Wait, wait, wait... how did I end up in Rome?
Yesterday I didn’t feel like going home after class, so I figured I would wonder down the road to the big fountain by my school that overlooks a great view of Rome. I also decided to take a different route than I usually do. I turn a corner, and all of a sudden I see a big, old arch.
Suddenly I was just like "Waittttt. How did I get here?" I remember thinking I might like to study in Rome and everything after that is a blur. I remember all the women I work with asking me about it all summer and talking about going, but not really thinking it would happen. I don’t remember making the decision to actually go. I don’t remember the countless applications and forms I had to fill out. I don’t remember the essay I had to write. Besides those things, I didn’t do any planning, that’s for sure.
All of a sudden I was just in Rome. I had boarded my first (and second!) plane in ten years and going to Europe for the first time. Then I had the rush of moving in, getting to know people, and orientation at school. Now everything has settled down and it seems a little more real... or at least until I step outside and realize where I am again.
This whole this is just crazy!
I cant remember ever not being excited for school
If I had made the decision my senior year of high school to go to AUR, it would not have lasted. I most likely would have transferred after a semester. Get ready for a rant.
First off, all my classes are in one building. I cant deal with that. I need a change of scenery. I need my 40min walks between classes. Now I just spend them reading in the courtyard or sitting on a computer. I want to wander Rome, but its not enough time to get back for the next class.
Second, these classes! I was actually really excited for all my classes and now I just don’t want to go EVER.
I want to learn Italian, but I also want to learn grammar and things. Why would they make a class where you just learn all the basics for living in an Italian culture? I need to know how to form sentences and things! Everyone in my class agreed that they never want to learn more Italian than the basics to survive. Ughhhh. I cant get into a real Italian class because it conflicts with ALL my other classes. I feel like everything Ill learn in my Italian class, I could learn on the street.
My two english classes are similar and different. Both my professors assign reading, which I do, and then come to class to realize there was no need for me to do my homework because all were going to do in class is just listen to the professor read our homework word-for-word. No, no, no that is not why I looooooove english classes so much! I love the discussions and the introduction of things I haven’t thought about myself. One of my professors attempts this, but fails miserably. She reads two or three pages word-for-word, then stops and says "what do you think this means?". What do you mean, what do I think this means!?!? I think it means there are three people and a ghost living in a house. Oh, you too? And everyone who read the book agrees because that IS what it means and its OBVIOUS!? Oh, okay, good. Lets continue on re-reading the book and learning nothing for another two hours. Its just so frustrating. Also, one of my professors cant even remember what the book is about. We have to correct her constantly and then she was like "Sorry, I haven’t read this book in a few years." If you don’t put the effort into preparing for class, why should we? UGH. It just makes me sooooooo unexcited for school. It feels like such a huge waste of time and money.
I still haven’t gone to my fourth class because the professor hasn’t been showing up. Lets hope she comes tonight!
Why even go abroad?
I’ve met a lot of people during my short time in Rome so far, and I’ve met a lot of people who are really good at fulfilling the stereotypical American role. Its just really hard for me to be around because its so rude. The cultures are very different, and if you don’t want to deal with it, you shouldn’t have come, you know? For example, everything closes on Sunday, so prepare for it, don’t spend all Sunday talking about how dumb the country is. I mean, I miss all the conveniences of the U.S., but "when in Rome, do as the Romans do". Its just very very frustrating for me to be around people who constantly complain about the culture and try to Americanize everything when I’m trying so hard to fit in to the culture.
Anyway, I have to go to class and hope my professor shows up! I also have to hope Ill actually like this class so school wont be something I totally dreaddddd.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Pictures!
I didn't post many because it takes me about 3mins per picture to upload.
I also couldn't post them on here because it took even longer.
Sooooo they are all here... mkoabroad.shutterfly.com
Enjoy!
I also couldn't post them on here because it took even longer.
Sooooo they are all here... mkoabroad.shutterfly.com
Enjoy!
Molto Bene!
Hello, I am a giant nerd and want to tell you all how proud I am of myself. I went to the grocery store for the second time today. I went all by myself.
1. I got all my fruits and vegetables bagged up, weighed, and printed out the price sticker like a pro. Versus last time when I attempted to weigh my stuff, received no sticker, then had to nonchalantly hang out by the fruits and vegetables until someone else weighed theirs... which was a while.
2. I debated buying day-old bread to avoid the pane counter, but got the nerve to get fresh bread. "Una (american accent) baguette (french accent) por favore (half american, half italian accent)". Probably confused the guy. Probably not because I scream American even though I try soooooooo hard not to. Grabbed the baguette and asked me a question. Shoot. Gave him a confused look and a smile. He made a slicing motion. "Oh Si! Si!" Another reason I look so american... when I get excited that I understand something I always say "Si! Si!" Then he asks another question. Oh noooooo. "Stop?" he asks. "Oh si" Si". We both laugh and I move on with my life.
3. The rest in normal grocery shopping. Except everyone in the store was like 85. My favorite aisle is the one with cookies on one side being attacked by all the old women and candy on the other side being attacked by old men. Its just so stereotypical grandma/grandpa image. I love it, haha. I started thinking about all their little Italian grandchildren they might be buying it for and them going home and hanging out and basically imagining their whole life. Because Im a crazy person. Journalism has made my brain turn everything into a story.
4. Then I went to check out. I was asked if I wanted a bag, in Italian. I remembered what that meant and again started on my dumb "Si! Si!" business. Paid, bagged my groceries, and left.
Wooooooo. I am a grocery shopping pro. Next stop, the other grocery store where they have meat a cheese counters to conquer that!!
Also, on my way home, in my bright red coat I should have left at home, I was thinking about how hot I was and at that exact moment I passed an older gentleman from my building who exclaims "something something freddo!" and made a shivering motion. I forgot what he actually said as I was writing this, haha. Anyway, can you guess my response? "Ah si! Si!". (Even though I wasnt cold at all. Its like 40° and rainy though, miserable.)
