Arrivederci Roma, ti ho amato

           I guess whenever I talked to people who studied abroad, I never really believed them when they told me I'd do a lot of "growing up" during this time. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on life (when I'm not freaking out over my future, of course). I feel I am as independent as I want to be and know exactly who I am. Of course, I was wrong. I would still say that I am pretty self-sufficient and self-reliant, but I realized this semester how self-involved I can be, unintentionally of course. When I say self-involved I don't mean conceited, but what I do mean is that I know what I like, what is mine, what I want, and what I am responsible for (notice the me, me, me attitude.,.that's what I'm talking about). Because I have this mindset I often miss the mark on the whole servant's heart and inclusive love thing. Nothing really put this out all on the table for me to see until this semester. I guess I should explain some things that caused me to realize this.

          I got my culture shock pretty early on in the semester (Tara and Nicole thankfully gave me some great support that I needed, thank you two!). Basically, my living situation was not ideal and had me extremely stressed out. I just wanted my family, my friends from home/school, and well I just wanted the comfort of these things. People were using my things without asking, the kitchen was constantly a mess with dishes in the sink and trash everywhere, and it was just one bad situation after another. On top of that, I couldn’t just run away to a nearby coffee shop or friends’ place (because most lived far away); I was completely out of my element. I was taking full responsibility for my things and for my share of the apartment responsibilities, but it never seemed to help anything. Then, it dawned on me. If I want something a specific way, mainly clean, I can't expect everyone to cater to me. Sure, this meant me doing other people's dishes that would otherwise sit there for days (which I'll admit takes whole lot of humility that I lack), taking out the trash and recycling when it piles up, and buying things for the apartment. But more importantly, never expecting a thank-you for all of this. I’m not telling you this so that I can finally feel some recognition for what I did but rather to explain the steps I’m taking to rid myself of this self-centered issue and pride problem. Believe me, nothing makes you feel more humble than sticking your hand down an almost overflowing sink and unclogging the drain. I still hate it every time I do it, but doing it at all makes me realize I’ve come long way from where I started. It definitely got a lot harder towards the end of the semester when one roommate and I began to feel unappreciated for how much more we contributed to the apartment than some other roommates. I’ll admit that this mentality made it a lot more difficult towards the end because I was very ready to come home, mostly because I couldn’t handle it anymore. Even though it was difficult at the end, I still believe that the experience taught me a lot about how I need to respond to people who have very different personality types than me.

          I have mostly realized that I never want to be one of those people who isn’t self-aware, who constantly blames other people and never takes responsibility for anything. I know (and have known for a while) that I have a terrible problem with admitting I’m wrong and even stepping down in an argument. This semester, I had to do these more times than I can even count and hey, I’m learning. I still don’t quite have the right balance between being a pushover and being uncompromising, but I think realizing there is a necessary balance is the first step.

As I recall all my experiences from the past semester, I can’t believe how adventurous I was and hope I will continue to have the ability to jump into new situations. Plus, now I’ve gotten the travel bug and can’t wait to explore new places ;) 

Thanks for reading my blog and definitely feel free to ask me any questions you have about my experience!

America, I have missed you!

I landed in the US yesterday!!!! It was definitely bittersweet. I could have stayed in Rome a bit longer but couldn't imagine spending Christmas anywhere but at home. I tried my hardest to stay up to counteract the inevitable jet leg that I'd be facing and was pretty good about it! I stayed up until midnight; I was exhausted though! This morning (which in reality wasn't morning at all but noon haha) I woke up and in the first few seconds of being awake I couldn't quite remember where I was and thought I was still in Rome then was a bit upset when I realized that wasn't where I was. I can't wait to go back and know that Rome will always have a special place in my heart :)

Keep checking my blog. Within the next week or so, I'll update more about my overall experience and things I've learned!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS...

is what terrorists say. MERRY CHRISTMAS
- 30 rock
          I absolutely love everything about Christmas. Say what you will about how commercialized it is and how we've lost the real meaning of Christmas, but nothing makes me happier than hearing Christmas music and seeing lights and trees up everywhere. Rome is definitely a prime place to experience the amazingness that is Christmas. Every year on December 8, a national holiday in Italy, the shops, buildings, and even national monuments are decorated for Christmas. Although the Christmas tree in the Vatican is subpar (it actually looks a lot like the Christmas tree in Charlie Brown), most of the decorations are amazing. All the churches are decorated with Nativity scenes, which I unfortunately haven't been able to see yet due to studying for finals, and Christmas trees are everywhere, from the Vatican to the Colosseum. 

          I did have a chance to visit Piazza Navona, which has a Christmas market set up. Piazza Navona has ornaments, stockings, and lots of Nativity scenes for sale (really high-end Nativity scenes with backgrounds showing just about every part of the Christmas story, not just the birth in the manger). The market even has carnival games and a merry-go-round for all the children. I saw lots of witches and brooms, and I was confused considering there weren't any of these around Halloween time. After doing some research, I learned that this witch is a Christmas tradition in Italy.

