Relishing a night in

Or rather, olive oil-ing. As this is Italy.

Last night, I decided to stay at the apartment and throw together something for dinner from what I bought at the market. I really wanted to make a pizza but I couldn't find a pre-made dough that could go straight into the oven and still haven't learned the Italian word for 'yeast.' So, salad it was. Which was actually great because it was, and is, really hot out. Pizza will be better when it cools down.

spinaci e pomodori rossi

il mio migliore amico, olio di oliva, and (I'll switch to English now) the 2 euro red I used for the croutons and, of course, drinking

crouton, crouton! sautéed in olive oil, red wine, garlic, and a pinch of salt

the completed salad: spinach, tomatoes, croutons, grated mozzarella, and bits of prosciutto tossed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar

the sweet beginnings of dessert

diced apple and peach tossed with brie cheese and drizzled in honey

proud member of the clean plate club!

I'm sure I will grow tired of all this Italian food, but today is not that day. While I certainly love prowling the streets for back alley pizzerie, gelato, and my afternoon pick me up espresso, there is something to be said for holing up in the kitchen and putting your own skills to the taste test. I can't wait to peruse the open air food markets on the weekends when the weather breaks and going outside seems more bearable. This was definitely a meal in my comfort zone, as I was taught to cook by the reigning salad queen (thank you mama), but it felt like a solid dinner without weighing me down too much - both in weight and wallet. Simple ingredients always come together in the best ways.

Buon appetito...

How can you walk an esoteric mile in a city on the metric system?

Surprisingly enough, that's not a joke. Legitimate inquiry. (Ok, it's kind of a joke.)

My blog tells me it's been only 5 days since my last post, but it feels like eons. Everyday is an adventure, big or small, and I'm just happy to be invited.

Last Saturday, I went on a walking tour of the Baroque of Rome lead by an Art History professor at my school. As an avid fan of all eras of Art History yet also a student not able to fit in those classes because of major requirements, this was a great opportunity to soak up some of Rome's rich history and learn new information I never would had I just seen the monuments myself. We walked the 'esoteric mile' (hence the title) of Athanasius Kircher, a German Jesuit scholar who studied an abundance of subjects in Rome and has been called "the last man who knew everything."

Mac and Adrienne waiting for our professor to arrive in Piazza dell'Orologio

Most of the tour was in Piazza Navona, which is wonderful because it is right next to our school

Detail of Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi by Bernini - the four great rivers are personified and represented the four major continents; Nile for Africa, Danube for Europe, Ganges for Asia (pictured), Platte for the Americas

Detail of Pulcino della Minerva outside the Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minerva also by Bernini - the elephant supports an Egyptian obelisk brought to Rome by Diocletian in the fourth century

After the tour, Mac, Adrienne, and I decided to, on our own, see the National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, or "Il Vittoriano" - the whole thing is massively spectacular, but not a speck of shade!

Mac imitates fine pieces of sculpture while not hiding her contempt for the heat

Sunday, we wandered to the old neighborhood of Trastevere with the hopes of touring the catacomb of the Church of Saint Cecilia. Alas, like seemingly everything else in this city, it was closed for August, but we will return!

despite not getting to see what we came for, the place was understatedly beautiful

the front gardens gave me a chance to get my photographer on

statuettes of "angels, saints, prophets, and evangelists" (wikipedia is vague)

Martyrdom of Saint Cecilia by Stefano Maderno

All in all, this city has been a little piece of heaven for the photographer in me who was once so loud but recently dormant. Roma has indeed awoken it again. Mostly though, I have to take a step back from anything and everything I am doing to question, is this really my life? It is, but I easily forget. I keep thinking any minute now I am going to wake up and this was all just a very strange dream.

 Ci vediamo, a presto, buonanotte, and et cetera...

How to be an explorer of the world

And what an explorer I was today. Started off with our academic orientation, which I did not get lost while finding today! It was lots of yadda yadda about school and a sign up form for our Italian Practicum. Unfortunately, I am about to start 3 weeks of intensive Italian everyday from 3-6:30, while most of my apartment is from 9:30-1. Of course, I'll make the best of it, but it's making me a little sad.

But that is not what this post is about! This is a post about how, after the orientation, my flatmates Mac, Adrienne, and I meandered through the cobblestone streets of the historic center of Rome and checked off two to-see items off our list: Fontana di Trevi and the Pantheon.

