An American in Italy…

It’s been several days since we first arrived in Venice or Venezia, a city that’s surrounded by water and takes your breath away when you stop to gaze down one of the many canals that have a gondola or two slowly floating down it.

I wanted to give myself the chance to become adjusted to the Venetian lifestyle, to feel as though I’m a part of this small community even if only for a week or two. Each day on our way to a class meeting or historical site, I notice the many shops and the people who belong to each of them. Every day is the same, they greet people who pass by with a “ciao,” or an “hello” if they can really tell you’re an English speaking tourist, and they try to invite you to visit their store or have a bite to eat at their ristorante. Since our first day here, I’ve come to realize the daily routine of our little neighborhood and the shops and people who surround us. By passing by the same little places daily and knowing which bridge will take me to a designated location, it feels like I’ve come to be a part of Venice. I feel like I’ve finally adapted to this lifestyle and that in itself feels rewarding.

Each morning, a small group of us look for a place to get breakfast. Sometimes we take a walk over the bridge which is very close to us where we can find a cappuccino and croissant for a reasonable price. The woman at the counter can speak Italian and a little English and is quick to wait on you when you walk in the shop. Here in Italy, the culture for a bar, which is what we’d call a café or coffee shop back in the states, is to stay at the bar while you drink your cappuccino. This gives you the chance to enjoy each sip without having to run around with a reusable coffee cup container like I would on a normal day at home. Sometimes our morning breakfast leads us to the Jewish Getto, a place that we’ve come to know a little bit better since our first day in Venice. There’s a small bakery in the Ghetto Vecchio that smells of delicious baked goods. When you walk in the bakery, you feel like you’re a part of a community, and the place you’re in is a place where locals pass by and grab what they need on a regular basis. And it’s here we find ourselves intermingling. Even something of this sort gives me the chance to realize that I have this amazing opportunity by simply being here to become immersed in this city’s culture. A culture that is so very different than our own, but so incredibly willingly to extend an arm or two to me and make me feel as though I’m actually a part of it.

Being a part of a new culture has given me the chance to think about my own culture, the lifestyle that I’m most familiar with, the one I’ve always known, and to compare it to this new Italian culture that I’ve adapted to. Sometimes when we walk through a piazza or pass over a bridge I find myself observing the people around me, even though I’m not sure where they come from, whether they’re Italians or tourists in the city of Venice, I try to soak up their characteristics and what it means to be who they are. In return, this causes me to think about what it means to be who I am- an American in Italy.

Our course has led us to investigate the concepts of identity and community, and I’ve extended them from our class discussions about the Jewish community to what I’m experiencing personally as an American student who is studying abroad in Italy. We’ve been questioning what it means to be Jewish in Venice and how Jews think of themselves here, whether it be as Venetians or as Jews, a concept which can relate to community.

I wanted to take these concepts of identity and community and think about them on my own personal level. I began by considering what’s most obvious, in America I would identify myself with the state I live in, the place I grew up, the kind of ethnic traditions I’ve practiced and the lifestyle I currently lead. Here in Italy, I can identify on a much broader level of just being American or being someone who is not from Italy. But I knew that before I began studying abroad I had made a connection between being an Italian in American to actually visiting Italy, since it’s a part of my heritage it became a part of my identity and how I think of myself. However, when in Italy being an Italian here means something totally different than being an Italian in American. I wonder, upon returning to America if I’ll still identify as much with being an Italian after actually seeing the country of Italy, does this change my sense of identity and what it once meant for me to be Italian (in America)? Will it strengthen or weaken my sense of identity? I know that the answer comes from the community and the atmosphere in which I’ve previously been exposed to in America, as opposed to this new environment of actual Italians. The sense of community has begun to change my sense of identity just as my identity will change based on the community I find myself in.

