Back to Florence plus our last day in Italy

So back to Florence we went. First we explored the Ufizzi and saw so much amazing and beautiful art. I will always love how old it all is and how beautifully preserved it is. After all the art we once again made it across the Ponte Vecchio onto lunch and the Pitti Garden. Interestingly there was actually a Gelato Festival going on over there but we held ourselves back and did not get any over there. The biggest temptation might have been the gelato cocktails :)
After all that we just walked around and around not getting at all lost :) We found this cool area where some guys where drawing in chalk on the road on our way to this beautiful old apothecary/perfumery. All in all it was a great last day of city exploration.



On the very last day we spent our day exploring the area around Casa Cares. We were taken to the farm where Paul gets his olive oil and wine harvested. The winery was the coolest to me. See below

We walked to this great pizzeria and on the way back Katie and I went exploring in the Waterfall creek again and found a little friend that might have freaked me out just a little. I seem to somehow attract snakes.



And now onto England I go to enjoy time with that crazy fun cousin of mine Amy :)

Final day of Classes

This migt be acouple days overdue because the internet has been a bit touchy at Casa Cares.

On our final day of classes and we had classes all day long. The first class was an Italian counselor and he came and spoke to us about his school and a program that he began here in Italy. His school is pretty different from our last speakers, but his overall philosophy of how counselors see people and work with people was same. He had a large focus on truly connecting with your clients.

After lunch, Dr. Foster talked about her experiences in Haiti recently when she worked with the earthquake victims. Her stories and pictures were amazing and it really made me want to help people in other countries once again. Disaster relief is a very important thing and a big need. I was amazed to hear that there is actually a counselors without borders program. I have only ever heard about doctors without borders and like to think that this is just as amazing and very needed for victims of disaster

Our final speaker was Dr. Tyson and we had a group discussion on an incident that occurred at Augusta State University in Georgia. Apparently the school required this student take sensitivity training because she believed that being gay was a choice and was in favor of conversion therapy since because gay is a sin. We debated both sides and then all decided that we were in favor of what the school did.

After classes I adventured around the area up the hill and even down into the fun little waterfall area. I hate to admit it but a little frog even startled me bc I was afraid that it might be a snake. After dinner we learned some Italian hand gestures which was beyond funny and then we had another bon fire.

Siena

I love Siena. Such a beautiful and vibrant town. There is so much to do and so much to see. I have been to Siena in the past and coming back really made me love it more and more. I veered off from the group a bit today because I felt the town tour was not needed because of my past experience in the town. While they were exploring I did the same. I had to go up the tall tower in the Piazza del Campo of course. 400 steps up is totally worth the view at the top.

The Fountain of Joy

The 400 steps up Tower :)


View from up top


Me up top


I wish I was them, biking all around would be amazing. Although some of these hills would be rough and tough

Italian hair styles are quite unique





A beautiful ending to an amazing day in Sienna

So much we are doing, so little time to blog

We have been up to so much. Traveling around Italy and staying in hearing great speakers. Since my last post we have been To Greve and San Gimignano. Our first day of outings was to Greve and San Gimignano. Greve had a huge open air market from local vendors. We got to try some home-grown olives and fruits. My basket of peaches is still great three days later. And of course there were lots of clothes so I just had to get a dress. After all of the market we headed over to a nice wine-tasting business where we got to sample about 100 different wines if we wanted to :)
San Gimignano was our next stop which was a nice hilly town filled with pottery places so I of course had to buy some and luckily am having them shipped back home so they can't break in my suitcase on the plane.














The next day was a lecture day. We heard from two Italian speakers. The first class was about Italian schools. The speaker was an American who has been living in Italy for the past 44 years.She talked about how the schools systems were different. Italian schools are very different from American schools when it comes to structure, but similar when it comes to problems with students. Like in America, students are consumed by technology.

Our next speaker was extremely interesting. He is an Italian social worker and he works with Italian Immigrant prostitutes. We works with theme three nights a weeks. Along with a crew, he finds prostitutes and lets them know where they can get medical help and help for other problems as Well. He is rarely able to get women out of the sex trade because of the danger it would impose on the girls and their families. It is such a sad situtaion, but I am glad that people care enough to help these girls because otherwise they would be shunned by society.

