Archives: February 2008
Thu Feb 28, 2008
-When in Rome, do as the Romans do-
With the end of our fourth week in Italy winding down, we’ve come to a point where we no longer feel like tourists here. I’ve enjoyed having the chance to learn more about the Italian lifestyle and everything that goes along with the culture. Generally, when people return from a trip to Italy they talk about the beautiful scenery, art, wine, food and great shopping. Well four weeks later, I’ve been finding out that there is more to life in Italy than meets the eye. As our professor Marco put it, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” However, this time that well-known statement had a new meaning because so many of us have changed our mindset towards Italian lifestyles, and have simply started to go along with the culture. We’ve started going to restaurants at a later hour and enjoying the three hour meals without checking our watches. I’ve ordered new types of pasta without knowing what I was going to get and actually ended up loving them.
A meat appetizer common in Ariccia
My first glimpse into the newly embraced, “other half,” of Italian culture happened last week when I decided to do laundry in a bathtub. Halfway through, and hours later, I realized how much I take my extra large washer and dryer at home for granted. Luckily, I was able to tie some rope around the bathroom and out the window to create a twisted mess of wet clothes; two days later my clothes were still wet. I’ve decided to ask some of our Italian friends the secret to drying laundry and hope it goes better for me next time.
We’ve also had the opportunity to meet a class at the local high school in Ariccia. It was interesting to hear about their lives: what they do for fun; where they want to go to college; and the music they like. I enjoyed seeing how low key their school environment is. It’s much different from high school in the US; they attend for five years instead of four; they focus on studying different languages; and their day begins at 6:30 and, without a lunch break, ends at 1:30. Even with the different school the girls reminded me of my sister at her age; they love music and fashion, and were all talking about driving and an upcoming birthday party.
Enjoying the Paestum ruins near Salerno
It has been amazing to see the similarities and differences in people from other cultures. Understanding people’s needs and lifestyles will be a valuable part of my career in Interior Design. I’m thankful to be immersed in a different culture; my abroad experience has taken me out of my normal routine and forced me to accept different ways. Now that I feel like Ariccia is my “home away from home,” I am so excited about my trips ahead; Florence, Milan, Barcelona, and Dublin are some of the highlights!!
[0] Trackbacks [0] Pingbacks
Mon Feb 25, 2008
Life is Beautiful
It is so hard to believe that I have been living in such an amazing place for three weeks! The time is flying by. I have seen so many amazing and wonderful things and places. I don't know how I'm going to be able to remember everything at the end of the trip.
Last Wednesday we took a group field trip to Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii. Our first stop of the day was Mount Vesuvius. The bus took us up the volcano as far as it could and then we hiked the rest of the way to the top. We were able to look over into the crater from several different angles. The last catastrophic eruption was the one in 79 A.D. when the city of Pompeii was buried. It is estimated that eruptions of this magnitude only happen every 2000 years. This means that it should erupt in about 70 years. It was definitely interesting being up at the crater knowing this information. At one point on the walk around the crater, our guide for the hike told us to pick a one-syllable word to use to make an echo around the crater. We wanted to say “War Eagle” but it was longer than one-syllable. We chose “Ciao” and we did hear it echo around the inside of the crater. Then we decided we would shorten “War Eagle” and say “Weagle”. It was awesome hearing the sound of it going around the volcano.
The group at the top of Mount Vesuvius
After the hike up Mt. Vesuvius, we visited the ruins at Pompeii. As I walked around I tried to imagine what the people of Pompeii were thinking when they were being attacked by what they thought was just a mountain. It is amazing that things were as well preserved as they were by the pumice that Vesuvius dumped on the town.
I look forward to the coming weeks and seeing what is in store for me and my new friends. I am also looking forward to having a lazy weekend here in Ariccia after traveling the past three weekends. Ciao!
[0] Trackbacks [0] Pingbacks
Tue Feb 19, 2008
Sicily, HERE WE COME!
Italy…how can I even begin to describe this amazing place!? The food, wine, culture, music, fashion, art and history…the people here live and breathe it all! I have learned so much in such a small amount of time. For the most part I can ask for directions, order food, buy stamps, train tickets, etc., and hold small informal conversations. I feel like a freakin’ Italian genius!!! I am constantly on Italian overload, and for that reason sometimes it feels like I have been here for months already. Then, of course, reality sets in. I run into a word I don’t know or a custom I can’t understand and then I realize I have only just touched on the surface of all there is to know and see over here in Italy. But, for the most part, I am confident in myself and my ability to learn and adapt to this wonderful country.
The past two weekends I have spent touring through Rome with many of the other students. We have mastered the metro, bus, and train systems and are now ready to tackle unknown territory! So, this weekend we will venture to Sicily and see what new and exciting things await us! I will get to experience my first overnight train ride, Opera, and taste of Sicilian food and wine on this long four day weekend. All of my experiences so far have been positive ones that have taught me as much about myself as they have of Italy. I cannot wait to experience more!!
This is a picture of Whitney, Jenn, Lauren F., and me enjoying a few bottles of Prosecco in Campo de Fiori...these girls are some amazing traveling buddies, and will also be going with me to Sicily!
[0] Trackbacks [0] Pingbacks
Mon Feb 18, 2008
The Crypt of the Capuchins
This weekend about half of us spent our time in Rome. It was wonderful! It is so amazing how different, yet how similar some aspects are to places in the states. We walked around the city practically all weekend, enjoying the sites, the last sales and the 1.50 euro pizzas for lunch by a fountain.
