La Vita e Bella (Life Is Beautiful)

Ciao!

 Things really have slowed down now that I am no longer moving every few days. I know it doesn’t make for as interesting a read, but I really am enjoying the settled pace. My roomies are fabulous- we’ve been having a blast having “family dinners” each night (mostly pasta with whatever we feel like putting in it). Not that I am sick of Michelle and Kate (because how could I be!) but I am really enoying getting to know the other girls! Missy, Erin, and Jesika have been fabulous. Ashley just arrived on Friday due to issues with the hurricane delaying her flight, but I can tell already she is going to be so much fun! When we aren’t eating, most of us can be found in our “parlor” reading for school, journaling, or passing around the “emergency internet. (“you know, uh, for parents and such”- The Wifi Guy)” Since we don’t have wifi yet, we were given a USB that connects one person at a time to the internet. It is painfully slow, doesn’t allow for good skyping, and obviously, is a tad tricky to share between 7 girls. But we are doing the best we can and we cannot wait until “The Wifi Guy” comes back to install the real deal.

Family Dinners! 

The Parlor (Much improved with a fan!)

We had our first Italian language class on Thursday with our instructor Mario (he was pleased by how we pronounced his name, It was mostly due to us all repeating what we have heard for Super Mario Brothers). We learned some basic survival and was then taken out for gelato! It was amazing, CEA paid for all 30 of us to get three flavors plus whipped cream. I chose my favorite fruiti di bosco (a mixed berry flavor), raspberry (well I think it was raspberry, not totally sure), and  NUTELLA (Best invention ever)! It was maybe the most delicious thing I have ever had…. I can definitely get used to two months of this.

Abby and I enjoying our gelato 

  Orientation has been a lot more fun than I was expecting. We done several walking tours: of our neighborhood, the area around campus, and the center of the city. Mostly it is Andrea or other staff members pointing out good places to eat, get groceries, go shopping, etc. Friday we had an official tour (complete with super cute and extra touristy head sets) of some of the tourist hot spots: The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps. Our tour guide was wonderful and I was so happy to finally be seeing those three sights that I unfortunately missed last time I was in Rome (my flight came in too late and we missed our tour). It was so much fun! Our guide pointed out some really quirky and random facts along the way as well as the best place to get iced coffee- a necessity on three hour tour on such a hot day. It was a pretty quick tour, and I know I will want to go back and spend some more time at each place.

This theater was built on the exact spot Julius Caesar was stabbed

The Pantheon 

Enjoying our delicious granita di caffe' con panna

The Trevi Fountain

Spanish Steps 

  

            It’s been a pretty lowkey week, but I guess it’s the RRR we all have been needing after our travels. I really love it here already- life really is beautiful! Class starts Monday and then we’re back to studying (well, maybe we’ll have some fun in between)