La Mia Prima Settimana

Ciao!

My first week in Rome has been wonderful! So much has happened that I don’t even know where or how to begin. Last semester I followed the blog of my friend who studied in Seville. It was nicely and simply organized, listing the ‘highs’ and ‘lows’ of her experience. I think this is a great format, so I will give it a try! I’ll go ahead and get the bad out of the way:

Lows

• Lack of Sleep- I am not sure why, but I have had a lot of trouble sleeping past 4 am. Initially, I assumed it was jet lag, but this seems unlikely since it would be pretty late in the US. My next explanation was for not being able to sleep was anxiety. However, this also seems unlikely since I haven’t been waking up feeling anxious at all. I suppose this is just my body’s way of adjusting to the change.
• Lack of Internet- The most frustrating aspect thus far has been the internet. I have had problems both at my school and the residence. If I had a Euro for every time my browser read “Unable to connect to the proxy server” I would be a rich girl.
• Nasty Weather- I have been here a week so far, and there has only been one sunny day! The weather has a huge effect on my general mood, so even though Rome has been great, it would have been even better if I could look up and see a beautiful building, rather than an umbrella!

A Rainbow on a Rainy Day 

Highs

•  Walking Tour- One of our optional orientation events was a guided tour of our campus neighborhood. I thought it would be helpful to get to know the area, so I went. Little did I know we would actually walk to some of the most famous sites in Rome! It was a wonderful surprise!

Trevi Fountain

The Pantheon

Piazza del Popolo

Fountain of the Four Rivers

Above the Spanish Stairs 

• Todi- We went to this hilltop town in Umbria. It was so much fun exploring the quaint and beautiful town! I could easily see why the pressed deemed it the most livable city. Todi had a beautiful view, and it seemed like every street was a hidden passage. 

• Titignano- We went to this medieval castle for a 15 course meal! Overall, it was great! My favorite dish was a zucchini risotto. I was excited when I found out tiramisu would be served, but I was quite disappointed in the actual dessert. It was weakly flavored, and I have had much better in the states. I guess that means I will have to keep testing Italian tiramisu  ;)

• Kiko- Before I came to Rome, I didn’t have many firm places that I knew I wanted to go to. Kiko was the exception. It is a Milan based brand, selling professional makeup. I have been to two different stores and made one purchase (so far :p)-- the Ultra Glossy Stylo in Rosa Fiore Di Melo 813. It is a rosy mauve color. 

             

                             

•  Apartment- With the exception of the problematic internet, our apartment is great, especially compared to the apartments at Penn. I think I will do a separate post with pictures at a later time, but for now I will share some quick details. It is very spacious and quite up-to-date. We have three balconies, including one off of my bedroom. We also have two bathrooms to share between five girls, and each bathroom comes equipped with its own makeshift foot soak. Which leads me to….

Fun Facts

• Foot Soaks- After a long day of walking, my feet were exhausted. I desperately needed a foot soak, but I didn’t have a tub…. I did, however, have a clean bidet. Nobody in the apartment uses it, so I filled it with hot water, shampoo, and conditioner, and Ta-da! I had a foot soak. 
• Eating and Drinking on the Go- In Italy, people typically stand (it is not unusual for there to be a sitting fee) at the bar of a café and chug their espresso or cappuccino. I wondered why to-go cups were never used, since they are so convenient! Personally, I know I would love to sip a coffee on my 45 minute walk to campus. Apparently, it is uncommon for Italians to drink or eat while on the go as it is considered brutta figura. (This means bad form. This phrase and its counterpart, bella figura, have been a common theme so far.)
• Broccoli – I went to a cooking event, where Italian broccoli was shown. I swear it is the most beautiful vegetable I have ever seen!

(Link:  http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i105/e--p/Misc/IMG_5816.jpg)

I can’t wait to try it!

Overall, my stay has been fantastic! I have met so many nice people (both natives and fellow students), and I think I am adjusting well. With that said, I start class this week, so let’s see if I can balance courses and exploration.