And on a completely unrelated topic, I started classes yesterday. My Shakespeare class is not one I am looking forward to, old English is not my thing. My professor however, is very excited about it and hes from London (and South Africa?) so that should put a nice spin on it. Plus hes really funny. Only complaint is he cant hold a train of thought, he is constantly searching for the next thing to say.
I think Im dropping my International Law class. The description was like the history of International Law and issues in it today. However, its more like practice for law school. Its all about how to look up case law and write briefs and stuff like that. Which I already know how to do and I know it also consists of me living in the library. Soooooo I think Im dropping it. Also, my professor thinks its like the greatest thing ever that Im a journalism major and insists Ill get a job anywhere I want the second I graduate. He also told me he loves Michigan for the Wal-Marts, which made me want to explain to him I have only been to Wal-Mart twice in my life and I refuse to shop there and Id never even heard of Wal-Mart until recently and MI should not be associated with Wal-Mart. Then he went off on a tangent about how cool it is to be a diplomat because you cant get parking tickets and you can mail machine guns. Hes whacked.
I have contemporary american fiction today, which is the class Im most excited for. Im going to sit in on American Foreign Policy after that because its the class I want to switch into. Also, Im going to attempt to switch to Italian 101 because Im currently in Italian 100 and I dont want to beeeeeee. Too bad all the Italian classes are always full and impossible to get into.
Okay, Im off to finish this delciousss plum I got at the store and figure out what I want for lunch.
1. I got all my fruits and vegetables bagged up, weighed, and printed out the price sticker like a pro. Versus last time when I attempted to weigh my stuff, received no sticker, then had to nonchalantly hang out by the fruits and vegetables until someone else weighed theirs... which was a while.
2. I debated buying day-old bread to avoid the pane counter, but got the nerve to get fresh bread. "Una (american accent) baguette (french accent) por favore (half american, half italian accent)". Probably confused the guy. Probably not because I scream American even though I try soooooooo hard not to. Grabbed the baguette and asked me a question. Shoot. Gave him a confused look and a smile. He made a slicing motion. "Oh Si! Si!" Another reason I look so american... when I get excited that I understand something I always say "Si! Si!" Then he asks another question. Oh noooooo. "Stop?" he asks. "Oh si" Si". We both laugh and I move on with my life.
3. The rest in normal grocery shopping. Except everyone in the store was like 85. My favorite aisle is the one with cookies on one side being attacked by all the old women and candy on the other side being attacked by old men. Its just so stereotypical grandma/grandpa image. I love it, haha. I started thinking about all their little Italian grandchildren they might be buying it for and them going home and hanging out and basically imagining their whole life. Because Im a crazy person. Journalism has made my brain turn everything into a story.
4. Then I went to check out. I was asked if I wanted a bag, in Italian. I remembered what that meant and again started on my dumb "Si! Si!" business. Paid, bagged my groceries, and left.
Wooooooo. I am a grocery shopping pro. Next stop, the other grocery store where they have meat a cheese counters to conquer that!!
Also, on my way home, in my bright red coat I should have left at home, I was thinking about how hot I was and at that exact moment I passed an older gentleman from my building who exclaims "something something freddo!" and made a shivering motion. I forgot what he actually said as I was writing this, haha. Anyway, can you guess my response? "Ah si! Si!". (Even though I wasnt cold at all. Its like 40° and rainy though, miserable.)
And on a completely unrelated topic, I started classes yesterday. My Shakespeare class is not one I am looking forward to, old English is not my thing. My professor however, is very excited about it and hes from London (and South Africa?) so that should put a nice spin on it. Plus hes really funny. Only complaint is he cant hold a train of thought, he is constantly searching for the next thing to say.
I think Im dropping my International Law class. The description was like the history of International Law and issues in it today. However, its more like practice for law school. Its all about how to look up case law and write briefs and stuff like that. Which I already know how to do and I know it also consists of me living in the library. Soooooo I think Im dropping it. Also, my professor thinks its like the greatest thing ever that Im a journalism major and insists Ill get a job anywhere I want the second I graduate. He also told me he loves Michigan for the Wal-Marts, which made me want to explain to him I have only been to Wal-Mart twice in my life and I refuse to shop there and Id never even heard of Wal-Mart until recently and MI should not be associated with Wal-Mart. Then he went off on a tangent about how cool it is to be a diplomat because you cant get parking tickets and you can mail machine guns. Hes whacked.
I have contemporary american fiction today, which is the class Im most excited for. Im going to sit in on American Foreign Policy after that because its the class I want to switch into. Also, Im going to attempt to switch to Italian 101 because Im currently in Italian 100 and I dont want to beeeeeee. Too bad all the Italian classes are always full and impossible to get into.
Okay, Im off to finish this delciousss plum I got at the store and figure out what I want for lunch.
Monday, January 26, 2009
"Ohhh, oh, it's a picture of perfection."
Friday we woke up super early and headed to school for orientation. Turns out orientation was actually at a church like one street from where we live. So we were basically walked back home once we arrived. We were told lots of horror stories about being drunk in Rome, mostly about really really stupid people who obviously have no common sense... like the guy who thought it would be a good idea to climb up to his 5th floor balcony once he realized he was locked out. He fell, was impaled on a spike or something, almost died, and it turns out his keys were in his bag the whole time. I mean, come onnnnnnnnn.
I can't really remember what we did for the rest of the day... I think I just took a long nap? At night we went on a pub crawl, which was okay. Some parts were fun, but they took us to Campo d'Fiori which is basically just like America in Rome. I'm not really looking for the touristy-closed-minded-american-abroad experience. The boys met up with us halfway through, which was good. It's always nice to have them around not only because they're fun, but also for protection.
