Back to Canada

It was not easy for us to leave our home.

– E

OOTD in Firenze’s Boboli Gardens

Jen and I decided to spend the day at Florence’s famous Boboli Gardens and have a little fun with our outfits. Our outfit details are below. If you have any suggestions for future videos, questions and/or comments, please leave them down below. Thank you so much for watching and don’t forget to give this video a thumbs up and subscribe if you haven’t already! xx

My outfit details:
Hat: Market in Florence
Blouse: H&M
Maxi skirt: Garage
Sandals: Aldo

Jen’s outfit details:
Tank top: Garage
Skirt: Garage
Shoes: Winners

– E

239 Days Away From Canada

Looks like I totally forgot about posting these entries from my journal… better late than never haha.

Day 234: April 22, 2015
Jen and I woke up early in the morning to say goodbye to Aaron, Michael, Brian and JW as they left to go back to Canada. Jen and I just relaxed for the day to catch up on rest since we just got back from traveling. It feels so weird not having Alesha around and no neighbours! I can only imagine how strange it will be when I move back to Canada.

Day 235: April 23, 2015
In the afternoon Jen and I went to Milligan and Milligan one last time to say our goodbyes. We were planning to sell our Art History textbooks back to the book store, but we didn’t end up doing so. Jen came with me to Lory to get my business cards for GradEx printed. In the evening we went to Gusta Pizza where we met up with Megan and her boyfriend Alex. The pizza never fails. So delicious! It is going to be one of things I am going to miss most about Florence.

Day 236: April 24, 2015
Before heading to the Boboli Gardens Jen and I went t return our textbooks. We were so upset that we got so little back for what we paid for… it was a used textbook and we got less than half our money back. On a positive note, the Boboli Gardens is gorgeous!!! I very much enjoyed my time there. If anyone plans to visit Florence, the Boboli Gardens is a must see! Beautiful and relaxing. What could be better?

Day 237: April 25, 2015
Last Saturday. So sad!! We pretty much spent it walking around Florence.

Day 238: April 26, 2015
Last Sunday. How can it already be the last Sunday!? Where did the time go?? I spent all day and all night packing. So much stuff! Jen, Alesha, Amy and I had our last dinner together in Florence. 😦 Later in the evening we all walked with Meg and Alex around Florence one last time. Funny thing is that we all had no more money on our phones so we had to use a payphone to book a taxi.

Day 239: April 27, 2015
I only  for a half hour before we left the flat. I can’t believe we are back in Canada. I think that was the most depressing vlog I have ever made. Jen, Alesha and I were so not ready to go home. It’ very bittersweet. We left as acquaintances but came back as family! I am so grateful for the experience of a lifetime. It is something that will always be a part of me.

– E

Prospettiva Exhibition

I still cannot believe that I am back in Canada and no longer living in Italy. This is a video that I put together that shows work by my peers and I. I am so proud of everyone and how far we have all come. It has been such an amazing experience working with my friends. Art lover or not, I think you will enjoy! 🙂

– E

Two Days Break

Day 228: April 16, 2015
I spent my day designing my business cards for GradEx. It should not have been stressful but for some reason it was haha. I really wanted to get them printed by unfortunately I ran out of time. Tomorrow!

Day 229: April 17, 2015
I continued to work on my cards and later met up with my parents for lunch and a little bit of shopping. I’m so glad they came to visit me and I can’t believe they’ll be going back to Canada on Sunday. Time just flies! When I got back home, I went back out with Amy, Jen and Alesha to get our tickets printed. I spent my evening packing for my next trip!

– E

Ending with a Bang

Day 218: April 6, 2015
In the morning I went to Anna Rose’s to pick up her projector. She was kind enough to let me borrow it for the exhibition. Afterwards I went to the studio to help set up and later worked on my website.

Day 219: April 7, 2015
At around 9:30 a.m. Alesha, Jen, Cat and I met up with Erin to help her book bind our catalogues. It took quite a bit of time, but it was worth it because we ate Gusta Pizza after we finished! In the evening I met up with my parents for dinner. We ate at De Nelli’s near San Lorenzo, then went for cappuccino and gelato. It’s really nice having them here and touring them around. It doesn’t feel like I left home – home came to me. ❤

Day 220: April 8, 2015
I had my final critique and it went well. I was expecting it to be really intense, but for some really it was laid back. After I finished I met up with Nicola to grab some food and drinks. Aaron and Montina later joined us. It was such a beautiful afternoon with good food and great company.

Day 221: April 9, 2015
From 6:00 – 9:00pm we had our opening night! The turn out was pretty good, but it was not as good as last semester. I’m thinking it’s because we have two more nights of open studio and there wasn’t a lot of food. I also think it’s because we weren’t in Florence newsletter. But regardless, it was still a pretty good night. We all headed to Hops after to celebrate.