Late in the afternoon, we went to mass, but first we took a hike in the woods. It was a really pretty hike and mass was very interesting. For evening entertainment we had a bon fire and told stories and played mafia.

two lectures today from great Italians

Today Dott. Eugenio Bucchini and Amy Kleine were our speakers today. Hearing from the actual Italian counselors here in Italy is very eye opening of the true differences and similarities between their counseling profession and ours in the States.
First Doctore Eugenio Bucchini spoke. He explained his belief that the difference between psychotherapy and psychology is the relationship of mutual respect– truly talking to the people. Of course the biggest and most important part in the counseling approach is truly knowing and understand your client, not just studying them.
Next we heard from Amy Kleine, a former American who has since become an Italian and thus is an Italian counselor. She is the assistant director of health and wellness at Syracuse University in Florence. She works directly with students in Florence looking after their safety and well being. She also teaches cross-cultural counseling at a Counseling school in Italy.
It has become very eye opening to hear from the people here and about the history and current approach to the counseling profession here in Italy.


A beautiful ending to a great day

The whole group

I can't believe I have forgotten to post the picture of all of us here for the Counselors View of Italy
Here you go, all 38 of us

further explorations

Today we traveled to a beautiful lake. It was huge and luckily in a town that sold just about a million arts and crafts. I looked through plate after plate and bowl after bowl and decided upon a spoon rest for my stove at home. Plus perhaps a couple wine bottle stoppers.



Loved these huges vases filled with corks

Then on we went to Assisi. It is a beautiful small town that is on a hillside. We walked ll the way up to the top to get the amazing view of town. Then down down down we went to the Cathedral of St Francis of Assisi. Traveling around Italy and truly experiencing the culture is beyond a dream. It is a different world and a different way of living that I could definitely see myself doing. Love it

Dr Cicogni and Florence

Yesterday was a very informative day. We began with a session with Dr Cicogni a psychiatrist at the Hospital in Florence. We learned about the history of mental health in Florence back to the 1700s. In the late 70s asylums were ended here in Italy much like they were in the states. While there are still cases of mandatory hospitalizations all around it seemed more to be optional to go to the psychiatric ward.
One very interesting thing to me that he brought up was a disorder called talked Stendhal syndrome. I had never heard of this nor had many people in the room. Stendhal syndrome is a psychosomatic illness that causes rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, confusion and even hallucinations when an individual is exposed to art, usually when the art is particularly beautiful or a large amount of art is in a single place. Learning and hearing about new things is always enjoyable.
After that we went on to the session by Dr. McCullom about in home counseling. It was a once again very informative and eye-opening session. She talked all about the organization and structure as well as possible issues.
At the end of the night we luckily got to get a wonderful presentation and display of this very unique mask maker. Pictures to follow :)





Today was a different day. We were in Florence walking around and even meeting with some Italian counselors. They were also very informative and opened my eyes to the similarities and differences in American Counselor and counseling and Italian counselors and counseling. One of the Italians brought up a very valid point via a quote that said something along the lines of "You can saw and saw away at wood but more difference will truly be made unless you sharpen the blade" This is a great thing to think about, one always needs to work to be better and sharper. After this we went on to the hospital to visit the locked mental ward. It was very eye opening and interesting to experience a locked ward.


After all this we went on to explore the city. We of course went to see the David.

Out and around

Today we went to Pisa and Lucca. Two beautiful and historical cities. I have always wanted to get over to the Leaning Tower and today I did. Dreams do come true.
Lucca was beyond great because from my love of the biking world I really appreciated that the wall around town had a car free bike and walk/jogging path. The Italians do truly seem to understand how to be aware of cyclist.



It is tough holding up the Tower













Andrea, Katie and I biked around the town

Italy day 1 and 2!

We made it here to Italy safe and sound. It is as beautiful as I remember and I am loving it more and more. Today we arrived at our home for two weeks, Casa Cares. It is an amazing building with amazing volunteers and staff. This place has their own garden, many olive trees, and even some animals. They make their own olive oil and even have bee houses and so make their own honey. I am deeply in love.
We are learning many things about Italy as a country and about it region by region. We have also been told of all of our lectures/informational sessions and they all look great. I am quite interested in our talk Monday from a local Italian about Psychiatric and Mental Health services in Italy. Sounds cool to me.

The view from our room

All of us from Birmingham
Katie, myself, Andrea, and Dr Tyson

We turned back into little girls and made crowns from clover flowers :)
Andrea, myself, and Katie

Casa Cares

less than 20 days til we go!

In 18 days I will be jumping in a plane to head to Italy. A Counselors view of Italy is going to be amazing. I am beyond excited and even more ready to be there right now. As an added bonus of having classes/meetings in Italy we will also be traveling all around the country. I cannot wait to have my first up close and personal view of the Leaning Tower of Pisa :)