abreast of our adventures but gives us a collective diary to look back on years from now. We're all taking photos and taking turns posting. I appreciate anyone who drops in and follows along in any form or amount. Letting us know you're out there means a great deal. We may feel as though we're living on a movie set but we already, and are certain to continue the whole time, miss the friends and family who make up our lives.  Ciao.

Jake playing the palazzo's piano, which happens to be located in a little chapel off one of the living rooms...



He wanted me to post this photo which shows some piano music that was left behind...


There's a lunch menu every day...


Darn, I can't get the mp4 to load of the opera singer who came to visit us for lunch. He sang O Solo Mio while coming up the three story interior stone stairway, and it gave everyone chills it was so breathtaking. Hyperbolic I know, but it was pretty amazing.

Jake standing in front of our temporary home, Palazzo Alberti. This is the front door and our part of the building is over a pizza place and a button shop...



Me standing across the street, because that's what the photographer requested...




Kinda old...



Part of the door...



See the word shampoo in there? Helpful!...



Menu...





Out the window of our bedroom in the apartment...



An olive tree garden. A terrible blight hit olive trees a while back and caused great destruction and consternation as you can imagine. Look at the size of the trunks compared to the new shoots and you get an idea of the age of these trees they're trying to save.



Of course there are Cypress trees everywhere...














The turnaround point of our walk - the Tiber River...







Believe it or not, a stucco tobacco barn where predominant strain grown and handled was Brightleaf tobacco.