When in Rome...

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Rome era incredibile.  By far 4 of the best days I’ve had so far in Italy…possibly in all of the time I’ve spent in Italy!  This is not to discredit the amazing days I had last time I was here in Florence, Lucca, Siena, Rome, etc.  I had a hard time with how I would write this blog, and I will warn you that it will be looooonng…but here it is.  I will divide by highlights from each day, then food, then other random thoughts!!  Here goes nothing. 

The first morning started early, like all mornings here in Cosenza, and like all mornings to come on this trip.  I watched a bit of the news while I ate breakfast, and I think the weather man was wearing a military uniform…that was strange.  While I was getting dressed my momma called the apartment phone to talk to me once more before I left for Rome!  With all of my stuff packed, list checked twice, and nerves in check, I started out for the train station. 

I first had to go to the tiny train station called Cosenza Centro to pay one euro for the train ride to the main Cosenza train station.  My luggage was rather light, until I had to drag it this far!  It wasn’t terrible, but it was not easy either.  When I arrived, I bought the ticket and double checked that the train should arrive at 8:36.  The lady said yes, and I was very excited that I had gotten the train times correct this go around (referencing the day I did not get to go to the beach).  The train was VERY much delayed, but I got on and took the 5 minute ride.  On this ride I learned that there are two other Cosenza train stations.  Ill have to look into this. 

When I arrived in Cosenza I went straight to the ticket window to buy the ticket and the man told me that I had 2 minutes to catch the train before I left.  It was VERY important that I make this train because the next one to Paola was not until about 12 o’clock, which would have meant that I would miss the eurostar to Rome.  I had to flag down the guy, and tell him that I had not verified my ticket, but he said to just get on the train!  On the train, I settled in for the 25 minute ride, thankful to have made it! 

When I arrived in Paola, I again went straight to the ticket window to buy the ticket to Rome. 

I had decided to take the later train to Rome because it was a Eurostar and thus nicer, more efficient, and would have a plug so I could write and work on the power point.  I walked just outside of the Paola train station, but did not see much of interest.  I knew I was “at the beach”, but I could not see the obvious way to it.  I sat in the waiting area for about a little over an hour.  I did have to use their bathrooms, and I will give Paola the prize for the cleanest train station bathrooms I’ve yet to see in Italy (they even had toilet seats).

When the train arrived, I boarded only to find I would be cramped with 3 other people.  One guy moved, and I eventually moved to the seat behind me so that I could spread out and enjoy the trip more.  The first bit of this trip was BEAUTIFUL…the gorgeous blue water, the sand, the rocks, the gorgeous views of cliffs and beach homes; it is just breathtaking.  I took a video and will try to upload it here.  Luca called during this time…acted like a beaten puppy dog when I told him I was on my way to Rome and that I would not return to Cosenza until late Saturday evening.  He said, “ooh, we can go out Saturday night!!!” Umm…no sir because I just told you I would not be back from Rome until then; of this, I am sure!!  Then he talked me in circles and I think I might have agreed to something on Sunday night, but this also will not be happening because I am supposed to go to the beach with Lilla and friends on Sunday, thus I will not be concerned with what time we are coming back and I knew I would be exhausted from the trip to Rome, and I need sleep before I start a week at school.  He acted all ridiculous and thus, I am so over this!  The majority of the train ride was spent adjusting slides, adding a few pictures, going through it a couple of times to ensure I had my thoughts together, but primarily I spent time writing blogs. 

The greatest part of my journey to Rome was when this couple boarded the train in Naples.  I could hear them speaking English and they sat down in the seats across the aisle from me.  I asked them where they were from and when they said Atlanta, Georgia I almost had a minor freak out!!  I told them it was so amazing to be speaking with Americans and to be speaking fluent English with someone; it truly is great to relax into your own language.  They of course asked me what I was doing here and I explained everything.  The lady was a former teacher and so we started talking about what I was doing and all sorts of early childhood and education things.  She was very excited about my opportunity to attend the Reggio Emilia conference; MEEEE TOOO my friend…me too!!  She said that the challenge here would be to get their attention and keep it; to make them interested in what I have to say and in the activities/topics we do.  This is the battle I know I will be facing, but before I could express how excited I was to stretch my own creativity, she said, “this will really stretch your creative planning skills!”  She was reading my mind.  She also said that she wondered if the students in the Italian preschools and elementary schools were not given too much freedom and too many choices and that was why they felt they alone had control over their education in the way that they could strike whenever they want.  We had a wonderful discussion about the things that may happen in our childhood (we primarily talked about education) that affect the person we become (the student we become).  She said some of the very same things April expressed a few days ago, and it was so strange.  So April, you’re very smart and lady from Atlanta agrees with you!!  She also talked about using music as a way to reach the students…I totally agree! 

This couple was going to be vacationing in Italy for another month.  They were returning from the Amalfi coast and gave me some tips on traveling there (take the boat…not the bus).  We discussed our faith; they are catholic.  The woman said that I must not be originally from Alabama because I do not sound like it.  Thank you my new friend, but yes, I am from Alabama. She said, “I think you must be from New York or something!” Haha…I do love my city!  I told her that my Alabama friends sometimes say that I do not have an Alabama accent, but my New York friends (or Northern friends) say that I sound southern.  She said, “well, your parents must not be from Alabama!” Me – “Yes they are!!”  ;) It was funny to hear it from a random stranger!  They had been living in Atlanta for 25 years, but were originally from Indiana.  They were on this trip to celebrate their 40^th wedding anniversary and they did not look nearly that old!  I told them how amazing I thought it was that they were celebrating that sort of anniversary; I think it is becoming more and more rare to see couples (and couples that seem genuinely happy) celebrating the longevity of a marriage.  It was just such a pleasure to talk to them and as we got closer to Rome they pointed out the Appian Way, which I’ll have to see one day!!  As we neared Rome I told them that Termini was my least favorite place; I just feel uneasy there and unsafe!!  We talked about finding churches in Rome, but of course they are catholic so it would be easier! 

As we were approaching Termini, the man leaned over and said, “can I just pray for you right now?!?!” I said, “Of course, that is so amazingly kind of you!!” He said a sweet prayer for my safety and ease in Rome and throughout my time in Rome and he prayed that I would have a wonderful 9 months and that God would use me during this time.  How amazing is that?!?!  He said afterwards that he was nervous to ask because you never know how someone will react!  Way to go Sir…way to respond to the Holy Spirit and be obedient!  I was so touched by this and it did give me a peace about tackling Termini.  As we disembarked the train, we were discussing politics and the complications of absentee voting.  We all agreed that it was way too difficult and would not be surprised if our votes did not even get counted.  They were so sweet to walk with me until I saw where I needed to go and then we all hugged (so sweet) and parted ways!! What a wonderful way to enter Rome; God is so good! 

