Archives: May 2009
Thu May 28, 2009
Ancient Rome Scavenger Hunt
Laura and I inside the Colosseum
Yesterday we headed to Rome for our Ancient Rome Scavenger Hunt. We were given a list of 20 clues, and we had to research online and figure out what locations in Rome we were supposed to visit. We were allowed to go on the scavenger hunt with other girls in the group, but we all had to take our own pictures to turn in. It did make the whole experience a lot more fun to be able to do it together though.
Since we were on our own to get the scavenger hunt done, we decided to sleep in yesterday morning and go into Rome around lunchtime. We woke up on Wednesday, got ready, and hopped on the bus to Rome. Once we were on the metro, we started making our stops. We had to visit many different sites, so I will just talk about some of my favorites. We started out with the clue that was the most out of the way, which was to find an ancient structure that supplied the city of Rome with water. Luckily some of the girls had done some extra research and found an Aqueduct a few blocks off of one of our metro stops. Next we headed to the Colosseum. I have been to Rome once before, but was not able to go inside of the Colosseum during that trip. I was really excited to see what it was like. What I saw was something indescribable. It was strange to stand inside the Colosseum and think about everything that took place there such as all the gladiator fights, public executions, killing of wild animals, and killing of Christian martyrs. We spent a long time at the Colosseum reading about the history, looking around, and just trying to process what a huge part of history we were having the privilege of visiting.
Inside of the Colosseum
Next, we headed to the Roman Forum. It was so much bigger than I expected. One thing that was hard for us here was that many of the ruins and ancient buildings were not clearly marked, so it was hard for us to find the things we needed to take pictures of for our scavenger hunt. But we still had a lot of fun walking around, exploring, and trying to figure out what everything was. We also visited Capitoline Hill and Museum while we were close to the Forum because it is so close. Here we saw the original statue of Marcus Aurelius and the statue of Romulus and Remus. After the Capitoline Museum, Laura, Allie and I decided to split off from the group and make a couple extra stops before we took care of our last clue. We are all going to Paris for our 4th of July break, and have decided to go to Disneyland Paris during one of our four days there. We remembered seeing a Disney Store near the Spanish Steps in Rome, and were so excited that we decided to go ahead and get our tickets. So we hopped back on the metro, headed to the Spanish Steps, and successfully purchased Disneyland Paris tickets using the little Italian we know. After that we took a picture of our last clue, the Tiber River, got some gelato, and then hopped back on the metro to head home to Ariccia. It was an exhausting day filled with lots of Roman history, millions of soccer fans, and my first Italian pizza, but we had a great time!
Laura, Allie and me with our Disneyland Paris tickets!
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Mon May 25, 2009
POSITANO!!
Even though we were not in a classroom from Wednesday to Saturday, one would be at great fault to say we had not been learning. Even though Positano was our vacation spot, we as a group acquired more information in our journey to understand the Italian style of living. Once we arrived in Positano we were greeted by an extremely long flight of stairs. Stairs that in fact would cause most of us too have uncontrollable shakes once we reached our destination. After the stairs, and two (very small) elevator rides we arrive at our new home for the weekend, the Pupetto. The reception area and eating place was a terrace (that was covered in lemon trees and other colorful flower bushes) that looked out over our beautiful private beach surrounded by anchored sailboats of all shapes, sizes, and colors. IT WAS AMAZING! It was quite a sight to see the dark, pebbled beach as opposed to the white sandy beaches most of us are accustomed to, but we were all excited to be at the beach, IN ITALY!
For our first dinner we dined at a seafood place, appropriately because we were right by the Mediterranean Sea. Our first course came out: salads; but not just any salad, lettuce adorned with mussels, octopus, and calamari, not at all what we were expecting or (for most) desired, but a few did enjoy the array of Mediterranean delicacies. Our first lesson, never expect what you imagine, especially when it comes to Italian cuisine. The meal was followed by gelato and strolling around the area where we found vendors selling gorgeous cover-ups and jewelry and a string of lighted restaurants that looked out onto the water. The lights of the hillside town and the candles on the tables of the beachfront restaurants were magical, it was like a movie set: unbelievably perfect!
The first night was quite a change from the luxuries of our palace home, although we were all happy and excited, we did miss a few things we were not used to missing. Lesson number two: although your hotel room may be missing a few key objects, it all works out. All of our rooms came without a shower curtain. It sounds minor, and ended up being no problem at all, but it is a very odd feeling (one that took some getting used to) to bathe yourself out in the open. A lot of the rooms also did not even have a shower it was more of a lowered square in the corner of a tiled room with a shower head attached to the wall. We all joked about it while also flooding our bathrooms; it was a fun experience to say the least.
