It's All Uncharted

I have been on a serious Sara Bareilles kick these days. I'm in love with these lyrics. One song goes
"I'm going down, follow if you want, I won't just hang around, Like you'll show me where to go. I'm already out of foolproof ideas, so don't ask me how to get started. It's all uncharted"


I don't know why I love that quote so much- it reminds me of how it felt to get on that plane in August, when I thought of all the people I left behind, some I miss terribly, others I couldn't wait to get away from. It's kind of like my declaration, "I'm leaving, you can come with me and follow me if you want, but I'm not wasting my time doing things people expect of me. I'm off to explore my own life."


I've been thinking about this idea recently, I think about some of the drama over the past couple years of my life- and I honestly feel like the people involved have dropped of the face of the Earth (or that I moved to the other side of it...ha). I no longer worry about what this guy might think, or who is invited where. It's all so stupid. As I crossed the Atlantic Ocean, it all faded into the background, it's all white noise now. This is the beginning of the next chapter in my life, hopefully a happier and lighter chapter that focuses on me and who I want to be. It will not involve people who try to hinder my progress on becoming a better person.


Of course I miss my family and I would love to be with them right now. The same goes for my great friends I left in the States, and this post is in no way about them. It's about the people who ever made me feel inadequate or small. It's for the people who chipped away at my self-confidence until I wasn't comfortable being me anymore. In a way it's a huge screw you to every single one of them.


This past year had been a transition for me. I went from the girl peers expected me to be, to being that complete opposite, and now finally figuring out who I am and what I want to be. In the words of my favorite person in the whole world, "I want somebody to love me for who I am." I'm finally on my way to finding the few select people who do love me for who I am. And for those lucky few, I will be there forever. There is no point anymore for me to be a different person so people will accept me. 


I'm finding my balance. My equalibirium is coming back. And it's the biggest relief.


Maybe that is why I don't want to leave.




We'll see what happens in December!


Ciao Bella


If you want to listen to the Sara Bareilles Song
If you want to listen to the Nick Jonas Song

Don't know what the Country's coming to, but in Rome do as the Romans Do.

I did something a lot of J-Force kids look down upon. I stayed in Rome for a weekend. And it was one of the best weekends since I have been here. I spent the time relaxing and sleeping, but also sight-seeing and enjoying Roma as a city. And the most important thing that I have learned is that Rome is more than the few monuments on a quick tour of the city. Roma is worth more energy than the Vatican, the Forum, and the Colosseum. The truth is-the only way to truly understand the city is to actually spend some time in this city and learn to love it with it’s strengths and it’s weaknesses. 

The biggest thing I took to heart from the SLA (student life assistants) is that a lot of students spend their time in different parts of Italy and they regret how little time they have actually spent in Rome. So my goal this weekend was to spend the weekend going to places a little off the beaten path- not on the main tour route. This took me on a great adventure though the city that I will never forget.

The biggest thing about this weekend is that I was able to spend some quality time with my pillow. I know that sounds lame- and I know that I am in Rome and should spend my time drawing the Pantheon or something, but the truth is that everyone needs some down time- a time to relax and recharge the batteries- this is what I was able to do on Thursday. I was able to stay in J-Force and watch Letters to Juliet and go to bed around 1am and sleep till noon, which is actually about my normal schedule at Loyola Chicago.

Via del Corso

Friday is when the sight-seeing actually started to happen. We still slept in and at at J-Force in a futile attempt to save some money. That ended up being wasted on Via del Corso when we finally ended up in town. However, before we even got close to the Vatican- the 913 (the bus we were on) hit a kid that biked out in between two parked cars by a bus stop!! I know! (it’s ok you can read that sentence again) But he slammed on the brakes quickly enough that he basically tapped the kid hard enough that he fell off his bike and hit his head. It was lucky but still a terrifying experience. Also, as a funny side note- I have never heard so many actual Italians say Mamma Mia in my entire life. So yes it actually is a saying people say! Also everyone ran off the bus to help this kid get into a store and make sure he was ok. We ended up on a different bus and heading to Piazza del Popolo. A beautiful Piazza with an Egyptian Obelisk in the middle on top of a fountain. Also it so easy to head down Via del Corso and get some shopping done! I bought a cute black dress that I wore that night!

