Roma Calcio, Naples, and Getting Drenched by the Tyrrhenian Sea

I have been in Rome the past three weeks (despite the occasional day trip) and it has been wonderful! I feel like the city is becoming more and more familiar. It seems like people are jetting off every weekend to go somewhere new. But I feel like the beauty of Rome is that you can have adventures all day long as if you were traveling and then come home to your own bed at night! I still have trips planned (Tunisia, Spain, and Malta), but I like being in Rome just as much.

I have definitely experienced so many parts of Rome these past three weeks. I have had dinner in Trastevere (a neighborhood in Rome) a couple times. All times were wonderful. I had some delicious seafood pasta and some artichoke lasagna in the Jewish Ghetto. Also I have been keeping up with my gelato research and trying many new flavors. One of my favorite parts about Italy=the food.

Last Sunday I went to a Roma Soccer Game versus Catania. I thought football games were intense. Think again. These games are in the blood of the Romans. As we were running and trying to get to the game (because we were late and the one thing that Italians are on time for is soccer) we could hear echoing chants. These chants did not stop the whole game. In America at football games or even basketball games, people are encouraged to cheer by the announcers or halftime shows. There was none of that here. It seems like anything (such as announcers or halftime shows) would be too much of a distraction from the game. The stadium was packed with Italian men and their young sons. You can tell this way of life is ingrained in them at a very early age. Plus I picked up some soccer moves to use at my next game on Wednesday. Speaking of which, the gold team is currently 2-1.

On Thursday I went back to the Missions of Charity homeless shelter to volunteer. These sisters are amazing! They work hard everyday cleaning, cooking, and caring for the homeless men. All day long they have the biggest smile on their faces. They are patient, kind, and fun! They really do inspire me to stay positive about life. Also, the men at the homeless shelter are great. They are from all over the world but my favorite is a cute little man who came from Mexico. Apparently when he showed up to the shelter many years ago he had a beard, long hair, and a sombrero on. He likes to talk to me (in italian) but I really can not understand him. He talks quickly and mumbled because he doesn't have any teeth. But he is always complimenting me by calling me Principessa (princess).

On Friday, I spent the day in Rome by myself. It was much needed. I realized that besides when I sleep, I have gotten zero alone time since being here for a month and half. I decided to use that day for myself. It was so great! I went exploring near Piazza Navona, got a crepe with gelato in it, found a fabulous bead store, went to the Aushwitz-Burkenau museum, the Spanish steps, and on top of the Victor Emmanuel monument to overlook the city.



















It was just a great day to let everything soak in. It has slowly been hitting me that I'm in Rome. Sometimes it seems more like another reality. But it's real and I love it!

I decided randomly on Friday to go to Naples for the day on Saturday. Some friends that I have not traveled with yet were going and I thought it would be nice to get away for the day. So me, Adri, Katherine, Joe, and Mariam woke up at 6 am and caught an 8 am train. These 6 am mornings seem to be a common re-occurrence. I think I have said it before, but I love taking trains through Italy. The countryside is beautiful. As soon as we got in we got some delicious Napoli pizza. I had a four cheese pizza and then the whole table split the Margarita pizza. I like the Margarita pizza the best but mine was still good. I can honestly say that was some of the pizza (and most original) pizza that I have ever had. We explored Naples, got some gelato, and then decided to sit by the sea. We just sat for so long, feeling content with this gorgeous view. To the left was Mount Vesuvius, in front were ships and sailboats, and to the left was a distant island and the coast of Naples. It was one of my favorite days.



I decided I wanted to put my feet in! So I climbed down the rocks to stick my toe in. As I am dipping my foot in, I see a massive wave coming towards me. Yes, I get drenched. Absolutely soaked. Well, I guess I got my feet wet. It was hilarious! I tried to lay in the sun to get dried for a bit, but really it was not happening. I ended up buying a new pair of jeans to ease my comfort. Such is traveling, you really never know what is going to happen next.

After exploring more of Naples and LOTS of walking we saw our same view from earlier in the day, but at night. I'm really happy I made it there.

Now it's time for midterms and getting ready for Spring Break. I will be leaving for Tunisia in 4 days! Until then I have two midterms, a paper, and my monologues to perform. Please come soon spring break!

It's really been a month already!?

After coming home from Venice, things did not slow down at the JFRC. On Monday night we had Karaoke night...an absolute blast! Me and some friends sang Hanson, Toto's Africa, and some Queen. It turned into a huge dance party in the cafe in the downstairs of the building.

Tuesday, I had class at the Pantheon and the Ara Pacis (an altar used to sacrifice to the Roman gods during ancient times). I love that class more and more every week.