I stopped at the tourist info to ensure that I was in the right place for the bus Fulbright told us to take and thank goodness I was.  I went to buy a ticket and had a hard time finding the actual bus at first, but once I did I was on my way to the hotel.  I was supposed to count 10 stops (though tourist info said 9) and then get off the bus.  A few times I thought I lost count, but then I ended up asking someone just to be sure.  I got off the right stop and started making my way up the hill, but then I turned around because the map was unclear.  I asked in a gelato shop and they pointed me in the right direction.  Then as fate would have it, someone walked up to me and said, “You must be with Fulbright!”  It was Myles, a fellow ETA who lives in Sicily!  He was so kind to help me get my bags up the big staircase that led to our hotel.  While I had been on the train my roommate for the week, Mattea, texted me to say that she had arrived and she would be my roomie.  So, when I checked in at the front desk, they called her to see if she was still in the room (come to find out there is only 1 key).  She met me at the top of the steps and I instantly liked her!  So, with two meetings under my belt, I was feeling good about things…two very nice and friendly ETAs. 

Mattea (pronounced like Ma-tee-a) and I instantly started chatting about where we were from and the fact that we were both living in Southern Italy.  We talked about so many things and started to find so many things in common; so many that I cannot remember them all.  We talked about our freakout moments in school and about stressing over homework and assignments and stuff.  After some part of the conversation she said, “that sounds like something I would tell my mom!”  I was so excited that she was so nice and that we were finding so many things in common!!   After we sat for a bit, I asked if she wanted to grab something to eat because I was starving.  We grabbed our stuff and headed out to find something small/quick for dinner.  Our conversation was easy and never ending.  We continued to find things in common and discussed our experiences so far in our respective cities.  We bought some pizza slices (mine had….I’m not sure, but it was out of my norm and was amazing) and walked.  Eventually we sat down on a bench to talk!  It was so wonderful to have someone to share with and to hear about someone else’s experience and city!  We eventually made our way back to the hotel and found David at the desk waiting to go for a run.  He never got to that run though because we all stood there talking.  Mattea told us the funniest story about this lady on the bus with her earlier that day and how she was from Wisconsin and she was telling anybody and everybody who would listen all about why she was in Rome and that she was looking to do some shopping.  Then, she asked if any of them could tell her where a Target or Wal-Mart would be; suuurrreely she was kidding.  Then Myles showed up downstairs, and then Nick arrived with his suitcase and was checking in.  We were excited to meet Nick because he had not participated in the facebook group and so we did not know anything about him (come to find out he did not know about the group…he was not snubbing us!).  Ariel also arrived while we were standing downstairs and it was so nice to meet the person I had been emailing; we all swapped arrival stories, and apparently Im the only one that did not walk a ridiculous amount of time from the bus to the hotel.  We decided to take about 20-30 minutes and then meet back downstairs to go get appetizers or drinks or something. 

When we returned downstairs the group had grown significantly.  The Florence group that Mattea had told me about (she saw them arrive) had joined us, as had others in the bunch.   Someone took the lead and we were off to find something to eat, etc.  We walked for what seemed like forever, but it was nice to start talking to people and finding out what their research was about, where they were from, and where they were living in Italy.  We eventually made it to a restaurant area and the girls taking the lead picked one.  We had to sit 6 at one table and 6 at another table.  Mattea, David, and I sat with 3 of the research girls from Florence.  Mattea and I split a few bruschettas and the others had pizza.   The food and red wine were soo good and conversation was even better.  It was so interesting to hear all about people’s research and experiences so far!  I was finding out that some people have been living or studying in Italy for years at this point.  Once dinner was over with, we all decided to get a few bottles of wine and small cups and have wine in the piazza.  What an Italian thing to do…and it made me so happy to be with other people!!  We sat down on this monument thingy and started chatting with everyone.  Nick and I spent a good bit of the time talking, but at one point I had to turn away when I heard Mattea, David, & Lindsay discussing Honey-Boo-Boo.  I had to step in and clarify that all southerners are NOT like them!!! Ohh Honey-Boo-Boo how you even haunt me in Italy!

Nick, the ETA who lives in Gubbio, said that he heard I was from Alabama and wanted to know if I loved Nick Saban.  UMMM…YES!!!!!!! He said that he loved Nick Saban too!  He went to the University of Washington, which I already knew were the Huskies (be proud people…I DO know a bit more information than Alabama)!  We chatted all things football and so much more.  It was nice to be sitting outside, with wonderful people, having a wonderful conversation.  Wine in the piazza…talking about Alabama football…with someone else who loves my coach…haha… No really, it was nice to talk to someone about football because I am missing it!  Once the wine was gone and everyone was thoroughly exhausted, we walked back to the hotel and went to sleep! On the walk back to the hotel Nick looked at his phone and nonchalantly mentioned that it was his birthday!  What?? I told him we would tell everyone tomorrow and that we must celebrate!!**I should say that my dream came true when the hotel had AMAZING water pressure and HOT water…I tried to soak it all in every time I took a shower!!!**

Day 2 (Oct. 24^th) started too early and we were all exhausted.  We got dressed and went down for breakfast, which was your standard Italian stuff…the toastate things, sweets, sweets, meats and cheeses, yogurt, and for good measure they had gross cereals.  I had my regular that I always have at home.  The company for breakfast was wonderful though! I really can’t say enough how much I was liking everyone.  Our morning did not start out as well as we’d hoped when Kelly, one of the research Fulbrighters, told us that she had bed bugs.  We all IMMEDIATELY started freaking out and wishing we had checked our beds.  We all kept saying that we’d been so tired when we got back last night that we had forgotten to check.  As I fell asleep the night before I kept thinking, “Erin would be so disappointed to know that I did not check my bed!!”  We then started our long trek to the American Academy in Rome.  I spent the walk talking to Nick and Mattea.  We shared with others that it was Nick’s birthday, and agreed to celebrate later!  We arrived after a long walk to the American Academy in Rome.  It was a beautiful place, but I’ll get to that later. 

We quickly greeted many people and sit down to listen to some introductory information. I was lucky enough to be sitting between Mattea and Nick, which would make the day more fun!  In true Italian style, it was now 10:00, and so we had a coffee break!  I had a sip of coffee and a couple of the little treats they had for us!  Nick and I spent most of the time talking, but also mingling with a few others.  The coffee around here is just too much for me…I need some other flavor to my coffee.  I am missing my Coffee-Mate creamers or my Baileys Non-alcoholic creamers. 

After the break we began with information about Fulbright and how it was all started and what it means to be a Fulbright Grant recipient. 

A few things I learned:

1.      The sale of surplus war materials were used to fund the first scholarship

2.      It was started in 1946 in the U.S.; 1948 in Italy

3.      It is the oldest and largest international exchange “program”

4.      When you are learning about other cultures, you are forced to reflect on your own

5.      The novelty of the program is its bi-national decision making

We then began listening to everyone introduce themselves and their projects.  There are some really interesting projects going on this year!! There are some art history projects, medical/clinical type projects, and more!  One of everyone’s favorites is a girl named Victoria who makes large art pieces from orange peels; I cannot even describe this to you.  She makes like a pseudo leather out of them, and it is amazing.   All of the ETA’s were awesome as well! It was fun to hear about their backgrounds and what they are interested in doing with their students; though I knew we would find out more about each other on Friday!  I was the last one to go before a presentation by someone else.  I felt good about what I was able to stand up and say, and I was only a little nervous; my hands did shake a bit, but God gave me the words!! 