Day 222: April 10, 2015
Happy National Sibling’s Day to my bro, Adam! I met up with my parents for lunch and took them to the market. Their train was cancelled because it was on strike, but they managed to get on another train two hours later. I rushed back home thinking I was late for the open studio, which I actually was, but there were no visitors. Alesha and I decided not to show our work because there was technical difficulties with the projector she was using. Amy, Alesha, Alex and I decided to go grab gelato and enjoy the sun at the park. Afterwards Alesha and I went to Amy’s house to hang out and Jen later joined us.

Day 223: April 11, 2015
I went to the studio to set up for the show and headed to Milkeria for have crepes with Jen, Alesha, Maggee, Kes, Elizabeth and Aaron. Almond ice cream is bomb!

Day 224: April 12, 2015
It was our last day in the studio 😦 Most of us came together to help pack up our artwork to be shipped back to OCAD University. I can’t believe it’s all over. Time went by so quickly. 😦 I’m really going to miss the beautiful studio space, but more so the wonderful people who filled the space. The people I didn’t know started as strangers who became my friends that turned into family. Florence Family ❤

– E

In Denial

Day 211: March 30, 2015
I finally finished my Thesis paper!! Yay! After we had our meeting in regards to Grad Ex and the end of the year show, Alesha, Montina, Meg, Nicola, Aaron, Amy and I went to Hops to grab some beers. I also ate wings and fries – yummy! I wasn’t able to work on my video because I was dealing with Grad Ex stuff plus I was exhausted from working on my Thesis paper.

Day 212: March 31, 2015
I spent the day and evening dealing with Grad Ex stuff and working on my video.

Day 213: April 1, 2015
Registration for summer school was painful because it took a lot longer than it needed to. I don’t understand why OCAD University decided to change their system close to registration date. It doesn’t make sense to me. There were so many technical problems and a lot of students were very upset, including myself, because it took up a lot of time from their day. I tried to study for my Art History exam, which is tomorrow but I was absolutely drained. I think it was a mix of itis from eating Paninis with Elizabeth and lack of sleep from the previous week.

Day 214: April 2, 2015
The Art History exam was not as bad as I thought it would be. I’m glad it’s over, but at the same time I’m not because there is no more Art History classes in Florence for me. I have officially completed all the Art History courses I need for my undergrad. In the afternoon Jen, Aaron and I went to Lory’s and Gusta Pizza. When we got back to the studio I passed out on the couch. The exhaustion continues, but the nap did help because I managed to work on my video.

Day 215: April 3, 2015
Last day to work in the studio. Elizabeth and I were the very last ones to work in there and boy, did we ever work. I don’t think I have ever worked as hard as I did this entire school year! It was all worth it. I still can’t believe it’s all coming to an end. I’m in denial.

Day 216: April 4, 2015
We had our individual studio clean ups and just relaxed for the rest of the day because it was raining. It’s so sad seeing the studio so empty 😦 Pathetic Fallacy at its finest.

Day 217: April 5, 2015
Team Venezia adventured out to the Duomo for Easter. Bouna Pasqua! It was such an amazing sight to see. There were people dressed up in costumes, live music and a ton of fireworks! The mass was in Italian, of course, but beautiful. I’m so glad we decided to go today because I don’t think anything would really compare… maybe Christmas.

– E

Not Much Time Left

Day 204: March 23, 2015
I spent my entire afternoon taking photographs of my classmates’ artwork for the catalogue. I did not expect it to take up so much time so it set my schedule off. It was our last movie night – yay! After the movie, Team Venezia went to Forina’s to grab pizza. It was so nice spending time all together again because it really has been awhile since we have done so with just us five. It made me very nostalgic, but that’s just normal for me. I can’t believe how fast time is going! I wish it would slow down. When we came back from dinner I spent the rest of my evening fishing my Art History Journal Assignment.

Day 205: March 24, 2015
There was nothing too exciting that happened today because I spent it working on my video for my Thesis. Day 206: March 25, 2015 I am so happy that I finished my video and my installation this evening! Everything is good to go for critique tomorrow; however, it is not ready for the final critique as there are touch-ups that will need to be made.

Day 207: March 26, 2015
Way Back Wednesday calls for 80s night at Red Garter! It was such a fun night dancing with my friends, Amy, Alesha, Aaron, Maggee, Elizabeth, Montina and Kes 🙂 I honestly rarely go out so it was a nice change.  Aside from the night festivities, we had our final art history class. So sad, but critique went really well in the afternoon! I am really happy about that and am excited to work more on it.

Day 208: March 27, 2015
It was really difficult to work on my Thesis because there were so many interruptions in regards to Grad Ex. I am the rep in Florence so there was a lot of things to take care of and organized, but hey it’s fun :P. In the early afternoon Crystal and I went to an art exhibition and we were very disappointed. I won’t go into detail because I really don’t want to bring out the negative thoughts.

