Sunday, September 23, 2012

Harvesting and Celebrating

  


Monday, September 17 classes began again. Our German class was at 9:00 a.m. with Michi followed by Education 390 and then class with Mary learning of The Cantos by Ezra Pound. Unfortunately classes this week with Sizzo were all canceled. At twelve was an amazingly delicious lunch--weinerschnitzel with potatoes-- prepared by Graciella who filled in for Brigette this week. Later in the day, we witnessed the new born lamb, the newest edition to the family, walking around with its mother. It was a precious sight.


Tuesday, September 18 was our second work day, which was quite exciting for we all were able to harvest the grapes from the vineyards. Harvesting took us most of day but it was rewarding for we were all able to witness once again the process of making the wine.
 
Nick explaining how to harvest the grapes
Later that day harvesting
the making of the wine
 
Wednesday September 19. We had classes again. There was no class with Michi or Sizzo. We were supposed to travel to cup stones which are located up the mountain but unfortunately this trip was postponed due to the rainy weather than day.
Thursday September 20. We had our last day of classes for this week. After lunch, with not much to do and in anticipation for Amber's birthday, which was the following day, we all went up to town to get celebratory dinner ingredients at a local store. That night Ramsey made us the most delicious patty melts.
Friday September 21. We all celebrated Amber's 22nd birthday! We began our day by heading up to Dorf Tirol to grab some burgers and fries from the Wurstel Stand. Then we proceeded down the mountain heading towards Merano to spend the day in the city shopping.. We rode the chair lift down of course from Dorf Tirol to Merano which is always a fun experience. In the city we explored the market that takes place every Friday. Later that evening, we all continued to celebrate Amber's birthday by going out to a local club. It is interesting because we always are meeting new people everywhere we go.

Downtown Merano
 
Amber's Birthday gift--Chocolates!
At the Burger Stand
 
Saturday September 22. Professor Cates and his wife Gloria went to Bozen/Bolzano in preparation for our trip to Florence. They rode the train from Merano to Bozen to research the schedule and train tracks to make sure we get the right connection to Florence next week. They toured and explored the town while they were there.  We stayed at the castle studying and relaxing in our croft.
 



 
 
 
Submitted by: Megan Jolly
 

 


Sunday, September 16, 2012

The Beginning of an Exciting Journey

Michi teaching his crash course in German and Italian class.
     Monday, September 10, was the first day of class. We are going to be taking five classes over the three months in Italy. Starting at 9:00 every Monday and Thursday we have a crash course in German and Italian with Michael de Rachewiltz. So far we have learned how to introduce ourselves and say where we are from. Every bit helps when you are placed in an environment where barely anyone speaks English. Next, at 10:00 we have education in the United States and Europe with Professor Cates. Here we learn about the education systems in all the different countries in Europe in comparison to the United States. At 11:00 we have class with Mary de Rachewiltz where we learn about how to read and understand poetry. We also learn about the life of Ezra Pound and his ever so interesting life. Finally we have Myth and Agro-archeology where we learn about the world and how everything relates to each other. All the classes are very interesting and the professors that teach them have so much knowledge to share with us
 
     Tuesday, September 11, was the first of our Tuesday work days. The group was split into two, the boys ended up going to a vineyard in the mountain to pick grapes to be made into wine that night and the girls along with Professor Cates and Mrs. Cates had to pick bug infested grapes out of the vines.
 
 
Sebastian harvesting the grapes picked earlier that day.
 
 
Processed grapes.
 Michael picking grapes in the vineyard.
 
 
     Wednesday, September 12, was a fun day because for class we had a wine tasting for the Myth and Archeology class with Sizzo. We learned about the culture and mythology associated with wine. We learned how to tell the difference between wines and how to explain the qualities of wine. The most interesting part of the tasting was when it came down to describing the wine using your five senses. It is an interesting form of art that teaches you how to appreciate wine and look at it more than just a beverage.

     After our wine tasting the group decided to go out and eat for the first time since we arrived the previous Wednesday. The restaurant we chose was called Pizzaria Lindenwirt where we had delicious brick oven pizza and an ice cold Coca-Cola.  





                        The Group after our wine tasting.