Then we listened to a presentation about the Slow Food Movement in Italy; something New College students come to Italy every summer and participate in!  The presentation mentioned a program in which some of Erin’s friends participate in Charleston; Community Supported Agriculture where you get food weekly from a local grower and it is ALL seasonal!!  I would love to do this when I come back home!!!  Anyway, all the presentation did for me was want to eat lunch, and it was nearing 1 o’clock when we were supposed to eat lunch. 

Lunch: AMAZING!!!!  The American Academy in Rome has scholars that are there on grants for 11 months.  They all eat lunch and dinner together at these long tables in the courtyard (well, I’m sure they do something different in the winter).  The chef is part of the Slow Food movement and grows everything at the Academy and/or only uses growers that he has personal relationships with.  We had this pasta dish, something with olives in it, this amazing soup, and some other amazing things…see picture.  It was so light and fresh and filling and amazing all at the same time!! Dessert was fresh yogurt with fresh honey (with a little comb thingy and everything).  It was wonderful to be sitting outside on such a beautiful day and having a delicious meal with new friends. After we ate, Mattea and I did the Italian thing and had coffee.  Well, I of course had cappuccino.  The whole experience was nice…I’d love to have lunch there every day!! 

After lunch was full of more presentations.  First we finished presentations by the Fulbright recipients and I am just so impressed with the research some of my peers are doing!!  It is quite inspiring actually!

Our first guy was from the American Consultate…or embassy or something. He was a trip! He gave a power point presentation about dangerous things students do in Italy…also known as stupid things.  What it all boiled down to was do not get drunk and hang off balconies or jump in fountains; do not get drunk and go out by yourself; do not get drunk and…insert stupid activity.   He also talked about what to do if you are put in jail, etc. etc.  At this point I learned that Nick went to high school with Amanda Knox.  He was sitting next to me and we were laughing at the presentation, and the guy because he was so hyperactive it was comical, when they said something about jail I leaned over to Nick and said something about Amanda Knox, which is when he told Mattea and I that he knew her and did not think she was guilty!  This guy cracked us up, and led to many jokes about pictures of us in the fountain and such. 

These were followed by a Fulbright Alumna speaking about her experience and giving some advice.  Her name was Devorah and she was a Fulbright student in 2004.  She is a composer/conductor I believe and she was studying in Florence when she by chance met this apparently super famous Italian conductor and he eventually asked her to be his assistant, and her life was changed forever.  Now she works under him traveling as his assistant.  The night before they opened at La Scala in Milan which is one of the (if not the??) most famous Opera Houses in the world!!  Her story was so amazing and had us all discussing later who in Italy we could run into that would change the course of our career/life!  She gave some amazing advice and just really inspired us to make the most of our experience in Italy!

Her advice:

1.      Be inspired by the food, people, architecture, music, anything and everything

2.      Be spontaneous.  Just go!!  Take in every experience and allow life to happen!  Do not live by a schedule or to-do list.  Remember that your to-do lists are important, but take this opportunity to let them go and take in every experience Italy has to offer.  (does she know me?!?!?)

3.      Live and learn in the language.  She said you will have to insist on using Italian because otherwise they will use you to practice their English.  Initiate conversation in Italian and insist on responding in Italian.  She said even if you are “swimming” in the language, meaning you just use words you DO know, they will eventually get the hint and start providing you the words you are missing.  She said that we always view Italians as the ones with the foreign, sexy accents, but now WE are the ones with the sexy accents.  She also said that if we live in the language, 24/7 for about 3 months then we will have switched over and no longer have headaches after long dinners of nothing but Italian. 

4.      She also said that we should establish our academic connections, but also volunteer in any way that we can

5.      Allow things to happen in their own time; get away from preconceptions that you brought from home

6.      Remember to give yourself a break; You can’t achieve 200%, especially when you are away from your support system.  She said to remember that we are already doing something amazing and hard by moving to a foreign country and functioning and living in it!  She said to remember that we are already doing something most people could not or would not do. 

She was an amazing speaker and really made me think about how I want to spend my time here!  It really reminded me that I cannot force things to happen, but rather I must be on top of things of course, but remember to let life happen.  Easier said than done in a group of type-A, self-proclaimed overachievers!  The second girl that spoke is still serving as a Fulbright but is on a different type of program and she talked more about food because she is studying that at a University in Torino (Turin). 

After this, we were able to talk about some of the logistics of our grants and then we took a quick tour of the Academy itself.  It was a beautiful building and the grants they give allow the scholars to live there at the Academy and eat lunch and dinner together.  The scholars are artists, architects, writers, professors, etc. etc.  Of course we were all wanting to do this very same thing, but my discipline is in no way related to their grants.  Too bad because it would be amazing.  Our tour led us to the backside of the building into the gardens area.  We learned that a building on the grounds is where Galileo first used his telescope, or something like that.  It was just BEAUTIFUL!  There were green parrots flying around, the sun was still shining over the walls of the grounds, and it was so peaceful.  The chef came out to talk to us about Slow Food and how they grow their own food and establish relations with other growers in the area.  They have interns that come and do their compost and growing and picking.  We were able to see their pomegranate trees, and much more!!  It was really cool! 

I spent some time talking to Devorah about different things related to Fulbright, to working with children, we discussed learning styles, etc.  She is such a sweetheart and so kind.   I really enjoyed spending time with her and Mattea and I ended up talking to her more once we all moved over to the reception area to have appetizers and champagne. 


Nick, Me, & Mattea

Mattea met up with some girls from her University that are living in Rome and introduced them to me and Nick.  They are working as English teachers and so it was really cool to hear their stories.  We talked to Devorah some more and got her contact information so we could keep in touch.  It was beginning to get dark at this point and I was getting really cold (purple hands and all).  Things were winding down, and after we talked to one of the former Academy scholars (a professor who is there again finishing a book), we (Fulbrighters) decided to head out for dinner.  We had broken down into smaller groups and some of us got a suggestion from one of the Academy scholars about a place the chef often takes his interns, so we decided to go there. 

A decent sized group of us headed out to find the restaurant. I think it was Andrea (ETA-Rome), Nick (ETA-Gubbio), Me, Mattea (ETA-Lecce), Myles (ETA-Palermo), Lindsay (Resarch-Florence), Carolyn (Research-Siena), David (ETA-Naples), I think Ariel and others were with us, but I was at the other end of the table!! We had bread for an appetizer, red wine all around, and good food!  I had gnocchietta (which was basically shells like Velveeta shells and cheese!) with a creamy cheese sauce.  Others had the same but with a tomato base sauce, pizzas, clam pasta, and such.  Everyone seemed to enjoy their food and we had even told the waiter that it was Nick’s birthday and they agreed to bring him a desert.  So, we sang happy birthday to him as we toasted with our wine at the beginning (in English) and once more in Italian when they brought the tiramisu.  He was kind enough to let us taste it, and it still does not compare to the desert I had in Siena last year!!  Overall, it was a wonderful night!! 

