A weekend to relax

So amid the rush of learning how to live in a new country, and the constant need to see everything at once, I forgot how to sit down and breathe. This has been a wonderful weekend in Rome, just taking it day by day, and has made me fall in love with this city even more for it.

I will start with this week, as I am loving all of my classes more and more. First off, I have been waiting to post this information until it was set in stone, but I have been hired by the photography department to be the monitor/aid for photo, AND I have been a TA for Photo 1. Basically, I get paid to help the photo 1 students out in any way they need, and keep the darkroom clean and chemicals refilled. It is an awesome job to fall into by accident, and I thank my professor Lucy Clink for it.
I have three professors, all female: Lucy for photo 1 and advanced photo, Katherine Krizek for Inside Italian Design, and Daniela Curiouso for Italian 1. I had the opportunity to talk with each one outside of class about travel tips and art shows to see in Rome, and they are just so friendly with so much information!  This Thursday Prof Krizek took us to the Palazzo Dell’Esposizione for the  “Unicitia d’Italia” show, celebrating both 150 years of unity in Italy, as well as the 50^th anniversary of the Compasso d’Oro, an award for excellence in design. It has been awarded every year by a jury of people with various professions, not just designers, so it is considered the most objective prize one can win in Italy. There were beautiful objects as well as everyday ones, and for two hours we discussed everything from the introduction and patenting of plastic, to the aesthetics of  products, evolution in clothing design. I really appreciate the interactive quality of all my classes, not just this one, and it helps me feel more immersed in the culture than I would on my own.
On Friday Clarisse, Alexis, Allison, Andrew, and Jake, and I all took a train to Viterbo, up in the Tuscany region. It only took an hour and a half, a we had a great time. Highlights:

1-      An amazing drink called a Golo Sito, supposedly cold, thick crème with a touch of coffee, but it tasted like ice cream to me. And of course I got the chocolate syrup with mine so I had an otherworldly taste of coffee ice cream chocolate goodness in a cup. It took everything in me not to live off that all day. Thank goodness I packed a lunch!

2-      Speaking of lunch, we enjoyed sitting outside the church of San Lorenzo, eating our lunch, and enjoying the beautiful architecture before us. It seemed simple but I really love this memory already. (my backpack is where I sat)

 

3-      Probably my favorite part of the day was when Clarisse and I split apart from the group to do some shopping, and fell into an artist’s storefront. We met and talked with Rosario (you can imagine our excitement when we realized she spoke English!) about her glass jewelry, which Clarisse loved and bought. Rosario was so friendly! She was excited to show her work, and after some time she even invited us to the countryside, right outside Viterbo, where she makes her glass pieces in another studio! She said she would be happy to teach us how to make glass beads, and make a weekend of the trip! Whether or not we do it didn’t matter, I just felt so welcomedby her, and I felt like speaking with the locals about what they do is the best way to appreciate the essence of the Italian people.

4-      Lastly, we enjoyed another apperativo for dinner at “Convivium”. Our table was outside next to a fountain, and we enjoyed some of the best white wine I’ve had, as well as homemade finger foods, buffet style. This is a very common, and very awesome, way of eating.

Saturday was relaxing. I slept in and loved it! I got some writing done, some skyping, then left for the most beautiful cemetery I have ever seen! Leann went with her class, and Sarah, Amanda, Paul, Pasquele, and I there because she knew I would love to photograph there. She was right. We got off at the metro stop Piramide, and after we got off the stop I saw why- there is a huge Pyramid right there! Apparently a very long time ago some guy who really did nothing special visited Egypt, had money, and built himself a pyramid back in Rome where he wanted to be buried. More than anything it just looks totally out of place and is so confusing to the eye. In any case, there was a beautiful cemetery built around it, which looks more like a garden when you walk in. It is muli leveled with designated rows, and as Sarah said “You don’t step on the bodies!” More than anything I loved the sculpture of the tombs, and John Keats as well as Henrick Christian Anderson are buried here. Overall, I took a million pictures and I am already planning my return trip.