Our first day we decided to venture to the island of Capri, a beautiful thirty minute ferry ride away and full of unbelievable views and expensive shopping. While some walked around the area, another group took a boat ride around the island of Capri. We saw the Blue Grotto (famous for its electric blue water) the Lover’s Arch, and many houses of the rich and famous. It was nice to feel the breeze from the front of the boat where quite a few of us sat in awe of the ridiculous view we were seeing. When the boat returned the rest of us ventured around the tiny island to shop and grab some lunch. A majority of the shopping was expensive brand names so it was just looking, and not a lot of purchasing. Although some girls were afraid they would have to purchase a 1,000 euro dress, due to a tiny spot on a dress and an outraged shop owner. Our third lesson: look but do not touch. While a few of the girls were looking in a store they were all gathered around a neat dress, some touched it( like a normal American would) and then they left the store. One of our group members that remained walking around that same store got a bit of a surprise. The shop owner headed straight for her, yelling in Italian, claiming she was responsible for some miniscule spot on that dress the girls had been looking at earlier. She yelled and screamed for about ten minutes while our friend tried to convince her she had not even touched the dress much less made the smudge. She finally got away, but not unharmed. It takes a lot to have someone yell at you for something you did not do, in a different language, all by yourself and not have a small breakdown. But she handled it like a champion and brushed it off, to make the best of the rest of her time on Capri.
Virginia, Hilary, Allie and Me on the beach of Capri
The second full day was spent on the beach (RIGHT in front of our hotel) and walking around town. We spent time relaxing, reading, and learning more about each other, it was a great day! Lesson number four: we have a pair of excellent jellyfish wranglers in our group. Though the sun and sand were hot, we were upset to find that a swim to cool ourselves off was only a possibility for those who were very brave ( which included none of the girls in our group.) There were jellyfish everywhere! Some were washed on the beach while others were lining the shore. Some girls developed an entertaining way to pass the time in the heat, by trying to clear the water of jellyfish with rocks. They were good at what they did, but unfortunately did not make the water safe enough for us to swim, but I think they had a good time trying.
Our last lesson was learned on the last night of our stay. We planned to go to a really neat discoteca that was named “Music on the Rocks”, some of us made it and were told to pay a ten dollar cover charge if they wanted to stay. I forgot to mention that a small mixed drink was twelve euros at this place, that is about sixteen dollars, for ONE drink. We later found out that this particular discoteca was allowed to pull these ridiculous prices because they claimed Shaq and Denzel Washington had been there, but in reality, it was a monopoly. This was the only discoteca in Positano and with tourists and young people alike, they could set these prices and still get major business. Lesson number five: Positano discoteca=ridiculous prices. Even though a few did not make it to the discoteca the last night, we still had a goodtime playing card games and laughing in the hotel rooms.
Maybe these five lessons do not seem to be that large of a learning experience to you, but to the twenty of us they will forever be fun memories and important lessons learned. Even though we were on vacation, Italy is always a learning experience and a chance to get to know each other more and more with every day we spend together.
Also, in case you were wondering, the steps that made our legs shake going down were EXTREMELY TOUGH going UP on our last day. Another lesson, another memory, they did not stop the entire trip, and I hope they continue throughout the rest of the summer.
Positano, So beautiful!
Thanks to my loft roomies for the pictures!
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Sat May 23, 2009
WFP and Pompei
On Monday, we went to the World Food Programe Headquarters in Rome and listened to an Auburn intern, Emma Keller, give us all the background information about the program that really made us aware about the hunger issues taking place in our world. When we hear about starving kids in Africa, we just think it is simply due to no food available. However, it is quite the opposite. The irony in hunger is that there is, in fact, enough food in the world for every nation to have healthy human beings. We also do not take into account that hunger has other surrounding issues. Children are not physically able to comprehend the information presented at school because they have not had a meal in 3 days and have to walk an hour to school. Empowering women is also a huge part of the hunger issue, because when girls are fed through school feeding they receive the education needed to make future life decisions they never thought they had a choice about earlier. These decisionsmay also lead to more respectable jobs. As a result of this education, they contract less infectious diseases, have fewer children as uneducated women, and carry this sort of self respect that they otherwise would not have. It is important to be aware of these things when giving to the World Food Programe, because you know that you are giving to so much more than just hunger. It is also imperative to know that most kids have worms in certain areas and just fgiving them food will do no good if they are not de-wormed. We learned that de-worming costs just pennies per child. The meeting in WFP really gave me a better understanding of this world-wide pandemic and how important it is to empower these women and feed these children.
