Tue May 15, 2012
When in Rome
Ciao from Italy! Today we took our first field trip to Rome to visit some of the key places of The Grand Tour! We took the train into Rome and then had to get on the metro. Once we got on the metro, we had our first run in with a pick pocketer! As we were approaching our stop, Lauren looked down and noticed her purse was unzipped and a man had taken something. Luckily, all the man got was an empty McDonalds chicken nugget box, and she was even brave enough to take it back from him!
The first place we went was the non-Catholic cemetery near Pyramid Cestia. The cemetery is the burial site of famous poets John Keats and William Shelley. Then we went to the Spanish Steps and saw Antico Cafè Greco on Via Condotti, which was one of the favorite places for poets and writers of the Grand Tour to gather. Then we went to the Keats and Shelley house and saw a collection of Romanticism writing. Next, we went to the Academy of Franc on top of Trinità dei Monti, and we had a guided visit in the Villa Medici gardens. The gardens we absolutely beautiful! We could look out over Rome from the Garden and see Vatican City. We ended the day with a walk to Pincio and visited Piazza del Popolo, Santa Maria del Popolo and the Chigi Chapel.
Tomorrow we have our first quiz, so it is time to go study! Then on Thursday, we are heading back to Rome to see the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Capitoline Hill and Museum, the Forum, the Coliseum, and the Palatine Hill. Also, we will all be running all around Rome trying to complete our scavenger hunt! Hope we can find the right places! 
Tomb of John Keats and friend Joseph Severn
Mon May 14, 2012
The Beginning to My Own "Grand Tour"
Ciao from Ariccia, Italy! I will be the first student blogging about our experience as part of the Joseph S. Bruno Auburn Abroad Program. It seems very unfair to only be allowed to write a short entry about what I have experienced so far because even though I have only been here for a week, I could write at least 10 pages about how amazing Italy has been. However, to keep it short, I will write a bit about one of our trips so far.
Our first travel day had us scheduled to travel through parts of the Castelli Romani (Castles of Rome), which includes many different cities. The first city we visited was Rocca di Papa. There, we were able to hike to the top of a mountain that overlooked a large portion of the Castelli Romani area including Lake Albano and Lake Nemi, both of which had been formed by a volcano. We had learned earlier in the week that these two lakes were also known as “the eyes of Jupiter” and the mountain on which we were standing was where the earlier Latin people of the area came to worship the god, Jupiter. Lake Albano still holds much significance today because it is the lake that is overlooked by the Pope’s summer home in the city of Castel Gandolfo.
Each city that we visited that day had something very unique to offer to our experience, but most of the focus had been on both of these lakes. The scenery of Italy is unmatched by anything I have ever seen before. With one week down and eleven more to go, I can’t imagine how much I will be able to grow as an individual from this study abroad experience. Hope you enjoy following us throughout the semester! Arrivederci!
Lake Albano from the top of Rocca di Papa
Mon Apr 30, 2012
See ya America, Hello Italy
HOLY SMOKES!! I cannot believe that I will be in Italy so soon. Although I am so very excited, there is a part of me that is a little bit panicked. I am not too nervous about my time in Italy, just the process of getting there. I’m one of the few who booked my flight a day early. So I am anxious to see how my first day in Italy pans out. I so badly want to make the most of my time in Italy, I want to see all that I can and experience the rich culture. I look forward to traveling all over Europe. Leaving home is kind of sad, I know I wont get home sick but I’m sure I will miss my family and friends. For the past three summers I have worked at a camp in Missouri, it will be hard not being there with all my friends. A lot of my friends will be staying in Auburn this summer; while I know they are going to have fun I realize that being in Italy is so worth it. My sweet friends and I have already had to start saying our goodbyes and that made Italy seem so much more real. Thankfully my parents are coming to visit this summer. I am close with my family so I am extremely grateful that I will get to see them. Once in Italy, I really want to travel to Venice. I know that Venice has such a rich culture, and I would love to ride in a gondola. I love the water and I am so intrigued that a city is built on the water. While in Italy, I hope I learn to fully embrace other culture. Traveling all over will probably force me to become more decisive and independent. Both these qualities will be so beneficial for a future career. I am so excited to see what’s in store!
And the countdown begins!
