Today we traveled from Reggello to Florence Italy. We heard a story today about travelers that wanted to visit Florence Italy. They traveled all the way from the north (Milan) towards Rome and couldn't find Florence. They began to question whether there was a Florence in Italy. It turns out that Florence is actually called Firenze in Italian. There's no Florence in Italy. Not many people realize that the city is actually called Firenze. 
When we arrived in Firenze we were in awe of its ancient beauty. The buildings were tall pieces of artwork that can be dated back to the Renaissance era. For being a big city, Firenze is a quiet and peaceful place. It has a small town charm with the big city activities. The main activity of the day was the art museum that holds a replica of the statue of David. This museum was similar to other art museums that I've (Mindy) visited before; yet so unlike. The dates and names on the art pieces make this museum stand out from others. Big names like Michelangelo and Brunelleschi are two of the many artists displayed a at this museum.
After the museum we traveled the streets of Florence in small groups. We strolled the same sidewalks and streets of the past. We mingled with Italians that spoke broken English and learned a few Italian words along the way. I can't forget all the favors of gelato that we ate along the way. Overall, today was a great introduction to the lifestyle of Italians. The history that we learned today will help us understand the Italian culture in ways that can help us become informed counselors. For example, in the past Italians experienced outsiders coming in trying to exert power and control over people. The catholic church and Medici were formed to control the power over the people. Present day Italians are known to be mistrusting of outsiders because of this long history of other people telling them what to do. As counselors we need to be aware that it may take extra time to build a relationship of trust with our Italian clients.
I included a few of my favorite pictures of Florence in this blog post. You can see the history of this city through each snapshot. From the old buildings to the people on the streets, this place has something to offer everyone.
Mindy Eastling
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