Uh...

I sent this email out a while ago, but I figured blogging would be easier...so though you've already read this, keep checking for updates and pictures!

Can't promise this will be interesting or exciting :)

1/20/11

So today was my first day of my study abroad experience. It’s so surreal that it’s actually my turn after watching the older students go in previous years. It really has not hit me that I’m not just on vacation… I’ll be here for four months! I think once I move into the Centro and meet everyone else (and start class, ugh), it won’t be weird for me to think that I’ll be living here.

The flight was a debacle, to say the least. After being delayed two days because of the Italian consulate, my flight from Philly to Rome was delayed 3 hours! I spent about 5 hours in the airport. Looking back, I have NO IDEA how I was able to do that and stay sane. It really didn’t feel like 5 hours at the time. The original plane had some mechanical problems, so they had to finish maintenance on another plane, test it, and get it to the gate. We boarded, and I actually got a window seat WITH an empty seat next to me, which saved me, I can’t even tell you. The flight was absolutely packed with Italians, no exaggeration. It was funny to watch them board the plane—this group didn’t listen very well, haha. The flight attendants had to ask them 3 times to sit down so we could leave. I was looking forward to picking a movie to watch and falling asleep, but alas, the movies weren’t working on the plane. At this point, all the mishaps were almost comical. Luckily, I was able to fall asleep, though I do have a very sore neck at the moment (not viral meningitis).

I was very worried that my bags weren’t going to make it (after all, my luck had been horrible), but I was VERY thankful when they did. I managed to make it to the trains (a taxi would have been about 50 euro, yikes), but also managed to get on the wrong train. Luckily (I feel like I’m using that word too much), I asked a nice older man who barely spoke English and was able to dart (as quickly as one can dart with a 70 liter backpack and heavy duffle bag) off the train and caught the right one. Hooray! From the train station I was supposed to take a tram to the Piazza Mastai stop, but I couldn’t find the tram—because I thought I was supposed to take a bus—so I bit the bullet and hired a taxi, which I think was the best decision because there’s no way I would have made it on my own.

After checking in, Owen and I decided to go walk around a bit. Since he’s been here since Tuesday, he showed me to the Pantheon(!) and Piazza Novana. The Pantheon is enormous! It was kinda cool that it was raining, because you could see the rain falling through the opening in the roof. We didn’t spend much time there, but I have four months to get back!

Then we made our way over to Vatican City, just to briefly explore. It wasn’t crowded—more like deserted, because of the rain—so it looked different than how I had imagined it. It was still incredible! There was an elaborate nativity scene set up in front of the obelisk, which I think actually took away from the beauty of St Peter’s square, but what do I know? To get into the Basilica, you have to go through some lax security, though I think its main purpose is to make sure that everyone is modestly dressed. Exposing one’s knees and/or elbows is absolutely not allowed, and I think even your elbows have to be covered (though I’m not positive about that). Anyway, it’s hard to describe how I felt when I walked into the basilica. It’s incredibly overwhelming…it’s sheer size and complete lack of wood really astounds you. There are enormous marble statues everywhere, mostly of former popes, angels, and suspiciously what look like greek goddesses…The famous statue of Mary and Jesus after the crucifixion of Jesus is also there, and it is every bit as marvelous as it is in pictures. Tourists aren’t allowed near it though, as it’s kept behind glass behind a rail. I could go on forever about it, but since I know I’ll be going back there, I’ll leave the rest of it for another time. I have to mention quickly that I saw John Paul II’s grave! LOTS of people congregated around that…it was very cool.

As for the city of Rome itself, it is completely made of stone. The streets are cobblestone (of course), which makes walking for a long time hard on the feet, but the novelty of it is still there. Like Jerusalem, there’s an awesome juxtaposition of ancient buildings and new ones. Everything is also very close; the streets and sidewalks are incredibly narrow, and the streets are not parallel or perpendicular to each other (they curve and bend whenever they feel like it). Also, it seems that street names change every block, which can make things very confusing. The Tiber River is right in the middle of the city, and it proves a useful landmark. There are multiple bridges that run across, one that runs straight to Castle St Angelo. To say that drivers here are aggressive is a huge understatement. There really are no rules, besides stay on one side of the road, haha. I will absolutely not be driving here…everyone knows I am not an aggressive driver at all. I have to say though, that it’s kind of dirty. The lack of trashcans makes for more litter than in the U.S. It’s unfortunate, but it’s still incredibly beautiful here. The stone is just gorgeous.

I’ve discovered that nothing here is complimentary. If they give you bread at dinner without asking, if you touch it, they’ll charge you. If they give you water at lunch or dinner, you pay for it. It’s not terrible, but no way would we ever get away with that in the U.S.!

I miss you all and hope that I’ll be able to hear from you soon! Thinking of all of you!

Here are some pictures that I took in my first days...

Views from the Piazzale Aurelio (highest point in Rome!)