After the cemetery the rest of the group broke off and Sarah and I hopped on a bus and found a museum I had heard a lot about: The Macro. Originally a slaughterhouse, this building was fairly recently reconstructed and converted into a contemporary art museum, where a photography show is currently displayed. It wasn’t as creepy as I expected it would be, and the show was free (an added surprise!) due to the show’s opening weekend crowd. It had a variety of artists, with text in both Italian and English. Some artist’s chose to have their titles and descriptions in English, some Italian, and some with both. It was a really nice experience and it gave me a bit more insight into modern day Italian culture, which is just as important to study as its past.

Sunday was interesting as well, as Sarah, Pasquele and I were early risers and left the Residence at 7am to hit the big flea market that takes place every Sunday from 7am to about 1pm. It was PACKED. Overwhelming was an understatement when it was all over, but we got some great Italian movies, jewelry, and clothes. There was everything under the sun there from 50 cent stack of clothing to used equipment to new electronics to kitchen supplies to shoes galore to more Chatchkas than my dad or Colin would ever want to see. It was a maze and we were lucky to get out alive.

After naps, the three of us went out for dinner at an unbelievable place called Tiepolo and…. I FINALLY HAD A SALAD! It took way too long, but it was SO worth the wait. I had the Tre Stelle: radicchio, warm pear, gruyere cheese, gorgonzola chunks, with a gorgonzola vinaigrette dressing. Yes, to die for. Sarah and I also shared a baked potato with cheese and corn, and Pasquele got his with sour cream and salmon. If that wasn’t enough we also split two desserts: The Pear Rose- pear cooked in red wine served with pink pepper and cream, as well as my first Panna Cotta. A perfect ending to a perfect meal.

This week is already flying by as I spent way too long on the computer planning my fall break, and didn’t get any photo work done for the first time this semester! But Allison made coming home worth it by teaching me how to make homemade pizza and making homemade zeppole! Shoutout to Grandpa Bellitto for raising me on this delicious Italian item! Eating them makes me look forward to Christmas Bellitto family style! I am so excited to finally appreciate the art of cooking good Italian food- it took long enough but I am so happy to learn so many new recipes- I hope I can remember all of them when I get home! Slash I hope I can still fit in my pants….

That’s all for now! Off to Florence next weekend! I will have even more to tell I am sure! Ciao!

Amo Venezia

I was lucky enough to spend this past weekend in Venice! I went with a great group: Nathaniel, Pasquele, Leann, Sarah, and of course myself! We hit the road immediately after class Thursday night! We made it to the train station in time, departing at 7:40pm, and arriving 4 hours later. Let's just say, the moment we got out of the train station and saw that water in Venice we were ecstatic! The photos say it all:

 

We got to Ostello Venzia around 12:30, after our short lived excitement, then the daunting task of quickly figuring out a new transportation system: boats! It was surprisingly easy, and the night bus (or boat) was not a problem at all. This was my first experience with hostels, and I must say this was a great one to start with. For 25 euro a night it was clean, the staff was kind and spoke English well, and we had a breakfast of rolls with nutella, cereal, and tons of coffee/espresso/cappucino, so no complaints at all. We spent three nights at Ostello Venenzia, referred to us by a friend who stayed last summer, and although it was supposed to be a youth hostel, we met several people who were older. In fact, our first morning, Nathaniel, Leann, and I were all lucky enough to randomly take a seat with a woman named Maggie at breakfast. In her mid 80s, Maggie spent a good amount of time with us, telling us the fascinating story of her life, one of travel throughout Europe between ages 15 and 30, before settling down with her husband and having a son and daughter. Sadly, her husband passed away 15 years ago, and ever since hen she has left her home in New Zealand to travel for 4 months, backpacking (i seriously mean this, her bag weighed less than all my camera equipment), going where the wind took her, booking cheap flights and staying with old friends, or meeting new ones in hostels around the world. She has been EVERYWHERE! She was so sweet, and so inspiring. It was the best, and most unexpected way to start off an amazing trip.
 