We stopped at the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and actually went to Campo dei Fiori while it was still light out! As we tried to work our way to the Mouth of Truth at Santa Maria of Cosimedin, we walked along the Tiber and saw the hospital that is set on the island that has been there for centuries.

Ospedale Fatebenefratelli on Isola Tiberina

By the time we got to the Mouth of Truth it was closed. The gates close 5:50, so make sure you leave enough time for you to go! After we stopped to look through the gate we headed up past Piazza Venezia to find a cafe to have dinner. (We were too late to make it back for mensa) We has some wonderful pasta that I forgot to take a photo of. But it was fettucini bolognese and I was in heaven :) 

That night we headed out to an Irish pub called the Abbey Theatre, it had Irish bartenders and a wonderful little concotion called an Irish Kiss. The bar was very chill and it gave us an opportunity for Sarah, Elizabeth and me to just chat and get to know each other. We also had plenty self confidence with our black dresses. 

This country is doing great things for my self-confidence. We can walk down the Via del Corso and see the Carabinieri look at us. It might be the blonde hair or the fact that I look American, but I enjoy it regardless. American men love Italian women because they are exotic-- but here it’s the opposite, we are the exotic ones. Blondes are a dime a dozen in the US, especially in Minnesota, but here we are exotic. I’ve never been considered exotic before. It’s a good feeling.

Mouth of Truth

The Pyramid! And Me!

Saturday we woke up and made sure we could make it to the mouth of truth before it closed. We took the metro to the pyramid south of the center of Rome. I guess it’s a burial chamber for a general when everyone in Rome was obsessed with Egyptian culture (Think Cleopatra and Marc Antony). It was raining but we got some photos and got back on the metro and got off at the Circus Maximus- the race track that was used for chariot races. You can see the wheel marks in the dirt even to this day. However, you need to use your imagination with this one, otherwise it will just look like a field.

We made it to the mouth of truth in time, and while we were waiting it stopped raining. I had this love hate relationship with the mouth of truth. I of course wanted to put my hand in the mouth, but the line was actually quite long, and you need to give and “offering” of 50 cents to take a photo with it. And with so many tourists ahead of you putting their hands in the mouth and no one’s hand got bit off- it kind of ruins the effect. But it had to be done. I gave my 50 cents took the photo and checked off another activity from Roman Holiday.

We headed back to J-Force to get ready to go out again. We started at the Abbey  Theatre and the same bartender remembered us, so we got the discounts for American students again and I watched the Florida v. Tennessee game on TV. Sometimes you need a little America time. A chance to watch some football and hear English around you. It’s a little reminder of home. We are going on a month here and it’s nice to step out of the immersion thing for a bit and let yourself be American. We stopped at Campo de Fiori also- the Drunken Ship was really busy but we got a special student discount there too. But the best part of the night was asking this one bar on the way home to use their bathroom and the owner knew our director of Student Life, Mike, and one of the Classical Studies professors (Xander). Apparently that bar was the official Steelers bar in Italy. They had a Terrible Towel in Italian. It said Asciugamano Terribile. So of course I had to take a photo of that!

All in all, this wonderful weekend in Rome was an opportunity to catch up on our rest explore Rome beyond the scope most tourists. We had time to get lost and walk down winding streets, eat at a random cafe. We never felt rushed to do anything and we could decide to either stay in or go out on the town. Because of course, you will never know what will happen on an evening in Roma.

Ciao Bella

The End Seems So Near...Oddly Enough

Do you realize how short 4 months really is? Do you know how many weekends I have left? Do you know that I only have 8 more weekends and 4 of those have friday classes? How did the semester seem so long in August and now that it is September I feel like before I know it my mom will be on a flight to Rome and I’ll be heading home soon after.

