Why does my room smell like fish?

It's been a weekend of walking, to say the least.

Our fourth long weekend consisted of staying in Rome.  It's the beatification of JP II this weekend, so almost everyone on campus was staying in Rome for it.  So we had Friday off, and got to explore the city. We've officially got less than two more weeks here! Which means finals are rapidly approaching.  But we're going to ignore that fact :)

On Thursday, Elise, Ellie, and I went into Castel Gandolfo for dinner. So we're waiting at the bus stop.  And the bus never comes.  So we really want to go to this restaurant, and so we decide to walk it.  It took 40 minutes and it was uphill the whole way.  But we get to the restaurant, and we run into Monsignor (our chaplain).  The food was absolutely amazing, and at the end of the night he offers to drive us back down the hill. Which was great, because both Elise and I were wearing heels. Another perk: the pope is currently at Castel Gondolfo, so that means that the swiss guard was also there.  It was a great night with the girls.

On Friday, Elise, Renee, Paige and I decided to go to the Botanical Gardens in Trastevere.  It's definitely my favorite part of Rome.  The gardens were amazing.  And I don't even really like nature.  We just kept following different paths and ended up on top of a hill over looking the city.  It was so pretty.  You could see almost every major basilica in Rome.  After walking around the gardens, we went to lunch at a place we had been to the week before.  Except they jacked up their prices a ton! Grrr.  Stupid Romans.  Anyway, we got back to campus and then attempted to do homework. Which failed.  But last night there was the "Spring Fling: The Gathering", which was basically the Rome version of the formal back in Irving.  It was surprisingly fun, but UD does not know how to pick music for dances. At all.  It was kind of a throwback to the 70s.  But whatever, you can't expect too much else from UD.  It was nice to see everyone dressed up though.

Today, Elise, Renee, Brad, Michael, Andrew, and I walked the Appia Antica.  It's basically this old Roman road that leads from were we live into Rome.  Its about 12 miles.  It took us from 12:30 until 7 to make it into Rome and then take public transportation back. Oh, and it was raining the whole time.  So basically, I walked for six solid hours outside in the cold and the rain.  But it was so much fun!! Definitely worth doing while in Rome.  Anyway, Elise and Michael are crazy enough to stay in Rome all night to be in line for the Beatification mass.  I decided that staying up all night in the cold for another papal event didn't really interest me.  So now I'm back on campus and I'll try and finish some homework tonight. Wish me luck.  Finals are approaching and I still have no motivation to work.

Side note: we're currently involved in a prank war, and we're losing. Tonight when we got back from dinner, we found ourselves locked out of our room.  When we got in, the whole place stank like cat food. Turns out, they had filled a box with tuna and left it under our bed.  Earlier in the week, they had taped all of our makeup and hair stuff to the ceiling of the room and covered most surfaces with sprinkles and shaving cream.  I guess they got us back for stealing all their clothes and hiding them in trash bags in various locations in the dorm. 
However, boys are stupid. And I hate the smell of fish.

Elise and I in the gardens.

Roma: Reading is Optional, Class Attendance is Not

SO just for the sake of memories way down the line, I'm going to go into painstaking detail in describing an average day. Average meaning: no traveling involved.  Except from the dorm room to the classroom to the mensa.

As most of you probably know, I'm rooming with Paige and Elise again this semester.  We're living in a room about the size of the single room I had last semester.  With only two desks, and about 120 books for classes.  We're all morning people. So we normally get up around 6, but Paige is up even earlier.  This is prime homework time.  Except on Tuesdays and Thursdays (classes start later), when I go to the pathetic excuse for a gym on campus and attempt to ward off the pasta weight. The mensa (cafeteria) opens for breakfast at 7.  Its always the same: slices of white bread, cheese, ham, two types of cereal, and croissants.  Which is fine with me. 

On "A" days, we have Lit Trad, Art and Arch, and Phil of Man.  Classes start at 8 AM and go until 1 PM.  We get 15 minutes between classes.  But lets be honest, by the end of the last class, no one is even listening any more.  But it's Art and Arch which is the only class I've currently got an A in.... So lesson learned: stop caring and you'll do fine :).  We also have "A*" days, which means that the Art and Arch class is on site somewhere in Rome, like the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Borghese Gallery, etc. However, on these trips we have to be in our big group of 105, so we always look like tourists, which is something I hate.  But it's a great excuse to go into Rome, and we've seen a lot of cool things.  On "B" days, we have Theology and History, and classes don't start until 10.  However, breakfast is still at 7, so if you want to eat before lunch at 1, then you have to get up anyway.  There's something about the classes at 11:30... they just go on forever. Our class attendance in mandatory; we are only allowed one absence before they drop us from the course. Which blows.  Anyway, we have two classrooms on campus, one called the Aula Magna (also used for Sunday Mass and Monday night Meeting), and the Aula Minore (which is located in the basement of the dorm; it's always really warm in that room, so combined with uninteresting philosophical material, it makes for some great naps).