Our first day in Venice went just the way my dad would hate it- without a map. But before I go on, I must confirm that we DID in fact all have maps, but taking Gianni's advice (the student affairs coordinator for Temple who appeared in my Todi video), we decided to avoid the tourists, walk down a random alley, and enjoy exploring. It was my favorite thing about the weekend, losing ourselves in a beautiful city, walking down whichever tiny alleyway we wanted. I say this loosely because in truth, Venice is a small 3 mile maze of skinny streets, and you cannot avoid getting lost, so we embraced it instead. It was a lot to take in, as there were shops galore, so our main sites of the day were churches (there are 300, so we had plenty of options). I must say I understand but dislike the "no photos" rule, as it is like needing to go to the bathroom when I see such beautiful art and architecture, without the ability to photograph it.

As usual, I still managed to take a million and a half photos between my 3 cameras. As did my partners in crime, Sarah and Leann: 

We couldn't stop! Every turn was so beautiful! 

We ate and photographed our way through Venice. And occasionally photographed what we ate!

In the end, we walked a lot, ate a lot, photographed a lot, and enjoyed one of the most beautiful sunsets ever. We finished the day sitting on a dock, staring at the reflections in the water, and discussing how wonderful life is.

 

The second day started with breakfast again, then a visit to San Marco, and inside St. Marks church. It was worth waiting in line, as every inch was covered with gorgeous and ornate art. I had a wonderful experience just sitting by some candles, looking up at the massive ceiling, and realizing how amazing that moment was. 

We continued to eat our way through the day...again...not surprisingly. But our other big accomplishment was A GONDOLA RIDE! It was a very cool, once-in a-lifetime experience.

The rest of the day was relaxed, and we hit Lido, a small island where a beautiful beach was located. Pasquele and Leann rented a bike for the afternoon while Nathaniel and Sarah and I talked and walked the shore. Again, gorgeous. 

That night Paquele and Nathaniel had a fancy fish dinner in San Marco area while Leann Sarah and I had a girls night at a small restaurant along the water next to our hostel. We had a great time, I stocked up on my seafood, and we had a 3 hour meal: Italian style. Laughing with those girls over dinner with the water at my feet will be a cherished memory for me.

The last day was spent in Murano, the island of glass blowing. Unfortunately the factories are closed on sundays, but we still had a nice day exploring all the shops (there were plenty). The girls all bought a glass calligraphy pen with a glass tip, packaged with a glass stand and ink. We clearly expect our penmanship to improve with this writing utensil.

Leaving Venice was sad, but I felt that 3 full days gave me enough time to enjoy it and not feel rushed, which I liked. Even though our train departed at 4:30 in the afternoon, I passed out immediately into a coma-like sleep for a good 2 hours or so. Arriving in Rome was an interesting feeling- as Rome is my new home! I really did miss Rome, and I really did feel like I was home once we hit our metro stop at Cipro, which was strange and nice at the same time. I still miss everyone back in the U.S. and I know I will enjoy THAT home as well, but for now I am getting used to Rome and my new life here, enjoying every day and doing my best to take every opportunity I can. I am happy I took this opportunity to see and fall in love with Venice, and as Leann says, "Until we come back, and do it again!!!"

First Week of School!

So....
 this first week flew by! I can't believe I have been here two weeks already! So much happens every day, so sitting feels like a luxury. Let's start with my class schedule:
Monday- Italian Class from 2-3pm
Tuesday- Advanced Photography from 8:30am-1pm, Italian 2-3, Art History 3-4:30
Wednesday- Italian 2-3
Thursday- Photo 1 8:30-1, Italian 2-3, Art History 3-6
No classes Friday!