The pub crawl actually got really fun towards the end when we started going to more fun bars. We went to a Scottish bar and it was sooooooooo funny. European MTV was on the TV, which is like all music from the 90s. We couldn't hear it, but it was funny to watch. They had a DJ and everyone was dancing. Except everyone dances like 80s aerobics instructors... or they Salsa? It's just really funny to watch and super fun to participate in, ahahaha. After that, we went to an Irish bar. Walked in and the Pistons were on TV, niceeeee. It was so crowded, you could barely move. Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Ace of Base, Neil Diamond... all blaring from the speakers. The entire bar was singing along, it was just crazy fun. However, it was still that American feel. I also discovered Italians don't like blondes... I guess we don't have more fun? Lame.
We had a crazy ride home, where I driver just kept yelling at not watching the road and it was insane. How I still haven't seen a car accident since being here is a giant mystery. Everyone is crazy.
Saturday I woke up early and waited for the rest of my roommates to wake up so we could head over to our school BBQ type thing. However, everyone woke up late and then it was pouring rain. So we didn't go. After the rain slowed, I went grocery shopping with one of my roommates. It's so hard. I'm used to buying like $80 worth of groceries and I need to get used to just planning what I want to eat for a few days. I basically failed... just bought some apples, Brie, bread, noodles, spaghetti sauce, and a bottle of wine? I need to go again tomorrow and I'm still at a loss for what I should buy. I really need to buy things for sandwiches and snacks and things.
After I got back, I skyped with my parents for an hour, talked a few times with Savannah about visiting each other, then skyped with my roommates for about an hour. Skype is pretty much one of the best inventions ever.
The boys came over and we caught a cab to a bar they went to a couple days before. It was fun, nothing too exciting. We all just got to hang out more, which was good. Came home at 5am. I used to think it was annoying that bars in the U.S. closed at 2am, but now I think it's a really good idea, haha. I never check the time when I'm out, I just stay until the bars close and 5am is just toooo late... which I never realize until I wake up at 3pm the next day thinking it's 10am.
Yesterday was Sunday and everything's closed. This seemed to annoy my roommates a bit, but I didn't mind. We found an open bar and got some sandwiches for lunch. We talked for a while, but I ended up leaving around 4pm. They stayed until 8pm. I did some exploring on my way home and found the church I've been hearing all week.
It was reallllllly pretty and big! I stayed for a while, then saw a sign that said there was another mass later at 5:30pm. I rushed home to get changed out of my jeans (I wasn't sure about the dress code) and came back for mass. I planned to arrive early so I could blend in a little. When I got there, there were only about 7 people and they were all in the last rows of this gianttttt church. So I went and sat in the middle section. Said a rosary while I waited. 5:30 comes and goes and nothing's happening except the lights keep changing and they've brought out the communion stuff. So I wait patiently.
Two priests come out, sit on the alter. Half the people stand, half the people sit, I have no idea what's going on. Everyone starts chanting really fast. Which was really creepy in the big church where everything echos. People are coming in, leaving, walking around changing seats six times. I am soooooooooo confused. FINALLY I realize they must be saying a rosary. I start following along on mine every time I hear "Ave Maria" and I was right, they're saying the rosary. Personally, I am not a fan of this and want to leave, but I don't want to look rude or like the idiot American. Even though, like I said, half the people are walking around changing their seats every five minutes.
After it ends, a bunch of people come in and I realize I'm an idiot and 18:30 is SIX-thirty, not five. Highfive on that one. So now mass is starting, I've been there for an hour and a half, I might as well stay. I realize I shouldn't go to mass in Italian. I have no idea what the readings are, the homily, etc. I don't know any of the responses. I don't even know how to say peace! I follow along, but really I'm just bored and thinking I should have waited and found an english speaking church. All the while, I'm trying realllllllly hard not to laugh at the cantor... and then I was thinking about how my dad would probably be laughing, which made it even harder to not laugh.
The cantor was a super old nun. She has a terrible voice to begin with and plunges into a coughing fit about every 30seconds while she sings. Everyone stops and waits for her to cough (into the microphone) for a few seconds, then continues the song. It takes a reallllly long time to get through the songs. It's just ridiculous.
ALSO. Communion. Only half the people go and there is no order. If you want communion, you basically get in the aisle and make a mad rush for the alter. It's out of control. Other difference, there are five priests. I have no idea why that's necessary. Basically, it's really an experience... and super confusing.
On my way home, I was walking past the local video store and noticed the MSU boys inside. So I stopped to see what they were up to and they told me they were catching a train in 5mins to the Spanish Steps and asked if I wanted to come along. I was freeeeeeeezing in my dress, because I'm an idiot and wore one that was only knee-length, but I said yes anyway. Hello, when in Rome!
We walked across to the train station and got there just as the train was arriving. We took that for a few minutes, then had to switch to a metro. We came out by a giant square and I realized these boys travel much more in my style than my roommates. We hung out in the square for a while, just kind of in awe. Then we grabbed some dinner at a small restaurant... a pizza for each of us and a bottle of wine and a bottle of water to split. After dinner, we set out for the Spanish steps. They were much smaller than I thought they were, but still amazing nonetheless. Standing at the top was really amazing though. Just looking out over Rome at night, it's just amazing. You can't even explain how cool it is. I feel like such a broken record because all I say is, "This is NOT real. I can't believe I'm here!"
We left the Spanish steps and headed for the Trevi Fountain. Which was just... wow. It was so pretty at night and there were a bunch of people there and just crazy. We took some pictures and then just sat on the steps staring at it for a while. We went across the street to get some gelatto, then brought it back to sit by the fountain again. It was just amazing.
After that the boys took me to the Pantheon because I hadn't seen it yet and they loved it. I was just walking along, turned a corner, and again... WOW. It's so big and just... wow. Haha. There's no other way to describe everything. It's just crazy how amazing everything is. I swear I'll post pictures soon, but all my roommates are online right now so our internet is being really inconsistent. We stood there for a while and everything was just perfect. It was night in Rome, the Pantheon was all lit up, the square was surrounded by restaurants, and there was a saxophonist playing.
