Settling In

As I begin to settle into Italy, I am slowly figuring out my likes and dislikes.  Italy is an ancient city, filled with beautiful Roman architecture; yet, these timeless buildings are COVERED in graffiti...about soccer.  The streets are also filled with dog poop!  People dress their dogs up in frilly sweaters; nevertheless, they don't clean up after them.  However, on my way to class, I found someone who broke from the Italian tradition of not cleaning up after your dog.  To the lady with the golden retriever, I thank you for helping to keep my new city clean!

One of my favorite things about my experience thus far has been my classes.  Although they all require a lot of work, they all take place at a different location in the city which makes the work totally worth it.  My favorite class in particular is Dr. Crispin Corrado's Art and Architecture class.  She is an absolutely fabulous teacher.  Megan, a friend from class, and I are obsessed with her.  She is a classical archaeologist who specializes in Roman art. She has been a cultural intern at numerous museums all over the world and has even excavated in Pompeii.  Literally one of the coolest people I know, and has the sweetest personality as well.  I look forward to her class every week.  We unfortunately only meet once a week for three hours, but it is the best three hours of the week!  Her catch phrase during her lectures is, "Are you loving it?!"  She says it with such enthusiasm and passion that you can't help but love it!

    "Are you loving it?!"
            ~Crispin Corrado

On Top Of The World

Today we went on a tour of the Vatican with our program director.  We learned about everything and anything there is to know about the Vatican.  We even got to see the size of our own Basilica in comparison to the Vatican.  Our program director Dr. Dawson gave the tour.  We are so lucky to have him,  because he is just filled with knowledge about anything and everything.  After the tour, he said that if we wanted, we could buy a ticket to go to the top of the dome.  Of course we didn't want to pass up this opportunity, so we all bought tickets.

541 steps later and we made it to the top.  I was a little afraid at times, but it was totally worth it.  The first level we made it up to was the inside portion of the Basilica.

After we left the dome, we thought the sights were over, but they had only just began.  We headed up more small quarters and curved walls.

This is how slanted the walls were.  I was standing straight forward.

After we went up all these stairs and ramps, this is what we found...

I am trying to take advantage of every opportunity that is given to me.  This is an opportunity I know I will never forget.  Only 9 out of the fifty students that went on the tour took up this opportunity.  They really missed out.  On our way out of the Vatican there was a lot of commotion going on.  We soon realized that there was a man hiding in the Vatican Christmas Tree!  Every day is a new adventure.  

A man is stuck inside the tree!

   "Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will."
             ~James Stephens

Picture This

Today we had to get our permesso di soggiorno (permit to stay in Italy).  From what we have heard, we knew this was going to be a long process.  Everyone that already processed theirs said they waited over two hours...oh boy.  We arrived at the post office, and it looked just a DMV.  The lines were long and the people were miserable. However, after waiting about five minutes, I ran into my friends Erin and Aaron and they told us there was a guy in the back who would process our permit without us even waiting.  Not only did we get to skip the massive line, but this guy was a trip!  Picture this: black suspenders with white music notes, German flag patches on his shirt, sideburns, a handlebar mustache, and George Costanza bald.

 I walk up with one other person from our program and Luigi (that is what we called him) asks his first question, "You Irish?"
Eric-"...No, German."
Me-"I am Irish."
Luigi-"Last name?"
Me-"Stephens."
Luigi-"Hmm ok."

Looks at my address and goes, "You live with a Daveres? (My friend Erin who was here earlier today).

Luigi-"Is she here?  Where is she at?  Is she over there (points to the waiting area.)?  She came with a little friend (Aaron).  Where are they?  Is your school Catholic?

Me-(In my head "Well, obviously....")
Luigi-"Uh nuns!  I hated Catholic School."

Once he sees my home address, this begins a whole other adventure.  He is also from the States, Connecticut...but apparently he isn't allowed back for a year.  He misses the maple syrup and marshmallows though...whatever that means.

Luigi-"New Jersey, HA!  Where in New Jersey?"
Me-"Atlantic City."
Luigi-"I've been there in the summer."
Me-(I give a sigh that clearly expresses that everyone comes in the summer.)
Luigi-"Near the ocean right?  Bruce Springsteen!  He wrote a song about there.  Where is he from though?"

Erin and Aaron show up and he was thrilled!  He told me that Erin and I had the same appointment time and I responded cool.

Luigi-"Your accent is so Jersey...cool."  (Shakes his head.)

I finished my permesso in under 20 mins and as an added bonus I got to experience Luigi, the Springsteen loving German American.


