May 22: A Day in Siena

We woke up a little earlier this morning as Siena is much further away from the villa. I grabbed a quick breakfast and brought my laptop on the bus to do some homework. The undergraduate students also did their oral presentations for the entire bus on different Italian food dishes.

We arrived in Siena and had a macchiato at Nannini. Mateo purchased "ricciarelli" for us all to try. It is a small almond dessert that is sprinkled in powdered/confectioner sugar. It was nice and soft, however, it was incredibly sweet. I am not a huge fan of the taste of powdered sugar, but still enjoyed the treat. 

We then went to the center of the city. Catia told us that a lot of horse races are conducted there. It was incredible to see all the restaurants and shops strategically placed to create this circular plot of brick road. We were able to go and explore the shops. Nicole and I found some beautiful leather goods. The quality of the leather for the price was kind of insane. You wouldn't even be in a store and you could smell the leather. I got a crossbody bag for only $20!!! The United States not only sacrifices in quality with their food but with their fashion, as well. Everything is outsourced from China or cheaply made. The black pleather jacket I had with me was peeling and exposing its' lack in quality. 

We then met Catia and Meteo for lunch with a couple of other students. I am someone who is used to working out at least 4/5 times a week and I have a salad every day. Though the quality of the food in Italy has been great, I felt like I was having a lot of sugar and simple carbohydrates with little protein. I planned to have a salad for lunch. We sat down and I noticed that there wasn't much variety in salad choices. I opted for grilled chicken and "pomodori"/ tomato salad. I was relieved to have vegetables and a big piece of meat. I do wish that this region of Italy partook in more fruits and vegetables. Though I don't feel bloated, I do feel sluggish or that my immune system isn't as strong with not having fruits and vegetables that provide so many beneficial nutrients, vitamins and minerals. I feel like a lot of students are getting sick due to it. 

Alyssa and I decided to grab a gelato after lunch. My first experience was pretty nutty, so I wanted to get more decadent flavors this time. I chose tiramisu and chocolate for my two flavors. It was pretty incredible and did not disappoint at all. 

We then took a tour of the Duomo, Duoma di Siena. We have visited so many gorgeous cathedrals, however, this one absolutely had me in awe. I grew up in a Christian household, so seeing all of the amazing paintings, sculptures, etc. it really made me emotional. I stood in front of the Statue of Jesus Christ with Him on the cross and tears started welling in my eyes. The choral singing in the background and the grandiose aesthetics of the cathedral felt heavenly. It was pretty surreal. I went and sat down in one of the chairs in front of the altar and I began to pray. You felt compelled to bask in the beauty of it and really take the time to appreciate it. It was something that can't even be properly explained, it just has to be experienced. I kept remembering thinking how much my mom would love it. 

I walked around awestruck and then decided to go with Nicole to one of the narrated informational stands which you could pay two Euros and learn about the history of the church and its architecture. We decided to invest and learn more about this amazing cathedral. It was broken down into multiple sections. 

We learned that the floors are a mixture of graffito marble local to Siena. The inscription in the church translates to, "remember to enter chastely in this sacred temple." Giogio Vasari, an Italian painter and architect, called it, "the most beautiful....great and magnificent...that was ever made." 

All artists of the cathedral were from Siena except for one Umbrian painter, Bernardino di Betto also known as Pinturicchio. The design of the flooring with the graffiti white marble and black stucco creates the shape of a cross with 26 columns. The stoops were constructed by Antonio Federighi. The columns have some dragons representing that human kind is destined to be sinful. 

We learned that the main altar contains Roman art and the central panel on it represents the bread of life which descends from heaven which derives from John 6:33, "For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world." The cathedral was constructed between 1215 and 1265. 

We looked at the exhibits in the museum next door shortly after and then I ordered a espresso, "un porta via" from the café behind the church. I was really excited how confident I was getting with my Italian. For dinner, we had pasta alla cacciatora and polla alla cacciatora. I was happy to have a pretty healthy dinner and loved how tender the chicken was. The chicken fell off the bone and everything tasted amazing.  

This day taught me about authenticity and confidence. There have been many times as a student that I have held back due to a lack in confidence. Going to a completely different country and learning an unknown language very fast can make someone not feel confident, as well. With the ever changing world of dietetics, there will be many times where I need to stay up to date on the nutritional trends and to know as much about them so that I have the confidence in presenting the information to others. 

I also feel that by being authentic and true to who you are, that it will help navigate you to the area that you are meant to be in. To know yourself and your skill sets, you'll be able to figure out where your gifts work best. 

Being in the cathedral and going back to my roots and then confidently embracing the Italian language has helped me see that when I am authentic and confident in who I am and what I bring to the table, that I can accomplish great things. Every Italian woman I've encountered whether she be a chef, a waitress,  store clerk, etc. is so apparently confident in who they are and strong. They have a kind of attitude and independent nature that is admirable. That is something I look forward to exploring and perfecting within myself, as well.