Our ride home was fine, until we got to the train station... which was closed. We kind of stood in the middle of the road trying to figure out what to do, when luckily a taxi came along. Piled in and went home. It was a great night.
This morning, I woke up really early to go to school. We had to register for school field trips today and I signed up for day trips to Tuscany, Assisi, and Pompeii. Sooooo I'm excited for that! I rushed to class, only to find it was canceled. Grrrrreat, not. It was my Italian class! I was super excited! Plus, I'm just a giant nerd and love school anyway. I came home and have been doing nothing on the computer, except for a quick break to walk with Danielle while she went to get breakfast. I made pasta with the worst sauce I've ever had. I guess it serves me right for buying it in a jar instead of concocting something myself. It's thunderstorming so hard that the doors are shaking and I have to leave for class in 10mins. So that sucks, but oh well. It's basically been raining non-stop since I got here and freeeeezing. I def should have brought a peacoat with me... along with a million other things.
Anyway, I should go get ready for class!!!
P.S. Apparently I only know about three adjective for "good". Sorrrry, it's really redundant.
I can't really remember what we did for the rest of the day... I think I just took a long nap? At night we went on a pub crawl, which was okay. Some parts were fun, but they took us to Campo d'Fiori which is basically just like America in Rome. I'm not really looking for the touristy-closed-minded-american-abroad experience. The boys met up with us halfway through, which was good. It's always nice to have them around not only because they're fun, but also for protection.
The pub crawl actually got really fun towards the end when we started going to more fun bars. We went to a Scottish bar and it was sooooooooo funny. European MTV was on the TV, which is like all music from the 90s. We couldn't hear it, but it was funny to watch. They had a DJ and everyone was dancing. Except everyone dances like 80s aerobics instructors... or they Salsa? It's just really funny to watch and super fun to participate in, ahahaha. After that, we went to an Irish bar. Walked in and the Pistons were on TV, niceeeee. It was so crowded, you could barely move. Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Ace of Base, Neil Diamond... all blaring from the speakers. The entire bar was singing along, it was just crazy fun. However, it was still that American feel. I also discovered Italians don't like blondes... I guess we don't have more fun? Lame.
We had a crazy ride home, where I driver just kept yelling at not watching the road and it was insane. How I still haven't seen a car accident since being here is a giant mystery. Everyone is crazy.
Saturday I woke up early and waited for the rest of my roommates to wake up so we could head over to our school BBQ type thing. However, everyone woke up late and then it was pouring rain. So we didn't go. After the rain slowed, I went grocery shopping with one of my roommates. It's so hard. I'm used to buying like $80 worth of groceries and I need to get used to just planning what I want to eat for a few days. I basically failed... just bought some apples, Brie, bread, noodles, spaghetti sauce, and a bottle of wine? I need to go again tomorrow and I'm still at a loss for what I should buy. I really need to buy things for sandwiches and snacks and things.
After I got back, I skyped with my parents for an hour, talked a few times with Savannah about visiting each other, then skyped with my roommates for about an hour. Skype is pretty much one of the best inventions ever.
The boys came over and we caught a cab to a bar they went to a couple days before. It was fun, nothing too exciting. We all just got to hang out more, which was good. Came home at 5am. I used to think it was annoying that bars in the U.S. closed at 2am, but now I think it's a really good idea, haha. I never check the time when I'm out, I just stay until the bars close and 5am is just toooo late... which I never realize until I wake up at 3pm the next day thinking it's 10am.
Yesterday was Sunday and everything's closed. This seemed to annoy my roommates a bit, but I didn't mind. We found an open bar and got some sandwiches for lunch. We talked for a while, but I ended up leaving around 4pm. They stayed until 8pm. I did some exploring on my way home and found the church I've been hearing all week.
It was reallllllly pretty and big! I stayed for a while, then saw a sign that said there was another mass later at 5:30pm. I rushed home to get changed out of my jeans (I wasn't sure about the dress code) and came back for mass. I planned to arrive early so I could blend in a little. When I got there, there were only about 7 people and they were all in the last rows of this gianttttt church. So I went and sat in the middle section. Said a rosary while I waited. 5:30 comes and goes and nothing's happening except the lights keep changing and they've brought out the communion stuff. So I wait patiently.
Two priests come out, sit on the alter. Half the people stand, half the people sit, I have no idea what's going on. Everyone starts chanting really fast. Which was really creepy in the big church where everything echos. People are coming in, leaving, walking around changing seats six times. I am soooooooooo confused. FINALLY I realize they must be saying a rosary. I start following along on mine every time I hear "Ave Maria" and I was right, they're saying the rosary. Personally, I am not a fan of this and want to leave, but I don't want to look rude or like the idiot American. Even though, like I said, half the people are walking around changing their seats every five minutes.
After it ends, a bunch of people come in and I realize I'm an idiot and 18:30 is SIX-thirty, not five. Highfive on that one. So now mass is starting, I've been there for an hour and a half, I might as well stay. I realize I shouldn't go to mass in Italian. I have no idea what the readings are, the homily, etc. I don't know any of the responses. I don't even know how to say peace! I follow along, but really I'm just bored and thinking I should have waited and found an english speaking church. All the while, I'm trying realllllllly hard not to laugh at the cantor... and then I was thinking about how my dad would probably be laughing, which made it even harder to not laugh.
The cantor was a super old nun. She has a terrible voice to begin with and plunges into a coughing fit about every 30seconds while she sings. Everyone stops and waits for her to cough (into the microphone) for a few seconds, then continues the song. It takes a reallllly long time to get through the songs. It's just ridiculous.