I feel like I need to start begging for more time. The thought of leaving right now is so depressing. As I walked down the Via del Corso towards the Pantheon with Sarah we started talking about how easy it would be just to slide into this life. A life of Antipasti, the Italian Language, and la dolce vita. I know that it is impractical for me to stay here another semester, it would cost more money and I would graduate late, but it’s so tempting that I’m ready to go to Dr. Cavallo and say, “Sign me up for another semester!” 

But what I need to realize is that this will not be the last time I am in Italy. I have fallen in love with this country, and the thought of never coming back is heartbreaking. I knew in my heart when I left Rome in 2008 that I would be back. I have that same feeling now. I need to learn more Italian, and come back here and sit at a cafe eating pasta drinking vino della casa rosso.

I have faith. I have faith in the fact that I will live a life that will enable me to travel and experience other cultures.

I want to be one of the types that has a map posted on my wall with pins on every single place they have gone and experienced. 

I won’t be able to see every single place this short semester. But I need to remember that I’m not nearly done with Europe, let alone the rest of the world. I’m 20 years old and I can make opportunities for myself to live a life where travel is a priority. I don’t think there is any other way I could live.

In Napoli, Where Love is King

This weekend was an experience, a true lesson in Italian time, Italian Trains, and the wonderful craziness that is the Amalfi Coast.

What I must learn is that going out Thursday nights before having to get up at 8am the next morning is never a good idea. (But, let's be honest, it isn't going to stop me for doing it!) Friday morning I woke up literally 5 minutes before we were supposed to leave for Termini (the Italian Train Station). I didn't pack yet either. I threw some clothes in a backpack with my toiletries bag for traveling (I guess I'm smart enough to have that). We got to Termini just fine, a little late but we felt like we had enough time to buy or tickets to Naples, validate the ticket, and head to the train. But of course something goes wrong, there is a threat of strike (of course, it's Naples) and we get on a train that was delayed a half hour and is literally packed with people. We ended up having to stand by the doors for 2 hours because we didn't have seat reservations and there were too many people. It was stressful. But somehow we end up in Naples! Yay! We are here this is so amazing! Let's find the metro to get to the hostel! Oh wait...shit....it's roped off, either the people are striking or it isn't working. Either way we had to pay for a cab to take us to the hostel.

Our hostel was called 6 Small Rooms, and despite the name, the rooms were very nice. Once we got up to the 3rd floor. We had to climb up 90 stairs. After 3 hours of sleep, a 2 hour train ride where we had to stand, and a hot crazy taxi ride, the last thing I wanted was to climb stairs. It was a great place and after a quick rest we were off to walk around Naples.

Now Naples has a bad reputation, and it's probably earned for the most part. It's the city that everyone, especially Italians, loves to hate. It's dirty, there is graffiti everywhere and I would keep track of your purse or wallet. But there is something about the city that I can't quite explain...When looking at these fashionable Neapolitan women gracefully step over garbage, ignore the leering men, and look at tourist like they are insects- you realize that Naples could care less if you like the city or not. It is what it is- and it isn't going to change. (Or the mob won't let it change..either way). But despite the crime and dirt, it's a beautiful city. It accepts the fate it has been given, but still exudes grace. The Amalfi Coast is gorgeous. And the pizza is to DIE for, I'm serious, It's the best pizza I have ever had in my life.

Pizza Margherita

Speaking of Pizza, Saturday morning we woke up early to head to L'Antica Pizzeria de Michele, you know that famous pizza place for Eat Pray Love, where you could wait for 2 hours for pizza that will change your life? You know of it? I sure hope you do. Well we got there at 9am prepped for battle which of course didn't happen because we got there so early. We had time to get a cappuccino and walk around before getting seated right away and ordered one of the 2 different kinds of pizza they serve- Pizza Margherita or Marinara. Those are you choices and don't you dare ask for anything else. They serve the best pizza in the world..this isn't Pizza Hut.