On the way to the hotel, Mattea, Lindsay, Nick, and I got into a conversation about our birth orders.  Nick had never heard of Middle Child Syndrome and Lindsay and I began explaining.  He said he would not believe us until he looked it up on Wikipedia or Urban Dictionary!  He did and eventually found it.  Our explanation was similar and from here on out, Nick had been given a complex about his birth order!  Thus began a lot of jokes regarding his middle child status.  I cannot remember if Mattea had heard of this, but she does not seem to fit the syndrome quite as much as others do.  It was funny to hear both of them making jokes about it as we all seem to fit into our roles to some degree.  Lindsay is the first born and of course I am the only child, which typically fits a lot of the characteristics of a first-born.  It really is interesting to see how accurate these roles can be!!  It was a nice and comical walk back to the hotel.  We all went up and dropped off our stuff and returned to the lobby to see if we were doing anything next.  We started learning a game that Myles taught us called Scoppa (I think that’s how you spell it).  It was fun to learn an Italian card game, and I think I got the hang of it pretty well.  We decided to go to this café we’d seen to hang out.  Some got drinks and we just played cards and continued celebrating Nick’s birthday!  He ended up with this after dinner type drink that I’d had at the hotel.  Right at midnight, with Nick’s birthday at an end, we all headed back to the hotel!  It was so much fun just sitting around playing cards and getting to know everyone!  We were beginning to see how much we all had in common, and I know I was enjoying truly relaxing into my own language and connecting with people!!  We returned to the hotel, and went to sleep!  **We did check for bed bugs this time, and I am happy to say that we were bug free!!! We checked every day…or I did!!**

Day 3 (Oct. 25^th)- It was so hard to get out of bed…in an effort to participate in the fun and get to know everyone, we were all staying up way too late and having to get up way too early! However, it was all worth it!  Breakfast was the same.  They did have a few different fruit/veggie juices to try and they weren’t too bad!  We all met back downstairs at our agreed upon time and started walking to The Centro Studi Americani.  It was a rather long walk, but a nice one because we crossed the river and the sun was in the right spot to make it a beautiful view over the river. 

David, Nick, and I spent part of the time talking about movies and they have (especially Nick) informed me that I must watch films that are directed by Christopher Nolan, and so I have a list of movies to watch.  I’m not sure how I’ll get some of them in English while I am here, but I will work on it!  When we did cross the river, we saw a nice place out in the middle that you could maybe go and eat a sandwich and just hang out.  Later we found out it was actually a hospital…oops! 

This new location was just as gorgeous as the one yesterday! 

There was a huge gate we had to go through and the whole building just gave me this feeling of being in a Harry Potter movie.  Is it sad that all of these old, beautiful buildings give me a feeling of being in Hogwarts?!?!?  Then, when we entered our area of the building for the day, we were struck by all of the shelves of books and the ladders to help you reach them!

It was amazing! All of the books were in English and there were so many of them!  It made me want to sit around all day and read!!  Once we settled in, our leading lady, Maria Grazia Quieti gave a presentation on Universities in Italy.  I learned a lot about the Italian school system.  Here are a few things:

1.      There are 87 Universities in Italy (I think this is public Univ.); most students attend public ones

2.      There is no competition between the students to get into school.  You simply fill out the paperwork and you are accepted (Private Institutions are different, more costly, and not as many students choose this route)

3.      Public Universities charge based on income and can be anywhere from 200 euro a semester to 1000 euro a semester.  HOLY COW…SOOOOOO CHEAP!!!  Private Universities are 7-12,000 euro per year. 

4.      Italians have the idea that the government should pay for everything, especially their education (at all levels).  This  goes along with the student telling me that this is why they are demonstrating in the high schools. 

5.      The students have no concept of how to market themselves to be competitive in the outside world, or when they apply to American Universities; it is a foreign concept to them to have a need for extra-curriculars, etc. 

6.      A PhD really means nothing in Italy; it takes more years to earn it here, but means very little for their jobs.  A professor that was there also explained that perhaps their bachelor’s or maybe a master’s and a lot of experience is MORE valuable than a PhD!  So, experience trumps education. 

7.      They pay the same amount of tuition at EVERY level of education

8.      There is such a bad job market, this is why so many Italian students stay at the Universities so long

**These were HER words, not mine…I am in no way making an assumption here…she said these things**

Next up was a man talking about the history of Muslims in Italy (this was the professor who had input about the PhD).  This prompted Mattea and I to have a note session about our faith!  Nick was sitting with us, but did not join in on this conversation!  I did learn from this guy that the 3 ideas of Jihad are: 1. Live out the Muslim life 2. Build a good Muslim society 3. Holy war: Struggle to defend Islam, with force if necessary. 

When he was finished, we had a coffee break.  The coffee breaks always provided yummy little pastries and things that were in no way healthy for you!  Mattea and I took this opportunity to share secrets and laugh with each other; it was just so nice to have people to interact with who can understand you and get to know you in your own language!  After coffee break, a very pretentious man, who made sure we knew he graduated from Princeton and then Harvard, gave a presentation about reusing old buildings in Rome for new things (simplified version of what he said).  When he finished his powerpoint, we headed out to take a tour of the area.  We were in a more centralized location than yesterday. 

I did not pay attention very much on the tour!  It was nice to be outside and I caught the highlights of what he was saying and took some pictures of some pretty buildings, but mostly Mattea, Lindsay, Nick, and I goofed off and laughed about random things.  One of the things we discussed were our weird aversions to certain things: Mattea has a thing about her neck where she thinks someone is going to kill her.  I do not like the underside of my chin touched.  Nick laughs hysterically if you grab his collarbones and push down in that area that creates like a crater.  We’re all weird is what I am saying…it is just about whether your weirdness matches my weirdness!  I enjoyed talking to Lindsay about educational stuff and learning about her senior honor’s thesis!  She is working in Florence with a sort of outreach program for Italian youth where they offer them assistance in getting housing, jobs, etc.  She is the one Fulbright person with the interests closest to mine!  We talked about how we missed hanging out with our babies and loving on them. We also talked about how we have to fight the feeling of inferiority when some of these people start talking; they are all so intelligent and so worldly (cultured) it seems! Their knowledge is sooo different than mine, but that is exactly what we said.  It is stupid to feel inferior because their knowledge is just different than mine!  They know history, art history, sustainability, etc., but they might not have the knowledge I do of child/human development, family stuff, education, etc.  It was so nice to be with people within this group of brilliant researchers who understood how I was feeling. So, it was nice to be outside and walking around Rome with people that I was really enjoying spending my time with! 

When we arrived back at our building after the tour was over, lunch was waiting on us!  It was an amazing lunch!  We had small portions of lasagna (amazing), little sandwiches, sweets, etc.  It was so good and most of us sat around this large table and just talked.  Some of us talked about Downton Abbey (LOVE it!!!), and just other random things!  Lunch was good, and I don’t know about the others, but every day after lunch I was ready to just take a nap and relax!  However, Fulbright had other plans.  We did have some time between lunch and our next session for people with any issues to sit and talk with some of the Fulbright people!  This is when a few of us discovered the computers…INTERNET!! Slow internet, but internet nonetheless!  I was able to check a few emails and get on facebook, though it took forever and I actually did very little.  It was nice though to get a few fun emails, etc. 

