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!