Those Dang Bugs

CIAO!!

The first week of classes went by in a haze. First and foremost, with classes starting- my life in Viterbo has become more organized... or maybe just more structured? Not to say that I spend a great deal of time in classes because I don’t. (I have a nine o’clock Italian course Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, a Studio Art course on Tuesday that goes from nine to noon, an Art History course Thursday afternoon and a Field Study course on Friday). I have an abundance of free time, yet I feel like I am always on the go- or eating! Haha. More than anything the classes are not too difficult...yet. The language courses are taught extremely fast which is at times are hard to keep up with, but I need to know how to order gellato, right? I am really enjoying the Italian language like I have never before. I never really tried very hard in a language course (like Spanish) but with being in Italy I have found not only a reason to understand the language, but also to adore it. At times I wish that I didn’t learn Spanish first. It often makes me slur, mispronounce, and screw up my Italian- but on the other hand it helps because I already know a similar word which makes it easier to decode paragraphs! I am hoping by the end of this semester that I can at least have a good conversation in Italian with an Italian - maybe our local bartista?!?! OH- and be able to sing a rap?! Haha.
Enough about classes- how about some Rome?! Chelsea, Hilda, Bailie and I made our way to Rome about 4 o’clock last Friday night. It takes about 2 hours to get to Rome so we decided that we should just go straight to the hostel (NO, I haven’t seen the movie and No, I didn’t get murdered or whatever).Our little tent can only be described with pictures- so go check them out on facebook! After having dinner, playing pool with some kids, and spending the night, we made our way out into the city of Rome bright and early. Rome is nothing what I thought it would be. I felt for the first time that I was REALLY in Italy. The sites were amazing. Undescribable, the only real answer I can give right now. As much as I want to express to you the feelings while walking into the Pantheon, or seeing Constantine’s Arch– I can’t. You had to be there to feel the presence. You had to be stand in front the artwork that I have been dying to see my entire life. I’m here. I’m standing in front of the Trevi Fountain that I know so much about, that I wrote papers about. I teared up, I won’t lie- I’m here for this reason and this reason only. I want to grow, I want to experience, I want be uncomfortable. This is exactly what I needed in my life. I’m passionate again. I’m alive again. I can’t imagine what this study abroad program has to offer- but I’m ready for this. I can’t wait to see as much as I can!
We only stayed in Rome for a couple of nights and a day. We headed back early to make sure that we actually got back (Italian trains are a little funky on Sundays). What was really strange is that I missed Viterbo while I was in Rome. I didn’t miss Reno. I didn’t even miss the thought of being home. I missed my Viterbo apartment and my Viterbo friends. I can already see myself being a complete mess when I leave this place. There is a double edged sword to every thing in my life. Life is bittersweet, but I guess that is what makes this all worth it- right?!
This next week involves: Chelsea’s and Bailie’s birthdays! My first Art History class! A day trip on Friday with my Italian Hill Cities class. And much much more! Hold on to your hats, here we go again!
<3 Katy