Two weeks!

Just two weeks to go, and I'll be aboard a plane, en route to jolly old England. Arriving first in England and visiting for a few days should ease the jet lag a bit.  By the time I arrive in Florence I should be pretty well over it. Preparations are nearly done, but unfortunately my language acquisition has been slow!  I really don't feel ready to try my hand at getting around with the oh-so-limited Italian I've managed to learn. Once I get there and I'm immersed in it, it should come easier.  It always takes me a few days to get my "ears" for a language, even if I have been listening to tapes.

A beautiful  horse sculpture from England: Coming  Down to Drink

I'm starting to get excited about England too! I'll be in London for 4 days before and 3 days after my trip to Florence. I'm planning to visit the British Museum, and especially the Queen's Horse exhibit while I'm there.   When I return from Florence I'll visit Nottingham University and Dr. Poliakoff in the Chemistry department.  Dr. Poliakoff and his students produce a fantastic set of Chemistry videos that I show to my students quite a lot...they love Dr. Poliakoff and his crazy hair!  I even have gifts from my students for him: a key to the city, a scarf in the school colors, and a "mole" made by one of the students...Dr. Moliakoff.