I was late getting back into the next session because a few of us did not realize it had started.  I sat down with Nick and we were all introduced to our last speaker of the day.  Just before he came up to speak though, they covered some last minute Fulbright business.  We will have access to Fulbright alumni and their interests/emails, so this will be helpful! Then, the last speaker came up.  It was a man speaking about Italian politics.  Nick and I made a bet that this would be the most boring of all the speakers.  Well, I bet it would be and he said it would not be.  We bet that night’s share of the wine at dinner.  He made a grading system and marked when people were falling asleep, etc.  He graded him on things like humor, content, his English speaking skills, etc.  While the guy was funny a few times, Nick conceded at the end and said he owed me a whole bottle.  Haha!  A few people were falling asleep, we each zoned out multiple times, and I myself could barely keep my eyes open!  He had a few interesting facts about Burlusconi, but overall I could not focus.  I suppose I should learn more about all of this…perhaps I will do that!  However, I had won the bet! 

It all ended rather anti-climactically.  Some of these people I will never see again, and we were just dismissed to go our own way!  Our core group that consisted of Myles, David, Mattea, Kelly, Nick, Lindsay, Carolyn, Melanie, Ariel, and myself decided that we would go do something touristy and have dinner in the center somewhere.  A research guy named Stephen, and his wife, also joined us!  We first stopped at the big white building, the name of which I can NEVER remember.  We took a few fun pictures and gathered all together to make a pseudo plan.  We then headed around the corner and down to the Colosseo.  Melanie had not been to Rome since she was 8, so we tried to hit the high touristy points for her!  While we stood her for a bit, we made a plan of going to the Pantheon, then dinner at a restaurant Nick knew of, and then our last stop would be the Trevi Fountain (at night…yay!). 

Our core group that hung out...ETAs and researchers



Awesome photobombing from David

So off we went.  Nick and I talked football some more and he described his campus and stadium! I want to go to Seattle.  Of course, the four of us (Nick, Lindsay, Mattea, and myself) discussed more of the middle child syndrome stuff…it became a funny running joke!!  Nick said he wanted to see a big Alabama game, I told him that since his birthday was right at the Tennessee game (The 3^rd Saturday in October), that he should come next year because it will be at Bryant-Denny!  We arrived at the Pantheon and went in to explore.  It somehow looked so much bigger this time than I remember.  Mattea, Lindsay, and I had our picture made while the others walked around for a few minutes. 

When we gathered back outside, Myles decided that he needed the sock from my camera to hold up as though he were our tour guide. 

Myles and Nick set to work figuring out how to get to the restaurant Nick wanted us to go to.  At some point, this lady came up to Myles and asked for directions (thinking he was a true tour guide).  He responded, “hold on, let me speak with my colleague”, and they were able to help her!  Haha…I suppose we did look like a tour group since some had our matching Fulbright bags they had given us and Myles was holding something up so we could spot him! 

After we got a good laugh, we were off to the restaurant.  When we arrived and walked in, the men working there immediately hugged Nick and welcomed him!  They totally knew him!! How awesome is that!?!?!? They welcomed us all in and took us to the back dining room so that we could all sit together!  It was such a cute place and they were so friendly and welcoming.  They remembered Nick because he has eaten there every time he has been to Rome!  How cool is that?!? We started figuring out what we wanted to eat and Lindsay and I decided to split a veal dish and then the pesto pasta.  They brought us bread and red wine and we enjoyed being together.  We all talked about so many things and just really connected!!  It was sad that Lindsay would be leaving us the next day, but we of course agreed to meet in Florence.  I just cannot say enough how much I enjoyed just being with all of my new friends and laughing and having fun!  When our food came, it was all AMAZING!! Mine and Lindsay’s food rocked our socks off, and Mattea’s real gnocchi was to die for!!  Everyone seemed to enjoy the food and the conversation!  They brought Nick a tiramisu and he was so kind to let us all try it!  Then he disappeared to the place where the men were standing and when he came back, they brought a few lemoncellos for the table (we all shared).  They were so good!  So, we finished off the wine, gathered our things, and headed out! 

I want to also say, that I am just astounded at the things that Mattea and I have in common!  I’m very excited about my new, beautiful friends.  I can’t wait to visit Lecce (Mattea), Florence (Lindsay), Naples (David), Gubbio (Nick), Palermo (Myles), Milan (Ariel), and more!!!!! 

When we left dinner some people wanted to stop at this gelato place!  I was full, so I skipped out!  Mattea got Bailey’s, which wasn’t as good as we’d hoped, and caramel (AH-MAZING!!).  Funniest thing here was when Nick and I were waiting on Mattea and Lindsay to come out of the bathroom, Carolyn and David kept making laps inside/outside of the restaurant saying, “andiamo a fuori!” It was so funny and you had to be there to appreciate the humor, but it was hilarious!  

After our impromptu gelato stop, we headed to the Trevi fountain!  It was just beautiful at night…I loved it more at night than during the day!  We had fun throwing in our coins and taking some pictures!! I took a picture with my flat people, and especially my flat Gracie because she wanted me to throw a coin in for her!  Mattea and I pretended to be falling in, and the picture is great because Nick looks like he is just laughing at us and will do nothing to save us!  His least gentlemanly moment the whole trip.  I should take a moment to say that our guys (Nick, Myles, & David) are all such kind and gentlemanly guys!!  They are awesome and smart and very sweet!  It was really nice to be around such nice guys; refreshing after some of the Italian guys I’ve experienced these past few weeks!  Anyway, I’ll just let some of the pictures do the talking! 

One for Gracie

Our handsome and brillian guys

Nick NOT saving us from "falling in"

When we left the Trevi fountain, we were headed back to the hotel so that we could work on our power point presentations for Friday (the ETA day).  Some wanted to go to some beer place, but Mattea, Nick, Myles, and myself all headed back to the hotel!  We said goodbye to the others and promised to meet for breakfast the next morning so that it would not be goodbye at the moment!  We took the tram back to the hotel, and got to work on our stuff.  Mattea reminds me so much of me that it is ridiculous!!  Grateful to have freaked out prior to the trip to Rome, I went over my presentation while she started hers, Nick made his, and Myles went to bed!  We eventually left Mattea to work and headed upstairs!  Nick and I ended up sitting in a common area upstairs talking about school, our experiences so far, ideas for projects with our students, different learning styles, and different teaching philosophies, etc.  He mentioned that he feels inferior to some of the other Fulbrighters because he just graduated…okay my friend, but you are brilliant and you deferred your entrance to law school at The University of Virginia to be a Fulbright student…no sir!  We also discussed more football of course, and just enjoyed talking.  We talked about books after I told him that a girl from last year did a book club with her students and they read The Hunger Games .  I was telling him that I LOVE Harry Potter and he said he loves them too, and thinks J.K. Rowling is a great story teller, but not great writer.  I thought I might have to beat him up, but he did agree that he loved them and likes the movies; therefore, we can still be friends!  We had been talking for a bit when we heard David, Stephen, his wife, and Carolyn coming upstairs!  So, we talked to them a bit about their night and they enjoyed their beer place!! We also talked about what we as ETA’s would be doing on Friday!  All the ETA’s had made a pact to relax and remember that we were our only true audience (though there would of course be ministry people around and two teachers from each school we represented), and therefore there was to be NO judgment of each other (though none was needed of course…we all did great!!). 