Oh and don't you worry, I ate the whole thing...of course I did. It's a sin against God not to!

Oh and I saw Julia Roberts there too ;)

Ok it's a picture, but she was there! And I met the guy on the far left- that counts for something!

After the best pizza of my life, we waddled...really, we waddled, to the Circumvesuviana, the train that took us to Sorrento. A beautiful place about an hour and a half from Naples. It was kind of touristy with all the shops, but when you walked up to the Sea, you forgot all about it. The water is so blue, you think you are looking at a painting.

The town is picturesque, much less crazy than Naples, and cheaper than Capri. If I was heading to the Amalfi Coast again, I would stay there and head everywhere else for the day.

We didn't enjoy much of a nightlife while in Naples, it was a matter of safety and exhaustion. Our days were packed with places to go and by the time we got back to 6 Small Rooms the last thing we wanted to do was descend the 90 stairs and go out. Also, Sunday we had to get up at 5:45am to catch the ferry to Capri. And even after going to bed at midnight that was still rough.

Sunday was the day for Capri. We ended up getting lost heading to the port, it took an hour (instead of 10 minutes) to get there. But it didn't even matter, they were sold out and we were forced to take the more expensive and faster ferry to Capri. We ended up sleeping the whole hour there anyways though! But the extra 6 euro was worth it, because Capri is a beautiful island. I would say it's a close second to Santorini. But the town is kind of snotty, there are a lot of designer shops, and the villas show you how wealthy the people who live or own homes there are. The guy we met in Sorrento said they are all stuck up in Capri. And to a point they were right. It was expensive. 

L to R Sarah, Chana, Mallory, Me, Sarah

However, the best part of the day was walking around and ending up climbing up the mountainous part of Capri and getting to look of a cliff and see nothing but clear blue water. It was an amazing sight that I will always remember.

Mallory and I enjoying the view

I also want you to know, that we hiked up this mountain in flip flops and Mallory was in Converse sneakers. We were so sweaty and gross afterwards but the view was worth it. As we stood there looking at the Sea we kept saying, How is this real life right now? How are we so lucky to spend the weekend in Capri and see all these amazing places. We are the luckiest girls in the world. 

We also said, that if it was our time in Chicago...we would be heading to the library. Gotta love J-Force! We got a good laugh out of that.

So yes, we probably spent more money than we planned on this weekend. We bought some souvenirs that were not necessary. But it was our first real weekend of travel. So we lived it up. 

And we can't wait to travel again!

We ended up back at J-Force around11:30pm. We were exhausted after standing sitting by the door for another train ride. (We didn't have seat reservations this time, Trains in Europe are really nice, but that doesn't stop them from being a pain in the ass). I changed, got a chance to talk to my dad about our weekend, and skyped with one of my very best friends from home, Krista. She will be studying abroad in Paris, she leaves in 16 days. I can't wait to see her in Paris in October and hopefully in Rome before that! We keep joking that we are never going to leave and spend the rest of our lives in Europe. I don't know if that will really happen. But I wouldn't be upset if it did. Actually I would be really happy to live here, I love Roma.

So I'm beginning another weekend of classes, which means I might actually have to do homework and study. But still the homework load isn't bad. I got fingerprinted for the government today so they know who I am (it's a part of the visa process) A woman from the US Embassy came to talk to us saying that the US will not intervene on our behalf, so we better behave. So don't be the stupid kids that got drunk and peed on a cop car while they were standing 20 feet away. They were deported, they had to leave Italy in 72 hours and are not allowed to travel in the European Union for 5 years. I swear, sometimes people are dumb asses, pardon my language.

Well! On that happy note. I must get some reading done about a Sicilian Duchess who is mute and deaf, god I love my Italian American Women Writers Class.

Until next time,

Ciao Bella

A Quick Note on Classes

I keep forgetting that I'm actually taking classes while in Rome. I feel like I took a semester off. 


