Cheers one and all!
It has been a hectic past few days here in Rome. I began my volunteer work at the refugee center on Wednesday and it has been an amazing experience, even after one day. The men that use the center are from Western Africa and Afghanistan and know very little English. It's been hard trying to develop a lesson plan for someone that has absolutely no knowledge of the language, I just don't know where to begin! But it will be a challenge for all of us that I'm excited to take on. The most important part of my time spent there to me is developing a friendship with the people I encounter. It's odd to think that the 'gypsies' and 'vultures' of the streets are the people I'm working with. I hope that I'm able to spread the word that these men and women are just that - people like us that are being exploited and oppressed by the Italian bureaucracy.
On a lighter note, I have a funny story. The other night I went out to a bar in Trestavere (that's where Lucas Strittmatter is staying - no, we did not meet up) which is near the Vatican. That's probably 4 miles away which doesn't sound like much, but it's a windy twisty walk home. Yes, I said WALK. Anyway long story short, I ended up climbing a fence into a no trespassing area and finding a place that overlooked the city. I then proceeded to get ridiculously lost and took 2 1/2 hours to get home. (Don't worry I was with a friend). We also attempted to ride a boat down the Tiber River, got it untied and everything and started paddling before my friend Joe reminded me it was a gypsy's boat and I realized I didn't want to steal the locomotive of a gypsy. So we tied it back up and went on our merry way.
Last night we went back to Trestavere and went to an all-you-can-drink for 15 euro. You could truly get ANY drink/shot/mixer (except beer) and it was insane. I don't think I'll ever go back there.
Today I went to the Vatican and actually went into St. Peter's Basilica and saw the Pieta and all that neat stuff. And it was REALLY REALLY neat and beautiful. I accidentally cursed several times (surprise!)
I got a job! I listen to audio tapes for the dean of students and then write down what's being said...exciting, no? Doesn't matter because it pays 10 euro an hour which is a fucking GOLDMINE. Tomorrow I'm headed to the flea market (don't worry Mom and Pa I won't spend too much!)
Buonanotte.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Days Seem Longer Here...
Today I didn't leave the building except for going on a 10 minute walk so my friend Mark could talk about taking a girl's virginity in Croatia. As much as I enjoyed that (and indeed, I did) I wish I could've stayed outside longer. The problem with the John Felice Rome Center is it is not only our dorm, it is our source of food as well as where all of our classes are located. We also have a doctor here so theoretically I could never leave the place and easily survive. Okay that's not the point - I still managed to have an awesome day hardly even venturing outside of the premises. I guess this is just a testament to the school and how I really enjoy it.
My friend Mo and I went to an aerobics class and got our asses whooped by a small Italian woman that was completely jacked and wanted us to learn to be sexy. I'm all for that so I worked my ass off and then proceeded to go to an Egyptian bellydancing class later on after dinner where an older bitchy woman taught us the basics of a bellydance. As mean as she was she said one thing that stuck with me - "Women aren't meant to have flat stomachs. Women are meant to have curvy tummies and this will help." I yelled out "Amen!" in excitement.
Tomorrow is my first day doing on-site volunteer work at a place called the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center. From what I've heard I'll be teaching a class of Africans and Bangladeshians (?) how to speak remedial to advanced English. I'm really excited about it even though it's at 8 am. I have a great interest in social justice in Italy because from what I know, in particular the treatment of people with mild to severe disabilities. I wanted to work in a community center for people with disabilities but it appears as though there aren't any. Perhaps I could begin advocating here in Rome!
My parents and I have had a discussion (via facebook chat, of course) and it appears as though I need to settle down on the spending so I plan on spending the next few weeks traveling around the free parts of Rome. That is really exciting as we have so many cool places to go - so look for updates!
-Elise
My friend Mo and I went to an aerobics class and got our asses whooped by a small Italian woman that was completely jacked and wanted us to learn to be sexy. I'm all for that so I worked my ass off and then proceeded to go to an Egyptian bellydancing class later on after dinner where an older bitchy woman taught us the basics of a bellydance. As mean as she was she said one thing that stuck with me - "Women aren't meant to have flat stomachs. Women are meant to have curvy tummies and this will help." I yelled out "Amen!" in excitement.
Tomorrow is my first day doing on-site volunteer work at a place called the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center. From what I've heard I'll be teaching a class of Africans and Bangladeshians (?) how to speak remedial to advanced English. I'm really excited about it even though it's at 8 am. I have a great interest in social justice in Italy because from what I know, in particular the treatment of people with mild to severe disabilities. I wanted to work in a community center for people with disabilities but it appears as though there aren't any. Perhaps I could begin advocating here in Rome!
My parents and I have had a discussion (via facebook chat, of course) and it appears as though I need to settle down on the spending so I plan on spending the next few weeks traveling around the free parts of Rome. That is really exciting as we have so many cool places to go - so look for updates!
-Elise
Monday, January 26, 2009
We have some catching up to do...