On days we don't have Art and Arch field trips, we have the rest of the day off. Except on Mondays, when we have the mandatory Monday Night Meeting, where the dean tells us what we're doing for the week and people make various announcements about upcoming activities and such. Dinner is always at 7.  And it's always pasta.  With vegetables soaked in oil. Delicious??.....  We spend the rest of the nights doing homework.  "homework".  This semester, there's really not enough hours in the day to do all the work.  The first thing to go was reading for Art and Arch.  Then philosophy reading stopped happening.  And then Theology turned into more of a glancing over.  And then West Civ reading got delayed for five weeks.  The only thing I've consistently done the work for is Comedy/Tragedy.  Our strategy for the semester: divide and conquer.  I do about 1/4 of the work necessary, as do Elise, Paige, and Renee.  It's great to have wonderful roommates who will share their notes.  Finals are going to be a special kind of nightmare.  At least I've relaxed my perfectionist standards.

So now that the general schedule of the week is layed out, here's what we like to do in our free time:
Elise and I walk to the Dem (local supermarket) and count how many times we get honked at.  Our record was 10, with one guy enthusiastically blowing us kisses.  Italians are very forward.
Also, we like to put on heels and do jumping jacks in the room to piss off the boys below us (Andrew and Nick).  This is loads of fun, until Andrew gets pissed enough to start throwing oranges at our window.  So, if the window is not all the way shut, it tends to get in and explode over everything.
NOTE: we just played this game, except instead of running around in heels we were banging drawers on the floor.  about fifteen seconds later the oranges start hitting the window.  And then explode.  So our window is now coated in pulp.  Thanks, boys.
We spend most of our free time planning our next trips and looking up things to do in Rome.

And that's what an average day is like in Rome.

Time for an Art and Arch trip to Baroque churches!  This weekend we're staying in Roma for the beatification of Pope John Paul II.  Except I'm sick of large crowds of people, so I might not go. Haven't decided yet.

I miss my Chi...

As the end of the semester approaches, one of the most common questions I hear: "What do you miss most from back home?"  Well most people give the standard answers: family, friends, Tex Mex, etc.  But what I really miss is my straightener.  Four months of big hair is getting a little obnoxious.  Granted, I did acquire a European flat iron to use over here, but lets be honest: it sucks.  So in about five weeks, my hair will be back up to its normal standard of awesomeness.  I'm also looking forward to getting back in shape.  I can barely run three miles any more.  Sad days!

I can't believe we've only got two more weeks of classes, and then a week of finals.  The semester has literally flown by.  But it's been really nice being in Rome this past week.  On Wednesday, we took an Art and Arch trip up to the Borghese Museum.  It was an area of Rome I hadn't been to before, and it's now probably one of my favorites.  It's got a huge park to hang out in, and it's not touristy.  Jackpot.  So that's where I'll be "studying" for my finals. 

We didn't have classes on Thursday or Friday, because it's Holy Week. So on Thursday, Michael, Ellie, Elise and I decided to be really ambitious and visit 15 churches.  I think we only made it to about 9 of them.  Note: If you're ever in Rome, I recommend visiting Trastevere.  It's a really neat area and the food is delicious. And cheap.  A broke student's dream.  We went to Mass at Santa Maria Maggiore and then visited seven different churches that were in Repose to gain a plenary indulgence.  It was the first time I've been in Rome at night and it was awesome.  There were so many young Catholics walking from church to church.  It's nice to see that kind of commitment.

On Friday we went to the service at Santa Croce de Gerusalemme.  They have pieces of the True Cross there.  And it was amazing to get to see it on Good Friday.

Today: almost all of campus left to go get in line for the Easter Vigil about 9 hours ahead of time.  I decided I didn't want to stand in line for so long.  So I stayed behind and am trying to get caught up on homework.  I've already written two papers today.  And it's not even 4 yet.

Tomorrow I'm going to the Easter Sunday mass at the Vatican with the Pope. We're leaving in the early hours of the morning, but hopefully we'll get decent seats again.  Ideally it won't rain on us, but it's looking a little cloudy.

So for all those concerned: I have yet again increased my Italian vocabulary.  It now consists of about 10 words and three phrases.  One of which I can use to tell creepy old gentlemen to leave me alone. Wish I would have known all of this in Florence...