ALSO. Communion. Only half the people go and there is no order. If you want communion, you basically get in the aisle and make a mad rush for the alter. It's out of control. Other difference, there are five priests. I have no idea why that's necessary. Basically, it's really an experience... and super confusing.
On my way home, I was walking past the local video store and noticed the MSU boys inside. So I stopped to see what they were up to and they told me they were catching a train in 5mins to the Spanish Steps and asked if I wanted to come along. I was freeeeeeeezing in my dress, because I'm an idiot and wore one that was only knee-length, but I said yes anyway. Hello, when in Rome!
We walked across to the train station and got there just as the train was arriving. We took that for a few minutes, then had to switch to a metro. We came out by a giant square and I realized these boys travel much more in my style than my roommates. We hung out in the square for a while, just kind of in awe. Then we grabbed some dinner at a small restaurant... a pizza for each of us and a bottle of wine and a bottle of water to split. After dinner, we set out for the Spanish steps. They were much smaller than I thought they were, but still amazing nonetheless. Standing at the top was really amazing though. Just looking out over Rome at night, it's just amazing. You can't even explain how cool it is. I feel like such a broken record because all I say is, "This is NOT real. I can't believe I'm here!"
We left the Spanish steps and headed for the Trevi Fountain. Which was just... wow. It was so pretty at night and there were a bunch of people there and just crazy. We took some pictures and then just sat on the steps staring at it for a while. We went across the street to get some gelatto, then brought it back to sit by the fountain again. It was just amazing.
After that the boys took me to the Pantheon because I hadn't seen it yet and they loved it. I was just walking along, turned a corner, and again... WOW. It's so big and just... wow. Haha. There's no other way to describe everything. It's just crazy how amazing everything is. I swear I'll post pictures soon, but all my roommates are online right now so our internet is being really inconsistent. We stood there for a while and everything was just perfect. It was night in Rome, the Pantheon was all lit up, the square was surrounded by restaurants, and there was a saxophonist playing.
Our ride home was fine, until we got to the train station... which was closed. We kind of stood in the middle of the road trying to figure out what to do, when luckily a taxi came along. Piled in and went home. It was a great night.
This morning, I woke up really early to go to school. We had to register for school field trips today and I signed up for day trips to Tuscany, Assisi, and Pompeii. Sooooo I'm excited for that! I rushed to class, only to find it was canceled. Grrrrreat, not. It was my Italian class! I was super excited! Plus, I'm just a giant nerd and love school anyway. I came home and have been doing nothing on the computer, except for a quick break to walk with Danielle while she went to get breakfast. I made pasta with the worst sauce I've ever had. I guess it serves me right for buying it in a jar instead of concocting something myself. It's thunderstorming so hard that the doors are shaking and I have to leave for class in 10mins. So that sucks, but oh well. It's basically been raining non-stop since I got here and freeeeezing. I def should have brought a peacoat with me... along with a million other things.
Anyway, I should go get ready for class!!!
P.S. Apparently I only know about three adjective for "good". Sorrrry, it's really redundant.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Ughhhh, I guess I DO have jet lag after all.
I went to bed at 10pm, it is now almost 3am and I am STILL awake. So I got out of bed to come in the hallway and blog. Our computer keys are SO LOUD though, so I have to type in really, really slow motion. My room roommate, Danielle, had the same problem I do, but I think she fell asleep about half an hour ago...
Yesterday we slept in, which was nice. I woke up at 11am and then got distracted online for a while. Then one of my roommates, Lindsey, and I headed to AUR for all the registration stuff. When we got to the school though, everyone had left for their lunch break, so we decided to wander the area around school. We went to the park across the street which was cool, but really old. It was super muddy too because of the massive amounts of rain they've been getting here. Then we wandered in search of lunch, but just ended up in a really residential area. Turned around and went to a Pizzaria right by school. It was sooooooo crowded with Italians and I basically stopped traffic when I ordered. I realized I knew NO Italian and the lady was asking me all these questions and it was just embarrassing and bad. Eventually I got my hot pizza with tomatoes and mozzarella and life was good.
We went back to school to get our permits to stay in Rome and it took everyone else about 5mins, me FOREVER. First I needed to have my whole passport copied. My mom copied the front and last pages of mine, but not the like 14 in the middle. So I had to stand in line to use a little home copier and it took about 500 years. Then I got in line. Finally get up to the person who's registering me and tells me someone with my last name just came through. Hmm, that's cool. Then he looks me up and panics and tells me he's put someone else's info in my file. So he leans over to the guy next to him and they're talking in Italian, then the guy comes and looks at our computer and then they get all frustrated and keep saying my name and I have no idea what's going on. Then they figured out there is another person with my EXACT name. First, middle, last. So we had to use my birthday to figure out which one I am. The guy is talking about how insane this is and then the girl next to me is like "Hey! That's my roommates name! She's right there!" So then the guy announces to the whole room that this girl and I have the same name and she and I both turn bright red and no one else thinks it's exciting and it was just ridiculous. So I finally get all registered and then I talked to the other MKO and it's insane that we're both in Rome at the same time. She's from California and goes to Arizona State. So that's just crazy.
After that, we got our IDs and class schedules and blah blah blah. We ran into our other roommates so we waited around for them to do all their things. After that, we had been at school for about five hours so we went to a bar (coffee shop-ish?) to get some food. While we were there, some boys from MSU came in, so we invited them to join our table. We all got to know each other a little bit and made plans to go out later.
Stopped on the way home to buy our first Italian wine!! Yum. We all just hung out, I gave my MSU roommates a tour of my apartment through Skype and I got to talk to Sav too! Eventually we got ready and the boys found their way to our place to meet up. We hung out here for a while and tried to figure out where to go. We decided to just wander to an area we heard was good. So we all set out on our adventure.
