if only I had known...

This is a list of things I have learned in the week and a half I have been here...
information for future students as well...

o1. Walking up the hill is fun the first 2 or 3 times you do it...but after 15 or 20 it does get a little tiresome.
o2. When crossing the street, do not hesitate and ALWAYS stay in the crosswalk. In Italy, if you are in the crosswalk and a car hits you and you are killed they pay for your funeral; but, if you are jay-walking, you have to pay for your own funeral.
o3. Cars/buses/mopeds get WAY closer to you when you are walking on the side of the road here than they do at home; if they got this close to you at home, you would probably have a heart attack.
o4. Ryanair.com is the one of the best websites for cheap, but legitimate continental European flying.
o5. The Italian Polizia Municipale wear Gucci uniforms (according to Robbie, but not to Riccardo, the native Italian) and some drive Lamborghinis. Enough said.
o6. The non-Italians in the markets are the ones that are more willing to scam you.
o7. Buy scarves, no matter how cliche it might seem.
o8. While NorthFace may seem to scream American (which it does), that 3-in-1 jacket was one of the best things I could have ever brought. When in doubt, always where all the layers.
o9. Thank goodness for Silk long underwear!!!
o10. Rain in Florence is just as bad as rain in Searcy.
o11. Bring comfortable shoes to ward off the blisters for the first few days; but, don't worry you too will be attacked.
o12. The HUF packet says you will walk between 5-7 miles a day. If you spend all day in Florence, you are more likely to walk 15-17 miles a day (proven fact).
o13. After a while all paintings and churches seem to run together, that is unless there is something very Extraordinary about them.
o14. Cobblestone may look pretty, but it is very hard on your feet.
o15. You do walk uphill everywhere.
o16. If there is construction going on in the city, the bus stops will never be in the same place for more than 2 or 3 days. So, you will get to chase them a lot and it will be an adventure.
o17. Ride in the bendy part of the bus to avoid getting bus-sick.
o18. The Medici family se la comandavano (translated: "They Ruled" - hold up peace sign with two fingers to show your awesome-ness)
o19. Beware, when ordering Hot Chocolate, you will not get what you get at Midnight Oil or Starbucks - it is much better. It is chocolate soup.
o20. Try every kind of gelato.
o21. Do not buy things in Europe that you can by at home.
o22. Written Italian is much easier than spoken Italian.
o23. Sleep when you can, eat when you can, go to the bathroom when it's free - you don't know when you will have the next opportunity to do any of these.
o24. Do not buy train tickets online.
o25. Most importantly, bring everything you want, because trust me - you won't regret it.

Thanks.