Time flies in Rome!
Trip Start
Mar 22, 2008
1
9
33
Trip End
Jun 23, 2008
Rome,
Italy
Saturday, April 5, 2008
The process of school here has been very different from what I am used to, and I am really enjoying it. I spent a portion of a day doing precedent research for my studio class roaming around the city looking at jewelry stores. I attempted (in partial Italian/partial English) to explain what I was doing in hopes that the shopkeepers would allow me to take photos. It was somewhat successful! They understood what I was saying and for the most part were very kind and helpful. I only came across one snobby place where I was given that classic Italian sneer with the dramatic head shake and the long, drawn out mouthing of the word NOOOOOOO, as if to say "why would you ask such a thing you stupid American bitch?" OK, maybe I'm being a little dramatic but I think it is justified. Ironically, this was the shop with two very young women working! SO, what did I do??? Took photos of all their display windows, and from outside, looking into the store. Take that, Italiane!! Since this was the first shop I stopped at, I was feeling a little discouraged, but every one after that was quite successful. I managed to find myself a little prize along the way, too. Nothing extravagant; just some earrings, but I love them. I found a shop that had some really interesting resin pieces; I will likely have to return for a little more before I depart this place!
I am very much enjoying learning more Italian. I have taken to it better than most of the group, and for that I am proud! It's not like I'm really speaking Italian with the locals but I have been able to at least utilize it somewhat and I find it enjoyable. I hope that by the end of my three months here I can do more than very basic communication. I at least have the pronunciations down fairly well.
I attempted my first watercolor this week and all I can say is UGH!!! It was quite disastrous. So I made myself feel better by creating another drawing with my comfortable tools - markers and colored pencils. It wasn't half bad and made me feel slightly less pathetic.
Our history tour today included the Pantheon, Campidoglio (just the piazza and exterior of Michelangelo's buildings), and the basilica Santa Maria d'Aracoeli (I think this is what it's called!). This church is apparently where Romans flock to at Christmas. The thing I found most interesting about it was the evidence that it had been rebuilt throughout the centuries. The current building was constructed in 1280 but there are recycled components of its predecessors and other ancient buildings in the interior. The colonnade has multiple types of columns and capitals of different materials, that were taken from previous buildings and it looks so cool!
From this site, we were also able to see the Coliseum in the distance and look over the ancient ruins of the Forum, which we will spend two days visiting later. AMAZING. The Forum is so crazy to see.
It was miserably cold and windy today, which put a little bit of a damper on the tour. The weather changed drastically; it had been so beautiful. I hope it gets back to warmth soon. I can't believe I already have to spend a weekend doing homework but that is what it will be!
Side note: I'm really pining for some good Mexican food right now. I'm tired of salami, cheese, pasta, and pizza. I haven't tired of gelato, though. I think I'll go have some right now. We've made friends with our neighborhood "gelato girl."
