GL 350 week 7.. Don't overthink just let it go
Okay so I realize I have been slacking on telling you what I have been doing over the past two weeks. I’ve just been so busy doing last minute things before I leave and completing assignments that are due this coming week. On Monday, November 26, we climbed to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica. It was so cool to look over all of Vatican City and some of Rome. After the Dome, we walked to the Vatican Museum where we were able to see the Sistine chapel. Although pictures were not allowed, it was cool to see something that I’ve heard about from textbooks but never seen. On Tuesday, November 27, Brandon and I had our student led tour of St. Peters Basilica after we went underneath the church to see the remains of St. Peter, luckily our tour went off without a hitch. On Wednesday, November 28, we had a free day that was spent by relaxing around campus. On Thursday, November 29, we went into Rome to conduct our SOC interviews. It was an awesome experience but it was scary because we had to approach Italians to ask about their health system. Nonetheless it was an awesome experience to learn how they felt about Universal Health Care. On Friday we left for Sorrento/Pompeii with Mike!
It was an adventure getting to Sorrento since there was strikes on the trains that went right into Sorrento. After a few hours we arrived in Sorrento, and continued on the planned route. On Saturday, it was raining but we still went into Pompeii to see the ruins. It was awesome to see a city in the form that it was a century or so ago. Even though the rain didn’t let up and we all got soaked, it was an amazing opportunity and I’m glad we got to do it. That night we had a group dinner that took over three hours and was simply chaotic. We left on Sunday to come back to Campus to begin our seventh week. This past Monday, December 3, we had Katie B and Katie D’s walking tour of Esquiline hill. It was so cold, but we got to see the chains that held St. Peter onto the cross. On Tuesday, it was supposed to be a free day, but the four education student’s had to go to an Italian School to do our observation hours. It was so cool to see how an Italian school operated and to see how similar they actually are to American Schools. As we were leaving we even got to see a school bus!
On Wednesday, we went to the papal audience to see the Pope! It was an amazing opportunity that most people don’t get to do while in Italy. We were in the second row, thanks to Danilo, and had the best seats in the house. Since I’m Catholic it was an honor to see the person in charge of the Catholic Churches. At the end of the audience we were able to get things blessed. I got my two necklaces blessed and myself since I was also in the presence of the Pope during the blessing. I am so thankful for this opportunity. On Thursday we went to the American Cemetery in Nettuno. While at the cemetery we walked around looking at all the two types of graves, the cross and the star of david. In the chapel there were names of soldiers who died but were never found, and I was able to find over five people who share the same last name as me. Although I don’t think I am related to any of them, it was cool to see. It was the first time we were in the town of Nettuno, but we got to go the sea and have class on the rocks. On Friday, Katie and I hit the city of Rome to explore and find a store. We also went to the Trevi Fountain for the first time since we have been here. Since your not supposed to throw a coin in until you leave Rome, we simply saw the fountain and then left and headed to The Hard Rock to celebrate Katie’s birthday. It was a lot of fun just to take the day and relax and enjoy ourselves before our weekend full of assignments.
Even though this weekend is a free weekend, we have two finals that we have to write and other little things to do before we leave to come back to America on Friday. It’s a very weird feeling knowing that this is my last week in Rome. While writing my Global Learning Final, I realized how much I have changed since I left home. As Highsmith says, “He had improved, at least, since he left New York, and would improve more.” This quote represents me so well since I left New York to come to Rome, and I am growing everyday because of new experiences. I just consider myself to be extremely lucky to have experienced what I did in the seven weeks that I have been in Rome. I now have an outlook on life that makes me appreciate what my parents have given me and what I have accomplished on my own. When I go home it is going to be really weird that stores are open from the morning to the evening without a break since that is what happens in Italy. “Places closing from noon to four” (p. 47), will be a thing of the past and it will take some getting used to. Just like I had to get used to the stores being closed it the first place, I will have to readjust to them being open whenever I want to go. Like I said in my last blog, I’m not sure if I’m ready to go back home just yet. I already know I will come back to Europe sometime in the future since it is simply beautiful.
