I wanted to do a post updating everyone on my last couple of weeks! I am listing some of the main details:

• So far think that I will like my classes, but it is way too early to say for sure. One thing that I am not a fan of is my schedule. On two days, I start class at 9am and end at 8pm, with a 3 and 5 hour break in between. It really eats up the day and doesn’t allow me to do much else. Additionally, it has been a pain trying to communicate with Penn about which courses I will get credit for. I even had to miss out on what would have been my first gelato trip to stay at home and communicate with my adviser. Nevertheless, I am happy to say that it seems as if everything has been worked out, at least for now.

• My roommates and I have been trying to cook some homemade pasta dishes. Our goal is to try one each week. Our first was was a pea pasta. We completed the meal with homemade garlic bread and “complementary" wine. While the dish was excellent, the wine clashed with the garlic in the meal and left a biting sensation in the mouth. Speaking of garlic, we have been cooking with actual cloves and not garlic powder. Since I am always the one to cut it, I feel like I am in a permanent state of smelling like garlic!

Pasta Piselli

• We made the Italian broccoli (broccoli romanesco) with another meal! It smells and tastes very similar to the broccoli we are used to. That was a bit disappointing, but it still looks really cool!

• The weather has been much nicer than it was during my first week, and with my free time  have been able to explore some more of the city. I slowly feel myself getting more comfortable with my surroundings. I am also starting to realize what a great location my school and residence are in. Campus is close to attractions like Piazza del Popolo, Via del Corso, and the Spanish Steps, while my residence is blocks away from the Vatican Walls. 

View of St. Peter's Basilica

Castel Sant'Angelo

• I suppose one might say a high point was an 8 hour walk around the ancient walls of Rome, although most would probably say that it was the point of insanity. It was a really unique way to get familiarize myself with the city. I saw many beautiful places and learned a lot about the history of Rome. 

Anita Garibaldi riding a horse with a baby in one arm and a pistol in the other. (How can I be homesick for South Carolina with statues like this around?)

• I went to a couple of National Museum of Rome sites where I got to see art and architecture from antiquity. Palazzo Massimo alle Terme had classic sculptures and beautiful frescos and mosaics from villas. One room was designed to contain the fresco which lined the walls of the subterranean dining room of Livia. 

An ancient mosaic, which looks so modern to me. 

Another ancient mosaic. This was so large that it would not fit into my camera shot. 

• After Palazzo Massimo, we headed over the Baths of Diocletian, which were once an important part of Roman social life, as well as a way of showcasing wealth. I thought more of the bath complex would be intact. Unfortunately, much of the original design no longer exists or has been built over. 

One of the main chambers of the Baths of Diocletian (which is now a basilica). 

• For the first time, I watched La Vita è Bella (Life is Beautiful). What a wonderful movie! If you are up for a sad yet comedic film, I would highly recommend it. 

• I also went to Artena to visit a professor's archaeological excavation site of a villa . While I enjoyed the informational part of the trip, the view alone would have certainly been worth the hike. 

A pony got into the excavation site! 

• Perhaps my favorite visit was to the Capuchin Crypt. The bones of around 3,700 people have been worked into grotesquely beautiful art. I managed to take a few sneaky shots, but unfortunately they did not come out so well. I am sure a google image search will show much better photos!

Note the clock in the bottom center. 

Note the winged skull in the bottom right corner.

• On the other hand, my favorite visit might have been to a gelato shop. I have visited two famous gelaterias in Rome so far: Old Bridge and Giolitti. Out of the two, Giolitti was my favorite. I had the nutella flavor which tasted just like actual nutella! Interestingly, this flavor was a much warmer temperature than most gelato.

Nutella and tiramisu with whipped cream.

Well there is a brief summary of what has been happening in Rome! Ciao for now.

Sun setting over Rome

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.