I cannot believe it is finally here! I feel as if I have been preparing for this adventure forever! The anticipation of this trip is almost unbearable so I cannot wait to finally step foot on campus and see what it is all like.
I think what I am most excited about for my time in Italy is that I will really get to know the area is which we will be studying. We will almost become locals. I am excited to get to know another part of the world that well. The places and people I will get to see seem really exciting and I am anxious about seeing what all we get to do.
Right now is the hectic part of the trip…PACKING! Only 2 suitcases weighing 50 lbs! Wish me luck! Right now we are in the middle of finals so packing for an almost 3 month abroad trip seems a little daunting. Whatever makes it makes it I guess!
I know this trip is going to be packed full of so much new information and beautiful sights. My finger will probably not leave my camera for the first week I’m there just trying to soak it all up! I am hoping to get to learn a lot about the Italian culture and the people to make that up. I love that we will be there for an extended time to really get the opportunity to do that well. I know the skills we learn this summer will help us and enrich us for a lifetime!
Fri Apr 27, 2012
Delizioso
I cannot wait to be in Italy! Between now and May 7th, I have a lot to do. I have to finish my finals, move out of my apartment in Auburn, go to my brother’s graduation at Indiana University, then watch him be commissioned into the Army, and finally pack and fly to Italy! It is going to be a busy and hard week to do all of this and say good bye to my friends and family. But I cannot wait to get to Ariccia and explore Italy! I absolutely love to travel and see new places. Also, I love to try their food! I love to cook in my free time and am really looking forward to trying real authentic Italian food. In fact, I am so excited for the food that I found an old recipe that is called “Italian Grilled Cheese.” While I understand that it is probably in no way a genuine Italian recipe, I wanted to try it. And if I do say so myself, it was amazing! It was fresh bread, homemade pesto sauce, fresh mozzarella, spinach, and tomatoes. It was yum yum yum. I have heard from past students that have participated in the Joseph S. Bruno Italy trip, that there is a very good fresh foods market right around the corner from the Chigi Palace. I am very excited to visit this market and scope out some new foods to try!
Arricia vs. Algebra
This first entry is going to be difficult to write, because I’ve been trying so hard not to think about Italy and stay focused on finishing up this semester and taking my exams, especially my math exam with I am particularly worries about. Allowing myself to think about leaving for Italy and how soon our departure date is coming up (12 days…. Ahhh!!) could be detrimental to my math grade this semester, but oh well! I honestly cannot wait to get out of America and take a break from my busy life for a little while! I haven’t even thought about being homesick or missing anything or anyone too much, because I’m just too excited! Well, to be totally honest, I have thought A LOT about missing my dog, but that’s the only thing I am really worried about. I honestly cannot wait to immerse myself in another culture and just take a break from the “American lifestyle” that is all I have every known. I’m hoping for a slower pace and a more relaxed lifestyle, and a real mental break from the stress of being an Auburn student. I think that this time next week, when exams are over and all I have left to do is pack and get on that plane, I will be much more excited and be able to really anticipate all the details of what I will be doing, seeing, experiencing, and eating (yum) in Italy, but for now, I’m mostly trying to keep my excitement under control and focus on finishing up the semester and getting ready to leave. In Italy, I hope to learn how to slow down a little bit, and how to adapt to another culture enough that I can really relate to and start to understand the people there. Well, I think that is all I have to say for now!! Happy finals week everyone!!
The one thing I will really miss about home, my dog.
Ciao!
One of the questions I’m asked most frequently these days is “Are you excited to be going to Italy?!?!” The answer is obviously yes but in all honesty with the end of the school year being so busy I have barely had time to even think about the trip. Sometimes I think that this may be a good thing...going in with no expectations. Often times I think we get so hung up on pre-planning that when something is different than our expectations we feel let down when in reality, the new situation may be even better than we had hoped. In this way, I’m trying to keep my mind open about what Italy will be like and what my trip will be like because I know that it’s going to be different that anything I think but I’m sure it will exceed by wildest expectations.
I know that my time in Italy is going to be absolutely incredible growing adventure. It will a great learning experience not only in history and culture but also in independence. For example, 5 of us are getting to Rome a day early so without knowing the language at all and no adults, the plan is to ride a shuttle to the train station then take the train to Ariccia and then arrive at our hotel where we will be staying for the night. Although this seems a little daunting, I know that it’s going to be quite the adventure and I’m sure it will be a boost of confidence when we arrive just knowing that we can do it by ourselves.