Here I go.....
Italian is great. It is the only class I have every day, and I need the practice! Daniela is an amazing teacher, and we play games, sing songs, and do various activities to keep it interesting. I am a slow learner when it comes to language, so even with a great teacher I get nervous in class and never feel up to par. But Daniela always encourages me, and my friends help me practice outside of class. I just feel like there is so much to learn in such a short amount of time.
My photography professor (for both classes) is Lucy Clink. I am totally in love with her! She is a bit older, with beautiful graying hair that she pulls back, wears red lipstick, and dresses pretty much like me- with long skirts, nice tops, and beautiful jewelry every day. I want to be her and age that well! She is already someone I can go to with a question about anything- super friendly, asks about our interests and our lives, very relaxed- everything I was hoping she would be. Advanced photo and photo 1 are both darkroom classes, so together I must shoot and develop at least 4 rolls of film a week (good thing I brought tons of film), so I will be spending plenty of time in the basement. Both classes have a very loose syllabus, so I have the freedom to take my photography where I want this semester, which I am really excited about. I also realize that most of my work will be in film, which is both a good thing and bad thing. I love the timeless feel of black and white film photography, and I know it will go well with the feeling I aim to create with my work, however the speed that digital brings is always nice when it comes to sharing my work via the internet, so that may be frustrating. I will do my best, but there are never enough hours in a day!
For photo 1, since I am an advanced student, I act as an assistant/ TA to the teacher. I love this, because I love every aspect of photography, and sharing skills, giving advice, answering questions, etc. is something I LOVE to do. I may even earn a position as a monitor for the Photo department, we will see what is approved by the Dean. My enthusiasm is only enhanced by sharing my knowledge with others.
As far as Art History is concerned, I have had some changes to my schedule. I came in under a basic GenEd class called "History of Rome", but very quickly switched into a special topics art history class called "Inside Italian Design". I am MUCH happier, the professor is engaging and interesting, AND we have a class trip to Milan in the first weekend of October! It really covers everything, from product marketing, to architecture, material design, graphics, etc., starting from the Italian Unification in 1861, onward. The Tuesday section is a lecture, and the Thursday section is an "on site" section, where we visit studios, towns, museums, etc. to reinforce the weeks topics visually. I already enjoy it very much, and it allows me to see even more of Rome, with my own personal tour guide!
I am lucky to have such a flexible schedule this semester, and I am very excited for the semester ahead. I know I will stay busy as usual, so I will do my best to update this blog in between. Speaking of which....

I AM GOING TO VENICE NEXT WEEKEND!!!

I was super excited to book my first big trip with my friends Leann, Sara, Pasquele and Nathaniel. We will leave next Thursday night at 7:30pm and return Sunday night around the same time. We still have alot to plan between now and then, but I know we will have a great time. 

My weekend: Friday we took the Temple Rome tour of Sapienza, the University of Rome. Gianni was a wonderful tourguide once again, and we learned all about the school system in Rome, and what an Italian student goes through to graduate with a degree here. It is very different from America, but interesting to learn about. We also saw San Lorenzo, where many young people live, right outside the University (no dorms, just very small apartments). After another long day out Pasquele, Clarisse, Alexis, Alison, Nathaniel, Abe, Andrew, and I all went out to try a popular Italian dinner: Apperitiv. Many bar type places have a special buffet of appetizer foods for 8-10 euro, running from 7pm-9pm. It was a fun experience and a cheap and unique way to eat out. Then we visited the Spanish steps and the Trevi Fountain, both totally breathtaking. I am so glad that I saw them for the first time at night, because Rome at night is the most romantic place in the world for me right now. The view from the top of the Spanish steps was gorgeous and the Trevi fountain was totally breathtaking- I was floored by how emotional I felt being there. It is huge! Photographs of these places can never compare to their presence. I am so lucky to live so close to so many beautiful and memorable places.