Good day one and everyone-
As I'm a brat and am getting tired of repeating my travel stories to all billion people that want to hear them, I will now be blogging every so often (hopefully at least once a week) to keep anyone that's interested in-the-know. I arrived in Rome (specifically a location called Montemario in the Balduina neighborhood) on the 9th of January w/ very little knowledge of locations outside of the U.S. and even less knowledge of the language. My background in Spanish has both helped and hindered my learning the Italian language as many words are similar but the grammatics are quite different.
The great part about the John Felice Rome Center (the school I'm at through Loyola Chicago) is that they do a 4 day orientation involving trips around the immediate neighborhood as well as travels to locations in Montecassino (about 2 hours away), Hadrian's Villa (about 1 hour away), and most importantly Sienna (in Tuscany, about 3 hours away).
Here is a condensed version of what has happened so far. The subsequent entries will be less formal and far more interesting I'm sure:
blessed by the Pope at the papal audience on Wednesday 1/21/09 (he sneezed and my friend said "God bless you." It was a riot. He speaks in about 5 different languages which is quite a bore but also funny because his English may as well be Italian because he has a very heavy accent.
Visited Trevi Fountain, got lots of gelato, haven't been blown away by the pizza in Italy quite yet, the Spanish Steps, the Roman Forum and Collaseum (yes, I had CLASS at those two places).
I just got back last night (early this morning) from Interlaken, Switzerland which is the most beautiful place in the world, probably, or at least that I've ever visited. I skiied in the Swiss Alps, had some Absinthe, danced my ass off in a happenin' club/pub, went skydiving over the mountains, and ate the best pizza I've ever had in my life. Also met several ridiculously hot guys - the German/Swiss people absolutely love Americans. When we went skiing it was on a day they have a ski race called the 'Inferno' which only happens once a year. Basically a bunch of middle-aged men do cross-country and downhill skiing for the whole day and then get wasted and rowdy at the base of the mountain afterward. After my trip skiing a friend and I ate cheese fondu at the base of the mountain and had an espresso/ice cream/whipped cream dessert. YESS. As you may've guessed I have overdrafted from my bank account and now need to settle the spending down (this is the first time my parents have heard this: Sorry!)
We also celebrated my birthday the first week which I was kind of dreading. Luckily by then I had made an amazing..absolutely AMAZING group of friends that helped me celebrate by buying me drinks at a pub called The Abbey and then proceeding to care for my vomiting self as I celebrated a birthday the only way you're supposed to (American-style). I probably won't get that drunk again here as I'm really starting to adapt the one glass of wine at dinner mentality.
That should do for now. Check back soon for an update - I actually quite enjoyed writing it and hope you got through to the end!
-Elise
As I'm a brat and am getting tired of repeating my travel stories to all billion people that want to hear them, I will now be blogging every so often (hopefully at least once a week) to keep anyone that's interested in-the-know. I arrived in Rome (specifically a location called Montemario in the Balduina neighborhood) on the 9th of January w/ very little knowledge of locations outside of the U.S. and even less knowledge of the language. My background in Spanish has both helped and hindered my learning the Italian language as many words are similar but the grammatics are quite different.
The great part about the John Felice Rome Center (the school I'm at through Loyola Chicago) is that they do a 4 day orientation involving trips around the immediate neighborhood as well as travels to locations in Montecassino (about 2 hours away), Hadrian's Villa (about 1 hour away), and most importantly Sienna (in Tuscany, about 3 hours away).
Here is a condensed version of what has happened so far. The subsequent entries will be less formal and far more interesting I'm sure:
blessed by the Pope at the papal audience on Wednesday 1/21/09 (he sneezed and my friend said "God bless you." It was a riot. He speaks in about 5 different languages which is quite a bore but also funny because his English may as well be Italian because he has a very heavy accent.
Visited Trevi Fountain, got lots of gelato, haven't been blown away by the pizza in Italy quite yet, the Spanish Steps, the Roman Forum and Collaseum (yes, I had CLASS at those two places).
I just got back last night (early this morning) from Interlaken, Switzerland which is the most beautiful place in the world, probably, or at least that I've ever visited. I skiied in the Swiss Alps, had some Absinthe, danced my ass off in a happenin' club/pub, went skydiving over the mountains, and ate the best pizza I've ever had in my life. Also met several ridiculously hot guys - the German/Swiss people absolutely love Americans. When we went skiing it was on a day they have a ski race called the 'Inferno' which only happens once a year. Basically a bunch of middle-aged men do cross-country and downhill skiing for the whole day and then get wasted and rowdy at the base of the mountain afterward. After my trip skiing a friend and I ate cheese fondu at the base of the mountain and had an espresso/ice cream/whipped cream dessert. YESS. As you may've guessed I have overdrafted from my bank account and now need to settle the spending down (this is the first time my parents have heard this: Sorry!)
We also celebrated my birthday the first week which I was kind of dreading. Luckily by then I had made an amazing..absolutely AMAZING group of friends that helped me celebrate by buying me drinks at a pub called The Abbey and then proceeding to care for my vomiting self as I celebrated a birthday the only way you're supposed to (American-style). I probably won't get that drunk again here as I'm really starting to adapt the one glass of wine at dinner mentality.
That should do for now. Check back soon for an update - I actually quite enjoyed writing it and hope you got through to the end!
-Elise
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