Lezione

Classes

This week is my first week of classes.  Classes here are so different than at Marquette.  Monday I had Theology of Pilgrimage with Fr. Bohr.  It was such a great class.  I was expecting to be a bit bored, because it is a 3 hour class, but he is so passionate about everything, and very kind, and just a genuinely intelligent man.  It turns out that besides the class on Monday, every class of his will be on site at different churches, cathedrals, or basilicas around Roma.  Classes here are very small.  My theo classes at Marquette usually are jam-packed with students, but here there are under 20.  There are 5 papers and 1 test, but the texts books don’t look too dull, so even if there is a lot of information, hopefully I’ll be so intrigued by the information, that I won’t find it too difficult.

Next was my Italian class.  I don’t know what to say about this one, except that it was overwhelming.  Probably the most difficult class I’ve been involved in.  I’ve already taken five semesters, so I’m in Italian Composition and Conversation 2.  There are four students including myself.  Two are full years here, and 1 is an SLA (sort of like an RA.  An SLA attended JFRC while a student, but has already graduated undergrad.  I think most are 24 or 25.  So basically, they are proficient in Italian.  I am not.  We are not allowed to speak English.  She will not speak English.  I’m beginning to wonder if she even knows English. Anyway, back to the overwhelming part….of course she called on me first to introduce myself and talk about myself.  That was the worst fifteen minutes of my life.  For the rest of class I barely understood anything.  I’m not exaggerating.  The SLA, Will, I think could tell how frustrated I was, and talked to me after  telling me not to drop it, and to stick it out.  I like to think I’m a pretty smart person 90 percent of the time, and I hate struggling.   I am always up for a challenge though, and this is putting me outside my comfort zone, which is what studying abroad is about—living life in a new culture.  I have Italian Tuesdays and Thursdays as well, and although yesterday I still didn’t understand too much, I understood more.  I just felt like an idiot at times because I’m not completely up to date on my Italian politics.  We talked about the Berlusconi scandal the whole class, well from what I understood, and Italians are not happy at all.  This is such a culture difference, because senators and congress people and all those government officials are always having affairs and you hear of prostitutes, but they get a little blurb in the paper (minus the Monica Lewinski episode).  However, here Italians feel he represents all Italians, and they are ashamed to have him representing them.  There was about 8 pages on the scandal in LeRepubblica, the newspaper. Anyway, from what I’m gathering in class, I should be ok if I read the paper and make sure I can state my opinion in Italian. Will, the SLA, told me to practice as much as I can…at the front desk, with the Mensa people, in stores, on the streets, etc. 

Tuesday, like I said, I had Italian again. I also had my literature class: Italian Food and Wine.  I know that most of you reading this are probably thinking that it is a blow off class that I’m taking while studying abroad.  It is another difficult class, apparently this study abroad program doesn’t like easy classes.  The first half is on the history of food. The second on wine… (we do get to go to a wine tasting).  The teacher’s English is good, but her accent is so strong, that she is a bit hard to understand.

Today, Wednesday, I had my Art in Rome class.  It is an upper level art history class, so again another tough one, and the professor seems nice, but very strict.   It is another on site class, so it will be nice to be standing in the spots I’m learning about!  Tomorrow’s classes are the same as Tuesdays.

Today after class, I went with my friend, Kaitlyn, to the Vatican again.  This time during the day.  It’s so amazing every time I go.  We sent some postcards (stamped at the Vatican’s post office!  So some of you may be getting one soon…everyone else will get one soon).  The basilica is free to the public, so we went in.  We had planned on going shopping or to a different Roman neighborhood, but we spend all afternoon inside.  There is another nativity scene inside that is absolutely gorgeous. It beats all other scenes, paintings, sculptures, etc of the Nativity. 

This is the Nativity inside St. Peter's.  There is a left side with a waterfall and with shepard, but I haven't figured out how to add both next to each other yet. 

You could go inside 400000000000000 times and not see everything.  It truly was something special.  I took a lot of pictures, but I’ll just describe them in the captions.  Also, I rubbed St. Peter’s foot.  Looks like I’ve got some holy luck coming my way!

We had to go through security to get into the Basilica.  There are signs that say no pocket knives, but Kaitlyn had one.  She put it inside her dictionary in her purse, and they didn’t stop us.  This can mean two things: 1 The guard was very unattentive (seeing as all he had to do was look at the screen, it was basically an airport scanner) or 2. He doesn't like our pope and doesn't care what happens to him.

This is a sculpture of 2 angels.  I really liked all the angels throughout the vatican.  This isn't zoomed in at all, we were literally this close!  Mom, Dad, Bern: don't read this next sentence cause you'll get mad.  I like how in those days they sculpted thick thighs and stomach rolls.  Maybe it's a sign of being angelic.  Therefore, my thighs mean I'm angelic.  I like this conclusion.

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taken from center of St. Peter's

My favorite window in the Vatican.  The tomb of Pope Paul III is on the right with artistic works done by Michaelangelo, and Pope Urban the VIII with art by Botocelli (I'll fix the spelling later for you)

After we left we saw the Swiss guards.  Did you know that to be a Swiss Guard requires more training than the Marines or the Navy?  Also, you have to be a certain height, weight, and look like all the others.  Pretty intense. (picture to come)

I got a job tutoring a set of 4 year old twins once a week.  I’ll be teaching them English, so I am very excited for this to start!  It will also help me with my Italian, as I go to the family’s house for it.  I also signed up for calico (soccer).  I haven’t played since maybe 1^st or 2^nd grade, but it’s a once a week (Wednesdays) league with other JFRC students.  It’ll be a good way to get exercise (I’m already getting sick of treadmills, and it’s not always a good time to run outside) and meet new people.  Another perk: it’s about 1/20 the price that crew ever was.  Who knows, maybe I’ll return as a calico star and get a full ride for my last year at Marquette.  One can only wish. 

Sorry this is so very long, but I wanted to write about my classes, and get a post up before leaving for our orientation weekend. 

Missing you all!

Random Things:

1.        Someone asked me and Kaitlyn for directions today.  He was an Italian driving a supply truck.  They say Italians only ask people they think know where they are going (other Italians) for directions.  No one ever thinks I know where I’m going.

2.       Italians look at your shoes first.  If they approve, they check the rest of you out.  I wore my moccasins today.  I bet no one was looking me up and down.

3.       A tip for anyone traveling soon: if it’s a popular place (like the Vatican) and you are just wandering around like I was, and you happen to hear some people speaking your language (like I did) and they happen to be a tour guide….listen and follow them around….free tour!