First Week in Roma

To see all my photos during my Italian stay, visit my Flickr page:

Hi Everyone! I've been here a couple days and decided its time to test drive the new blog for Italy. The grad program doesn't start for another week so I'm the first grad student to arrive. In the meantime, I've gotten situated in the dorm room (see attached video and keep in mind I am no Spielberg here haha) and doing short day trips to get myself reacquainted with the Eternal City. Traveling on Tuesday-Wednesday was quite the adventure, JFK had a grand ole time delaying our flights due to engine problems and ice that accumulated on the plane.. I mean the nerve of air traffic control, sheesh. Anyhow, eventually I landed quite exhausted into Rome Fiumicino and took a taxi into the city central and checked into my new home at the St. John's University Rome Campus. Once I got my spiffy electronic keys I scoured the streets for food and landed on an easy target of pizza to go. This was unlike Italian ristorante pizza in that it was actually pretty thick and was folded to be more of a grilled sandwich than what we conventionally think of as pizza. Afterwards, I tracked down the internet IT guy to make sure I had an instant connection to home. Skype and Facebook ensued til my weary eyes were finally shut.

The next few days were quite a blur in my jetlagged stupor but I did my best to get out and do something each day. The first full day I had was quite an adventure, especially figuring out the shower system. People often don’t realize that when you move to a foreign country you’re entire way of life changes, not simply cultural and language differences. Part of why I enjoy living abroad is the challenge of confronting the daily doings that I take for granted at home. Showering with warm water for unlimited amount of time should be a right, not a privilege, but here I am confronted with limited hot water. Hey, at least it’s not frigidly cold Costa Rica water. I also realized that I don’t need to, as they say, only do as the Romans do. I got ready that morning listening to country music radio. Why? Just because I’m in Italy doesn’t mean I can’t listen to country music or change what I like. No, not everything is going to be available (cough, online tv from Hulu, cough) but what resources and comforts I do have, well I may as well enjoy them. I grabbed my camera and found my way to the Spanish Steps (where my favorite scene from Roman Holiday was filmed) and the Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain). Although I got ridiculously lost on the way, my advice is to not find your way merely by trying to listen for sounds of water. No, ladies and gentleman, that will surely make you look like a tourist floundering on the streets. I treated myself to my first lunch at a ristorante nearby. I try to steer clear of commercialized tourist places with pictures of the meals and English translations, but I was so tired I gave in and got a nice plate of al dente thick linguine with meat sauce. I sat and journaled for a bit, very Elizabeth Gilbert from Eat Pray Love. A little self reflection on the side while I ate my pasta and pondered the meaning of life.

The second day I went to the Vaticano which is maybe a 10 minute walk from where I am. It’s pretty strange to think that the Sistine Chapel is about 10 minutes from where I live now, odd. I also finally found the local grocery store, part of a department store Coin/Billa, similar to our Macy’s. Music is comparable to our elevator music, complimentary for your Italian grocery shopping experience. The following day I figure out the fun Metro system here, which like all metropolitan cities is pretty easy, just need a map and that game face that you know where you’re going and what you’re doing. No signor, I am not a tourist, do not attempt to pick pocket me. I see you out of the corner of my eye… Anyhow, went to the Colosseo and retraced some steps I’d taken the first time I was here with my friend Antonio. Sunday I went to the American parish church Santa Susanna. Some may ask why I went to the American church rather than the next door Vatican Catholic extravaganza; however I want to emphasize that I am trying to adjust semi-permanently here and not just be a tourist. Worshipping here is quite an experience as the mother ship of the Catholic faith; I would just like to connect in my native language rather than having more time where I’m struggling with my Italian.

Monday was my most exciting outing yet. I took a regional Trenitalia train from Rome to Tivoli. A small town located on a mountain, it is particularly known for its gardens and villas that were the home to Roman emperors. When the train rounded the mountaintop to reach the train station, my jaw dropped when I saw a huge 200 ft. waterfall just casually situated on the edge of town. It was a pleasant surprise and I knew I found some place really special. Of course, said gardens and villas were closed when I went because it was the dead of an Italian winter, but it was a perfect town to explore. Almost no one was around the hilly cobblestone covered village, so I spent my time wandering up and down the narrow streets, in quiet solitude with my quieted thoughts and time to just take pictures. I ended up having lunch at a small restaurant where I interrupted the family eating lunch to be seated, and watched the waiter slice prosciutto from the cured ham chunk at my table for the Four Seasons pizza I was about to eat. Overall, the little breathtaking town of Tivoli reminded me the joys of traveling and I felt like I reconnected with the self that I had abandoned in Paris, but not forgotten.

Upcoming: Orientation for my graduate international relations courses, class, and oh yeah, starting a new life and identity in Roma…