January 27, 2009
After the euphoric state wore off after getting to Rome, I went through culture shock. I didn't realize it was coming and I didn't think it would affect me so much but all I wanted to do was go home. It wasn't that I didn't like where I was, I just wasn't used to feeling so uncomfortable. As my mother said, home is comfort. However, after being here for almost three weeks I am feeling a complete turn around. The streets around school are getting familiar and I can navigate my way around a little bit more and more. I'm finding that everything is beautiful here...everything. Life is slower too. Even though I am in a
city, people take their time here. There is no rushing at restaurants, no hurrying through stores, no impatient glares. Quite nice.
A group of my friends and I went to Firenze this past weekend. I LOVED it. I almost wish that I was studying there instead of Rome. It's smaller and people are friendlier there. I was able to feel really comfortable after one weekend. It is small though so I'm happy to be in Rome where I can always find new things. It rained most of the time and it's off season there now so I was able to climb il Duomo and see the David without a problem. We also took a day trip to Pisa to see the leaning tower. It was so great! I can't stop pinching
myself...I am too lucky for this! I had my first hostel experience which went
wonderfully! It was clean and the staff was really helpful...it had a pool, steam room, bar, affordable food (although I didn't really eat there). It was in a great location, right down the street from the leather market...which was fabulous! I wish I was a rich girl because I would have bought something from every vendor. The food was amazing...as it has been everywhere. There was a chocolate outdoor market going on that weekend. All I have to say is coccolato caldo (hot chocolate, which is like a hot pudding yumminess), chocolate covered cherries, and bread with chocolate sauce and pears is soooooooooooooooo
good in my tummy.
Everyone in the program have been getting along great. Although we all have our separate groups, we all have fun when we hang out. There is only one small kitchen for the whole group so dinner time is so much fun but crowded! We share stories of where we went the past weekend and enjoy company. The building we are in also has our classrooms so it's nice to be able to roll out of bed for 9 AM business class and then go back to bed when it's over :-) We
are basically living in the 5th Avenue of NYC...expensive shopping but all Romans are jealous and want to be living where I am. CRAZY!!!
This weekend I am going to Dublin (by myself!) to see my older sister. I am going to have a whole day to myself which at first scared me but then I realized they speak ENGLISH there so I feel that I'll be able to get around ok. After my first hostel experience I am excited to meet people. There was a guy my age in Florence who had been traveling by himself for six
months and was still going strong. It inspired me to make this trip all that I can make it! I am really excited to see my sister too, even though it will just be for a short time. I think alone time will be good to reflect and be peaceful.
I haven't met a lot of locals thus far but again, it's still early. When we go out at night we've been sticking with big groups, which is ok for now but I'm hoping to break off soon and find where the locals go. During the day it's fun to walk around and look at different parts of the city. It's less stressful during the day because at night everything looks the same! That will change soon I'm sure.
Classes are classes. I really like all my professors so far. The two art classes are fun because you meet at different locations all over Rome. Unfortunately both of my art classes are at 9:30 so I have to wake up about an hour early to get on site for the start of class. I think that the professors realize we are here for the experience and are very helpful with getting students adjusted.
The student affairs advisers are AMAZING!!! Juliet and Domenico...so great. They care so much about the students' needs and organize a lot to do. I'm going to a soccer game tomorrow (Wednesday) night. It's a small game but I'm am so excited, I've never been before! At our last floor meeting they had canoli for everyone. I don't know what I would do if it was not for them. We also started our community service activities. I am at a soup kitchen, not in the best part of town but there is a group of us that goes so it's not bad at all. It was interesting to see the different people that come in. It looked like it was mostly immigrants, most of them from Africa. Many of them just pointed to what they wanted and said little but there were a few Italians that tried to talk to me. I got by ok and there were other workers near by just in case I couldn't understand what someone wanted.
Ummm...let me finish up, this is getting long...I'll go quick
-Food: AMAZING. Fresh. Yummy. I feel like I'm eating better than I ever have in my life, even though the food is richer.
-Dislikes: Romans are not very friendly...not all but for instance, you don't smile at people walking on the street. They keep to themselves for the most part.
-The days go by so fast, I don't know where time has gone but it scares me because I am falling in love with Italy and I'm not going to want to leave!
Ciao until next time!
Alison
January 7, 2009
Ciao Everyone!
My name is Alison, I am a junior Arts Administration major. I am from Northwest Connecticut. My goals for study abroad is to be as Italian as possible, hang out with the locals and completely go outside of my comfort zone. I hate the unknown and feeling uncomfortable but I think there will be a lot of that, especially because I have no clue what to expect so this experience will help me get over those fears...I'm hoping.
My fears for studying abroad...everything. I'm afraid I won't be able to understand anything that is going on because I am not fluent in Italian. I'm afraid I'll get lost somewhere and not be able to find my way out. I'm afraid of not knowing, if that makes any sense.
My expectations for studying abroad...that I will come back a changed person. I want to make this experience everything and I expect that it will be as amazing as everyone is telling me it is. Very high expectations.
What I'm going to miss about Wagner/NYC/the US...New York City. I love NYC, it's disgusting. I'm going to miss the people, my family and friends (naturally). I'm going to miss my mom's cooking. That's about it. I know that I'll be back in four months, no worries.
Studying abroad will make me a more independent person. No doubt. I think I'll have a better understanding of people too...I've never traveled outside the United States so I have never experienced a completely different culture. Most of all I'm just excited.
It's about three hours before I leave for the flight. I'm flying out of a small airport in CT with a friend from Wagner. It's snowing and there is a lot of ice outside right now. I'm anxious to get going and I do not want to have to wait around at the airport. I've packed two suitcases...neither of them are close to 50 pounds. One is a bigger size and the other is small. I usually am a horrible packer but I did well with packing less. I figure it's better that way because I can fit more when I come back. I'm really nervous. But I know that once I am there and settled in, I will be ok. My friend and I have a ten hour lay over in Amsterdam so we are going to get out of the airport and experience the city for a little bit. That will be nice. I'll be in Rome around 9:30 tomorrow night...Until then!
Alison