It's a small world, after all

It really is uncanny how living thousands of miles away from people you know somehow draws them to you even more. It was weird enough running into my sorority “grand-big” at the train station, who completely unbeknownst to me is teaching English in Florence. But then, I get a message from an old family friend, and the next thing you know, I am giving her a tour of my little Italy.

Caitlin and I grew up together at a ski club both our families belonged to. We spent every winter weekend together, along with all of the other children our age, playing in the snow and sipping hot cocoa in the coziness of our large lodge. (And sneaking downstairs at night to watch our parents get drunk and dance on bar tops, but that’s another story). Eventually, kids grow up, life and college happen, and winter friendships become memories. Then five years later you are reconnecting half way across the world.

It was nice to actually wake up before eleven for once, and I even ran to my school to sign up for a chocolate tasting before meeting with Caitlin (it was, tragically, already full).

Then we find each other and catch up over cappuccinos, and I learn out she is living in France teaching English. She gets a comfortable salary, an apartment, long vacations, and works maximum 12 hours a week. Ummm…how can I get in? Considering all you need is three semesters of French to qualify, which I have, it’s safe to say I know what I’ll be doing after college.

Finally up-to-date with each other’s lives, I take Caitlin up to Michelangelo view point, which is beautiful as ever, and relatively tourist free since it is still pretty early.


Then we go back to town and meet up with her friend from high school, Katie, who is also studying in Florence. She takes us to ZaZa’s, where we share gnocchi gorgonzola and each get a caprese salad. And just like that, I have another favorite restaurant.

How can people here every truly have a “favorite”, I wonder, when almost every restaurant is a culinary 10.

The next day Katie and I decide Caitlin needs to experience the Florence night life. Interestingly enough, it is at the suggestion of her hostel roommate, a truly studly Australian who is just floating around Europe on vacation, that we end up at a hole-in-the-wall jazz bar to begin our night. It's the kind of place you only discover if you are brought by a local, or in our Aussie’s case, a local friend’s recommendation.

We relax in the cozy, almost sexy atmosphere you imagine a jazz bar has, think low lights and cocktails, and listen to the sensual music coming from the stage. The bands that perform are truly talented, and it’s refreshing to be somewhere the Florentines aren’t trying to please and profit from the American population in Florence. They are simply doing their thing.

After jazzing it up we go to a club, and my childhood friend has so much fun that I am forced to leave her at 5am, when I am too tired to dance any longer.

All in all, it was awesome to reconnect with Caitlin, and I loved re-exploring what has now become familiar terrain. I rush by national monuments on my way to class every day, and jog past breathtaking views, and forget that, while it may not be new anymore, there is still so much to discover and appreciate about my current home. All it takes is a reminder :)