    "Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty, and meet me tonight in Atlantic City."
              ~Bruce Springsteen

You Es Chic

Today was just an all around great day.  Grace and I decided to just get off at the Termini train stop and just walk around and see what we could find.  Of course we headed in the opposite direction of our Italian class and had to run and find the nearest metro stop...which turned out to be Termini, but we still had a blast.  We did one giant circle around Rome, but it was totally worth it.  We ended up on one of the Seven Hills of Rome and we got to experience an amazing view.

  

                                            

Later we finally arrived at Italiaidea for our Italian class with not even a minute to spare.  Yesterday, my Italian teacher, Rosalia, complimented my pink peacoat.  On my way out of class today, she compliment my peacock headband.  She continued by saying, "You es chic; you es chic!"  As she said this, she waved her hand in the air with sass.  Coming from a woman that lives in Italy, the chic capitol of the world, needless to say I was flattered.  The night continued with a great dinner at Napul'e where we had pasta ricotta and live music.  We concluded the night at our favorite gelato place and we ran into a few other students from our program.  What a great night to be in Roma!

    "You is smart.  You is kind.  You is important."
              ~Kathryn Stockett

Soup Nazi:Rome Style

Today I had my first semi-bad experience in Rome.  I did not have class in the morning, so myself and a few other students went out for pizza at a small shop near our school.  I walked inside, ordered my food and the lady weighed my pizza and quickly spatted out my price.  Even in English I would not have known what she said.  She said my price and then ran off to the oven to warm up my slice.  When it came time to pay, she looked at me like I had three heads when I had no idea what the price was.  Her response..."Uhhh? (Insert open-mouth look and bulged out eyes).  I politely said I misunderstood and she rudely pushed back the extra money I gave her.

The eateries in Rome remind me of the Soup Nazi episode from Seinfeld.  You order, step aside, pay, step aside.  Ask no questions, say nothing, and keep on walking.  I unfortunately learned this the hard way.  Mess up this process and...NO SOUP FOR YOU!  I am slowing learning the way things work here.  It is only a matter of time until I will be doing as the Romans do!

      "Experience: the most brutal of teachers.  But you learn, my God do you learn."
             ~C.S. Lewis

Live Simply

As I begin to become more accustomed to the way of life here in Italy, I cannot help but notice how different their society is from our own.  Having lived in both AC and DC I like to think I often lead a fast paced life.  Yes, I am a beach bum at heart, buy I love the energy that comes along with city life.  Rome is a completely different experience.  Back in the States everyone is always in a hurry, rushing off to one thing or another.  We rarely ever stop and just enjoy the beauty that is around us.  In Italy, how can you not just stop and take a moment and say, "Wow, look at that!"  In America, we are too busy talking on our iPhones, or listening to our iPods, or playing Angry Birds on our iPads while simultaneously tweeting about it.  Not having a cell phone these past few days has been a complete culture shock.  Everyone in the program said the same thing. We often go to reach for our phone and realize it is not there.  Here no one walks the streets with head phones in their ears, or a cell phone attached to their hand.  I have to admit, I kind of like it.  We focus less on what is around us, and instead get lost in our own technological world.  Remember to live simply.

 

 

 

      "Live simply.  Love generously.  Care deeply.  Speak kindly.  Leave the rest to God."
                ~Ronald Reagan

Bed Bugs, Red Meat and Toiletries: Oh My!

So when I arrived in Rome, I realized my duffel bag strap was ripped off, my zipper was open and my stuff was stolen.  Not a good way to begin this trip.  It seemed that only my liquid soap, moose, and hair product were stolen.  Fair enough; these are things I can replace...sort of.  La famacia was having a sale on soap, so that was great!  Later in the day I unpacked my things and realized even more than I anticipated was stolen.  They also stole my razor inserts.  Again, another random item that is not in Italy.  Here's the kicker, they also stole (wait for it) ...my bag of tampons.  Have fun with that one.  Don't steal my Coach wristlest, but let's go for the bag of tampons.  Logical thinking, no?  Later in the night as I was brushing my teeth with my travel size toothpast I thought to myself that I wish I had brought more.  Then I remembered, "Oh wait, I brought a big tube of of Crest 3D express toothpaste (I wanted my teeth extra white for Italy, so I splurged!).  Then I realized that was amongst the many other random toiletries that were stolen from my luggage.  Now I draw the line at toothpaste!  You don't steal my cool travel case filled with q-tips, but you steal my toothpaste?!

As the day continued, so did my bad luck.  We went out to a group dinner which was excellent; however, the main course was red meat.  I have not had that in forever; I am just not a huge fan of it.  I thought I would just have a bite.  Big mistake.  By the end of the night I was sick as a dog.  I finally felt better and my roommate at the hotel, Maggie, came back.  She thought she had bed bugs, but it turned out she was just allergic to the laundry detergent the hotel was using.  What a crazy day!  Only in Roma!

   "Life is all about making memories, so go ahead and make them."

        ~Anoynmos.