1) Italians smoke too much
You would think that, generally speaking, this wouldn't bother me so much since it shouldn't directly affect me. Unfortunately there is no getting away from it and Italians seem to think that it shouldn't bother you. No matter what you try to do to get away from it, there's always somebody there to blow their smoke in your face. I swear, if I ever get lung cancer I'm blaming it on Roma!
2) The men aren't that bad
My biggest fear, if you could call it that, coming into this experience was the Italian men. Every person that I ever spoke to before I left, consistently warned me about the men and just how sleazy and annoying they can be/are. Well, I'm happy to say that while I've had a fair share of encounters that I wish I could forget, if you ignore them they tend to leave you alone. Yes, they'll still say things, but acknowledge them and you're screwed, ignore them completely and you're golden!!
3) Siesta time
To say that time isn't money in Italia is a bit of an understatement. I have to admit that, being American and all, I was rather skeptical of this whole siesta system they have going on over here before I left. How is one supposed to get anything done when things move so slowly and, what seems, so ineffectively, let alone closed during the middle of the day?? Somehow they've managed to make it work, and personally, I've totally converted - when is the U.S. going to choose to adopt the siesta system?? Lazy mornings, afternoon naps, and late nights - it's a great way to live!!
4) Walking in Roma is a giant game of chicken
While the overall crime rate in Roma is fairly low (petty crime, yes, but very little violent crime), the law in other respects seems to mean very little to the Italians - for example, the rules of the road. I'm not entirely sure what the exact rules of the road are, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's a free for all. Of course, this makes walking a rather interesting experience. I learned very early on that jay walking doesn't really exist in Roma and that the art of walking is basically a giant game of chicken. Yes, the drivers will come extremely close to you, possibly even close enough to knick you if you aren't paying attention, but pedestrians are expected to have the right of way. In other words, if there's an opportunity, get over it and walk!!
5) The food is amazing and the gelato is even better
I know that everyone thinks they have an idea of just how good authentic Italian food is, and I will admit that I was one of them, but you have no idea!! I have yet to taste a single thing over here that was not, at the very least, very good - most things are something that you can't possibly imagine and I can't describe. Then, to top things off, there is the fact that there are gelaterias everywhere! I will be the first to admit that I am not the biggest ice cream fan. It's not that I don't like it - I just really have to be in the mood for it. Gelato - entirely different story!! So good!! Between all the amazing food and gelato, it's a good thing I'm walking so much!!
6) Coffee is an experience to be savored
Last, but most certainly not least, I had my first Italian coffee experience on Saturday. (D, I think you're app has finally started working.) I had gone about a week and a half without coffee, undoubtedly the longest I've gone in more than a decade, and I just couldn't take it any longer. I would say that my withdrawals probably affected the experience, but every time since has been just as good and satisfying. Not only is the coffee (cappuccinos, for me) absolutely delicious, but it is the overall experience that makes it that much better - it all ties back into the siesta way of life. In fact, I think it's time for me to get a cappuccino before class!!
Ciao, ciao!!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
La Vita Romana
*Finally, there are pictures!!*
I apologize in advance that I am so slow in posting, but unfortunately I have been having computer issues, both at home and at school, at least in regards to posting pictures, so rather than make you wait any longer I'm just going to go ahead and post this without pictures. Hopefully I can figure out a solution to that problem in the near future, but in the meantime, here is a more basic first post. (With that being said, if you have access to Facebook there are a bunch of pictures I've been tagged in so you can at least get a feel for it - feel free to share with those that don't have FB.)
Anyway, I arrived last Tuesday morning after a very long, but uneventful day of travel. My first impression, just in trying to get from the airport to the Hilton where we were to meet our shuttle, was that it is really hot and incredibly humid here. After about an hour or so, and a rather scary shuttle ride through the chaos that is Roma, we, my roommate from SMC was also on my shuttle, found our apartment. We are in the old part of Trastevere, a neighborhood about a mile and a half from school. Besides my roommate from SMC, there is 1 girl from UCLA, and 2 girls from Pace in NY. Everyone is very nice and we all get along well, although my roommates do seem to be a little more focused on going out than I am.