          La Befana, literally translated as "the witch," is Italy's version of Santa Claus. On the eve of January 6, marking the end of the Christmas season in Italy, La Befana comes to the homes of Italy's children to bring gifts for the good children and leaves coal for the naughty children. The story behind La Befana is incorporated into the Christmas story, as January 6 is the day of Epiphany, which celebrates the day the Magi or the "Wise Men" visited Baby Jesus. The Italian folklore describes La Befana as an older woman who was cleaning her home when three men came to her door in search for the baby Jesus. She allowed the Wise Men to stay with her for the night but declined to continue the journey with them in search of baby Jesus, since she was too busy with housework. Later, she regretted her decision but could not find Jesus, so instead she gives all the good children gifts because "the Christ Child can be found in all of the them." After leaving gifts for the children, La Befana sweeps the floor of the home, indicating what she was initially doing when the three Wise Men arrived in search of baby Jesus.


          I love all the traditions of Christmas and although every country has a different traditions, the real celebration of the season is Christmas story of the birth of Jesus. So, I hope everyone has the Christmas spirit this year, and if you haven't gotten excited about it yet, change your radio station to Christmas music or watch a Christmas movie or two to get into the mood (my recommendation would be Elf). Rome is a great place to celebrate the season, but I'm very glad I will be home on Christmas Day!


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

La Mia Famiglia a Roma

         Thanksgiving is a time for family, relaxation, and of course food (and, you know, stopping and giving thanks too). I was a little apprehensive about spending Thanksgiving in Rome since it's obviously not celebrated here, but I was very excited when I convinced my parents to bring the family for the break (convinced is used very loosely here, it really didn't take much more than me reminding them that my sisters got a few days off from school).
          I think I did more around Rome that week than I had in weeks, since we were trying to fit in all the major attractions in a relatively short period of time. Plus, it didn't help that November rained on our parade. In Rome, November is the "rainy month," so plans are often very contingent on when it rains (it rains everyday, it just depends on what time of the day it ends up raining). And yes, I think I'm funny sometimes.
         My family arrived on Saturday afternoon and had rented an apartment in Trastevere, which is where my school is located. It's known as the "Greenwich Village" of Rome. So, essentially it's trendy and cute with tons to do. The apartment was baller by Rome standards, or at least based on all the ones I've seen so far! The week was exhausting, we fit so much in. I'll just give an overview.


Saturday night: Trevi fountain (after getting us pretty lost, you'd think I'd know my way around by now but my terrible sense of direction struck again) and Spanish steps
Sunday: Porta Portense market in Trastevere which was right outside their apartment. I think my sisters, my mom, and I ended up getting ten scarves, or some other ridiculously high number. Followed by the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, neither of which I had been to before. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that in the "off season," meaning November - February, they closed at 3:30 so we weren't able to go to the Colosseum like we had planned.
Monday: Didn't end up making it to any of my classes! Hit up the Vatican Museum (my mom almost got sick/passed out in the museum, but she held it together for fear of my family's inevitable jokes for the rest of our lives about it if it had happened) followed by St. Peter's Basilica. Vatican Museum is the biggest thing ever, I'm pretty sure I could go there every day between now and when I leave, I still wouldn't see everything!
Tuesday: Santa Maria sopra Minerva church, Pantheon, followed by getting the "best coffee in all of Rome," (it really is some of the best espresso I've ever had) then Santa Maria in Trastever and taking the train to Florence.
Wednesday: Florence: Azizi museum. Huge with tons of Renaissance paintings. I discovered my intense dislike of that style and would have died if I saw another religious painting. Lots of walking around and exploring the city.
Thursday: Another day in Florence, spent looking for boots. Nope, didn't find any :( However, I found lots of purses; I've got some good gifts to bring back!
Friday: Train back to Rome followed by Colosseum (first time I had actually been inside of it!) and San Giovanni in Laterano church

Rebekah and I inside the Colosseum

The gorgeous Duomo in Florence

The week was filled with family fun (some fights thrown in there as well), sightseeing, and lots and lots of eating! Definitely happy that I got to spend Thanksgiving with my family and can't wait to be home for all the great things that come along with Christmas and New Year's!

La Bella e La Bestia

I am the absolute worst at remembering to update this thing, so bear with me! Although a lot has happened since then (my family visiting and taking a trip to Florence), I had some time so wanted to update you about this before telling you about my week with the family :) I had an awesome chance to go see La Bella e La Bestia while in Rome, also known as Beauty and the Beast for those of you who couldn't figure it out ;)

Obviously super excited about
 La Bella e La Bestia

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite Disney movies; I like to think that I am Belle. Self-assured, always up for speaking my mind, confident, and a bit stubborn haha So obviously, I can relate to Belle a lot more than some of the other Disney princesses...Cinderella (seriously, can she do anything on her own) or Ariel (good thing she could make the prince fall in love with her when she couldn't even talk to him, that's a start to a wonderful relationship...). But, I'm getting away from my point: I LOVED watching La Bella e La Bestia.