Oh I wish. So then I wouldn't have had to get up at 7:30 this morning to get on a bus and head down to the Colosseum and Forum for my Art in Rome class. 


Yes, it did suck to wake up that early. But the 3 hours went by so quickly I was amazed! Professor Nicholson knows everything about anything. He is such a cute old man and it's hard not to actually imagine what the Forum looked like during the Roman Empire.


There is a poster here at J-Force that says "Your next lecture could be at the colosseum." Now although we didn't go inside, I still learned about the colosseum, the forum, and palatine hill while standing on the very paving stones they laid for the roads, with grooves from the carts and chariots that had driven down it for centuries.

                                  

This is a representation of what the forum looked like. With the Via Sacre road visible...I believe.

I'm no classicist.

So yes, I would love to be able to travel all week, and spend my time eating pasta and doing nothing but roaming the city all day. But it is nice to learn something while I'm here. It makes it worthwhile for me to be spending so much money to be here. This is what I have been working towards since I came back from my Rome and Greece trip after my high school graduation.


And now I am here sitting in a classroom learning about having a truly aesthetic experience, and realizing it is so easy to have one here. You turn a corner and you see a beautiful piazza. That is really learning, and retaining the information. I don't know how I'll go back to reading a book instead of experiencing everything I learn.

Mr. Bradley, if you don't mind my saying so, I think you are a ringer.

For those who know me at all, I'm a huge fan of Audrey Hepburn. I'm the type of fan that knows Roman Holiday came to theaters in 1953 and she won an Academy Award for it. Gregory Peck also told William Wyler to put her name above the title with his because he knew that she would become famous.

So I am still in shock when I turn a corner and see a piazza that was in the film, when I am walking along the Tiber and see the Pont San Angelo. Where the barges she danced were at. I was also on the street Mr. Bradley's apartment was on, Via Margutta.


Now all I need to do is get on a moped and drive around the Colosseum. Well for that I would need to find a Mr. Bradley....hmm I'll keep an eye out.


While walking along the Pont San Angelo, there was a bride and groom taking photos with the Vatican in the background. I was thinking, I could live here. I could get married in Rome. I could figure out how to be a psychologist in Rome. I'm sure it's crazy hard. But Rome makes this lasting impression on you. You never forget the way you feel when you see the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, or the Spanish Steps for the first time. It's impossible not be in love with this city and it's way of life. The food is amazing, the people are incredibly nice (don't listen to a thing about Europeans hating Americans, it's not true) and I could really get used to the siesta from 1 to 4 in the afternoon and everyone taking off for the month of August for the beach.


I love Rome. I would stay here all year if I could...if I could graduate on time, and work on my psychology major.


It would be stupid to stay here all year.........right?




Just a thought


Ciao Bella

How Many Tents Do You Have?

I’m my mother’s daughter, camping is not for me. Why sit around a camp fire in the woods when you can sit at a spa in a 5 star hotel? But this weekend started off interesting and it ended...interesting.

Thursday- Thursday...J-Force’s Friday night...enough said. Campo dei Fiori was the place to be! A guy named Dan turned 21 and about 20 of us went out for his birthday. We ended up at the drunken ship. A bar in this piazza where everyone is just out and about drinking and having a good time. It was a great chance just to be outside and getting to know people. I randomly met a guy from my high school there. How crazy is it that you can be over 5,000 miles away from home but still run into a high school friend? A disco was the next spot to head to. We went to Mood off Campo dei Fiori, it was my kind of place, a great DJ and room to dance. It was a little Americanized...but that is what you are going to get in Campo dei Fiori, But we walked in and they were playing Single Ladies..that was enough for me to get on the dance floor!