Okay so I realize I have been slacking on telling you what I have been doing over the past two weeks. I’ve just been so busy doing last minute things before I leave and completing assignments that are due this coming week. On Monday, November 26, we climbed to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica. It was so cool to look over all of Vatican City and some of Rome. After the Dome, we walked to the Vatican Museum where we were able to see the Sistine chapel. Although pictures were not allowed, it was cool to see something that I’ve heard about from textbooks but never seen. On Tuesday, November 27, Brandon and I had our student led tour of St. Peters Basilica after we went underneath the church to see the remains of St. Peter, luckily our tour went off without a hitch. On Wednesday, November 28, we had a free day that was spent by relaxing around campus. On Thursday, November 29, we went into Rome to conduct our SOC interviews. It was an awesome experience but it was scary because we had to approach Italians to ask about their health system. Nonetheless it was an awesome experience to learn how they felt about Universal Health Care. On Friday we left for Sorrento/Pompeii with Mike!
It was an adventure getting to Sorrento since there was strikes on the trains that went right into Sorrento. After a few hours we arrived in Sorrento, and continued on the planned route. On Saturday, it was raining but we still went into Pompeii to see the ruins. It was awesome to see a city in the form that it was a century or so ago. Even though the rain didn’t let up and we all got soaked, it was an amazing opportunity and I’m glad we got to do it. That night we had a group dinner that took over three hours and was simply chaotic. We left on Sunday to come back to Campus to begin our seventh week. This past Monday, December 3, we had Katie B and Katie D’s walking tour of Esquiline hill. It was so cold, but we got to see the chains that held St. Peter onto the cross. On Tuesday, it was supposed to be a free day, but the four education student’s had to go to an Italian School to do our observation hours. It was so cool to see how an Italian school operated and to see how similar they actually are to American Schools. As we were leaving we even got to see a school bus!
On Wednesday, we went to the papal audience to see the Pope! It was an amazing opportunity that most people don’t get to do while in Italy. We were in the second row, thanks to Danilo, and had the best seats in the house. Since I’m Catholic it was an honor to see the person in charge of the Catholic Churches. At the end of the audience we were able to get things blessed. I got my two necklaces blessed and myself since I was also in the presence of the Pope during the blessing. I am so thankful for this opportunity. On Thursday we went to the American Cemetery in Nettuno. While at the cemetery we walked around looking at all the two types of graves, the cross and the star of david. In the chapel there were names of soldiers who died but were never found, and I was able to find over five people who share the same last name as me. Although I don’t think I am related to any of them, it was cool to see. It was the first time we were in the town of Nettuno, but we got to go the sea and have class on the rocks. On Friday, Katie and I hit the city of Rome to explore and find a store. We also went to the Trevi Fountain for the first time since we have been here. Since your not supposed to throw a coin in until you leave Rome, we simply saw the fountain and then left and headed to The Hard Rock to celebrate Katie’s birthday. It was a lot of fun just to take the day and relax and enjoy ourselves before our weekend full of assignments.
Even though this weekend is a free weekend, we have two finals that we have to write and other little things to do before we leave to come back to America on Friday. It’s a very weird feeling knowing that this is my last week in Rome. While writing my Global Learning Final, I realized how much I have changed since I left home. As Highsmith says, “He had improved, at least, since he left New York, and would improve more.” This quote represents me so well since I left New York to come to Rome, and I am growing everyday because of new experiences. I just consider myself to be extremely lucky to have experienced what I did in the seven weeks that I have been in Rome. I now have an outlook on life that makes me appreciate what my parents have given me and what I have accomplished on my own. When I go home it is going to be really weird that stores are open from the morning to the evening without a break since that is what happens in Italy. “Places closing from noon to four” (p. 47), will be a thing of the past and it will take some getting used to. Just like I had to get used to the stores being closed it the first place, I will have to readjust to them being open whenever I want to go. Like I said in my last blog, I’m not sure if I’m ready to go back home just yet. I already know I will come back to Europe sometime in the future since it is simply beautiful. 
ciao Katie,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. Italy changes people if you let it. And you let Italy have an effect on you. Great!
Katie,
ReplyDeleteGoing out for my birthday was pretty cool, nothing like spending my last teen moments in a foreign country, aye! It was nice to have a relaxing day seeing as our last week is hectically packed and is going to go so fast! I'm glad that we've had this experience together since there are parts of it that only you could get me through! I'll see you on the plane Friday when we fly back, heck I'll see you all week, haha!