Saturday 10 of my friends and I hit the beach! (Leann, Allison, Clarisse, Abe, Andrew, Sam, Pasquele, Amanda, Adam, and Nathaniel) We left at 10am and stopped halfway in Ostia Antica, a large archeological site, where remains of an ancient town are maintained for both study and for view. It felt like we stepped back in time for an hour, and Abe, our resident Art History major, was like a kid in a candy store. We finally made it to the beach around 2pm (it was a good 2 hours from Rome), and finally relaxed in the sun until around 5:30. It was a gorgeous day, the water was perfect, and life was good. Even better- I only spent 3 euro all day! I love inexpensive adventures! (Don't worry, I'll make up for it next weekend!)

And here I am, on a lazy Sunday afternoon, reflecting on my first week of school, already looking forward to this upcoming week. Temple organized a wall walk around Rome (13 miles!), but I woke up feeling under the weather today and decided to give my body its much needed rest and actually sit down and relax for the first time since I got here. And so I finally found time to update my blog! There is always more to tell. 

Once again, thanks for reading!

Todi

My day in Todi is best described by a video I created. The link is below:

http://youtu.be/fDmF8hVW1Ts


Sunday, Sept. 4th: Temple University: Todi

Temple University had a great day planned for us! All 175(ish) students arrived at the Piazza degli Eroi at 8am sharp, boarded 4 buses, and began a 2 hour drive to Todi, a beautiful medieval hill town. I could not sleep at all for the ride, it was so beautiful and I was so excited to have my first big trip outside of Rome. When we arrived in Todi, we were free to walk for 1.5 hours wherever we wanted. Naturally, I planted myself in the nearest church, San Fortunato. It was breathtaking, and also had the highest point in the entire town. A few of my friends and I climbed the rustic, spiral staircase to the bell tower, where I finally took all my cameras out and began shooting for the first time.
I broke my seal. The photographic journey has begun.
I will only be uploading the photos taken with my little pocket camera. My more artistic shots will be uploaded at a later point and I plan to create a second blog of my photographic artwork. Stay tuned.

 Around noon we were on the bus for another 45 minutes or so, heading to Titignano, home of a large manor, where a 15 course lunch awaited us. Yes. 15 courses. Every one was amazing. The photos below say it all:

                                                      Pizza- onion, plain, rosemary, cheese

                              Crustini- crunchy bread with mushroom, pepper, tomato, or olives

                         Affettadi misti: Slices of meat- Cuts of Ham, Prosciutto, and Pepperoni

                                                                      Torta Salata- kishe

Risotto with asparagus

Flat noodles with boar sauce

Chicken

Venison- Capriblo

Agnello- Lamb, con potate e enselata

Tiramisu!!!!

 Tortezzi- biscotti, and dessert wine

Fruta

end with... Espresso!

 After an amazing 3 hour meal, we were ready to slip into a nice food coma. But before we could do that, we took one last look at the amazing view:

As you may have seen in the video, bus 4 was the bus to be on for the way back! Gianni was so fun, and we had the time of our lives just cruising through the countryside. The singing, laughing, and screaming was just a bit of evidence of how happy our bodies were after an amazing day in the Italian countryside.

Benvenuto!!!!

Welcome to my new home!! Special thanks to Pasquale Cornacchia and Alexis Kandra for their help!!!

Day 3

Orientation begins!
Yesterday we began with Orientation meetings at Temple Rome- our new campus! It was surprisingly easy to get to from the Residence, and while it is a 30 to 40 minute walk (1.5 miles away), the time goes by very fast, and the confidence I receive from actually getting myself from Point A to Point B is better than I expected it would be, and one of the few things I like about living in an entirely new situation. Once we arrived, we were given some introductory speeches by Dean Stromann and Gianni, which covered many topics, such as directions and transportation, advising and general safety throughout Rome, and conduct and culture when handing everyday transactions with Italians. I suddenly felt extremely excited and confident about figuring out how to live in a new country. Needless to say, that confidence disappeared a bit once I was forced to actually speak to an Italian. Trying to buy metro passes was a fail, as nearly everyone in my group purchased the wrong one, and had our first disappointment in loosing euros. Everything I purchase seems so much more complicated than it should be, as I keep trying to convert my spending to American dollars. I realize this week will just be a big longing for a money tree (or euro tree now), and I am prepared to keep myself on budget once all the initial purchases are made. One thing I love is how cheap but delicious the market is. We pass it on our way to school every day, and it is considered one of the best in Rome, with locals coming from all over to sell the freshest foods. I have been able to purchase apples, peaches, nectarines, and grapes, all for cents each. The fruit is a major part of a normal diet here, and will be my breakfast, lunch, and a common snack for me here. This combined with my newest interest: running, should be a decent way to stay healthy and come back home smaller than a house, or large condo if I work at it enough.