(L to R)
 Me, Mallory, Chana, and Christina

Friday- What’s the best thing to do when you get back to J-Force at 3:30am? The Colosseum and Forum of course! Xander Evers (see previous post) gave a lecture at 10am about what we would find at the Forum because if you are not a licensed tour guide you can get arrested...and we don’t want Xander to get arrested! I love Ancient Rome, the history is just amazing! Just look at the Colosseum (Actually called the Amphitheater of the Flavian Dynasty..in case you were wondering) and not be amazed to hear that they used to flood the floor and re-enact naval battles. And that there was a huge canvas canopy that used to cover the seats. That thousands upon thousands have lost their lives battling each other.

I’m such a history nerd. Also the Forum was the center of Ancient Rome, the senate house was there, basilicas (The King’s Seat, this is before Constantine people...Rome was still pagan) This is a Basilica that is literally astounding. I’m standing at the bottom of the arch way. Can you even see me??

Walking along the Via Sacre, in the Forum, you have to realize that the Roman Army would walk down the same street with their spoils of war and bring them to the temple of Jupiter, also known as the State Treasury. There is a sculpture on the Arch of Titus showing the army carrying the Jewish Menorah when they destroyed the temple of Jerusalem...but the Arch of Titus is not seen as a triumphal arch. And if you want to believe the Menorah is in the Vatican Vault...go ahead Conspiracy lovers. Xander says it’s more likely that it was melted down to pay for a war or something.

I can not imagine living near the Forum and Colosseum and not be in awe every single time I walk past. Even if I do live here I think I would still need to stop by these massive monuments. Thinking about it- I still walk down Michigan Ave in awe- staring at the building and how big everything is. I do the same with the lake. Why wouldn’t I do it with something that was built a little under 2,000 years ago?

Friday Night- Try running to the Termini from the Metro stop, getting a train ticket- getting on the train then realizing it needs to be validated..sprinting off (with less than 5 minutes before it is supposed to leave) to get it stamped and still make it back on to head to Terracina.. yes that was my friday night. We got on the bus by J-Force at 7:15, our train left at 7:50 and somehow we made it. All problems solved right??

Wrong. We get to Terracina...a smaller town than expected and soon realize there is only one taxi. Wonderful we will have to wait over an hour at 10:30 at night to get to our bungalow. A family let’s us bum along with them with a hired car service that takes us to “Camping Villiago Settebello” Oh shit. Camping. It will be fine. Until the lady says, “How many tents did you bring?” Double Shit. Did we book the right place? The guy said we had a bungalow. She sighed and said “Men..what can you do?” Yes exactly what can you do for us? 

She found us a mobile home, I’m not kidding, a little trailer home in the compound.  Which is like a camping resort with tent sites, RV hook-ups, mobile homes, and beach bungalows. It wasn’t ideal. But we had a place to stay- and there are tons and tons of families around. There was tight security at the door- we felt safe. But the thought that I couldn’t get out of my head was of 1970’s commune or something. It was such a weird place!  Then walking past the “disco-pub” and seeing everyone doing the Waka-Waka dance did me in- we just had to laugh!

Saturday- We slept in and headed to the beach! How many college students can say they spent their Saturday on the Mediterranean Sea? Well we were those lucky few. It was a beautiful day and we were ready to lay out in the sun. The water was a little cold to begin with but it was so much fun! Look at how beautiful it was!

We decided to leave early and come back to Rome Saturday night. It was cheaper and we now we have this day to chill and relax before classes start up again. We got a driver to take us to the Train Station and we headed back to Rome. 

For dinner we decided to go to the McDonald’s by the Spanish Steps. It’s something you just have to do while in Rome. And it was actually really good. As we were walking we happened upon the Piazza del Popolo and got a chance to walk around Via del Corso too. I also had to take a picture of me at the street sign for Via Margutta. In Roman Holiday Gregory Peck (Joe Bradley) has an apartment on the that street and he tells the cab driver to take him there with Audrey Hepburn after he finds her asleep by the forum.

All in all it was a great weekend with some ups and downs. It was a lesson that not everything goes as planned, but sometimes it turns out even better.

Ciao Bella