Naples Field Trip

Today, we had our second field trip of this course and we went to Naples to visit the pharmacy students at the University. It was really interesting seeing how the roles of pharmacists in Italy are drastically different than those in Canada and especially those in Alberta. There is no expanded scope of practice in Italy and the students here mostly go into research or other fields because it is really hard to get jobs in pharmacies because they only allow a certain number of pharmacies to open per a certain number of people living in the area. We also did a patient interaction with the students that showed how we counsel in Canada, which I think was really fun for both us and them because it is so different from what they are used to. 

After the field trip almost our whole class headed to Sorrento for our weekend trip. We got into Sorrento around 6 pm and needed to get dinner in us quick since we are used to massive fammily dinners every night. 

The pleasure bus we saw drive by filled with old people-we are not sure exactly what occurs on this tour

Amanda, Lexi, me and Krysta

We ended up at Luvullo restaurant just because we came upon it on our walk and it was the only thing on the whole street basically besides houses. They said they had live music and there was only a one euro cover charge so we were all for it. They had the full restaurant reserved so they had to make us a table on the upstairs patio (it was raining but there was a cover on the patio), which was enclosed by orange trees and gorgeous greenery and he said we could party with all the other people that were supposed to be arriving later. We ordered our food when a huge group arrived. We realized it was a huge tour group of around 65 year olds and that they were most likely Americans (which we confirmed later by asking them). They had a pre set dinner made for them and sitting near all of them we felt like we were on a seniors cruise ship. The werid part came next when the entertainment came out. It was some werid dancing, theatre like thing, where really werid things were occuring and was kind of awkward at times. At one point the man started shaking pepper into Alex's wine and Leah ended up dancing with one of the older man from the tour group. We thought we were stuck in the middle of some random swinger's tour group or something or maybe they were from the pleasure bus we saw earlier. 

Tiramisu

The waiter was awesome and as we were leaving he brought out the limoncello bottle that they homemade at the restaurant and gave us two free shots and took some shots with us as well. 

He left the bottle with us

-A

Adult Field Trip

Last night Brittany and I went out and visted Ischia for a bit and then took a look at some of the most amazing panoramic views of the island, which are gorgeous at night time when you can just see the moon reflecting on the ocean. We didn't get home until 3:30 so it was probably best that today was the most relaxed day at school ever. 

As a child, field trips in elementary school were the best thing and everyone looked forward to it. Well, today I had my first field trip as an adult and it surpassed any experience I had as a kid. We went to negombo spa to see how they treat patients with skin conditions and other ailments on the island (well I think we mostly just went to relax but that is the "official" reason we went). They have 29 thermal mineral pools that all have different temperatures and features to them that provide specific functions. Spa's in Ischia also treat patients who have been seen by a doctor and need special treatments like mud baths for psoriasis (I think negombo is mostly just a relaxation spa though and the other spas on the island do more treatments for the medical conditions). It was absolutely breath-taking here. All the pools are surrounded with local and exotic flowers and plants and has stunning views of the ocean. I felt like I was a celebrity because it was so luxurious, I don't think I've been to a place like this ever before. 

We started class in Forio (it was so hot today we decided to have it outside on the sea rocks) with the doctor explaining the spa to us. Italians even have a certain number of treatments covered per year!

On our way to the spa in one of our jam packed vans

Outside the spa

Taryn and I

My favorite pools were the ones designed to stimulate circulation. One of these was just for your legs to help with varicose veins or other circulatory problems of the legs. You started off walking through a hot pool and then proceeding into a very cold one. The first circuit felt horrible, but once you hit the hot one for the second time your legs starting having a cool tingly feeling with your nerves and then cold didn't end up feeling as badly. 

Here is us happy in the hot section

The other pool like this had one full body pool that was 18 degrees and then the hot pool beside it was 38 degrees. It gave you that same tingling feeling but throughout the whole body. 

My favourite pool as you can see-full relaxation I think this healing works

Katie, me, Alex and Lexi enjoying the 38 degree pool

These ones cascaded down and really gave a good pressure for a back massage-it is actually designed to relieve tension 

Salt water shower outside the cave pool

Brittany and I

Carlee and I in the big pool

We also had a Turkish bath to eliminate toxins and lay on the most amazing beachy bean bag type loungers-it was fabulous.

-A

Exploring the Island

This morning we all woke up and went for a run along the ocean. I think this is very North American of us because as we were running everyone was giving us funny stares, but one old couple clapped at us encouraging us saying Hup! hup! 

We had class this afternoon, (we keep forgetting we are actually here for a class) so we only had a little bit of time to explore the town and get gelato of course. Before class a few of us decided to get pizza, I got Capricciosa, which had some mozzarella, mushrooms, olives and the most amazing pizza sauce. Somehow this took a lot longer than we thought and we only had 10 minutes to find the classroom, instead of going all the way back to get to the water we made the mistake of going to opposite way thinking it would of course be faster. Well we were wrong, we ended up way in the hills in someones backyard, which was gorgeous, filled with lemon trees and flowers...unfortunately there was no time for a photo. I ended up going for a second run today to try and make it on time while eating pizza. Luckily people seemed to know what we were looking for and they started shouting and pointing at us where to go. We ran for 15 minutes straight and ended up only being 10 minutes late. 

I don't know how any work is going to get done in this course, the classroom has the best view. The doors open up right onto the ocean (which we can see from our desks) and its only two steps to get right into the water. There is also a cafe right in our classroom, so we all ordered some cappuccino during class. We stopped by the gelato place on the way back from class and learned some Italian words, like cone, cup and medium, while the gelato man laughed at us because we put the emphasis on the wrong syllable.  

This is the view from our class

Brittany and I on the rocks near our class.

Tonight we had cooking class where we watch the Italian mother of the family that is hosting us cook food:

Zucchini flower leaves she made, I was copying the recipes so I'll try them when I get home once our garden starts producing these

The sea bass we were having for dinner 

Dinner:

We had this amazing potato thing that they made but I couldn't get a good picture of it and I wasn't going to take all night trying to get a good picture because I wanted to eat it so badly. It was amazing. It was mashed potato mixed with ham and cheese and basil and then dipped in bread crumbs. 

Mussels with pasta 

The sea bass 

Dessert

-A

Lazy Sunday in London

Yesterday was a pretty lazy day, Amanda was out with her friend so I hung out with KK most of the morning and just slept in and relaxed. It was so gorgeous out so I decided to go to Regent's Park for a bit. This is probably one of my favorite parks in London, the entrance near the Regent's Park tube station is gorgeous. They have emaculate flower arrangements that make you feel like you are walking in a royal garden. I had to kick a soccer ball back to some locals playing a game and luckily my skills from 11 years ago didn't fail me and I didn't make a fool of myself. 

I then wanted to stop by Tate Modern but I guess I'll have to do that on the way back because I started getting frustrated with the Circle and District Line which were undergoing some engineering work. I made myself better by grabbing some cheesecake from Harrods and then heading home. 

KK and I went for a stroll around Hampstead Heath and checked out the amazing views of the city and then headed to the cinema to watch Bad Neighbours. I didn't end up getting to bed until 1:30 and had to wake up for the airport today at 3 am to get to Italy for the beginning of my course!

-A