So about an hour after I got settled into my apartment, I went and met up with a girl from WWU, she was also on our shuttle into the city, and, in an attempt to help fight off the jet lag, wandered around aimlessly until we wound up in Campo di Fiori. (We would come to find out later that this is the most popular night life spot for American students.) At that point the jet lag was starting to set in and we still wanted to figure out where school was, so we headed back across the Tiber. By the time I got back to my apartment at around 6p I was exhausted and, after taking a shower to wash off the sweat and dirt that is Roma, I crashed hard!
The next day, Wednesday the 31st, was a rather boring day of orientations. First our SAI (Study Abroad Italy - the organization that we are going through) orientation, a lunch break, and then our JCU (John Cabot University - the school we're actually going to) orientation along with a presentation from the U.S. Embassy on all the stupid things not to do.
While at the JCU orientation we met Andy Steves, Rick Steves' son, who apparently also did a semester abroad at JCU. Having just graduated himself, he's started his own travel business geared towards students and is around all semester hocking his tours. As it turned out though, that night he was doing a free walking tour followed by dinner, so I met back up with my friend from WWU and her roommates and we tagged along.
He took us from Piazza Trilussa (right next to campus), where we met, to Campo di Fiori (here we learned the true nature of Campo), to Piazza Navona (quite large and we learned that it was actually Noah that led the Israelites out of Egypt! I had to call BS on that one), and then finally over to the Pantheon where we had dinner.
I have to admit that seeing the Pantheon for the first time, maybe it was just because it was night and therefore not quite as well lit, I was somewhat disappointed. I expected it to be more impressive and it just didn't jump out at me -I would later come to change my mind, I've since been back through said piazza numerous times.
Dinner was great - just around the corner - 15 euros for a multi course meal (I wanna say 4 or 5) and all the vino you could drink - suffice it to say some over did it. It was fun to be able to get to know people though and, at one point, Andy and I spent some time talking about home. Apparently he was offered an internship in P.A.
After dinner, we walked another couple of blocks to his favorite gelato place. I can't say that I had a whole lot of room left over after dinner, but . . . when in Roma!! I couldn't possibly pass up gelato and it tasted GOOD!!!
Thursday, the 1st, was a SAI inclusive (we didn't have to pay anything additional for the day) excursion to Ostia Antica followed by a 4 course lunch at a working farm/hotel. Ostia was a port town (right next to Fiumicino airport) circa 8 BCE that has been preserved over the centuries by the flooding Tiber. While I am still having a hard time with the juxtaposition of ancient among modern (standing in the middle of Ostia watching airplanes fly overhead), it was really cool to be able to walk through the town as a lot of it still exists in fairly good condition.
After our tour of Ostia, we were shuttled to Borgeso Italian Farm where we had an amazing lunch in an absolutely idyllic setting! It was still incredibly hot and muggy, but if we were ever in doubt that we were in Italia, we couldn't deny it there. The food was great and the farm itself felt as though we were sitting in a movie - it was a rather surreal experience.
From here on out things slowed down a bit - thankfully!!
Friday, I took a lazy morning and then met up with a friend after lunch before heading off on JCU's navigation 101. Had we known, we would have skipped it, but being the unknowing newbies we are we forged ahead. In the following 4 hours or so we walked all the way over to the Colosseum, took the metro to the Spanish Steps, and then walked to Trevi Fountain. At that point, my friend and I had already made plans to meet up with Andy again for dinner and had to head out, so we skipped out and made our way back to the Pantheon.
Once we finally made it over there, Tom, my friend from SMC (we've pretty much been planning this study abroad thing together) finally showed up!! (His flight had been cancelled and rescheduled due to his layover in Newark and Irene.) I hadn't seen him since May so it was great that he was finally there and he joined us for dinner and gelato!
Saturday was a really lazy day - hung out at home watching movies and then had dinner with Tom.
Sunday, Tom and I met up with another SMC girl that we had a class with last semester and her two roommates for some touristy activities. More walking!! We walked to Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Piazza di Popolo, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and back home. It was a lot of walking (at least I don't have to feel so bad about all the carbs and gelato!!), but everything here is and it was fun.
