I have arrived! It is beeauutiful
When I first got off the plane I met two kids who I shared a shuttle with to our residence, Magdelie d'Oro, which is literally 4 blocks from the Vatican. In the car, a girl named Lindsay who can only be described as "so philly" started talking loudly to our driver and asking him if there is any opera in Rome because she loooooves Opera! And he replied, "huh?", to which she said, you know, opera...uhhh uh, Luh-Opera...and then he siad OHHH YESS L'OPERA!! It was comical. (but maybe you had to be there)
The first night I went out with a group of people to the Spanish steps, the teenage hang out spot of Rome. Loads of kids in school groups were there singing and drinking wine, and it was great. Everybody was shouting and I met some interesting folk in the program, one who I had a class with before and a girl from Penn who I had actually seen perform at an a capella show a year ago. Later when I got back I met my roomate Jenn, and she totally rocks! She goes to Haverford (and yes she knows Lauren).
So things of significance so far, I live right next to an open air market which is open from 8-2 every day. I can't wait to learn some Italian so I can communicate and buy groceries! Tomorrow one of the teachers is giving a cooking lesson. I tried pizza with anchovies, and I nearly died. The food is just incredible and you can't walk 20 feet without seeing a gelato stand.
Today I bought a bus pas for the month of September which was 30 euros, and it gives unlimited bus and metro access. So with this I plan on going out into the hill towns and the beaches. Also coming up is the "White Night", which is an expression that means you pulled an all nighter. Basically all of Rome stays up and everything is open; the shops, museums, restaurants, and all the transportation is free. They do this in other European cities too but I had never heard of it. Usually everything here closes pretty early, and its been surprisingly quiet. Most Romans vacation for the month of August so perhaps it will get louder soon!
Anyways, please allow me to describe my delicious slice of pizza
1. anchovies
2. cheese
3. olives
4. mushrooms
5. fresh tomatoes
ohh it was good! and the people here couldnt be friendlier! One fat man in the pizza shop told us that he was pregnant! haha
ciao mi amores!
love,
Julia