 Delicious Pizza
 
 
     Thursday, September 13, Professor and Mrs. Cates went to the train station in Mirano to purchase the train tickets for our upcoming group trip to Florence, Italy.  
     Friday, September 14, The group went to the flea market in the city of Mirano. There we stopped at a restaurant to have lunch after the long day of walking and shopping. We went to a few stores like H&M and a bunch of boutiques for clothing shopping.
 
 
                                                                Sun glasses everyone purchased at the Flea Market on Friday.
 
     Saturday, September 15, was a fun day for everyone. Sebastian, Ramsey, and Megan went to a waterfall about 15 minutes away for a swim.


 
After swimming Professor Cates took the group out for dinner at another local Pizzeria in town where the group had a satisfying meal.

     After dinner the group went for a night out on the town. We went to a night club called Club X and had a great time dancing and socializing with the locals.
 
     Sunday, September 16, was a relaxing day. To cap off the busy week we had tea with Mary at 4:00. We finished our week with completing homework and other assignments in the afternoon.
Submitted by : Daniel Iovino-Ortiz

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Once in a Lifetime Adventure





 Monday, September 6, 2012 at 1:30pm we all gathered in front of Belk to load up in the van and depart for the airport; Dr. Glass and Brian were our two selected drivers.
 From left to right:
Amber, Megan, Ramsey, Mike, Danny and Sebastian.  






Our first stop was Dunkin Donuts, where  Dr.  Glass bought everyone anything they wanted. Thank you Dr. Glass! :)
~Amber & Ramsey





 Our trip was not the easiest of them all, we had multiple complications. Starting with our flight getting delayed from RDU to London, passports and ticket mishaps, to possibly a plane strike in London. We originally were supposed to depart from RDU at 6:15 but unfortunately we did not depart till 9:30 allowing us to arrive in London at  10:15am (5 hours ahead of NC) we left London at 3pm then arriving in Munich 6pm (6 hours ahead of NC). Going through a great excursion of trying to get to our luggage and find our driver which took about two hours. We had to go through security to get to our luggage and then through customs and just my luck I was the one who got chose to be searched. They tore my bags apart, I can now look back and laugh about this moment.

The group leaving RDU!

I don't wanna fly!












Danny and Ramsey sleeping waiting to get on the plane for Munich.


Riding the bus to the other side of the airport in London.

Once we found our driver, now 8pm we loaded up and headed to the castle. We all were very exhausted and wanted to sleep in a real bed and not a chair. The drive was pretty scary going through the extremely small roads to the castle.
About to land in London.



























Since being at the castle for a week we have taken a day trip to see Dorf Tirol and Merano which was a 10 mile hike there and back. Went to the Friday market in Merano which is were people sell clothes, shoes, bread, etc. As well as visiting the Dolomite's and the glaciers.
Our first allowance!

Our hike through Dorf Tirol.








Listening to what Michi is saying.













In the city of Merano.

Heading to Merano.






Megan, Mike and Ramsey eating gelato ( ice cream).





Yesterday, September 8, we all took a group trip to the Dolomite's. That was one amazing trip I think we all will never forget, between the two hour car trip up the mountains whipping through the turns like they were nothing, hiking on top of the Dolomite's and taking a class with Michi while sitting near the edge of the Dolomite's listening to geological stories. After we had class at the Dolomite's we all decided to go to the glaciers. That definitely is something we will always remember. We took a trolley to the top of the glaciers which was about a 5 minute ride of standing up on a scary cart. Once there we hiked to the top to see the glorious glaciers it was chilly but also hot with the sun shining down. After we experienced the glaciers we had the option to take the trolley back down or hike down the side of the mountain which would have been an hour and forty-five minute tremendous walk. Megan, Ramsey, myself, as well as Michi and Johnny (our farm helper) chose to hike down. It was a life time experience that I'm glad I chose to do. We completed the hike in 45 minutes!! Once at the bottom our legs were shaky and our feet in much pain. But it was well worth it. We stopped at the local grocery store grabbed some food because most things are closed on Sundays, and all crashed once back in the loft.
The group having class on top of the Dolomite's

Funny pose!


Ramsey and I hiking up to the Glaciers
Finally at the glaciers! Hope you enjoyed our week journey!



Our first week here has been amazing and it will only get better from here.

Submitted by: Amber Hicks