Rome, You're Too Modest

Ok, quick overview of my life since I last wrote: orientation-Assisi-Perugia-learning Italian-turning 21-seeing the sights and adjusting to life in Rome. The second day I was here, we got to go on a little tour of some of the sites in Rome, checking off, among others, the Pantheon and Trevi fountain, which are unbelievably unpretentious for the incredible marvels that they are. The thing about Rome is you come down a little side street or turn a corner and all the sudden you're face to face with these incredibly famous buildings/fountains/sites, etc. No build-up, no flashing lights. They're just sitting there, chillin. It's really quite ridiculous, in the best way. That's a somewhat unique thing about Rome, which our tour guide pointed out. There is no old section of town/ new section of town business. The ancient stuff is mixed right in with everything else. It's pretty freakin' neat.

Our orientation week ended with a weekend getaway to Assisi and Perugia in the Umbria region of Italy, north of Rome and more in the center of the country. Aside from cold and still not having my stuff, it was a great trip. We spent Friday in Assisi, which is the quintessential little Italian town, basically the epitome of Italy. We went on a tour and saw the sights, including St. Francis' Basilica, which was absolutely beautiful. The work they put in on these buildings is just mind-blowing. They just don't make 'em like that anymore. It was also amazing to walk where St. Francis walked all those many, many years ago. I can't even put words to how cool it is to be in the midst of so much history, both in Assisi and in Rome. We spent Saturday in Perugia, which was nice even though the weather was not. The best part of Saturday, though, I have to say, was getting back to the IES Center and seeing my luggage waiting for me! After not seeing it for just about a week, being reunited was sweet indeed.

On Sunday we went to this huge open-air market called Porta Portese in Trestevere, an area of Rome. At this market, you can find anything you could ever want or need and much, MUCH more. I saw everything from old phones to clothes and shoes to light bulbs to starfish and seashells to knick knacks/random junk to pets to jewelry to potholders to furniture to fake hair to electronics and appliances to yes, even wooden shoes. It was very entertaining.

The next week brought Italian intensive language classes, more time to explore the city, and my 21st birthday on Tuesday. I actually got to blow out candles three times on that one day: once in my Italian class, once at dinner with my roommates and the girls upstairs when my ISC (Italian student companion) Michela made dinner and a Nutella cake that said "Holly 21", and finally at the restaurant I went to afterwards for dessert with my friends Stephanie, Mackenzie and Ali. Here they actually turned off all the lights and sang to me too. It was a good birthday. The rest of the week was filled with some class and a lot of time to just roam around Rome, which I'm starting to get a feel for, even as I'm constantly finding and seeing new things. My new friends are some winners, and I feel so blessed to have them to explore this awe-inspiring city with. We actually start classes tomorrow, so establishing that routine will only help as we continue establishing our lives in Rome, whose magnificence is only understated by the fact that it does not proclaim it. For the powerful empire it was and the importance it still carries, it's rather humble. Skyscrapers are non-existent. The old buildings are just recycled to house modern facilities, and I don't think I've seen anything higher than seven stories, especially not in the center of town. Narrow, cobblestone streets greatly outnumber any roads with two or more lanes. Every day on the 870 bus on my way to school I have the most incredible view of the city, one that will never get old, and that's just what you see while on public transportation. The city astounds me, as does the fact that I kinda live here. I'm still trying to grasp the idea that I'm sitting in my apartment. Where I live. In Rome. THE Rome. Ridiculous.