Sometimes when I pass by other people who are speaking another language, I listen to how their words and phrases, body movements and facial expressions communicate their message and then I wonder how my emotions, tone and expressions communicate my message. How does the English language sound to the foreign ear? And if they were able to observe the delivery of my phrases, would they still be able to communicate with me regardless of where they’re from and the language they speak? They say Italian is a language you can speak with your hands, and as someone who has studied communication along with performing arts, I feel as though our bodies can communicate for us. The other day, I had been walking along a street, or strada, and I heard a mother and daughter arguing behind me. Their tone was loud and the daughter started to get louder and louder as she got closer to me. She was storming off, scurrying in a frenzy and I could hear her tone as I tried to identify a word or two she was saying in Italian. She was not happy, they seemed to be arguing about something, and as she passed me by, I noticed a tear falling onto her cheek. Even though, I was unable to understand the language, I was able to understand their conversation and the way in which they were communicating. While there may be a language barrier, I’m coming to believe communication is universal. A laugh is a laugh, a cry is a cry, and a smile is a smile- no matter where you go, no matter where you’re from and no matter who you are. As people, we’re all the same, even though we may feel so very different.

As I continue to explore the rest of what Italy has to offer us, I continue to keep my eyes open to the conversations that surround me, the people who are fleeing and the feelings that I try to express to those who I communicate with, but as I do, I wonder if someone else is trying to figure out who I am and what I have to say, as I do with them.

Ciao for now!

On the Move.

While backpacking, life moves fast, and everyday is just as exciting as the last. Imagine each day, being in a different place—a different culture than your own, and within a few days, being in another new place just waiting to be explored. Since visiting the island of Santorini in Greece, I went through Athens,Thessaloniki, Sofia, Beograd, Budapest, Zagreb, Split, Brach Island in Croatia, Ljubljana, Vienna, Martin, Prague, and Krakow.

My time in Eastern Europe has actually been more enjoyable to me than Western Europe. These cities are all still beautiful and brimming with history and culture, but they are just not as “commercialized” as Western Europe. This means two things: less tourists and cheaper prices (which to me has created a much better experience). For example in my hostels in Croatia, Ljubljana, Vienna, and Krakow—I have had entire “8 person” rooms to myself (it helps too that I am not traveling during “high tourist season”).

Budapest

In Budapest I couch-surfed with a Hungarian couple, Jozef and Andrea, and they were great hosts. After a day of seeing the city and visiting the “Museum of Terror” (which was once headquarters of the both the Nazi and Soviet leaders in Hungary—now a museum devoted to the history of the double-occupation that the country of Hungary underwent) Jozef and Andrea took me to a local theatre production at a University in the city. The production was actually a satirical musical about a Jewish man secretly working as a Nazi commander in Hungary. It was quite good, and they projected English subtitles above the stage, so I was able to understand it well. It was, however, odd to me that they would have a play such as that. It was something that made-sense to citizens of Hungary and contained themes of Hungarian pride and elements of Hungarian humor—themes that wouldn’t make sense in American theatre. I was grateful to have been able to see it, and to have been able to talk to Dodo and Andrea about how it was to live under Soviet rule. Andrea said when the change occurred in 1989—it was a smooth transition for them, they were all ready for it.

Martin

When I went to Martin, Slovakia, my brother, Joseph had arranged everything for me to meet and to stay with his friends there. Joseph taught English in Martin for a year with a Full Bright scholarship two years ago—and while on this trip, I wanted to take the opportunity to see where he lived. I stayed with his friend Lorenz, and met his other friends and some of his old students. I was able to see some of his favorite spots in the city and eat some traditional Slovak dishes like Halusky.  It was a great way for me to connect with Joseph and to understand what it was like for him to live in Slovakia. His students remembered him well and spoke of him with good regards—I was proud to hear it.

Krakow

The city of Krakow was also a beautiful city, and being that I am half-Polish myself, I was very excited to be able to see a little bit of Poland. Krakow has the biggest market square in Europe and it was bustling with merchants, locals, and tourists. I was able to try some traditional polish food and listen to live Polish folk music. On one day, we visited the Salt Mines of Wicesism, which contained old statues and enormous underground cathedrals all carved from rock. They were beautiful and featured intricate carvings of religious stories and figures.

We also visited Auschwitz to see the remains of the concentration camp that existed there during WWII. The experience was moving, and certain aspects made me feel uneasy, such as walking to “death wall” where they shot and killed hundreds of prisoners, seeing the enormous pile of human hair that was saved from the shaving of the victims of the camp, and walking through the gas chamber and crematorium, where thousands of people were killed. It felt strange to be there and to walk through the camp—among other tourists and school groups. I imagined the scene at Birkenau, where thousands of Jews and other prisoners were marched to their collective death—now herds of tourists march through the camp—trying to fathom the monstrosity of the camp. I tried to imagine what the camp looked like in its use, and tried to realize that this place was the last place that so many people would have seen.

