Hello everyone!

My name is Ann and I will be traveling to Siena, Italy in three days!  I am very excited.  In fact, I’ve been excited for months.  The reason I am going to Italy is for the Sign Language program they offer during the summer.  Once there, I will be learning signed and spoken Italian along with their Deaf culture and history.  I can’t wait!  Although, my Nana has been warning me not to fall for any “cute, dark haired, young men” while I’m there.  Her words not mine.  Don’t worry Nana, I’ll focus on the beautiful landscape and real gelato (ice cream) instead. 

My expectations for the culture do not really exist.  I have been to Europe in the past and have learned first-hand that there are many “subcultures” within any town or city.  I am simply looking forward to going there and meeting people from a culture different from my own.  I am a bit sad to be missing the Palio di Siena by a few days though.          The Palio di Siena is a large, annual horse race where thousands of people crowd into the Piazza del Campo (town square, shown above) and race three laps around a pre-made, dirt track.  It apparently lasts roughly 90 seconds.  Ah, but the energy generated in the crowd of spectators would have been amazing to witness first-hand.

Over the past few months, while getting everything ready for the trip, I have gone through stages of excitement, nervousness, a bit of trepidation, and back around to excitement again.  This last week has been all excitement, though!  My family have said they cannot wait for me to go so I will stop bouncing off the walls in my eagerness.  Well, in less than 72 hours, my adventure begins.  Siena, here I come!  🙂