I never dreamed of Italy. It was always Spain, or any Spanish speaking country, lands filled with people with tan skin and sunshine, with tapas or tacos. This could have been because of my experience in Spain and Mexico, or because of my celebrity crush on Gael Garcia Bernal. Italy only recently came on my radar, when I learned about, applied to, and was accepted to the University of Washington program entitled Anthropology Italy: Food Politics and Culture. Needless to say, I couldn't resist the calling of Rome, and off I went...
I arrived in Italy September 29, with a rolling duffel bag full of clothes and with absolutely no perception of what Italy would be like. Through Facebook, I had agreed to meet with a fellow program member, Matt. After traveling 24 hours, and sleeping minimally, I was grateful for his help as we moved from train, to tram, to walking on foot, to finally a taxi (my duffel bag broke) to the UW Rome Center in the Campo di Fiori. Despite being lost, and walking circles around an intense monument to Vittorio Emanuele II built by Mussolini (it is EPIC, but Romans hate it), Matt and I kept our spirits high. We did not nap, and, with the help of our teacher and guide Ann Anagnost, we found a hostel to stay in for the night.
Rome is a quilting of streets, cobblestone alleys that were sewn together year by year as the city grew and aged. Rome's history spans at least 2,500 years, although people have been living in and around Lazio, Italy for at least 14,000 years (thanks Wikipedia.) Every corner holds a tiny piece of it, whether it be the archaeological dig turned into a cat sanctuary around the corner, the Trevi Fountain gushing with water from aqueducts, or simply an amazingly beautiful old building with windows taller than me. There is never not something to look at. I am learning to train my eyes to be able to watch both the cobblestones and the buildings above.
Two days after I arrived, I moved into my apartment with my two roommates, Mikaela and Nicole (check out Mikaela's blog: http://mikaelaisinitaly.blogspot.com/). We live on the 3rd floor of a beautiful white building where the Rome Center lives, on Piazza Biscione. Our apartment, which is typically a faculty apartment, is amazing. In one room, we have a small kitchen, complete with a dishwasher, and in the other, there are three beds and three closets. We also have a desk, a small TV, a kitchen table, a washing machine, and... a balcony! Our balcony faces the inside of the building, and there are a series of plants and herbs outside which we need to water. So far, I've taken advantage of the balcony, and let Mikaela and Nicole take advantage of our kitchen. They are amazing chefs (pasta with garlic and veggies, zucchini in tomato sauce...)
Since we have moved in, we have been constantly busy. The first few days were free to explore Rome, and as a 17 person program, we generally traveled together from open air market to open air market. In the two free days, we glanced at the Collosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon. Then, we began class. Our general schedule is a lecture in the morning, Italian class in the late morning, a two hour lunch break, and then another lecture. It is a lot of work, and by the time we end, I am usually exhausted. My bedtime is around 9pm... But I am learning lots! Check out Zolle, a CSA kind of business in Rome, complete with bicycles, and run by an amazingly hard working and intelligent woman Sabina. Our first fieldtrip was to their company, and I want someone to start one in Seattle! Also, I can now order my cappuccinos in Italian... (Posso avere un cappuccino, per favore? Vorrei un cornetti!), as well as ask for directions (Scuzzi... Dove Campo di Fiori?), and have a basic conversation (Mi chiamo Marion, e tu? Di dove sei?) Unfortunately, I can't understand the responses yet...
Today was our first free weekend. Nicole, Mikaela, and I took our Rick Steves' guidebook and walked around the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere, then moved onto shopping, a trip into Italian McDonald's (don't tell our teacher...), the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and the Pantheon. Our feet hurt, but we successfully learned a lot about Rome. I am absolutely fascinated by all of the stories and history. After researching, I will post more about certain places and certain histories...
Tomorrow will be my first day trip out of Rome, to Ostia, a beach town about 45 minutes away. I am excited, and can't wait to learn more about its story. So for now, I will rest and reinvigorate my feet for another day of walking! Arrivederci!
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