I was warned to beware of the culture shock that would occur upon arrival in Parma. The slower, more rustic life of the quaint city of Parma doesn't compare to the fast-paced stimulation of life in Florence. Personally, I was pleasantly surprised by the change of scene. A smaller, more intimate city than Florence and Rome, Parma offers a taste of "real" Italy. Almost no one speaks English very well. There are no flocks of American tourists and students in the streets and museums. As such, I look forward to making Parma feel like home.
The yellow architectural structures and innumerable traffic circles create an amalgamation of old with new as modern shops and vintage cafes line the narrow streets. I have fallen in love with my rusty black bicycle. I ride my bicycle all over the long tree-lined streets and explore the beautiful park right outside my doorstep on Via Torelli. On main roads, the right of way is given to bicyclists because of the prevalence of riding here. Though it is still chilly and I am forced to wear a hat or earmuffs, I have found no better way to get around town.
The center of the city is called Piazza Garibaldi. A yellow building with sundials, thermometers, and compasses etched in black stands tall with a clock marking the piazza where cafe tables surround a giant statue of Garibaldi. I am becoming familiar with the street names and locations of the other students' villas and apartments around town and my map is always handy while I orientate myself to Parma. I was placed in a homestay with a couple in their mid-forties with no children. Their names are Paola and Marco Gazzola and they are AMAZING. They are sweet, well-traveled, knowledgeable, and kind. However, they do not speak english. This has been a blessing in disguise as I end each family dinner thinking in italian. Hopefully, I will have some mastery over the language by the time I leave here in June.
The Gazzola apartment is BEAUTIFUL. Located in a quiet neighborhood five minutes from the main street through town, the area is lovely. A mix between Bauhaus decor and eclectic European simplicity, their home is comfortable, neat, and well decorated. My room is spacious with rich hardwood floors and plenty of reading material. There are gorgeous guitars hung on the wall. I have the most picturesque view of the park and the trees there look like something out of a fairytale. I can't wait till the weather gets nice to lay out with a good book and some vino frizzante.
We have visited the Galleria Nazionale in Parma and the Farnese Theatre (which had to be reconstructed after bombings in World War II). We learned about a fresco of nude putti dancing through a garden at the once affluent convent in Parma and also seen the Cathedral. These sites where one of the great Northern Italian artists called Correggio had his start. The Art History class will continue with day trips around Italy and more information on hotspots in Parma. Also, we have begun learning about the history of Parma. That class takes place entirely in italian, but the Professoressa (Elizabetta) is fantastic!
The people from Parma are so real and though life isn't as wild as Florence, I will certainly be enjoying the quiet and culturally immersed life here. As the church bells toll out my window and I sit anticipating cooking dinner with my host mother (she is a fabulous cook and a vegetarian so I have been taking note of all her recipes!), I am so content with this new life in Italy. It is everything I could have imagined and more!
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