Staying in Rome = More Shoe Options.

That's right, everyone.  Because when you're living out of a backpack, you can only bring two pairs of shoes tops.  Half the time, you're wearing the same pair all weekend.  And that's just not okay.  So one of the perks of not traveling this weekend was having my whole shoe collection within grasp.  :) :) :) :) :)

So here are some highlights from a full week of classes. (We even had class on Friday... what's that about??).  We had a Theology exam on Thursday, which was very European style because the professor is Irish. Which essentially means that she won't tell you whats on the test, because you better prepare yourself if you're left in the dark.  That's all fine and dandy, but when you haven't done the reading all semester, it'd be really nice to know what information you need to cram into your brain for 2 hours and then promptly forget.
**Of course, I am the epitome of a responsible student, and have done every single assignment that has been thrown my way.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.  Anecdote: We have an Art and Architecture quiz on Monday and the professor addresses all 100 of us and asks if anyone has done the reading.  Not a single hand went into the air.  Welcome to the Rome Semester, where GPAs suffer, but at least we'll have excellent stories about all the cool stuff we did when we should have been studying.

So, this weekend my old high school friend Kenny was in town.  (He's in Spain for the semester and is spending a week in Italy. So he came to visit me in Rome, and he'll be heading up to Florence to see another girl from high school). Anyway, nn Friday, Renee, Paige, Elise, and I were on a shoe-buying mission.  I restrained myself, and only ended up with a much needed new pair of sunglasses.  I've decided I should start saving my money for the England/Ireland/Scotland leg of my trip because it's more expensive over there.  And after wandering around the main street of Rome, we headed over to the Colosseum where we met up with Kenny and Lindsay (both OU students studying in Spain) and went out to dinner.  We went to the pizza restaurant that was recommended to us by Monsignor.  And it was delicious.  AND even better, we made the last metro of the night to Anagnina, so we didn't have to take the sketchy night bus. SCORE!

Saturday... Elise and I left campus around 8:30 and headed to the Vatican to meet up with Kenny and Lindsay again.  The line to get in was RIDICULOUS. It wrapped allllll the way around the square, and just kept getting longer. So they decided not to go in, and so we took them to Old Bridge (the UD gelato spot).  [Note: the Ricotta and Cinnamon gelato is delicious. I know it sounds gross, but it's amazing].  Then we walked along the Tiber to the Orange Garden and the Knights of Malta keyhole.  Both spots offered really great views of the city (especially the Vatican) and are off the beaten path of tourists.  Which is great, because at the moment, Rome is absolutely hopping with them because of Holy Week and the beatification.  After that, we went to Santa Maria della Consedin, and saw the Bocca della Verita (from Roman Holiday), and then went into the church.  Which just happened to house the skull of St. Valentine, AND the crypt of Hadrian (the first crypt in Rome!).  Afterwards, we went out to Piazza del Popolo and then Elise and I headed back to campus to get started on all that homework we've been ignoring.  :)

Tomorrow we're getting up at 5 AM to go to Palm Sunday mass at St. Peter's.  We have tickets, but hopefully we actually get a seat!

Piazza del Popolo with Kenny!

Dear Italy, Get Out of My Personal Bubble.

I have successfully survived the last class trip of the semester.  Which means I'm pretty much done traveling until the end of the semester when Elise and I take our grand tour of the UK (assuming I decide against going to Norway over Easter).  Living out of a backpack is super annoying. 

So these past five days found us in Florence and Venice.  The weather was absolutely beautiful, so two goals were accomplished.  1) I succeeded in not wearing pants the entire trip and 2) I got a tan.  Goodbye pasty white skin!  So we got to Florence on Wednesday, took a tour of the city, and then went to the Uffizi Art Gallery.  It was a lot of paintings, which would have been cool if I was into Renaissance art.  But I'm not, so I based the paper I had to write over the experience on the painting with the most amusing title that was in the closest proximity.  On Thursday, I went to the Museo Galileo, and saw a whole bunch of old school math and physics pieces of equipment.  And it reminded me of being back at the UD campus in Irving.  Because we're just that primitive.  In the afternoon, we went to the Academia and saw Michelangelo's David.  Who is massssssive.  And also the highlight of Florence?  Because every tourist shop had like 100 novelty items featuring depictions of only his junk.