I learned a lot from visiting Krakow, and seeing Auschwitz. It is important to know that part of traveling is learning these hard lessons and applying them to your knowledge of the world. I know that I have already taken much from this trip and these lessons will forever change my perceptions and understanding of both history and life.

That’s it for now-Copenhagen waits!

Cheers!

ready, set…SPAIN!

Tomorrow I venture off to Spain!  I can hardly believe that this trip has finally arrived, because I’ve been anxiously awaiting it for about 8 months.  I have been all packed for about 2 days now, in the hope that the extra time will allow me to remember anything I’ve forgotten.  I feel I’ve packed everything I’ll need, but still not ready.  I’m nervous about having to speak Spanish for two months, considering last semester was my first ever semester of Spanish.  I will definately learn quickly; it’ll be sink or swim. 
If I catch my connecting flight in Brussels, I’ll arrive in Madrid on Wednesday around 11:30am.  From there I’ll find my way to the train station and travel down to Seville (hopefully in time)  for orientation at 6pm before meeting my host family the following day.  I cannot believe I begin classes again on Friday! 
Hopefully all of the flights are on time and I manage to find the right train!!

Day one: Canto Grande

Our group, exhausted but excited after landing in Lima

It is officially the first full day of our stay in Peru. Yesterday was a VERY long day. I woke up at 6 because I was so excited and nervous that I couldn’t sleep. Everyone was at the airport by 11 and then our flight was at 2:20. The plane ride was about 8 hours long but it honestly felt like 8 days. The first 4 hours went by very quickly, but the last four dragged on for forever. I think it was just because I was so tired, and so anxious to just BE IN PERU ALREADY after months of working myself up for this. We did eventually land though at 9:00 (10:00 back home), and the process of going through immigration and customs went very smoothly. By the time we arrived at the Peyton Center in Canto Grande where we will be staying it was well after 1:00 (Peru time) so everyone was pretty exhausted, especially me. Even so, I was just happy to have arrived safely and ready to sleep so that I could be prepared for the next day. Even though I have been in Peru for less than 24 hours, I have already experienced a LOT of differences (and some things that really were not so different) from the US as well as learned some new things! For instance, they had these very interesting rotating billboards at the airport. We have also seen chickens and stray dogs which we learned are called “Perros Vagabundos” in Spanish. We also learned that you have to bring toilet paper into the bathroom stalls with you, and you can`t actually flush the toilet paper or you will back up the system. Needless to say this will take some getting used to! But I am looking forward to learning from this experience, and definitely realizing what a luxurious lifestyle I have back home, even though I had never thought of it as that before.

Today was a day to relax for us since we had such a long day yesterday. After lunch we toured the clinic, Fe y Alegria y Yancana Huasy where we will be volunteering during our time here. Leaving the Peyton center for the first time during daylight, I was shocked by my

One of the Peruvian houses

surroundings. I knew that Peru is a poor country, but I think I really had no idea. Many of the houses look like nothing more than makeshift shelters and there is dirt and debri everywhere. We saw TONS more stray dogs today on our way to the schools and learned that dogs are often not kept as pets here because the people do not have the money to take care of them so they end up just wandering through the streets. When we reached Fe y Alegria, the local school, I was amazed and excited by how friendly and happy the children were to see us. They immediately ran up to us, saying hello and giving us hugs and kisses as though we were family. At one point, a few us entered a classroom of 7 year olds who became fascinated by our cameras and began jumping all over us trying to see the pictures on the screen; they almost knocked me over! It was a great time though and I am so excited to work with the wonderful children of Canto Grande. The tour of Yancana Huasy, the center for people with disabilities, was also very interesting. It was great to see such wonderful services being provided to the people and their smiling faces as well as we passed through the center. We stopped at a gift shop in the center that sold products which were all handmade by the people at the center. Everything was so beautiful! I was really impressed by their talents and friendly spirit.

Some of the wonderful children at the school

After our tours, we came back to the Peyton center and had dinner which was absolutely delicious. Everything that Isabel (the cook) makes is SO good, especially after a long and tiring day. After touring the locations of our service hours, I am even more excited for the next three weeks. I can’t wait to spend time with, get to know, and learn from these wonderful people!