One very interesting thing we did was to visit the Church of the Immaculate. What makes this so interesting is that it is FULLY decorated with bones of friars! Sadly you could not take pictures, but they do allow you to buy postcards with pictures on them, so of course I did.
There are six different rooms, five of which contain bones. The first is the Crypt of the Resurrection. On the rear wall of this crypt are the various parts of the human skeleton, and it frames the picture of Jesus commanding Lazarus to come out alive from the tomb.
The second room is called Mass Chapel and is the only room that contains no bones. The alter-piece of this room is Mary and the Child Jesus, to the right is St. Felix and St. Francis of Assisi and to the far right is St. Anthony of Padua and an angel. On the left-hand wall is preserved the heart of Maria Felice Peretti, a grand-niece of Pope Sixtus V, who was very devoted to the Capuchins.
The third room is the Crypt of the Skulls. The side walls contain two Capuchins lying in the curved niches. In the passageway is a winged skull, its wings made from shoulder-blades.
The fourth is the Crypt of the Pelvises; can you guess what’s in here?! The side walls are home to two Capuchins reclining in an arched niche. The rear wall has three niches with Capuchins leaning forward…it is a little creepy. The middle one is beneath a large canopy made of pelvises from which hangs a strand of vertebrae.
Number five is called the Crypt of the Leg Bones and Thigh Bones. The side walls contain Capuchins and the ground has 18 crosses that mark the graves of various friars. Giving more decorative insight is the placement of the many leg bones, thigh bones, jawbones and vertebrae.
The sixth and final room is the Crypt of the Three Skeletons. There are two small skeletons against the back wall and in the center of the vault is a delicate skeleton enclosed within a ring of light, the symbol of life coming to birth.
All in all, to take this in takes about 10 minutes and the end consensus of all was that it was creepy! We all are glad we saw it, because it was cool -- just a little strange. In the postcard I bought it says the message of the church is: death closes the gates of time, and opens those of eternity.
[0] Trackbacks [0] Pingbacks
Thu Feb 14, 2008
La Dolce Vita
San Valentino Felice! (Happy Valentines Day!)
I can't believe we have been here nearly two weeks! The time has flown by! I spent our first weekend in Rome and fell in love with the city even more. There is so much to see and so much history behind every little corner. We toured the major sites – the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps and so much more! Yesterday we visited ancient Etruscan tombs and went to Ostia Antica, an ancient town outside of Rome on the Tiber River. We went on a tour of the ancient city and learned so much; it was fascinating to learn that the sites have been around since B.C. There were remains of old restaurants, houses, and stores. The architecture and details in some of the Ostia ruins were so beautiful, and the mosaic tiles were so intricate and still intact thousands of years later! I can't wait to see where we go on future trips and I am so excited to call beautiful Ariccia my home! Ciao!
This is a picture of Lauren L., Jessica, Alex and me in the Colosseum
[0] Trackbacks [0] Pingbacks
Mon Feb 11, 2008
When in Rome….
I love the fact that I can say “When in Rome” and actually mean it. We finally made it to Rome, and it is even more amazing than I ever could have imagined. I don’t know how to begin to describe all of the remarkable places and new things we experienced over the course of 24 hours. One of the things I love the most is that you could spend months in Rome and never run out of new things to see. Every time you turn a corner you see another beautiful building or massive statue, and every church you walk into will present another famous painting.
One of my favorite places we visited in Rome was the Trevi Fountain. Standing in front of the fountain and seeing it for the first time was a very overwhelming experience. The fountain is so large and intricate, so you would have to stare at every inch of it to notice all of the details. It is unimaginable how much work and time it must have taken to create such a masterpiece, and I’ve never seen anything like it...And to think that’s only one of the places we visited in Rome. We also went to the Pantheon which was even more overwhelming. I literally laid on the floor and stared up at the huge dome. I’m sure I looked like the biggest tourist, but at that point I really didn’t care.
Besides seeing one great place after another, we also had our first experiences with public transportation. From riding the subway during rush hour with backpacks to sprinting to the train, it turned out to be a very exciting but exhausting weekend. I can’t wait for more to come!
Detail view of a portion of the Trevi Fountain
Pointing up at the oculus inside the Pantheon
[0] Trackbacks [0] Pingbacks
Thu Feb 07, 2008
Brava!!!!
Ciao! I can’t believe we’ve already been here almost a week!! We are having a wonderful time! This week we’ve mainly been getting introduced to the professors, staff, Chigi Palace, and neighboring towns. Everyone has been so wonderful. Italian life is certainly different than being in America, but I feel like it is just part of the experience. The changes can sometime prove a nuisance, but then I walk down the hall to see a fresco that Bernini painted , and I think, “It’s sooooooooo worth it.”
Yesterday a few of us went to the tabacchi to get post stamps...that was an experience. I’m still getting used to interacting with the locals-- I find myself saying a word in English over and over, thinking that eventually they will understand me. Not so. After a while of COMPLETELY butchering the Italian language, a young man looked at us and said, “Auburn?” We all got a good chuckle out of that. Anyway, the locals have been SO nice and patient. After about 5 minutes, we finally left the tabacchi, postage in hand.
I know we have barely scratched the surface, and if the next couple of months are half as charming as this first week was, then sorry Mom – I’ll see y’all at Christmas. Ciao!!
[0] Trackbacks [0] Pingbacks