Also in Florence: the leather market.  Where vendors were getting a little too friendly.  And by a little, I mean I was about ready to stab the next person who touched me.  First incident: some vendor walks up to me and gives me a hug, and then tells me, "I've got a free jacket for you, Lady Gaga" and then tries to lead me away.  1) I hate it when strangers touch me and 2) WHAT THE HELL, DO I LOOK LIKE LADY GAGA? SHE'S A HERMAPHRODITE.  GRRRRRR.  Second incident:  I was walking along with Elise, Renee, and Brad, and another creepy vendor congratulates Brad on having three girlfriends and then says that I've got sexy legs and he touches my face in a creepy way.  Needless to stay, I hauled butt outta there, and did not purchase any leather. 

Also having occurred in Florence: wandering around for an hour trying to find the right Irish pub we were supposed to meet a Professor at.  It failed.  We ended up at some place called The Fish Pub with about 100 Parisian teenagers.  Who probably really regretted going after one of our group members projectile vomited on them. 

Venice was again nice weather.  Highlights: water taxis and I went to the Guggenheim.  Modern art... I just don't get it.  Maybe if they were handing out LSD at the entrance or something it would have made more sense.  But I was completely sober, and didn't understand how eight gray boxes were supposed to represent two figures dancing.  I don't even understand artists.  Not at all.  But it was still fun.

And then last night we went to another bar after wandering around for an hour (I'm seeing a pattern) and ended up at a place were the bartender ineptly sprayed us with a drink he was mixing with a little to much zeal.  Upside: he felt so bad about it we scored free drinks.  So that saved some money, which will now be used to pay my first write up fine of the semester.  We got caught eating on the bus (which is a big no-no), because we were laughing at a gummy bear heart that had the word "shatz" on it.  Only Europeans would put past tense profanity on their candy.  Anyway, that's 10 euros down the drain.

No traveling for me this weekend, but Kenny (from High school) is coming into town and we'll hopefully get to have some adventures!
Ciao!

We're going to Art History Hell...

Well the first thing I learned in France is that I am terrible at French.  Pointing and smiling was definitely the best manner of communication, and I successfully avoided butchering too many words.  America is a big FAIL at teaching kids foreign languages.  And I feel really inept when I'm in Europe where everyone knows at least three fluently.

We (Amanda, Leah, Renee, and I) left for Paris on Thursday night. Our Ryanair flight was about an hour late, so we didn't get to the hear the trumpet salute as we landed.  Then we had to take an hour and a half shuttle from the airport to the center of Paris.  And then get on a metro.  And then walk for half an hour.  But we made it to the hotel before 1 AM.  Success.  (And yes, you did read correctly: that says HOTEL, not HOSTEL, we were living like big dogs in Paris.  Community bathrooms are so last week).


Friday we got up kind of late and decided to dedicate most of the day to shopping.  I mean, Paris is the fashion capital of the world, right?  WARNING: For those Americans that are concerned, there is a horrendous trend that's over here at the moment and that will probably migrate to the States.  Its floral print dropped crotch balloon pants that are tight around the ankles.  It's so ugly and it makes me want to stab my eye.  But in about two years, I'll probably be doing it too.  (although I sincerely hope that one doesn't cross the Atlantic).  So I'll skip the gory details about shopping, and just note that my debit card didn't take too much of a beating.  We then wandered past Notre Dame and towards the Louvre.  The Louvre has extended hours on Friday so we were there from 5-8.  And what happened next is going to send us to Art History Hell.  Long story short: I'm surprised we weren't escorted off the premises for taking ridiculous photos of major works of art.

Also, despite what everyone says, the Mona Lisa is worth seeing, and its not THAT small.

Then we walked from the Louvre to the Eiffel tower to see it at night.  And it's really beautiful.  And along the way, we stopped for our third crepes of the day.  Paris has the best pastries in Europe, and I feel qualified in saying that after spending my Spring Break in Vienna, Krakow, Prague, and Munich.  SOOOOO GOOOOOOOD.

On Saturday, we went to take photos with the Eiffel Tower in the daylight, and then we went to the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe.  Both of which were pretty sweet.  Highlight: going inside the 4 story Louis Vuitton store.  (Dear Dad, please? Love, Your Favoritest Daughter Ever). We also walked upon a movie getting filmed. I think it was French. Anyway, in the scene they were doing, this 20 something year old girl in a red dress was making out with some old guy. Let's hope she got paid well, because they did like 8 or 9 takes.  And then we went to see Catherine Laboure (the incorrupt saint) and Shakespeare and Company bookstore.  We finished the day with mass at Notre Dame and then went and got more crepes for dinner.  We had to get up at 4 this morning to catch our flight, but now we're back on campus and ready to write our West Civ papers (er...)

On Wednesday, I leave for a five day class trip to Venice and Florence.  Looks like a legitimate pair of Italian leather heels are in my future.... :-D

I'm sorry I have the maturity level of a five year old.

Girls weekend in Paris :)