Wednesday we had our second week of Calcio (soccer). Our school has a league. I was never a soccer fan but I love this! It get's so intense. People are constantly bleeding, pulling muscles, and some kid even broke his wrist...What! Our record is 1-1 right now, getting better every week! Go Gold!

On Thursday I started doing volunteer work at a homeless shelter run by the Missionaries of Charity. This organization was started by Mother Theresa. I will be going every Thursday helping to clean and cook for the homeless men. I'm interested in comparing this to the one that I go to in Chicago.

This weekend I went out dancing twice, both times great! It was nice being in Rome for the most part. Traveling is exhausting. Yesterday our school took a group of 25 kids or so to Pompeii. I really liked it! As an anthropology minor I really enjoyed seeing the excavating going on. Also the plastered bodies were crazy. It was actually very sad seeing those.


It snowed on Friday in Rome. It hasn't snowed in Rome for 35 years!


Also, I decided to go to Tunisia, Africa for spring break. It's through the school and the highlights are camel treking and camping in the Sahara desert. Sounds like a good time to me!

Happy Valentine's day! Hope everyone has a good week.

Venezia Venezia Venezia

It's been awhile since I have last written so I will catch you all up to date! I moved into a new room (on a different floor in my dorm). Yay for no mold! Me and my roommate like our new room, although I'm sad that I no longer have a view of Rome...instead I have a view of the building's courtyard which is still beautiful!

By the way here is a picture of me and my roommate Maddie (she's awesome). She deals with my talking in my sleep habit just fine. It seems like everyday she has a new story to tell me about my slumbering mumbles. This picture was taken the night we went to a discotheque, which was a blast.

So last weekend we went to Venice for Carnavale. We spent Saturday through Monday there. I really have just one word for Venice. Charming. It was beautiful and the weather turned out to be sunny but a little chilly.

Highlights of the weekend: I spent the weekend with three great friends: Lindsey, Elizabeth, and Emily. We took a gondola ride, which is a very touristy thing to do but it was well worth it. Our Gondolier Marco has been giving rides for 25 years and his father and grandfather have all been in the business. We also went to Murano, an island near Venice that specializes in making glass. This is no ordinary glass, it was extraordinary! Glass makers were moved to this island to keep their glass making techniques a secret. We saw a demonstration of glass blowing, which was very cool. We bought some masks, had a Venetian dinner, and roamed around the city which was crowded with people in masks in costumes! It is basically their version of Halloween but it celebrates the beginning of Lent.



















I ran into my friend Meghan! I seem to find her everywhere all over Rome and even in Venice!!! There was an opening ceremony, which turned out to be a play that we did not understand. It reminded me of the movie Hunchback of Notre Dame and the festival that they have. We also saw all of the Loyola people all around Venice, such a small world.

Venice is not easy to navigate! But the city is very walkable. Most of our two days there were spent walking and exploring. We visited San Marco Square and St. Marco's Church which was very elaborate and beautiful! On our last night we went to Campo Santa Margharita where they had a DJ called "Club Wah Wah." We met people from Venice, Bangladesh, Brazil, and Istanbul. After dancing and chatting we called it a night and got some sleep before our flight the next morning.

Here is an example of the costumes that people wore for Carnavale. I also saw superhero's, jellyfish, people from the middle ages, the Joker, and "kings and queens." Apparently there are many costume balls that people attend that go up to 900 Euro for dinner and a dance. Maybe someday??

Flying into Rome was great because I saw the Swiss Alps and the Colosseum from the air. I'm beginning to become more and more comfortable with flying with great views like that.

Who Ever Said Study Abroad was All Kicks and Giggles?

Well, in addition to the exciting and happy adventures that have been happening to me lately, some not so pleasant ones have arisen as well. The Rome Center is over 60 years old, and you can tell. The heat is inconsistent, sometimes hot showers, and now I have mold growing all over my wall. I don't know what kind of mold it is but I am getting out of that room! So tonight I had to repack all of my luggage and leave it in my friend Emily's room (which is where I will be sleeping). I guess I will get a new room tomorrow? It was very strange repacking and a little sad because my little room became very cozy and homey. Today has been very frustrating because I don't know where my new home will be. There's talk of moving on to the second floor. Oh well, I guess no matter where you go in the world and no matter how exciting it is, it can be rough just as much.

I guess the point of this post was to let everyone know that being in Rome is amazing in so many ways but I have had many challenges that I have to deal with as well. If a moldy room is the worst that is going to happen to me, I'll take it.

Much Love and hopes for a room tomorrow!

Finding a Balance Between School and Adventures!

