Cappuccini, scarves, and lions

My scarf covers my neck, loose and dandy, with warmth covering my whole body. I get off the plane from Zurich and feel the frigid wind against my cheek. I step down the stairs and make my way to baggage claim. Ordering a taxi to take me to my hotel I see the street lights that make my city beautiful. The older Italians smoke a cigarette in the alleys near a panini shop. My face lights up with a feeling of comfort. I am back home where the views of the mountains are something taken out of the movies. And the sun setting is a view that you just don't want to miss. Skies are clear and blue covers over the Duomo and past the mountains. 

Getting to my hotel, I remember having a nervous stomach about having to go to campus the next day. Yet I was also excited to see my friends that I haven't seen in 4 weeks. I carried my heavy suitcases up the two flights of stairs (not realizing that there was a hidden elevator) and dropped everything in my room. I opened my window and let the cold air of Florence flood my room. I set up my phone to charge and put on a movie. Going to bed I could barely shut my eyes. Tossing turning I thought about being back on campus and roaming the halls of campus. Running into friends I haven't seen since before the holidays. And then seeing those I knew were bound to happen. I dreamt of our first encounter screaming the excitement.

The morning of I jumped in the shower and got ready to head to campus. In the taxi to campus I remember texting Mellak, she was already there, I was so excited to see her. Passing the gas station and up to the guard hearing him say "Savannah Garza é qui." 

The following day was when the rest of our friends were arriving. Mellak and I got up early and made our way to enjoy our first cappuccino and falafel sandwich. Running into people campus we passed and made our way out to the sunny streets of Florence. We enjoyed our sandwich in San Marco where the smell of cigarettes was second nature to us. We watched couples wall the streets and students with backpacks holding their bags of McDonald's. 

We returned to campus and while in a friends room we hear a knocking at the door. I open the door and scream. It was Tucker. A few hours later while Tucker is unpacking in his room we hear the door open to the face of Henry. We all surround him and hug him. We chatted about our experiences on the flights and laughed about the food we ate while on the plane. We went out for dinner that night to a new place we have never tried. It was an Indian place and it was so good. In our scarves and long coats, we went into a small convenience store and bought a bottle of wine. Back on campus, we enjoyed a bottle of wine after 2 hours of trying to get open. We played spoons with Emma D and Gracie.

The next day, which was the day before classes, we went out and got coffee at Centro Storico. We sat for 2 hours talking about random stuff. We went to tucker and Mellak's favorite Chinese restaurant with Emma D. It was amazing and warm. We laughed about old encounters with high school friends and family. 

Those first few days before the start of classes was full of sun and coffee. Catching up on life and family life. Being back in the States and back at work making money and eating Chipotle. 

Classes started and it was weird seeing professors on a laptop screen. And hearing lectures on the first day. My brain was not ready for that lol. I think the thing that we were not looking forward to the most was...... the cafeteria food. 

The first Friday of the semester meant going out. And when I mean everyone went out I mean everyone on campus was out roaming the streets of Florence. Smelling the cigarette smoke on everyone's hair. We went out with Lexi, Gracie, Emma D, and Emma C. We went to 3 bars and somehow always ended up at Lions. Drinking watered-down Vodka cranberries and catching shots down our necks. Running into others from campus we share drinks and drunk knowledge. Mellak, Tucker, Henry, and I made our way to a gay bar called Queer. Flashing lights bounced off the walls as Lizzo played Henry and I danced till we couldn't anymore. 

At the end of the night, 6 girls filled the streets of Florence as they made their way to San Marco to catch a cab. 

This semester is to be filled with carefree living and happiness. Only worrying about friends, school, and travel. Cheers to a new semester.