Day 5 – Venice/Padova

Today we visited Padova (pronounced pa-jewa), which was yet another new experience and unique town in contrast to Venice and Rome.  It is a bit less of a tourist destination, so it gave me more of a sense of what life is like in the average town in Italy.  Although I remember a time when blue laws were still recognized in the U.S. (when stores were closed on Sundays), that was long forgotten until visiting Padova, when we had to find alternate activities for the afternoon rather than shopping during our free time.  Around 4 p.m. the city began to come alive – most stores opened and there was a small festival taking place in and around the town square which included music, a pantomime, juggler, artists, and other various entertainment.  I am under the impression that this is a typical Sunday in Paova, although I am not certain, and it was very nice to experience.

The educational component of the trip to Padua included a trip to St. Anthony’s cathedral, which although is not exactly a tourist destination, it is where many christians go to pray for the sick and deceased.  Although St. Anthony’s featured pre-renaissance artwork and had a slightly different architecture than some of its Roman counterparts, what was most outstanding to the entire study abroad group (and myself) was a board where those who came to pray attached pictures of those who they seeked blessing for.  Regardless of your religious convictions, it was quite emotional to see photos of hundreds who were being prayed for – each with a unique need for blessing.  It was quite bothersome to look at the pictures and wonder what motivated someone to make the pilgrimage to St. Anthony’s to seek help.  Further, I could not help but wonder the frequency of which the pictures were removed to make room for more.

The day provided alot of time for reflection, and after visiting St. Anthony’s, I began to once again recognize the value of my study abroad experience.  Visiting various religious sites during the program, one cannot help but get caught up in the lavish designs and artwork, and although I had learned otherwise in my Western Civilization course, observing all of the sites of the Catholic church left me with the impression that the extravogance was due simply to the Italians’  strong faith.  Although faith and beliefs may had contributed to the lavish architecture, I began to recall that there was a time when The Vatican was also the primary government of Rome, and at times most of Italy.  It occurred to me that the extravogance was as much a sign of power as it was to honor God.  Also, as in Venice, in contrast we toured (what remained of) the Padova Jewish Gettho, and it was once again disturbing to see the persecution and intolerance of people of different religious conviction – demonstrated by the need to almost camoflauge their synogauge and community.

Upon returning to Venice, in the evening we once again visited St. Mark’s square.  It is very difficult to describe being there, and it is something that I strongly urge others to experience.  Being at St. Mark’s at night, I was able envision myself in the 1700′s, and it felt surreal.  At four different locations, there were bands playing violin and piano, and it looked and sounded just like something you would see in the movies.  St. Mark’s, and Venice as a whole, is truly a unique place, and it is remarkable that it has remained greatly unchanged for hundreds of years!  I hope that Venice is always able to maintain its heritage.

Day 4 – Venice

We began our fourth day of the program by visiting St. Mark’s basilica.  St. Mark’s is probably best described as the Venetian equivalent of the Vatican, although it is not nearly as large.  In addition, it has Byzantium features in its architecture, so although it is quite lavish it is somewhat unique when compared to the St. Peter’s and other christian cathedrals.  After this brief visit, we then toured Doge’s Palace.  I must admit that I did not have any prior knowledge or expectations of Doge’s, but was extremely impressed by it.  By visiting Doge’s, it became apparent to me how our study abroad experience is beginning to come together.  Doge’s was the primary location of government and law making in Venice.  It was also the place where Venetians could file grievances against others, and it would appear primarily Jews from the Ghetto, amongst others would be tried and possibly imprisoned on site.  The overall architecture of Doge’s was meant to make an impression on all who visited there, and it still had that feel for me today.  As you made your journey to the courtroom or office you were scheduled to visit, you would pass through many chambers which, through various decor and artwork, gave you a sense of Venice’s power.  If you were tried and convicted, your attention shifted from the lavish building to the cold prison which awaited you.  It was quite an amazing place to visit and experience.