Last night, Leann, Adam, Paul, Amanda, Allison, Pasquale, and I went for our first Italian dinner: pizza and beer. Let me just say, stumbling through Italian was embarrassing and enlightening at the same time. We were lucky enough to get a waitress who spoke a bit of English (necessary at this point in the game). We ordered pizza with Gorgonzola and speck, which is similar to ham, and it was delicious and cheap. But I understand that when I get home, pizza will be the last thing I will want! For now, it is perfect.

Today was epic. It was wonderful.

Temple planned walking tours for us, so at 11am we were split into groups of 10-15, were randomly assigned a professor, and headed out to explore Rome for 4 hours. Adam and I lucked out and got our Italian teacher, Daniela Curiouso, as our leader! We could not have been happier. At just under 5 ft., Daniela is a spry middle aged but very fashionable Italian woman, with a strong accent and assertive mannerisms. She was as helpful as any leader could be, and from the moment I met her I knew she would be a great teacher. She had an exciting day planned (each group did something completely different) by taking us NORTH of campus (as in, to an area totally off our map, and opposite from everyone else), toward her own home. We took a tram up Via Flaminio, toward a huge soccer stadium, where the 1960 Olympics were held.

Also in this area was a huge track field with enormous statues of various athletes, which was a great place to stop. 

Afterward, we went to a local market for lunch- Italian style. Boy, was this an adventure. We stopped at a stand that sold meat (cold cuts), bread, cheese, and other lunch items in order to make paninos, or sandwiches, My first lesson was in etiquette, as asking for 3 topping was too much and borderline inappropriate. Italians typically choose one or two toppings, such as one meat and one cheese, or one cheese and tomato, in order to fully enjoy each flavor, where in America we can stack a whole grocery store's worth of food on our bread. I will never make that mistake again! It was also overwhelming to learn so many new words in such a fast paced market, and only a few things stuck, such as prosciutto crudo (smoked) and pomodori secchi (dried tomatos)- these two items along with ricotta cheese were on my delicious panino. We took our food to a courtyard for a modern art museum, and I ate on a chair cut out of the grass- literally the mound of grass was shaped like a hug chair. Here is a photo from another interesting chair- burrowed into the ground:

And then.. the best part! Daniela ran into an Italian college student who lived near her, and brought her and her friends over to our group to interact and answer questions! Their English was so much better than our Italian, but it felt good to interact with Italian college student and get advise from their perspective. I even got their e-mail addresses for future contact!

We then walked to a local bar and order cafe freddo- basically cold coffee, and we learned bar (remember bars sell coffee drink primarily) etiquette, such as sitting fees and tipping, as well as various names for other coffee drinks (all of which I look forward to trying!).

WE WERE SUPER TIRED! But we walked back to Temple's campus, for yet another activity: Professor Mario Teleri's cooking demo! He was great, and gave alot of advice on where to buy what ingredients, how to properly prepare and cook great pasta sauces, and most importantly, how to enjoy and savor each meal- because this is what Rome is all about! I was of course pumped to go food shopping, and picked up a few things from the grocery store just a couple of blocks from our Residence in the short 10 minutes left before closing. Tomorrow morning, Leann and I will go to the market and pick up all our fresh produce- I cant wait to cook Italian style! Overall, these first few days are overwhelming and exhausting, but staying busy has been good for me, and I look forward to each new experience that comes with each new day.