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The Perfect Day in Florence

Published on by carolinepotterLeave a comment

I have officially been in Florence for 12 weeks. Time has gone by so fast, but in these 3 months, I *think* that I have created the perfect complilation of architechture, cultural icons, and most importantly, gastronomic endeavors if you had only one day in Florence.

Morning

Start off the day by visitng the Gallery de Academia, which houses Michelangelo’s David. In my experience, it is the best to get the earliest time slot (8:15) and get in line 20 min. before entry. Then, when you get in, head straight for the David. I did this with my parents and we got the most breathtaking view before anyone else had wandered in. After this, head just a few blocks away to La Menagere for breakfast. You truly cannot go wrong with anything here, but my personal favorite is the uova strapazzate con formaggio, bacon, e pane tostato and an iced matcha with vanilla. Wander around the gorgeous space and curated home store after breakfast if you have time! Next, I would suggest going to the Duomo in the heart of Florence and seeing the baptestry, inside the cathedral, and also climbing the cupola! Learning how revolutionary Brunelleschi’s techniques were is truly amazing and makes you appreciate the cathedral even more! Following this, if you love retail therapy like I do, browse all of the shopping that Florence has to offer on Via Tornabuoni and Via Calimala. Alternatively, you could take a cooking class or go wine tasting!

Afternoon

The Uffizi Gallery, which was previously the administrative building for the Medici Family, is an enormous gallery housing some of the most impressive art that was in the Medici collection. I would highly suggest visiting and getting a private tour (it is HUGE and you can feel a little overwhelmed if you go in blind). Following this, walk over to Pino’s Sandwiches on Via Giuseppe Verdi for lunch. The schiacciateria (Tuscan foccacia sandwiches) are undoubtedly my favorite food in Florence! After this, wander across the Ponte Vecchio to Santo Spirito, where you can stop at a wine window – or simply explore all of the adorable shops (I may be biased because my apartment is in Santo Spirito, but I think it is the best!!).

Evening

From Santo Spirito, walk East along the Arno River to Porta San Niccolò and then climb up the hill to Piazzale Michelangelo. This is the best spot to watch sunset in Florence, but can get crowded, so get there early to get a spot! Grab a drink from the bar nestled into the side of the lookout or simply enjoy the Tuscan sunset! After sunset, head to dinner at Trattoria Cammillo, Cantinetta Antinori, or Cibrèo. Florence has some of the best restaurants in the world, so you truly cannot go wrong (same goes for all of the food here). If you have a later reservation, feel free to pop into a wine bar or stop and grab an apertivo while you wait.

Nighttime

Following dinner, grab gelato at La Sorbetteria, La Strega Nocciola, or Gelateria La Carraria. From there, you can either head back to your accomodation and tuck in for the night or go out in Florence! Some of my favorite places here are Red Garter for Karaoke or Lion’s Fountain – an Irish Pub that always has American sports on!

If you get the chance to visit Florence – TAKE IT! Even though I still have 3 weeks here, I am already reminiscing about my time spent here because I can say that without a doubt, I have fallen in love with Florence.

Arreviderci,

Caroline

P.S. Check out Katie Parla’s website for the best food recs in Florence & all of Italy!

Ultimate Politics

Published on by Caitlin TurkLeave a comment

One of my favorite spaces in Dakar is the U.S. Embassy field where I play ultimate frisbee most Sundays. Let’s be clear: I kind of suck at throwing a frisbee. But I like to run and I’m having lots of fun! Plus, it’s a great opportunity to talk with expats from all over the world. The group that plays is composed of people from the U.S., Germany, China, France, Canada, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, and even Senegal itself. I love chatting with them in both English and French, learning about their jobs and lives in Senegal and asking what brought them abroad. 

I began playing frisbee in Senegal because two of my friends from my program play ultimate at their universities, so they found this group on Facebook and invited the rest of us students to join. I love all sorts of sports and really just wanted an opportunity to exercise with other people. I am definitely missing my club swim team back on campus and was hoping to find a similar type of sports community in Senegal. I also have an ulterior motive: my boyfriend plays ultimate at his university, and I know he’d love it if I can actually learn how to play properly so we could throw the frisbee together! 