After touring Doge’s, professors Clasby and Mares provided us with a picnic lunch, which we enjoyed in the Ghetto.  At this point, it should be noted that, at least in Venice, the Ghetto refers more to an ethnic location, synonymous with segregation, rather than a type of slum that Americans generally think of.  We then discussed two other readings which were previously assigned, and the true value of a study abroad program became apparent.  Many times we have learned about a historical place or event by reading about it in a textbook.  During our picnic, I found it amazing that we were eating at the historic location which we had just read about the night before!  This was one of many examples where we “learned live” – with one of our professors bringing real context to what others can only imagine by reading, we get to experience it first hand.  I often read material and am concerned that I will not remember it in the near future; when learning in a study abroad program, I am confident that these will be experiences which I will never forget.

Day 3 – Venice

On our third day of the program, we departed Rome and headed forVenice, where we would be spending the next six-days.  As you can tell from my blogs, I have always been fascinated with transportation, so it was very exciting for me to experience my first ride on the Eurostar high-speed train.  The Eurostar is very similar to the Acela which is the U.S.version and services Washington, DC to Boston in about 5 hours.   Although I was enjoying the experience of the high-speed ride itself, my attention soon turned to the beautiful landscape which surrounded us. As soon as you leave Rome, the countryside becomes rather undeveloped, with the main industry appearing to be farming.  As I had mentioned in a previous blog, I was surprised to find that Italy is not very flat, considering it is primarily farmland, but rather has slopes which range from gentle to small mountains.  It is much different than traveling through the United States, where you primarily see shopping centers and malls, as well as many urban areas.

When stepping off the train in Venice, I could immediately distinguish many differences in the two cities (when compared to Rome).  Of course Venice is iconic for its canals and gondola taxis, however I did not realize that the canals are the only method of transportation between points in the city.  There are no streets or cars (a huge difference from the busy streets of Rome).  Being inVenice was literally like taking a step back in time, and sometimes I really had to try to remind myself that I was not at a theme park.  It was quite refreshing to see a more simple life, where goods are moved via boat, windows do not have screens or air conditioners, but rather shutters and large window panes which open inward.  Most restaurants offer outdoor dining, and the temperature is perfect for enjoying a great meal.  Although Italians do not begin to eat dinner until around 7:30, I was surprised to find that all of the stores close, and street vendors pack up fairly early and you pretty much have no option but to retreat to your quarters by about 10:00.

Aside from enjoying the beauty of Venice, the “study” portion of the study abroad program really began.  We were assigned various readings, including Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, which artistically depicts dealings between a Catholic merchant and Jewish banker in The Venetian Ghetto.  As a group, we visited, and discussed our assignment in The Ghetto.  It was at that point that I began to draw a parallel from the affluence of The Vatican (and other Christian/Catholic cathedrals), to the modest and almost camouflaged synagogues in which the Venetian Jews worshipped.  Although the gates and drawbridge which divided The Ghetto from the rest of Venice are no longer in use, it is hard for me to imagine a time when citizens of different religious and ethnic affiliations were not allowed to assimilate with the rest of civilization.  It was also very disturbing and chilling to be reminded of the ultimate persecution that the Jews faced, when I visited the Holocaust memorial located in The Ghetto (out of respect I did not photograph this).  At the same time, I thought of the lavish cathedrals and churches which Christians were able to freely enjoy during the same time period, such as St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, and began to truly appreciate the diversity which we now take for granted in the United States.

Day 2 – The Vatican

On our second day in Rome, we visited The Vatican.  I am not sure what I expected it to look like, from seeing it in movies I envisioned a compound surrounding St. Peter’s square which would feature fortress like walls and high security.  What I came to find was that it is separated into two parts – a museum, and St. Peter’s square and cathedral.  The museum, and cathedral are once again indescribable and my attempt at taking photos really only gives you an idea of what I saw, but really does this incredible place an injustice.  The museum was enormous and one room seemed to lead into endless others full of beautiful paintings, sculptures, and tapestries, and the rooms were painted and decorated to perfection with no detail left unturned.  All rooms featured marble floors and painted ceilings.  It is very difficult to summarize, because I could literally write pages about only one or two things that I saw in the museum.