Me, being the most graceful person EVER, fell down some stairs for the millionth time since I've been here. (I trip getting in the elevator EVERY time and I fall on every single landing when I go down the stairs). I rolled or sprained my ankle or something, but I have to walk everywhere, so I've just been wearing tennis shoes and kind of ignoring the pain. I know it's not broken, so it's fineeeeeeee. One of my roommates accused me of being drunk (no, Mom, I wasn't) because I fell, while one of the other girls I moved in with just laughed and said it was nothing compared to when I tripped my first time getting into the elevator and flew full speed into my suitcase, falling over and coming about 2seconds away from smacking my face on the wall. Yes, I've made some great impressions. I really should learn to walk at some point in my life.
ANYWAY. We walked for a long time, ith no directions, and eventually found the street we were looking for. Except there was basically nothing there. It's a giant street. We wandered some more and eventually found an empty bar/bar bar/gellato place. There was an Irish couple there, and that was it. We each had a beer and just hung out some more. We all get along great.
Walked home, went to bed, blah blah blah.
We woke up this morning and Danielle had to go to AUR to do all the stuff we did yesterday, I had to go get my phone, and two of the boys had to go because they forgot half their stuff to register yesterday. So we all met at our building this morning to walk to school together. It was sooooooooooo nice out!!!! Really sunny and warm! After school stuff, we went to the pizza place I was at the day before because some of the AUR staff recommended it. There was no one in there this time, much less intimidating. I was SO excited because I had practiced all the stuff I didn't know yesterday and was going to be a pizza-ordering-pro. But then the guy serving me spoke to me in English! I kept trying to respond in Italian, but he was having none of that. Which was annoying. Oh well, I have much more time to practice.
As we walked home, we saw a market for fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, and fish. One of the boys pointed it out and Danielle and I took off speed walking so they had to follow, haha. Everything is SO FRESH. I think I'm going back this morning, maybe?
We parted ways with the boys and went back to meet up with our other roommates. We decided to spend the day exploring the city and it was a fabulousssssss day (I wish I could post pictures right now). At the end of the road where AUR is, there is a GIANT fountain which overlooks the most gorgeous view of Rome! You can see forever!!! It's sooooooooooooo pretty!!!!
We walked down the next street and found a Spanish school that led down into the area we had been overlooking. As we walked down this gorgeous ramp, I noticed the Stations of the Cross were in the wall. It's reallllllllllly cool. Once we got to the bottom, we just wandered.
Where we were was exactly what I was expecting from Rome, not like the area where we live in. I think we live in like the ghetto of Rome or something. I don't know what's going on. It's not scary or anything, just lacking the old, colorful buildings and cobblestone streets and stuff. The place we were walking though, was soooooo amazing. I can't even believe it's real.
I'm still never coming home. This time 1. to avoid the plane ride and 2. because I LOVE it here. The Italian is catching on pretty quickly, I would say. I mean, I've only been here like three days and I've picked up quite a bit. I've learned to cross the street without getting honked at and fearing for my life. I love, love, love how everyone relates to each other here in hurried, but really polite, nice conversations. I like how it's insanly busy, but super laid-back all at the same time. I love, love, love, love, loveeeeee the scenery. Everything is just perfect. So yes, I'm never coming home.
The only thing I don't like is how obvious it is to spot Americans. I also hate that I can tell people are mad I don't speak Italian, but it's not because I don't WANT to, I just don't know HOW to. And I'm working on it! Everyone can tell from a mile away though, it's ridiculous.
Back to my day. We grabbed some MORE pizza (I got lasagna this time, tooooo much pizza for me!) and ate at a little place. Basically we didn't realize this place that was insanely narrow and crowded with pedestrians was a STREET and our table almost got hit by two cars! Out of control. I also saw a man who's feet/legs were ruined by arthritis or something. He was all cramped up. He was homeless and pushing himself with shoes on this hands as he sat on a skateboard. It was really really sad to see. He kept having to stop and it was just terrible to watch. I actually saw quite a few homeless people today, my first in Rome.
After we ate, we decided it was time to head home. We had no idea how we had gotten to where we were, we just kept walking toward the giant fountain with the great view because it sits way above where we were. We figured out where we were eventually, but still took a different way home to see more of the city. I really can't even explain to you how amazing it is and my pictures can't even convey it either.
Once we were near our apartment, two of the roommates went back and three of us went in search of a grocery store. We got really distracted on the way and went into a million shops and things. Everyone here asks if were from New York and constantly says "Obama! Obama! Obama!". Ridiculous. Obamarama is out of control. Also, roommates: I have a glorious surprise for you once I get pictures up. You will most likely have a "OMP! FMIMS!" (those are codes) moment. Eventually we found the grocery store and proceeded to walk home since it looked like it was midnight even though it was only 6pm. It gets dark toooo early!!!
On the way home, we thought we were taking a short-cut, but instead just got lost for 2.5hours. Way.to.go. I actually didn't mind, I like getting lost in big cities. It's how I learned my way around Chicago. After a while though, it did get old. We finally asked for directions, then realized we didn't know the words for right, left, turn, etc. Finally the message was conveyed, however, and we found our way back. We had wandered soooooooooo far away!!!!
When we got home, the boys called to see if we wanted to go across the river (where we had spend all day) to check out the nightlife. We were EXHAUSTED though, so we said no.
ALSO. We have a new roommate! We were all told we only had five, and then a SIXTH arrived today! So that's exciting.
Another thing I wanted to talk about is communicating here. For some reason, I can never understand the words people are saying to me in Italian, but I always know EXACTLY what they're saying. I know this, because we eventually figure it out, and it's exactly what I knew when the person first said it. It's crazy, I don't know how to do it. I think it's just because I'm so observant, I've learned to read people very well. Plus, journalism probably helps. I mean, I know how to ask questions to get people to say exactly what I want them to say and I think I've just learned I don't know what. This is harder to explain than I thought it was. Anyway, even if I have no idea what the words mean, I always know what people are saying. Which is pretty awesome.