Nota Bene regarding the Pantheon: this is probably my favorite piece of architecture of all time. I have two main feelings about it. One, awestruck that it exists. And two, awestruck that my school is a ten minute walk from it. I am far too lucky, but don't tell whomever arranges the fate of the universe or else they may reconsider my life.

the building itself is massive - it took a couple tries to get the whole thing in the shot
bonus Latin lesson! the inscription 'M[arcus] Agrippa L[ucii] F[ilius] Co[n]s[ul] Tertium Fecit': 'Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, made this building while consul for a third time'

Madonna del Sasso at the tomb of Raphael (incidentally my favorite Renaissance artist); St. Anastasio by Bernardino Cametti

sweet and beautiful Corinthian Order tackiness

"The eye of God" aka the epic (not used lightly) oculus

All in all, I could not have enjoyed more wandering around the city using the shady back alleys to get everywhere because the main roads are drenched in sun. If you do a casual google of 'Rome weather' you will find that it is an average of 90-95 degrees with almost 80 percent humidity. I am pretty consistently walking around with a sweat sheen and ice cold water is not taken for granted. I certainly wouldn't trade where I am for any other city, but I am looking forward to the winter months. Trying to keep up with Italian style but not wanting to wear a lot of clothes is a tricky balance.

these initials are all around the city and as a Latin student, I would be remiss if I didn't have a picture

Senatus Populusque Romanus, Latin: The Senate and People of Rome

Not all who wander are lost

(But some definitely, definitely are.)

I have arrived in Roma! 'Tis a beautiful and silly place, where significant pieces of its culture are wine and glaring at people. I am at home already. Literally, I am at home now. It's funny that I'm thinking of my apartment as home, when I only unpacked my stuff yesterday. But then, home isn't always really a place, instead a feeling.

So, what's with the Tolkien quote for a title and the mildly passive aggressive parenthetical? I'm sure you're asking. Well, it's probably not passive aggressive if you're referring to yourself. Today was quite an adventure. It started at the cafe next door to my building for a morning pastry and espresso because it's never too early to start doing as the Romans do. Then, to the tram station for my first foray into Rome's public transportation. Everything went so well despite me not knowing what the stations were, really, but that's where the effortless 'everything's just falling into place in my life' moment ends.

I found the bus stop that was to get me to the Study Center, and sure, I'd be there very early but I figured I'd roam around exploring and grab something to eat before our meeting at 1. How wrong I was. The bus stop was for the right line but going the wrong way. Eventually, I realize this and get off. I buy a map because I also realize that I clearly need one. Unfortunately, Rome has two piazzas with the same name as where the Study Center is and this particular map only has one. And not the one where I am supposed to be. I do not know this at the time and I go there. Something is clearly not right when I am wandering (and lost) around Villa Borghese. My school cannot be here.

It's not. And I am very, very late to the meeting despite giving myself around 3 hours to get there. But eventually, I do get there when they're on a break so I recognize my housemates. (thank god for that, or else I'd probably still be looking for the damn place) Google maps and I estimate I walked around 8 km today (about 5 miles for those of you not joining me in the metric system) and I saw almost the entireties of the Piazza Venezia and Piazza del Popolo. And I have the blisters to prove it. While my classmates were learning the rules of the road of the city of Rome, I put the keys in the ignition and did not read the manual. Typical.

Now, I am going to wander on over to the supermarket, and - probably - not get lost. After that, 'Monty Python's Flying Circus' and a 2 euro bottle of red calls out to me. Old habits die hard, even in a city of surprises.

the view from the balconies of my room and kitchen, respectively

I'd like to thank not only god but also jesus

...for free wifi at the airport.

So here I am. Hanging out at SFO. Abusing my netflix privileges for the last time for the next four months because I couldn't figure out a hack that confused my computer into thinking I was still in the States. But why would I want to be in the States anyway?

last photo of me in America for awhile

"Hang tight, it's going to be a whirlwind next couple of days. But soon you'll be eating delicious pizza and spaghetti and sipping on the finest Chianti! BON VOYAGE!" - text from Christine

Less than 10 days

and I've barely started packing.

But I'm more excited for this than I could have ever expected. I know it's hard to believe not being excited to study abroad, and I would never say I wasn't excited, but there were worries and anticipations. Which I'm sure everyone feels, because hauling off to a foreign country is not something one does everyday and it's certainly not for everyone. I wasn't nervous per se, but naturally there was trepidation. However, as of recently, I've just been hit with this wave of excitement. I am practically single-minded in my pursuit of August 21st and the moment I get on that plane. There is now not one ounce of apprehension; only pure, unadulterated exhilaration.

Tonight, I got together with my family to have a kind of sending off dinner. And my family, true to form, talked about pretty much everything except me and my oncoming adventure. My mom picked out everything we were ordering without consulting me, and my uncle would not stop the political discussion which only baited my grandfather. But in a way, that was more comforting. When the family gets together, it's not about me. So it's nice to know that even when my venture is finally upon us, everyone is the same. My whole life is about to change, but they won't. Hopefully.

Be humble for you are made of earth, be noble for you are made of stars                     - Serbian proverb