St. Peter’s square and cathedral was also an amazing place to see.  I was surprised to find that the square is open and accessible from the street (not a fortress) but of course we had to go through security to enter the cathedral.  The cathedral is also very difficult to describe.  We had been to some other chapels and cathedrals inRomewhich were very beautiful, but St. Peter’s was much, much larger and spectacular.  St. Peter’s has alters on both sides as you approach the main alter (similar to stations of the cross at a Catholic church), and a mass (and confession) is offered in every language. Although these were smaller places of worship to the sides, as a whole I would estimate that you could fit at least four normal size churches in the main corridor!  That estimate may even be a bit conservative, because the shear magnitude of the cathedral was a bit overwhelming and hard to truly put into perspective.  TheVaticanis the headquarters of the Catholic Church, and they have spared no expense to make it as beautiful as possible and iconic symbol of the Catholic Church.

I had mentioned previously that I had expected to see more security around St. Peter’s square.  I came to find that this idea was not unrealistic because during periods of political instability, the Pope became a target and needed to retreat to safety.  A few blocks away from The Vatican is a fortress, which has a tunnel for the Pope to escape to safety through.  The street between The Vatican is proof that Rome has been attacked in the past, as you can tell from the different architectural styles which exist.  This street is wider than most and features larger buildings with brighter colors (referred to as “arms of the city”), and is symbolic that Rome can come back from attack and oppression.

After spending the greater part of the day touring The Vatican, we then traveled on foot to see the Spanish Steps, as well as some other sites along the way, and were afforded some personal time to shop and explore.  We then had a nice, authentic Italian dinner, followed by gelato, and burned off the calories with a nice walk back to our hotel where we spent our final night in Rome.

Day 1 travel experiences and Rome

It was so exciting to depart for my first trip abroad!! Although I have travelled extensively in the United States, I have never felt so excited and unsure of what to expect at my destination, as in this trip. The airport, and flying internationally are unique experiences which are quite different than traveling domestically. The airport security was about what I expected – unfriendly! However the process did not take quite as long as I had anticipated, and we then went to our gate to wait for our departure. While waiting, I was so excited to see our plane taxi in – it was an Airbus A-380, which I believe is currently the largest plane in the world. It is larger than a Boeing 747 in that it has two decks of seats. I have watched many television specials about the 380, so I was very excited to board! Most people are familiar with the complaints related to air travel – unfriendly service, cramped seats, delays, etc. My experience was totally different. In fact, traveling abroad had that certain romanticism which I had always associated with going to Europe. When boarding the plane, each seat was equipped with a pillow and blanket for the six-hour flight. If my plane ticket did not indicate to the contrary, I would have been certain that I was seated in first class! Each seat back was equipped with a monitor which allowed you to watch various movies and television shows, however my favorite feature was the live cameras mounted outside the plane which allowed to watch the takeoff and view the ground while in-flight. The monitor also allowed you to watch a GPS map which gave constant updates as to our progress. Periodically we were offered beverages which included complimentary beer and wine if we so desired. In addition, we were periodically given steaming hot towels to refresh ourselves. A full dinner was served, and we were provided metal utensils (very surprising to see) which were engraved with the Lufthansa insignia. After dinner drinks were offered, and we then took a few hour nap. Upon waking, we were once again given a towel and also a continental breakfast. At that point we were almost to Frankfurt, so I switched my monitor and watched in real time as I for the first time landed in Europe! After a brief layover we then embarked for Rome. Flying over Italy, I was surprised to see that it has alot of farm land and is not largely developed.

Upon landing, we were greeted by a guide who led us to a luxury bus which took us on the one-hour commute to our downtown Rome hotel. At this point, I can honestly say that I am not sure if I was or was not seeing what I had expected. For the most part, with the exception of some variations of mountains and farmland, as well as the absence of strip malls, it felt very similar to traveling through Brooklyn, NY. There was alot of traffic and old buildings which generally gave you that big-city feel, however it also had a certain charm and character which helped me to look past all of that. At this point, we had been awake nearly 24-hours (less a short nap on the plane), and I felt as though I had lost all sense of time. I remember my sister, who is a psychologist, mentioning that a cognitive test which is performed to test a patient’s mental state is to ask what day and time it is. At this point they would have taken me away, because I honestly could not answer! But our professors’ plan was for us to tough it out and continue to tour Rome, which would require staying awake for about another 9 hours and walking many miles. Although the thought of this was a bit hard to fathom, we all trusted their guidance and began our journey.