Day 209: March 28, 2015
It was such a beautiful day out! 20 degrees!! I helped Alesha film her ritual for her Thesis and I’ve noticed that the more I film, the more I enjoy it. Sometimes I question if I went into the wrong field, but there is always a chance to go back to school to study film if I wanted. I also did laundry, painted my nails and cleaned my room.

Day 210: March 29, 2015
I worked out and worked on my Thesis so, again nothing out of the ordinary haha.

– E

Soaking It All In

Day 197: March 16, 2015
I spent my day working on my outline for my Thesis paper and finally finished it. In the evening I worked on another vlog.

Day 198: March 17, 2015
Today was kind of a ride off because I just spent most of it relaxing. In the evening at around 6:30 we had artist, Diane Pugen talk to us about her practice. Afterwards, Aaron, Maggee, Jen and I went to Hops to grab some beer and food to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Day 199: March 18, 2015
Just after noon we had two visiting artists come in and talk to us: Jonathan Carroll and Steven Music. At 6pm we went to Art Clash to support Aaron, Elizabeth and Kayla as well as see other others by other students from different universities. It was interesting to see how different their work is in a sense that it felt like that they were students who go to art schools because they can… most of the works that we saw were things that we have already seen. Nothing stuck out to us. It was very disappointing.

Day 200: March 19, 2015
As usual, Art History early Thursday morning. We visited the Medici Chapel – New Sacristy, Palatina gallery and Pitti Palace. Afterwards a group of us went to grab pizza at Gusta Pizza for lunch and sat out in the sun :D. Such a beautiful day! Jen, Alesha, Aaron and I had some gelato and laid in the sun until Lory’s re-opened. Such a wonderful time just soaking up the sun and enjoying the weather.

Day 201: March 20, 2015
I didn’t get to do everything that I planned to but I did enjoy my time at the park with Jen, Alesha, Alex, Meg, Kes and Amy. We watched the sun set… so beautiful! It made me feel a lot better because before Jen and I went to meet up with everyone, we went to TIM to see if we could buy an external harddrive, but unfortunatley they didn’t have any. They only carry USB sticks. I was frustrated because I really need an external hard drive and I was told by one of the workers that there are none in the center. I had no choice but to by a 16GB USB stick for 25 euros! 25 euros!!! So expensive!! Back home, it only costs $10. Anyways, it is still being put to use.

Day 202: March 21, 2015
Swept and mopped the floors like usual haha. I spent my day and evening working on my video for Thesis and it’s still not down. It takes a lot more time than it usually does.

Day 203: March 22, 2015
At 2pm Jen, Alesha and I met up with Kes and Nicola to sketch some statues at Piazza Della Signoria for our Art History assignment. It was really nice to get out and relax by drawing. It was chilly though, especially in the shade. After we were all done, we went to Gilli to grab cappuccinos. So delicious!

– E

It’s Getting Closer To The End

Day 190: March 9, 2015
I spent my day and evening working on my Thesis. There wasn’t much excitement to be honest and there probably won’t be too much in the next few weeks since the term is coming to an end 😦

Day 191: March 10, 2015
We had a Thesis workshop this afternoon and it was really helpful so I’m glad Catherine arranged that for the class. Afterwards, Alesha and I went to Tiger to buy headphones since she lost hers and mine are broken. Of course we buy the same pair – pink. In the evening was our second last movie night.

Day 192: March 11, 2015
I went to the studio early to work on my Thesis since we were supposed to have critiques today. They are postponed because Catherine got food poisoning. I worked on my Paris vlog and later helped Alesha film for her Thesis. The evening ended on a high note because I got Gusta pizza!

Day 193: March 12, 2015
We had our crits at noon and it was all very helpful. I’m feeling much more confident with my work and am looking forward to working on it more. I went to Tiger again because Catherine told me to get a mouse – carpal tunnel is a possibility for me since I’m working a lot on my laptop… yikes! When I got back to the studio I continued to my Paris vlog and worked more on my Thesis.

Day 194: March 13, 2015
Mid afternoon Jen and I went to Erin’s to finish making our books. I’m so happy we finished because they turned out so great! Jen and I were so excited to get Gusta pizza but it wasn’t open by the time we finished making our books so instead we just went home and cooked dinner. I made curry sauce for my pasta and it was gross!

Day 195: March 14, 2015
I finally finished my Paris vlog and Colosseum drawing! Yay! It feels great to get things done 😀

Day 196: March 15, 2015
I started my outline for my Final Thesis Research Paper but didn’t end up finishing. Jen, Alesha and I went to Conad to pick up wine and Jen and I made Risotto for this evening’s Ides of March party. The party was supper fun! We ate lots of delicious food with our classmates and Catherine, had some great entertainment and danced the night away! I’m really going to miss my Florence Family. ❤

– E