So now it's 4am. I'm still not tired even though I was EXHAUSTED at 10pm when I went to bed. I have to wake up at 7:30am because I have to shower before orientation, so I'll be getting like 3hrs of sleep tonight, max. Tomorrow we have our orientation, then I think I want to walk to the Vatican/Trevi Fountain/etc. At night, we're doing the Colosseum bar crawl, so that should be sweet.
Buona Sera!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
"...and sometime all I do is watch the sky."
(Just to warn you, Im typing on our Italian desktop so I dont have an apostrophe key...)
Im HERE. In ROME. And Im never coming home. I dont even feel like Im actually in Rome yet, so its not because Ive fallen in love with the city or anything, its because I dont know if I can deal with another 8hour flight. I felt like I was on a plane for three years!
When I arrived in Rome, I stepped off the plane and it felt SO WARM. It was really only like 55°, but it felt like the middle of summer compared to Michigan. I found my luggage and went off to find the AUR check-in table. They pointed me in the direction of my roommates and then we waited an hour for a bus.
The bus took us through the outskirts of Rome, which we were told well probably never see again until we leave. Then the other 25 people on the bus were dropped off at one building and my roommates and I were taken a few streets away to another one.
Our building is older than the one the other people are staying in... as are the residents. We basically live in one of those building where retired people who dont need to live in assisted living but want to live in an older community live. So that will be interesting. Half the residents were coming or going as we were lugging our giant bags in and yelled at our guide to tell us to always shut the door, be quiet, etc.
We went up the elevator one at a time because its even smaller than the elevator we have at boblo. It looks like a closet from the outside... and the inside? You open the door, open the two smaller doors inside, shut all three doors, then press your floor. I barely fit in it with my luggage. Basically, Ill just take the stairs most of the time. Everyone thinks Im crazy because we live on the fifth floor, but its only one floor higher than my freshman year dorm, I can handle it. Good exercise!
Our apartment is very nice... once you can figure out how to unlock the front door. It has a little foyer, a common room with a big book shelf full of books, two bathrooms, three bedrooms, and the kitchen. We also have a balcony all the way around the apartment.
I have four roommates, but only three have arrived. The last will be sharing my room with me, so Im anxiously waiting her arrival.
Im all unpacked and settled in. Weve made a list of things we need to go get as a group. Its basically like being back at school right now because we have no toilet paper, soap, paper towels, anything to clean the dishes with, etc. Haha. I also need to find another pillow somewhere. The one they gave me is basically as thick as a sheet. It serves no purpose.
So after the airport and unpacking, I took a quick nap. Just for an hour. My other roommates slept for like five hours, but I wanted to get used to the time adjustment. Im not jet-lagged at all. My roommates, on the other hand, went to bed at 10 when I did and are still sleeping... its almost noon. I think it helps that I can go like three days without sleeping, so this was just like pulling a couple all-nighters for school.
Woke up from my nap and people were finally awake in Michigan! I talked to my roommates Helen, Abby, and Brittany through instant messangers while watching the inaugeration live on CNN.com and skyping with my parents all at the same time. It was quite confusing trying to keep up with all of it! Haha. Then I took a shower and got to skype with Britt and Helen while I got ready to go out! Its hard to believe everyone is so far away when I can just talk to them like theyre right next to me.
After all the catching up, my roommates and I went in search of dinner. We walked down one street, attempted a sit-down restaurant, but they had closed. So then we went to a little carry-out pizza place across the street from our apartment. It was quite the experience. We ordered two margharita pizzas (which are not like they are in the States, theyre basically just cheese pizzas). They kept asking pieces or whole pizzas, and we could tell what they were asking, but we werent sure which words were which. So eventually we just made a big gesture with our arms and they knew we meant whole pizzas. So we waited and watched lots of locals come in and out, yelling in fast Italian the whole time. The owner is an old woman who kept smiling at us as she got everyone their food. We wanted to buy some wine to go with our dinner, but we werent sure if we had a corkscrew or not, so we didnt. A bottle of wine is basically the same price as a liter of pop. Insane.
Finally, our pizzas were ready. In the display, where people can just buy one piece of pizza or whatever, they had super long, rectangular pizzas with one half being something and the other something else. So we had assumed two pizzas were one of the long ones. Wrong. Two pizzas are two of the long ones! So they brought out these two GIANT pizzas and asked us if we were sure we wanted both, laughing at us the whole time. We panicked, then laughed and told them only one. I felt bad, but the pizzas were hugeeeee! Then there was mass chaos while they asked us how we wanted the pizzas cut and we kept saying eight pieces (which is like two normal sizes pieces... in the US it would have automatically been cut in 16). Eventually we got the point across.
We needed to buy water also, since drinking the tap water isnt very good for you. They had large and small water bottles. So we asked for four large. We were THIRSTY and we could always use the leftover (Im drinking the rest of mine right now!). So they pulled out the 1.5L bottle of water and asked us if we were sure we wanted four. I dont think they trusted us after the pizza fiasco. We said yes, and they asked us about three more times. Then once again, I knew what they were asking but didnt know how to respond. Bubbles/gas or no? Eventually one of my roommates remembered someone telling her to always ask for water (insert Itlaiant phrase for "without bubbles" that I cant remember here) and the pizzaria owners exclaimed "Oh! Naturale!" So we paid, grabbed our giant pizza and our four giant bottles of water and went back to our apartment.
We crammed into the elevator, barely fitting, and one roommate had to hold the pizza on her head, haha. We sat in our common room around the table and ate the pizza, looking sooooooo American with our 1.5L bottles of water.
After dinner, we sat around and talked for a little bit and then went to bed early.
After I update this, Im heading off to school to get my permit to stay, a cell phone, and hopefully switch my classes around. The school is hosting a tour of historic Rome tonight, so my roommates and I are doing that and tomorrow theres a tour of the local neighborhoods that were also doing. Friday we have orientation in the morning and classes start Monday. Other than that, nothing is really planned.