This past Sunday, I spent all morning and early afternoon working on my application for the Truman Scholarship. My brain was muddled and my body was tired, and I just needed an excuse to run around for two hours. So I went to frisbee! 

The first half of the game, it was 90 degrees and sunny. My body felt awful and I kept making mediocre-at-best plays. I did not feel good, and I was mad because I had come to frisbee to try to feel good. I subbed myself out and got some water on the sideline while watching the sunset. The sun itself looked orange and huge and cast rays of light all over the sky and ocean. Colors turned from blue to yellow and orange to pink and purple and then softly faded away. 

Feeling like the temperature just dropped 20 degrees, I rejoined the game and had a great 30-minute run. I played an important role in multiple attempts to get the frisbee to the endzone, caught and redistributed the frisbee during fast plays, made quick cuts, and scored a point by sprinting into the endzone to catch the frisbee. I was playing well, and I loved it. 

Soon afterwards, we finished the game and I began chatting with one of my teammates. Somehow our conversation went from me checking to see if his injured ankle was okay to him explaining why he voted for Obama in the past and then recently voted for Trump. I asked him all sorts of questions, including: 1) Did you vote for Trump because you liked him or because you didn’t like Harris? 2) What do you think of Trump’s character as a person? 

3) Which of Trump’s policies do you like? 4) What policy issues are most important to you? 5) Do you think Trump has caused more polarization in the country? 6) Does the release of the Epstein emails change your opinion of Trump?

He asked me similar questions in response and I shared my own beliefs, but I don’t think either of us changed our stances. I love talking about politics and people’s political opinions when they differ from mine, and wow did our opinions differ. Having conversations, even sometimes frustrating ones, is so important to furthering our understanding—even if we never reach an agreement. 

I do this with my host family too; for example, my host father is polygamous, which I disagree with, but my host mom and I have had multiple discussions about her experience as the third wife and how she is very happy about her situation. While I know that is one reality and is certainly not the case for all Senegalese women, it is very interesting to hear her perspective and positive experience. 

Speaking about politics in Senegal also makes me realize just how impactful the U.S. is in international politics. Months ago, I remember chatting with my host mom after dinner and she asked me if Trump was dead because she had seen a rumor circling on TikTok. I have seen pictures of Obama and Martin Luther King, Jr. at numerous historical and cultural sites. People I speak with on the streets or in restaurants ask me where I’m from and I respond the U.S., and they rave about how wonderful a country it is despite never having been there. 

I lived in France from 2016 to 2021 and being in Senegal now is very reminiscent of that as far as politics are concerned. In both countries, many people know the basics of American policy and definitely have an opinion about Trump. 

In Senegal, the number of taxi drivers that have asked me how to get papers to visit the U.S. is insane. However, I doubt half the American population could pinpoint Senegal on a map. I don’t think I could have a few years ago. While living in a foreign country that is so influenced by the U.S. in terms of everything from culture to foreign aid, being told by my frisbee teammate that he doesn’t really care about the U.S.’s foreign policy when it comes to voting was definitely a shock. It’s interesting to see that even though we both chose to leave the U.S. and come to Senegal, we can still have very different stances on American politics. 

To me, the influence of the U.S. abroad is great motivation to stay informed and talk with others, be it at frisbee or elsewhere. Nearly every morning, I begin my day by eating breakfast by myself and reading the New York Times. I talk with the other students in my program about their political views and their career aspirations in policy-related fields. I update my host mom when New York City elects its first Muslim mayor. And I use my time playing ultimate frisbee to connect with others and sometimes learn about their political views. 

I think I’m becoming a better, more informed person who is more capable of having nuanced conversations as a result. It makes me want to work on all policy issues, both foreign and domestic, and do what I can to create some good in the world. And maybe that starts with playing some ultimate and talking about some politics. Maybe that starts with some (bad joke incoming…) ultimate politics!

Ba ci kanam / À bientôt / See you soon,

Caitlin