So, with a wonderful day behind us, we all headed to bed!!! 

Day 4…Oct. 26^th…ETA Day!!! 

The night before we decided to meet downstairs for breakfast at 8 so that we could eat with Lindsay and any other research Fulbrighters that wanted to say goodbye.  We had breakfast with Lindsay and enjoyed our last bit of time together.  Ariel made it down in time to say goodbye, but we all ran upstairs to grab our things while she ate!  We hugged Lindsay and promised to all see each other soon! We (Mattea and I for sure) were going to miss Lindsay!  When we came back down with our things, we said goodbye to Ariel and were off to the Ministry of Education…I so desperately want to say “The Ministry of Magic”!!!  We took the bus, as to soothe the blisters on Mattea’s feet, and I was grateful to save my aching knees and inflamed Achilles.  The outside of the building was rather impressive and the others agreed with me about the Harry Potter reference…where were the toilets to flush yourself in??  We were granted entry with our names and we went inside…not as impressive as the outside. 

We found our first room by spotting the food and a few of our teachers.  Virginia was already there and I was excited to see her!  She was so very sweet and gave me the traditional kisses and a tight hug!!  She is so sweet and I just love her so much!  After we greeted some teachers, Mattea and I ran to the bathroom before our meeting was going to start.  Down this hallway we discovered that the inside of this building was not nearly as impressive as the outside, and the bathrooms were…umm…yeah (the guys later shared that the men’s restrooms were the worse they’d ever seen). 

We then got started with our day.  When I went in the room where we had all of the presentations and stuff, Valeria was waiting for me!  As with Virginia, we greeted with the traditional kisses and talked briefly about Rome and her trip there.  I was reminded of how much I really like Valeria as well! She is equally as kind and warm to me.  In the introduction it was said that anyone could use the language they were most comfortable with and thus this would be a truly bilingual day…onset of panic.  I had such a hard time following the Italian and tried so hard to just think in Italian, but it was NOT easy!  We had introductions and we may have had a coffee break in between this and starting the ETA presentations, but I cannot remember. 

Myles was up first, and he is brilliant.  Myles is going to be wonderful in the classroom.  He had some wonderful points about how much he will be learning from the students (which is something I actually wrote about in my Fulbright essay…), and he has so much knowledge to give about so many topics.  I think that the students are going to enjoy Myles’s calm demeanor and range of knowledge.  He is an artist and is extremely knowledgeable about food and things of this nature.  I would love to be able to observe him in the classroom.  He is also a wonderful public speaker and captures the audience.  Once he spoke, his teachers did presentations.  Not going to lie, most of the teachers presented in Italian, so most of it was lost on me. 

I was up next.  I was feeling calm and ready to present.  We did have a break before the ETA presentations because I remember praying that God would give me calm nerves and just provide the words to say.  I remember Mattea and I also talked about remembering that we were our only audience and we were all there to cheer each other on!! We decided to dismiss whatever the teachers may think and just focus on talking to each other about our stuff.  This really helped!  Probably for the first time in my entire life, I felt completely confident to stand up in front of a group of people and give a presentation.  I barely looked at the notes in my hand, but they were comforting.  I told them who I was, where I was from, how old I was, and then I talked about dance and living in NYC.  I explained that I assisted the Rockettes with the weekend workshops and summer intensive (and tied this in as a sort of teaching experience).  My slide also said that I was an avid football fan, and someone’s teacher said they liked that phrase….the picture next to this was of me pretending to scream at the football game the day after I defended my thesis…a fave of mine!  I talked about my time at The Children’s Program and how it has been my most valuable work experience (and one of the most valuable experiences overall…though Grad school in general is one of my most valuable experiences) to date! **I think they could tell how much I miss my Tuscaloosa people...**  I talked about my future/career goals and then my goals and expectations for my time here in Cosenza.  I felt like I spoke from the heart and did it without ever panicking or truly feeling nervous.  I know that God was carrying me through it and providing me peace.  I think it helped that there was no one in the room that knew me (this tends to bother me), and I felt so relaxed.  Everyone seemed to smile and laugh at the appropriate moments and seemed interested in my background.  I talked about learning styles and bringing creativity and hands-on learning to this level of students (and talked about how it would be different with high-school students).  They all seemed taken aback when I said that I worked with preschoolers and have never worked with adolescents.  I think I had them convinced by the end though!!  They also seemed equally as excited about my Reggio conference, so yay!  Overall, it felt good, and I was so happy! 

When I sat down, Virginia told me that I was a wonderful speaker and had been strong and showed confidence.  She said I captured the audience and was enthusiastic.  She was so complimentary the rest of the day about it, and she said, “what were you nervous about? You were wonderful! You should not be nervous speaking in front of others!”  She said some other things and it reminded me so much of the things Maria said to me the other day before we hung up, and it made me wish that she had been there to see me the first time I felt so good about a presentation (true that I’d felt good about other presentations afterwards, but this was one of the first where I was rather relaxed before it, during it, AND after it!). 

Mattea was next!  She was amazing!! She is going to be amazing in the classroom as well.  She is a wonderful public speaker and has done some impressive work with programs during her undergraduate.  Mattea is knowledgeable about history, and I think her work as a tutor is going to give her a great advantage when it comes to teaching.  She has past experience teaching English in Italy during her study abroad year in Bologna  She is interested in looking at immigrant students in Italy who are learning English and Italian; something she worked with in Bologna.  Mattea is going to bring a lot of knowledge, prior experience, and enthusiasm to the classroom!  I am hoping that I can visit her one day when she is teaching! I think it would be fun to do a co-teaching day with her at some point.  One of Mattea’s teachers followed her, but the second had to wait until after lunch; something I was thankful for because I was starving at this point. 

Lunch consisted of similar sandwiches as yesterday, some sweets, and drinks.  We mingled a little bit, but the 6 of us ended up huddled in a corner discussing all that had happened that morning.  We were then told to meet in the other room at 5 ‘til 2 so that we could talk to Maria Victoria, the head Ministry person, about some of the issues we were having.  We were able to do so, and thus some of our issues would be discussed, or at least addressed discreetly, during the afternoon session.   I did find out that Maria Victoria is married to a New Yorker and they have a home still on West End Avenue.  So now she and I have two things in common: interest in early childhood dev. And also NYC.  Now, how do I get a home in NYC AND Italy?!?!  She is so nice, and I look forward to talking to her and learning from her! 

Immediately after lunch, we started with Mattea’s second teacher.  This was tough to follow, but there were issues, and Virginia had to translate for me!  The teachers mostly presented in Italian, so I was lost most of the time, but I tried very hard to follow and caught sentences here and there…I’m relearning here people….it will take time!! I hear 3 months is a fair amount of time and I will be studying it in addition to just functioning in it (studying my own stuff…and potentially with a tutor). 