Finally, this week is my first week of classes. My earliest class is at 10:30a, so it's kind of nice to be able to sleep, especially in respect to the Roman time table. So far all my classes seem like they're going to be really interesting and probably quite a bit of work too. I still haven't met my Middle Eastern politics professor yet though, he is apparently stuck in the States (still have to go to class this afternoon though). I can say without a doubt though that Mondays and Wednesdays are my favorites as I am done with class by 1:15p. Tuesdays and Thursdays I have a nearly 4 hour break in between classes, so, right now, I'm coming home for the duration before heading back.
Tomorrow is another SAI inclusive excursion, this time to the beach at Ostia. I'm sure it will be incredibly hot, but it should be fun, too!!
Enjoying the Roman life, but now it is time to head back to class.
I apologize in advance that I am so slow in posting, but unfortunately I have been having computer issues, both at home and at school, at least in regards to posting pictures, so rather than make you wait any longer I'm just going to go ahead and post this without pictures. Hopefully I can figure out a solution to that problem in the near future, but in the meantime, here is a more basic first post. (With that being said, if you have access to Facebook there are a bunch of pictures I've been tagged in so you can at least get a feel for it - feel free to share with those that don't have FB.)
Anyway, I arrived last Tuesday morning after a very long, but uneventful day of travel. My first impression, just in trying to get from the airport to the Hilton where we were to meet our shuttle, was that it is really hot and incredibly humid here. After about an hour or so, and a rather scary shuttle ride through the chaos that is Roma, we, my roommate from SMC was also on my shuttle, found our apartment. We are in the old part of Trastevere, a neighborhood about a mile and a half from school. Besides my roommate from SMC, there is 1 girl from UCLA, and 2 girls from Pace in NY. Everyone is very nice and we all get along well, although my roommates do seem to be a little more focused on going out than I am.
So about an hour after I got settled into my apartment, I went and met up with a girl from WWU, she was also on our shuttle into the city, and, in an attempt to help fight off the jet lag, wandered around aimlessly until we wound up in Campo di Fiori. (We would come to find out later that this is the most popular night life spot for American students.) At that point the jet lag was starting to set in and we still wanted to figure out where school was, so we headed back across the Tiber. By the time I got back to my apartment at around 6p I was exhausted and, after taking a shower to wash off the sweat and dirt that is Roma, I crashed hard!
The next day, Wednesday the 31st, was a rather boring day of orientations. First our SAI (Study Abroad Italy - the organization that we are going through) orientation, a lunch break, and then our JCU (John Cabot University - the school we're actually going to) orientation along with a presentation from the U.S. Embassy on all the stupid things not to do.
While at the JCU orientation we met Andy Steves, Rick Steves' son, who apparently also did a semester abroad at JCU. Having just graduated himself, he's started his own travel business geared towards students and is around all semester hocking his tours. As it turned out though, that night he was doing a free walking tour followed by dinner, so I met back up with my friend from WWU and her roommates and we tagged along.
He took us from Piazza Trilussa (right next to campus), where we met, to Campo di Fiori (here we learned the true nature of Campo), to Piazza Navona (quite large and we learned that it was actually Noah that led the Israelites out of Egypt! I had to call BS on that one), and then finally over to the Pantheon where we had dinner.
I have to admit that seeing the Pantheon for the first time, maybe it was just because it was night and therefore not quite as well lit, I was somewhat disappointed. I expected it to be more impressive and it just didn't jump out at me -I would later come to change my mind, I've since been back through said piazza numerous times.
Dinner was great - just around the corner - 15 euros for a multi course meal (I wanna say 4 or 5) and all the vino you could drink - suffice it to say some over did it. It was fun to be able to get to know people though and, at one point, Andy and I spent some time talking about home. Apparently he was offered an internship in P.A.
After dinner, we walked another couple of blocks to his favorite gelato place. I can't say that I had a whole lot of room left over after dinner, but . . . when in Roma!! I couldn't possibly pass up gelato and it tasted GOOD!!!