As we walked toward the Coliseum, thoughts of being tired soon vanished. My initial opinion of the city began to change as in the horizon appeared the famous Colosseo which I had learned about in my Western Civilization course this past fall. It was hard to describe the feeling of being in a structure which was built over 2,000 years ago. I had so many thoughts going through my mind, but probably the most prevalent was how much I would have liked to been a spectator at a Roman show there. Perhaps this is a bit barbarian to say, given that the gladiators were sometimes forced to fight lions barehanded, ending in the fighter’s demise. But the great amount of detail that went into staging these performances really made me wonder what it would be like. As I walked around the second level of the Colosseo, I was amazed how something more fascinating appeared around every bend, such as Constantine’s arch. We then walked further into Rome, and the cityscape changed again as we went from the lost city to the newer, medieval section. The beauty of the old buildings and narrow streets almost did not seem real, and I sometimes had the feeling like I was in a theme park. We went to an open-air dome chapel which it would be extremely difficult to describe with words and pictures, as the beauty and overall feel would be far undersold.

We then had dinner at an authentic outdoor cafe, and took the bus and subway back to our hotel for a well-needed rest (I have never slept so well!!)

One Coin in the Fountain…

After two days in Rome, we’re on our way to Venice. My first impression of Rome started long before I arrived in Italy, of course this was because every movie I’ve ever seen that’s set or said to be set in some part of Italy. The Coliseum, the  Vatican and the Trevi Fountain just to name a few were something I had only seen before on a movie screen, so I packed these impressions with me in my 27lbs luggage to Italy. While we’re safe in Venezia (Venice) tonight, we spent the last two days getting to know the Eternal City- Roma- a little better.

The culture here is very different than what I’ve been exposed to as an American. Most of the Italians we’ve come in contact with are very good at speaking a little bit of English, presumably to understand tourists, and are able to make sense of what we’re trying to say. Verbally there is a communication barrier that is very interesting to observe, especially after taking Beginning Italian for two semester. I find, much to my surprise that I’ve been able to read menus, understand bits and phrases of conversations that pass by, and of course, what may be most important, order the food I’d like to eat. For instance, I ordered un prosciutto e mozzarella panino and felt a sense of major accomplishment when the Italian man behind the counter asked “Italiano?” and proudly I could say si. This first very subtle attempt at communication may not seem as impressive as it actually feels when biting into my panino. And, because of this, I confidentially knew when the time came to place another order, regardless of the time of day, I was more than ready.

Our time in Rome was filled with so many sights and a great deal of excitements. One of the sites that seemed to really connect with me- I was nearly jumping up and down when I saw it for the first time- was the Trevi Fountain, which we visited last night. The Trevi Fountain is on nearly every tourist’s list of sights to see when in Rome, while at the fountain you’re supposed to throw a coin in, over your shoulder. If you do, they say you’ll return again to Rome. With this promise in mind, I found myself overly excited to throw my coin in the fountain. I wanted to be sure that I would get the toss just right so I did a few practice tries without actually letting go of my coin. When I finally found a good spot, I turned my back to the fountain and tossed my coin in with great excitement with the hopes that one day, my wish would come true.

The area surrounding the Trevi Fountain is known as Piazza di Trevi, which was filled with so many people when we were there last night. I stepped back a few times to just take in the view of the crowd and the fountain in amazement that it was so much bigger and grander than I had expected. Of course, this was not the first time I’ve seen the Trevi Fountain, as I’ve seen it in a hand full of movies where a character goes to the fountain with a coin to toss with the hopes that their wish will come true, and of course they usually do. At this time, I can’t say whether or not my wish came true just yet… but if I should return to Rome, I’ll credit it partially to the Trevi Fountain, and definitely make another visit to the fountain of Trevi.

Mid-air throwing my coin into the Fountain.

After the excitement at the Trevi Fountain, we had dinner at which I was able to order my first dish of pasta- Spaghetti pomodoro e bascilia, spaghetti with a tomato sauce. This dish looked very much like the one Julia Robert’s character in Eat, Pray, Love indulges in while she’s in Rome. It was absolutely amazing and it felt extremely authentic swirling my fork around into little circles. For dessert, we stopped at a small gelateria where I had my first taste of genuine gelato italiano, and I ordered straticcella e caffe, chocolate chip and coffee, which surpassed all my expectations and was the perfect way to end my evening in Roma. It was the perfect way to end the night, a simple thing that made us feel like we were living “la dolce vita!”

We’re off to explore Venice! Hasta luego!