When Nick stood up to present, Virginia turned to me and said, “he’s cute!”   She was excited to see him present.  Nick is a wonderful speaker as well; helps that he wants to be a lawyer!  He has a lot of interesting ideas and I think the students will benefit from his public speaking skills and his ability to facilitate debates and things of that nature!  His students will be amazing speakers by the end of the year; I am sure of it.  He mentioned the idea I had about doing a book club with the students, and most of the teachers seemed pleased with the idea, including mine.  I hope that this means I will have the opportunity to do something like this with the students.  I really want to work this out!  Nick was fabulous, as everyone had been.  His teachers were the fastest speaking of all the Italians I believe, but he didn’t think so! 

Last, but certainly not least, was Andrea.  She is amazing.  She has been teaching English as a second language for a while, and she seems like she would be an amazing teacher.  Her undergrad research seems amazing as well.  I have asked her to send me some of her information, so I will talk about that later!  Anyway, she seems like she is going to be really fun to work with, and I imagine that her students will benefit from her fun personality and depth of knowledge about teaching English and in general. 

So what I am telling you is that all of my peers are brilliant, amazing, kind, nice, knowledgeable, and I love that we all bring our own flare, if you will, to the classroom.  We have similar perspectives about us being both the teacher and the student; we view ourselves as facilitators, not lecturers; and we are all equally excited about brining something new to the Italian high school classroom.  We will all have slightly different approaches, but I think it will be good!!!  I am so excited to be able to collaborate with them and share information, ideas, lessons, etc. 

During the last hour or so, a lot of teachers had to leave to catch trains.  Some had to leave exceptionally early because there was a strike going on near the train station, making it difficult to get in and out.

Cultural Note: The Italians did not mind interrupting each other all day long, or talking while others were presenting (though they never did this when the students were presenting, only when other Italian teachers were talking).  It was explained to us that in Italian culture, interrupting with statements or comments lets the other person know that you are listening and engaged in the conversation, where as in the US we are supposed to wait patiently for the other person to finish their thought, and then we have our say so.   Italians often confuse our patience/silence for annoyance, or assume that we are uninterested or inattentive.  Very interesting culture difference.  

Valeria had to leave to catch the train, but Virginia was able to stay (she had driven to Rome).  After everything was over with, the last presentation was given, we snuck into the snack room and had something to drink and pieces of sandwiches and stuff to hold us over until dinner later.  I was able to talk to the ministry lady, Maria V. about early childhood and she said we would stay in touch; she also said that if there was anything the ministry could do to assist me in observing in the elementary schools/preschools, to let her know.  UMMM YES PLEASE!!! We had someone take a group picture of us on the stairwell inside the ministry, and then we were off to brave the on and off rain. 

We took the tram back to the hotel and dropped our stuff off to then go to the internet spot and use the internet.  Mattea stayed back to nap because she was going to have an early train.  The boys and I headed out to first find a phone place for Myles, and Nick took me to the TIM store to look at the plans that are available to me.  I looked and decided to start it closer to the first day of the month, and when more of my credit had run out.  When we arrived at the internet café, we did not have too much time left before we were meeting Andrea and her boyfriend for dinner.  I was able to open a few emails and facebook, but then I signed on skype and April immediately called me!  So good to see a loving and familiar face…and tell someone I know and love about some of the things happening in Rome.  I was able to show her David, Myles, & Nick.  She told Nick she wanted to come to Seattle, and he so kindly invited her!  We were not there very long at all, but it was nice to skim emails and facebook, and of course skype with \a. 

Nick and I headed back to the hotel to check in with Mattea, while David and Myles finished their stuff on the internet.  Mattea was up and getting ready to leave, so once we all met back up, we headed to the tram and went to meet Andrea.  It was raining harder by this time and I was having to use Nick’s coat as an umbrella while Mattea used David’s cardigan as one…neither of us even own and Italian umbrella…anyway, we found a restaurant just around the corner from where we had gotten off the tram.  It was a cute little place, and did not seem to be touristy, a very good thing.  I ordered the pasta with pesto, Andrea & Mattea ordered some sort of seafood pasta, Zano (Andrea’s Italian boyfriend from Verona) ordered some sort of pasta, Myles had a great looking pizza, and David & Nick ordered my same pasta and a pizza to split.  Everything looked amazing.  Well, except the seafood!  We also tried a veggie that the American Academy chef suggested because it is in season; however, it had anchovies on it, so I did not like it.  We had wine and great conversation.  We talked about so many things and just enjoyed our last night together. 


Mattea and I waiting for the tram in the rain

After dinner we tried to go to our original destination which was a wine bar, but it was closing.  So, we grabbed a bottle of wine and headed back to the hotel.  While on the train, I was sitting in a seat near the door and Nick was standing at the door.  Mattea was sitting across the way from the doors and the other guys were standing near her.  At one stop, this group of 3 guys got on (and the train was NOT crowded), and one started trying to squeeze between Nick and the door and was acting like there was nowhere for him to go and so he kept trying to squeeze between Nick and the door…and…wait for it…all the while he was sticking his hand in Nick’s front pocket trying to grab his wallet.  Nick’s hand was thankfully already in his pocket and he kept shoving the guy away.  We told the others to watch their wallets, and we watched them to ensure they did not mess with anyone else.  HOLY COW…I knew it happened, but it seemed so far removed (something we talked about a good bit later on).  He was totally trying to grab Nick’s wallet.  Then they were making nasty (dirty/sexual) comments about Mattea and then after I stood up to get off the train they were looking at me and saying things I was so grateful to not understand!  YUCK…we were in disbelief…and I still am!!  They also had been pretending like someone was doing something to them, instead of the other way around.  So sad…

On the walk to the hotel we were met with some other creepers leaning against the wall making comments to me and Mattea; so grateful we had guys with us.  Back at the hotel, they were kind enough to let us borrow glasses and a bottle opener.  We sat down stairs and talked, laughed, took pictures, the guys played cards, drank our wine, some talked philosophy, others talking football/travel/life stuff, and I think fun was had by all! 

Andrea and Mattea

Me and Nick

 It was amazing to just sit and be with people who have shared and similar experiences in life.  We had a wonderful time, but it was getting late (well, early in the morning) and we had to get to bed. 

Final morning/day- October 27^th

The last morning we had agreed to meet for dinner at 8.  Mattea had gotten up very early and we parted with hugs and promises to see each other very soon! Right after she left I heard some horrendous thunder, which come to find out later everyone heard and Nick even went outside to watch the lightening.  I met Nick, David, & Myles downstairs for breakfast.  We talked about good movies to use in class, and I was struck by David’s awesome Forrest Gump impression.  We had a great time talking and laughing. 

Once we were ready to part ways, we said goodbye to Myles who was going to stay at the hotel to do some yoga and then catch a train to Florence for the remainder of the weekend.  We all ran upstairs to finish our packing and then meet in the lobby.  We were able to lock our luggage up, but since David was taking a later train, he was going to be carrying his.  After having to change the idea of taking the tram because all the Italians walked away from it, we decided to catch the bus.  David decided he did not want to lug his stuff as far as the Vatican, etc. and then have to try and find a way to the train station.  So, Nick and I got on the bus headed to the river, and David’s bus to the train station came at the exact same time as ours.  So, with that, we hugged and agreed to see each other at Thanksgiving! 