One way you can contribute to the war on hunger is to play Free Rice at http://www.freerice.com
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All the girls at the World Food Prorgrame Headquarters in Rome, Italy
On Wednesday May 20, we left for our first optional trip to Positano. On the way to Positano, we stopped by Pompei and went on a guided tour of the ruins. Stefano was our tour guide. He was very funny and kept our easily distracted group attentive for a good hour or two. We walked through the village that had been destroyed by a volcanic eruption, not by lava itself, but by volcanic debris such as ash, rock and deadly fumes. Archeologists found that this debris kept the shape of some of the victims even s the flesh decomposed; but the volcanic rock and dust kept the shell with a skeleton inside. Archeologists came up with a brilliant idea to fill these shells with liquid plaster, giving form to the people in those ancient times and how they reacted when this natural disaster occurred. Pompei was a very interesting place to go to because it gave us detailed insight on how the ancient Romans lived there life. Stefano explained to us the importance of restoring Pompei and how it is slowly being destroyed due to several factors. The sun is slowly fading the beautiful colors of the marble murals on the walls, and since Pompei receives 300 million visitors in 1 year there are troubles that come with that. Stefano explained that “the people are not the problem, but out of 300 million people that visit it is the many idiots that decide to take marble, brick or any other original objects home for a souvenir that will lead to the destruction of Pompei.
Stefano & I at Pompei
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Sun May 17, 2009
Arrivederci America :)
Sitting around in a circle of my newly found friends today, I realized that our first week in Italy was coming to a close. My, how much we have learned and experienced in only a few short days. Whether it was struggling over a language barrier, accidentally biting into a salty, slimy anchovy, or adjusting to the jet lag, I think it is safe to say that all twenty of us girls have quickly become accustomed to being out of our comfort zone.
Southern Italy, can anyone think of a better place for a group of young women to learn and grow for a summer? Ariccia has been so welcoming to us out-of-towners, we have instantly found our own niche in a foreign land. Sitting on the piazza enjoying a snack and people watching, as well as taking a siesta in the afternoons, have both become popular activities for our free time. We’ve gotten to purchase fresh produce from the weekly market, as well as try a few Italian delicacies such as gelato, porchetta, and pasta, pasta, pasta. Trying to communicate in Italian has become such an exciting challenge for us, my mind races in search of the proper word and then I stutter trying to remember the correct pronunciation of my ‘ch’s and ‘ci’s, but it is always so rewarding once I have successfully spoken to someone. Where would we be without body language and hand gestures?
Our first week here has taken us to Albano, Genzano, Frascati, Nemi, the Castel Gandolfo, as well as the thriving metropolis of Roma. Albano and Genzano are neighboring towns of Ariccia. They are a short walk from the Palace, our new home away from home, and are a nice change of pace when looking for a new Fraschetta or Pizzaria. We’ve looked down on beautiful, smooth as glass lakes from the hilltops of Frascati and the Castel Gandolfo, tasted mini-strawberries in Nemi, and taken many walks just admiring the different towns. Saturday was our first experience in Rome. The whole way on the metro we giggled over common clichés such as ‘when in Rome’ and ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’ Rome was an eye-opening experience for everyone. The architecture is easily some of the most beautiful in the world. Around every new corner there was another masterpiece to marvel at, whether it was an exquisite church or something much grander like the Pantheon. I was quickly very jealous of every resident of Rome’s walk to work in the morning. Saturday was spent fulfilling an “expert of the day” assignment. Each girl was given a famous part of Rome and had to act as a tour guide for that designated area, as well as lead the group from place to place. It was a great way to learn about each area because there was always someone new to listen to. It also was very helpful in learning to navigate such a large area. We still have much more to see in Rome, we couldn’t fit it all into one morning, but as you all know, Rome wasn’t built in a day!
We’ve only had two mornings of class this past week, but we able to squeeze a lot in. Going over vocabulary and grammar in our language class has been extremely helpful for when we are out on our own interacting with the locals. Also, we have learned much about the history and art of the Chigi family, who once lived in the Palace where we are living this summer. Learning in a classroom that sits among beautiful baroque art and furniture has truly been a fairy tale, even the stamped leather wallpaper is a masterpiece!
Living in the palace is a dream come true. We have a fabulous, fully equipped kitchen to cook in, great spacious bathrooms, and two-level bedrooms. It provides a great environment for bonding with one another. Many nights are spent staying up late to talk or having spontaneous dance parties. One week has passed and I feel like we have all become such great friends, we already get sad about going our separate ways in the fall, as some girls will be graduating, getting married, and beginning internships in new cities. I am sure the next eleven weeks will be some of the most fun and eye-opening weeks of my life and I am looking forward to all the ways I can learn and grow in them.
Our new home! Laura, Amanda, Catherine, and Chasley sit outside the Chigi Palace.
Welcome to Roma! Virginia, Abby, Chasley, Ali, and Sarah Jane pose before throwing their pennies into to the Trevi Fountain.
Allie, Sarah, Hilary, Katie, Rachel, Jenna, and Virginia stand in the Pantheon underneath it's skylight.
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