Yes, it was in Italian so I didn't understand anything they said but knew the storyline already. You bet I sang along (in English) in my head to the songs. Of course, I still wish I was Belle. And surprisingly, Lumière (the candle) had a French accent, while speaking in Italian. I was impressed!


So maybe I didn't see an opera while in Italy, but I got to see one of my favorite Disney stories performed. Definitely worth the money and very little understanding of what was happening...I did catch ONE joke though, I was pretty impressed with myself :)


Here's a little idea of what I saw! The set was amazing, the costumes were amazing, it was ALL amazing!
La Bella e La Bestia

It's Like Living in an Alfred Hitchcock Movie

        Birds. EVERYWHERE. That's what I experience on my walk home from school on Tuesdays at 5 PM. The first time these birds showed up, which was about 2 weeks ago, I seriously thought Rome was about to experience an attack of birds. No one else seemed to be freaking out as much as I was but instead were calmly walking along with umbrellas; it wasn't raining. Yes, that's right, they have umbrellas to keep from getting hit from the massive amount of bird poop that inevitably gets everywhere...the sidewalk, cars, and some unlucky walkers. I was one of the unlucky ones that first day. Although I quickly got out my rain jacket and put it on as soon as I realized what was happening, I looked down and saw the unfortunate spot on my boot. Luckily they were my very cheap ones, so I was happy that it wasn't worse. 

Starlings Over the Tiber at dusk

        These birds are called Starlings. There are literally millions that follow the Tiber river up to Rome every evening right around 5 PM after feeding in the countryside. Watching these birds from safe inside a bus or building makes me appreciate the congregation of birds flying together in what looks like, as my mother described it, a lava lamp. But, it's a completely different story when I'm walking to and from class trying to dodge the bird poop. Starlings are a major problem for Rome because they threaten the preservation of monuments as well as making roads slippery and dangerous when their droppings mix with the rain. Even more dangerous events are possible, like a plane that was forced into emergency landing when a group of starlings got sucked into the jet engines earlier this month. Romans are trying to combat the prevalence of these birds by imitating a starling distress call to scare away the birds, which is helping but not making a significant impact. It is, however, costing a great deal to the city, 125,000 Euros per year to be exact. While the number seems to be down from the highest possibility of five million, it doesn't seem like the starlings will be going anywhere anytime soon. Our best hope is to avoid walking near the river when possible and always having an umbrella handy. Now, that was something I didn't expect to be dealing with on my study abroad experience! 

Unfortunate results of the Starlings. This is completely
standard to see on a daily basis.

Here is a great video showing the birds!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFVAwWUgeCM&feature=player_embedded

Rome: Caput Mundi

There's a little over a month left of my study abroad experience. As I look back upon what I've done from the beginning, I'm blown away by all that I've been able to see and do. I am so blessed to have be given such a great opportunity to experience something that I will just about never have the ability to do again, thanks for financing this Dad :) 

I've realized that up until now, I've just given you a broad idea of all the places I've gone and things I've experienced but never gave much explanation about how I was feeling about all of this. So, I will attempt to sum up all the thoughts I've had on this semester so far. And, for those of you who really know me, I never really do much of this talking about myself in this way so excuse me for any rambling that I will inevitably do! Haha

I experienced culture shock pretty early on and believe me, it was a pretty bad case of it. A lot of my friends here are experiencing it now or just getting over it, but I’ve been there done that and moved on. A lot of things I hated during that time I now love: how different Italy is from home…McDonalds, KFC, and Burger King at the main tourist spots are  just about the only similarity, my apartment…it may be far from school and everything else, but I have a view of the Vatican FROM MY BALCONY, my living situation…still a struggle, really, our apartment is dirty 95% of the time but I’ve started to find alternatives, and missing my family and friends…still miss them but have found good friends here. I guess culture shock isn’t really something that can be explained, the closest thing I can think of is the scary first month of college when you’re getting used to everything new and are away from home for the first time, but exponentially worse because it’s somewhere that no one speaks your language and the culture is so different from your own. It was pretty awful at the time, which you can ask anyone who I talked to then, but I’m so much better now.

Now, I walk down the streets amazed that I am living here in this city, in this foreign country. I love that things are so different and always new. I can wander around Rome and get lost in the backstreets and cobblestone alleys. I don’t want to leave Rome with any regrets; I want to experience all that I can in this city. I’m trying to take in everything and actually learn something about myself and will definitely give you that summary once I finish this experience :) As a finish up the next month, I never want to forget how blessed I am to be in this place experiencing all kinds of new things. I love everything about Rome and will be so sad when I leave it.