Last night we had our end of the year interior design party. It was a little bitter sweet in that right now my interior design classmate are my family at Auburn. I know that as soon as I go to Italy, everyone there will become my new family for the summer so in conclusion, I’m saying good bye to one family and hello to another (or just ciao to both!)
Ciao!
Ciao Ariccia!!
Only ten more days! I am really nervous about leaving home for more than three months. I have never gone more than a month without seeing my family. I am also going to miss my friends. All of my friends are graduating in May or August, so when I get back it is going to be hard not being in the same town anymore and seeing them all the time. Even though I know I am going to miss my family and friends, I could not be more excited about spending three months in Italy. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I have never been to Europe or traveled for an extended period of time. I am really looking forward to meeting new people and traveling all over Italy and parts of Europe, and I am so excited about the Italian food. The place I am most looking forward to visiting in Italy is Cinque Terre. I want to go on the Sentiero Azzure walking trail that goes through the five villages. My aunt is very adventurous and loves to travel, and she told me that Cinque Terre is one of her favorite places that she has ever visited. Also, a family friend is getting married at the Vatican, so I am really hoping to get an invite. I hope through this experience I really grow as a person and open my eyes to what I might want to do after I get back from Italy and graduate. 
The last time my friends will all be together before graduation.
All Rivers at Once
People always tell you that ‘these are the days’, that college is the time to experience life outside of your comfort zone, to try new things, and to become the person you want to be. Not to say that I didn’t believe them, but I didn’t believe them, that is, until now.
As I make the transition from college to college graduate, from living in auburn to living in Italy, and from having a vague idea of the future to having no idea what’s ahead, I am quickly realizing that we can’t take these days for granted. Knowing that I am leaving for Ariccia in 11 days, has given me so many feelings and emotions to process. Leaving home/Auburn for 3 months to move to Italy is wonderful, insane, crazy, amazing, and overwhelming. I am extremely excited for this opportunity in my life and cannot wait to experience the Joseph S. Bruno program and all it has to offer. One thing that I am embarrassingly excited to do is to “Eat, Pray, Love” my way through Italy. I know this sounds ridiculous but I loved the book (Elizabeth Gilbert is a wonderful writer and I think she sometimes speaks through my heart) and the movie was great as well. There are tons of websites out there dedicated to helping tourist duplicate E.G’s tour of Italy and I am giddy to just walk down the street of (insert Italian city here) laughing, smiling, eating gelato, and wondering why my pants no longer fit.
I believe that living in Ariccia will give me a greater sense of independence, self-confidence and a self-assurance that will benefit me as I apply to graduate school and to future job options. 11 days to go, 2 suitcases to pack, and the daunting decision of how many books does a girl really need to bring to Italy? Ciao for now.
-also, photo is of a few things i'll miss. parents, pups, my room, and my bookshelf. 
Good-Bye America, Ciao Arricia
In just a blink of an eye I’m going to be on a plane to Italy, the dream is actually coming true. I’m so excited about this amazing cultural experience, and as my parent’s say this is my marvelous Master Card moment.
In less than 2 weeks I will walk the streets where Michelangelo, Raphael, Galileo, and Leonardo Da Vinci walked: I will be immersed in the smells and tastes of a society as old as time, and the fashion and flare of a country and continent that defines culture. I have only seen pictures of the splendor of Florence and Milan, and I can’t wait to see the grandeur of today’s Italian culture.
Of course I’m going crazy trying to concentrate on finals without daydreaming of what I will be doing for 3 months. Are my bags packed, do I have my passport, and am I prepared: I’m not going to panic quite yet, there is still time. The thought of leaving my friends and family for this long period of time will be heartbreaking but I know we are going to Skype and blog throughout the entire summer.
Though I’m leaving behind a life I can navigate with ease I am about to plot a new course with new friends and experiences that will last a lifetime.
This Italian experience will only enhance my future and will permit me opportunities that only being engrossed in a rich culture would allow. As stated in this famous Anonymous quote, “Let us never lose sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way”. I plan on seeing many rainbows this summer.
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