Thursday, the 1st, was a SAI inclusive (we didn't have to pay anything additional for the day) excursion to Ostia Antica followed by a 4 course lunch at a working farm/hotel. Ostia was a port town (right next to Fiumicino airport) circa 8 BCE that has been preserved over the centuries by the flooding Tiber. While I am still having a hard time with the juxtaposition of ancient among modern (standing in the middle of Ostia watching airplanes fly overhead), it was really cool to be able to walk through the town as a lot of it still exists in fairly good condition.
After our tour of Ostia, we were shuttled to Borgeso Italian Farm where we had an amazing lunch in an absolutely idyllic setting! It was still incredibly hot and muggy, but if we were ever in doubt that we were in Italia, we couldn't deny it there. The food was great and the farm itself felt as though we were sitting in a movie - it was a rather surreal experience.
From here on out things slowed down a bit - thankfully!!
Friday, I took a lazy morning and then met up with a friend after lunch before heading off on JCU's navigation 101. Had we known, we would have skipped it, but being the unknowing newbies we are we forged ahead. In the following 4 hours or so we walked all the way over to the Colosseum, took the metro to the Spanish Steps, and then walked to Trevi Fountain. At that point, my friend and I had already made plans to meet up with Andy again for dinner and had to head out, so we skipped out and made our way back to the Pantheon.
Once we finally made it over there, Tom, my friend from SMC (we've pretty much been planning this study abroad thing together) finally showed up!! (His flight had been cancelled and rescheduled due to his layover in Newark and Irene.) I hadn't seen him since May so it was great that he was finally there and he joined us for dinner and gelato!
Saturday was a really lazy day - hung out at home watching movies and then had dinner with Tom.
Sunday, Tom and I met up with another SMC girl that we had a class with last semester and her two roommates for some touristy activities. More walking!! We walked to Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Piazza di Popolo, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and back home. It was a lot of walking (at least I don't have to feel so bad about all the carbs and gelato!!), but everything here is and it was fun.
Finally, this week is my first week of classes. My earliest class is at 10:30a, so it's kind of nice to be able to sleep, especially in respect to the Roman time table. So far all my classes seem like they're going to be really interesting and probably quite a bit of work too. I still haven't met my Middle Eastern politics professor yet though, he is apparently stuck in the States (still have to go to class this afternoon though). I can say without a doubt though that Mondays and Wednesdays are my favorites as I am done with class by 1:15p. Tuesdays and Thursdays I have a nearly 4 hour break in between classes, so, right now, I'm coming home for the duration before heading back.
Tomorrow is another SAI inclusive excursion, this time to the beach at Ostia. I'm sure it will be incredibly hot, but it should be fun, too!!
Enjoying the Roman life, but now it is time to head back to class.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Tutte le strade conducono a Roma
After what has turned out to be rather cool, wet summer in the Pacific Northwest I am so excited for my next adventure. In little more than 3 weeks I will be on my way to Italy for the next 3 ½ months. I’m sad that I won’t be able to see my friends until the end of the year, but what an incredible way to kick-off my senior year!! I know I’m going for school, but I can’t wait to get some travel time in too. So many places I want to go, I think we’ll start in Munich - Oktoberfest!!
Not much to tell yet, just anxiously awaiting what I am sure will be an amazing experience. In the meantime, I thought I’d get a blog going so that all those interested can keep track of me (at least a little bit). I know my history with blogging is not the best, but I promise to do my best to keep this up to date. With that being said, don’t expect much more until I get to Roma.
Here’s to la dolce vita!!
Oh yeah, and my current phone number will no longer be mine as of August 29. I will have a cell phone in Rome, so if you want my international number, or just want to get a hold of me, shoot me an email.
Not much to tell yet, just anxiously awaiting what I am sure will be an amazing experience. In the meantime, I thought I’d get a blog going so that all those interested can keep track of me (at least a little bit). I know my history with blogging is not the best, but I promise to do my best to keep this up to date. With that being said, don’t expect much more until I get to Roma.
Here’s to la dolce vita!!
Oh yeah, and my current phone number will no longer be mine as of August 29. I will have a cell phone in Rome, so if you want my international number, or just want to get a hold of me, shoot me an email.
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