Classes have begun full force. I have to keep reminding myself that I am here to study and learn...in the classroom and out and about! However, I am slowly discovering that my classes are like adventures in themselves. For instance I will be going to the Roman Forum and the Colosseum for class on Tuesday. And I am only doing 12 credit hours, something I have never been able to enjoy until now. On top of that I have four day weekends. So really I have NOTHING to complain about. I will be taking full advantage of this light load. But these are my classes that I'm in: Art in Rome (on-site class), Food and Wine of Italy, Introduction to acting (I get to be in a play!) and History of Late Antiquity. Every class overlaps with things that I do and see in the city so it is a constant learning experience combined with adventures!

Last Wednesday we had our Mass of the Holy Spirit at St. Ignacio downtown Rome. It was beautiful inside (and cold). After that we headed across the street to a local restaurant that apparently Bill Clinton ate at once, called Le Cave. The best Mozzarella I have ever had!!!!!!!!! After that we ventured throughout Rome!

Friday, trip to Florence. We (me, Tiffany, Lindsey, and Courtney) woke up at 5 am to catch a 6:45 train. That was rough. But after getting to the train station, witnessing an Italian man ask my friend Lindsey out, and figuring out our tickets it was all settling into place. Traveling by train is wonderful! It is a spectacular way to see the countryside. Also we saw a gorgeous sunrise over the mountains. That 6:45 train was worth it.

We arrived in Florence around 11 am. We went to our hostel, which by the way I had a great first hostel experience. It was clean, cute, and the owners were so friendly and helpful. They also made us breakfast the next morning! It was funny because a group of guys that I met in Rome were staying in the hostel as well. It's a small world after all.

Our day was jam packed, and I didn't even get to do everything I wanted. Things I did: visit the Duomo, go to the Bargello Museum which contained many of Michelangelo's works, bought a leather jacket (When in Florence do as the Florentines do), and ate dinner at a local pizzeria. I never thought I would appreciate my Classical Mythology class that I took last semester as much as I did being in some of these museums. SO many sculptures and paintings are based on mythology and I recalled a lot of it. Also, we sat at the Piazzolo Michelangelo, the tallest point of Florence, and watched the city at night. Gorgeous. I think my favorite part of the evening was listening to a young British musician play Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel songs in the Piazza della Signora. Things I didn't get to do: see the David, visit the Uffizi museum, and the shoe museum. Oh well, I guess I just need to go back!





























Saturday. After a relaxing morning, we headed to Orvieto. A very small town between Rome and Florence. The city sits on a cliff and you have to take a tram up to it from the railway station. There is a magnificent church in Orvieto, called the Duomo. It is so unique in that it is contructed of black and white marble. It's beautiful. I thought a lot of my mom and dad while there because they kept telling me before I went there how much they loved it. After exploring the town, me and Tiffany decidied to take the tour of "Orvieto Underground." For the past 3,000 years the Etruscans (people from Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio regions) have dug these caves for use as their workshop and market place. The caves were very eerie. Apparently within the 2 mile radius of a cliff there are about 1200 caves. It was funny because our tour guide shared with us that her family has a personal cave connected to their home. Apparently 70% of the caves are of private and personal use! I wish I had my own cave.



The day was very rainy and cold. My tennis shoes were soaked. By 6 pm I had enough. The only other shoes I had were high heeled boots. I thought about it and those sounded so much more appealing. So I put on the boots. Imagine a girl back packing for the weekend in Europe...now imagine a girl back packing in Europe with heels on. That's me. I got some funny looks but at least my feet were dry. We ended the night with a delicious dinner. I had bruschetta, gnocchi, beef with arugula, a house white wine, and the best olive oil! I am growing to love olive oil.

We got home around midnight that night...Exhausted!

Sunday. I didn't want to waste a beautiful day in Rome at the JFRC. So Lindsey, Gina, Luke, Bridget, and I went to the "Bone Church." It is a church associated with Cappuccuni monks, who in the past (from the 1500s to 1800s) would bury their dead in the crypt of the church. However, they started running out of room to bury all the monks and started forming art with the bones on the wall. The bone art was beautiful and from afar didn't even look like bones. Up to 4,000 monks were buried there. Some skeletons were still intact and robed in the traditional brown Cappuccin attire. They were only about 4 ft (as people weren't very tall hundreds of years ago) and some still had flesh on them. They were mummified almost.


It was a chilling and eerie experience especially with this quote engraved on the floor in the crypt:

"As you are, we once were. As we are, you shall be one day."

We decided we needed some gelato after that experience!

We then visited Il Gesu, the first Jesuit church in Rome where St. Ignatius and St. Xavier have their tombs. The church was the most elaborate I have seen yet! Being a lover of the Jesuits, I really enjoyed Il Gesu and will most definitely go back.

This weekend I will be jetting off to Venice for Carnivale. Until then I plan on getting my homework done. Also on Wednesday we have tickets for a Papal Audience. Sounds like fun.

Love you all!