We took the bus to the river and then walked to the Vatican.  It was a long walk, but a great one!  It was not raining anymore, but the sun was not exactly out either.  However, it was peaceful and nice to walk along the river.  We walked up to the gate  and met a tour guide who was shocked to meet Americans who can speak Italian.  He finally gave up on us and said, “sorry to bug you, I was just doing my job!”  We totally understood, and I wish I had time to stand in the line to climb the dome, but perhaps next time!!  The Vatican (St. Peter’s) is strikingly beautiful.  I told Nick that the other thing I missed last time in Rome was the church where Peter was in chains…He has totally been there and I am so jealous!!  He said we had been really close yesterday.  I was so bummed!  However, we looked for a few minutes and then moved on to buy my daddy the cross (for a chain) that he wanted.  We found one in the second store we went in, but I was at such a loss as to what exactly to look for in one, so I am hoping that he likes it! 

We then headed to the Castel Sant’Angelo.  On the way there, Nick gave me a wonderful history lesson.  Who needs a tour guide when you have brilliant friends??  I do not remember all of the names, but I know the Pope was in the Castel and he was hiding there and he was at some  point forced to ordain someone…and anyway, the bridge in front of the Castel is where they took people to slaughter them, and the Pope would watch from his balcony/window above.  It was really creepy to look at the bridge after learning this!  So we went in, and Nick was so kind to pay for my ticket.  We were lucky and got there at the right time because not too long after we got there, a crowd came!  We walked around inside and then began the climb to the top!  It is not a bad climb at all, not compared to some of the towers (torre) I’ve climbed…I’m primarily thinking of the one in Siena!  At one level there is a café where you can buy something to eat and drink and sit down at a table to enjoy the view of Rome.  We did not stop though, we went to the top.  When we walked out to see a gorgeous view of Rome, Nick then informed me that he thought it was the best view of Rome that there is.  It was an amazing view!  I told my momma it was kind of like being on Top of the Rock…a great view, and lesser known that The Empire State Building.  However, from Top of the Rock, you get a great view of both Central Park AND the Empire State Building.  From the top of the Castel you got a beautiful view of St. Peter’s and all of the other beautiful buildings in Rome.  I was so excited to be up there and to be with someone who was so knowledgeable of everything.  Nick was so kind and took pictures of me with my flat people, my flat daddy with the Vatican behind me, and my Roll Tide beads!  Such a gentleman to excuse my dorkiness.  Virginia called while we were up there and said that she looked up train times, and she thought my train was at 1, and so I shouldn’t miss it; she was not confident though.  I was confident it had not changed, and I was really enjoying my time with the beautiful view!  However, we decided to slowly head back anyway!  

Me and "my daddy" with St. Peter's behind us

 

Nick was so kind to take my touristy pics

Reluctantly, we left the gorgeous view and started walking back.  We decided not to try and take a bus, but rather just spend the time walking and talking along the river (which looks nasty by the way).  We talked about so many things: we discussed more about the 5 Languages of Love, we discussed favorite books (and how our favorite section in the book store is the School Reading lists…we agreed that those are chosen for reasons, though we may not like them all), we talked about traveling in Italy, communication among friends and how it is important to connect on deeper things than where are you from and what do you do, movies, etc.  It was just so nice to speak and relax into my own language (have I mentioned that already!?!?!).  We walked for a long way, but it was nice.  A guy stopped Nick and tried to scam him…I told him that it was his kind and innocent looking face that was making him a victim! 

We were in search of food at this point as well.  I wanted to eat something before I got on the train.  We did not want something touristy looking, and that was hard to find.  We ended up at our internet café.  We both chose the same meal: this chicken with an amazing sauce on it and some broccoli. 

It was nice to have real veggies and some protein.  I bought lunch in return for the ticket, and at this point we realized that we would have to take a taxi in order to get to the train station in time for my 1:45 train.  We made it back to the hotel, called the cab, grabbed our stuff, and were on our way!  We got one last quick tour of Rome.  Nick was so generous to pay for the taxi and we went inside.  Take a look at this McDonald’s sign…the taste of NYC…no wonder all of the students think we are all fat and eat nothing but fast food. 

We each bought our tickets, but Nick’s train wasn’t until 3.  I bought some gum, and with a little less than 5 minutes to catch the train, we hugged and parted ways!  The train ride was fine…there were a few creeper men staring at me and so badly I want to yell at them in Italian to stop staring, but 1. I don’t know the words 2. That would probably make it worse 3. It’s better to just ignore

I wrote blogs, slept for about an hour, and watched it rain on and off all the way down to Paola…which was sad because the sun had finally come out in Rome. I had to buy some Pringles from the cart because I was STARVING.

A man helped me off the train in Paola, but really only because he was in a hurry to get off and smoke a cigarette and get back on before the train took off again.  Addiction…it’s ridiculous.  In the bathroom at Paola I dropped my phone in the sink…oops….I got on the train and headed back to Cosenza.  Lilla called and said that the beach trip had in fact not been planned, and I was super bummed because I would have stayed in Rome, or gone to Florence or something.  She also mentioned something about an Earthquake near Cosenza, but I could not really understand her. 

When I arrived in Cosenza, Virginia and her husband were there to meet me!  Virginia is so sweet and so loving and is always telling me that she feels like she has adopted me.  She gave me kisses and hugs and acted like I had not seen her in years…it had been right at 24 hours!  So, Italians can be dramatic, loving, they love to be affectionate and hug…I think these may be my people!  Her husband was super nice, and because he does not speak English, we used Italian half of the time.  It was taxing on my brain, but I did it…and I understood.  I am getting better.  She invited me to her husband’s 60^th birthday party on Thursday night.  So sweet.  As we neared my apartment she wanted to make sure I had food for tonight and threatened to come check my refrigerator!  So sweet and caring!  She and her husband walked me into the building as well.  Before that though, Virginia and I had a conversation about how well Rome went and then she told me that she might want to do a project (I think she said for publication) about some history stuff…I did not fully understand, but I am happy to work on such a project. 

When they left, I made some pasta for dinner (all I had).  I made the pasta where I just cook the tomatoes in olive oil and put that over the pasta.  I really did not have much because I finished most of the groceries purposefully before Rome.  I unpacked and went to bed. 

Rome was amazing and I was inspired to make this trip as meaningful and life changing as possible.  Here is what I know though:  God has already made it life changing, and without him, none of this is possible.  He will change my life in the ways necessary, and I will do my best to let go of that control and let Him have it!  He has never steered me wrong before, but that is because He is God!  I am so grateful to be having this experience and words just simply cannot express how excited I am to see what this year holds!  He gives me peace daily about being here and brings me comfort and joy when I need them! God is so good, and He brought me to this amazing opportunity and He alone will bring me through it!!  Being with people who have somewhat similar backgrounds, and are going through the same thing you are is a great thing.  We found other, deeper, more personal things in common, and I am convinced that I have found some friends/travel buddies/support group for life!! 

**See facebook for other pictures...I cannot stand the slow internet anymore!!**