Ill post pictures and things later when Im on my own computer, and other than that, thats about it!
Im HERE. In ROME. And Im never coming home. I dont even feel like Im actually in Rome yet, so its not because Ive fallen in love with the city or anything, its because I dont know if I can deal with another 8hour flight. I felt like I was on a plane for three years!
When I arrived in Rome, I stepped off the plane and it felt SO WARM. It was really only like 55°, but it felt like the middle of summer compared to Michigan. I found my luggage and went off to find the AUR check-in table. They pointed me in the direction of my roommates and then we waited an hour for a bus.
The bus took us through the outskirts of Rome, which we were told well probably never see again until we leave. Then the other 25 people on the bus were dropped off at one building and my roommates and I were taken a few streets away to another one.
Our building is older than the one the other people are staying in... as are the residents. We basically live in one of those building where retired people who dont need to live in assisted living but want to live in an older community live. So that will be interesting. Half the residents were coming or going as we were lugging our giant bags in and yelled at our guide to tell us to always shut the door, be quiet, etc.
We went up the elevator one at a time because its even smaller than the elevator we have at boblo. It looks like a closet from the outside... and the inside? You open the door, open the two smaller doors inside, shut all three doors, then press your floor. I barely fit in it with my luggage. Basically, Ill just take the stairs most of the time. Everyone thinks Im crazy because we live on the fifth floor, but its only one floor higher than my freshman year dorm, I can handle it. Good exercise!
Our apartment is very nice... once you can figure out how to unlock the front door. It has a little foyer, a common room with a big book shelf full of books, two bathrooms, three bedrooms, and the kitchen. We also have a balcony all the way around the apartment.
I have four roommates, but only three have arrived. The last will be sharing my room with me, so Im anxiously waiting her arrival.
Im all unpacked and settled in. Weve made a list of things we need to go get as a group. Its basically like being back at school right now because we have no toilet paper, soap, paper towels, anything to clean the dishes with, etc. Haha. I also need to find another pillow somewhere. The one they gave me is basically as thick as a sheet. It serves no purpose.
So after the airport and unpacking, I took a quick nap. Just for an hour. My other roommates slept for like five hours, but I wanted to get used to the time adjustment. Im not jet-lagged at all. My roommates, on the other hand, went to bed at 10 when I did and are still sleeping... its almost noon. I think it helps that I can go like three days without sleeping, so this was just like pulling a couple all-nighters for school.
Woke up from my nap and people were finally awake in Michigan! I talked to my roommates Helen, Abby, and Brittany through instant messangers while watching the inaugeration live on CNN.com and skyping with my parents all at the same time. It was quite confusing trying to keep up with all of it! Haha. Then I took a shower and got to skype with Britt and Helen while I got ready to go out! Its hard to believe everyone is so far away when I can just talk to them like theyre right next to me.
After all the catching up, my roommates and I went in search of dinner. We walked down one street, attempted a sit-down restaurant, but they had closed. So then we went to a little carry-out pizza place across the street from our apartment. It was quite the experience. We ordered two margharita pizzas (which are not like they are in the States, theyre basically just cheese pizzas). They kept asking pieces or whole pizzas, and we could tell what they were asking, but we werent sure which words were which. So eventually we just made a big gesture with our arms and they knew we meant whole pizzas. So we waited and watched lots of locals come in and out, yelling in fast Italian the whole time. The owner is an old woman who kept smiling at us as she got everyone their food. We wanted to buy some wine to go with our dinner, but we werent sure if we had a corkscrew or not, so we didnt. A bottle of wine is basically the same price as a liter of pop. Insane.
Finally, our pizzas were ready. In the display, where people can just buy one piece of pizza or whatever, they had super long, rectangular pizzas with one half being something and the other something else. So we had assumed two pizzas were one of the long ones. Wrong. Two pizzas are two of the long ones! So they brought out these two GIANT pizzas and asked us if we were sure we wanted both, laughing at us the whole time. We panicked, then laughed and told them only one. I felt bad, but the pizzas were hugeeeee! Then there was mass chaos while they asked us how we wanted the pizzas cut and we kept saying eight pieces (which is like two normal sizes pieces... in the US it would have automatically been cut in 16). Eventually we got the point across.
We needed to buy water also, since drinking the tap water isnt very good for you. They had large and small water bottles. So we asked for four large. We were THIRSTY and we could always use the leftover (Im drinking the rest of mine right now!). So they pulled out the 1.5L bottle of water and asked us if we were sure we wanted four. I dont think they trusted us after the pizza fiasco. We said yes, and they asked us about three more times. Then once again, I knew what they were asking but didnt know how to respond. Bubbles/gas or no? Eventually one of my roommates remembered someone telling her to always ask for water (insert Itlaiant phrase for "without bubbles" that I cant remember here) and the pizzaria owners exclaimed "Oh! Naturale!" So we paid, grabbed our giant pizza and our four giant bottles of water and went back to our apartment.
We crammed into the elevator, barely fitting, and one roommate had to hold the pizza on her head, haha. We sat in our common room around the table and ate the pizza, looking sooooooo American with our 1.5L bottles of water.
After dinner, we sat around and talked for a little bit and then went to bed early.
After I update this, Im heading off to school to get my permit to stay, a cell phone, and hopefully switch my classes around. The school is hosting a tour of historic Rome tonight, so my roommates and I are doing that and tomorrow theres a tour of the local neighborhoods that were also doing. Friday we have orientation in the morning and classes start Monday. Other than that, nothing is really planned.
Ill post pictures and things later when Im on my own computer, and other than that, thats about it!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
We are Mercy High School... abroad?
There is really no point to this post other than the fact that since last night, I have discovered that at least eight other '06 Mercy Girls are in Europe this semester.
That's insane, crazy, weird, cool, etc.
That's insane, crazy, weird, cool, etc.
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