GL350: Week One

       Someone pinch me! It's surreal to think that we're actually in Italy, and get the opportunity to live in this beautiful country for the next two months. Just this first week has already been more than I had expected it would be. As soon as we got off the plane, it was clear the entire atmosphere was different and we weren't in good ol' Ohio anymore. Whether it be the language, the food, and the Italian way of life as a whole, it is incredible how many differences there are. Although we may not fit in, that is what I love about it. Learning a new way of life and toatlly immersing ourselves into another culture is part of the experience. I hope to gain new perspective on my own values and way of life while keeping an open mind to the new one I am learning.
       As Barzini questions in The Italians, "Why Italy?" Why do so many tourists, couples, and students choose to come here? He answers by saying, "...(people) are attracted by a certain quality in Italian life. Whether they know what it is or not, it somehow quickens their blood. It still gives them a Saturnian feeling of liberation." I can definitly agree to this. There are so many other places I could have chosen to study abroad, which means Rome was not just a random draw from a hat. This was my number one choice for multiple reasons. A clear one would be the expierences, not only in Rome but also having the opportunity to travel to nearby countries on free weekends. The feedback from previous students was nothing but positive and I was highly encouraged to come (which I am glad I did). Barzini argues that a reason so many people are attracted to Italy is, "the sweet life, la dolce vita." I needed to find for myself just how sweet Italy is, and if it lives up to the words of many others enchanting experiences...and so far it has.
         This was the first free weekend we have had, three other girls (Rachel, Sydney, & Ciarra) and I opted to go to Perusia and Assisi. Friday morning was a blur. The night before I stayed up until 1:30 in the morning, thinking "YOLO, I have to wake up in four hours anyways who cares!" More like "NONO". Missed my 5am alarm and got a knock on my door at 5:58 from everyone else who was packed and ready to leave at 6 to catch our 6:24 train. All I remember is throwing on clothes, tossing hopefully the right stuff in my bag and literally running to the train station. Once we got there and caught our breaths I brushed my teeth with my water bottle...I can't say I'm proud of this.
       Our first stop was Perugia, where EuroChocolate was taking place. Chocolate vendors lined the streets selling all types of chocolate from truffles and nutella pizzas to liquors...I was in heaven. We also may have taken the "free samples" to the next level. Milka, a well-known chocolate company, had relay races where teams raced on long wooden skiis, to reach a man dressed in a popcorn suit for a free sample of their chocolate covered popcorn. Looking back I don't think it was actually supposed to be a race (more along the lines of 'gliding'), but I thought it would be more fun if we split up in teams of two and made it competitive. It may not have ended well, but at least we got the free sample, which was a mere two pieces each. (See video link below for full tumble coverage)
        Our final stop on our first free weekend adventure was the beautiful city of Assisi. Assisi is well known for it's religious connection with Saint Francis, and famous landmarks such as the Rocca Maggiore. The church of Saint Francis is breaktaking. Although we were not allowed to take pictures, the paintings and images are still very clear and vivid in my mind. As Barzini states in The Italians, "Catholics and non-Catholics flock to Assisi, where the poetic memory of Saint Francis is still fragrant and where Giotto's frescoes depicting his life are well preserved." This is entirely true, where as I am a non-Catholic; however, I was completely taken and moved by the monumental complex of the Basilica di San Francesco. After viewing the church and burial site of Saint Francis, we made the thirty minute trek to the Rocca Maggiore. The after hiking all weekend to our hotels, I was over the whole 90 degree hill walking and was a little salty when our hotel manager told us the route; however, once we made it to the top it was well worth the travel. The pictures I took of the views do little justice to how breaktaking it really was. Simply amazing. Besides the lack of sleep and the fact that I miss my cat, I am definitly living "the sweet life."

Ciao, Ciao, Ciao!!

 Milka Tumble