A Welcome Note: On Filling the Gaps

Dear Friends and Family:

Although I haven't added any posts since the summer of 2007, this blog continues to be a warehouse of my thoughts and experiences from my time abroad.

Andrew

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Back in Rome

Monday, March 5, 2007: My first day back in school was difficult to endure. I wasn’t quite thrilled with how I had done on my exams and moreover really just didn’t want to be there; I felt that I could learn so much about the world by just traveling, and that despite my art history on-sites (which were amusing and insightful) I was wasting my time. That night was fun however and gave me the opportunity to hear about some of my other friends’ trips. Nati, Jenny’s friend from Penn was in for the week and the two of them had reserved a hotel room for the evening and invited a bunch of us to party there for the night.

Tuesday, March 6, 2007: This morning I woke up early to meet Jenny and Nati at the Vatican. We covered the museum (and managed to see the Sistine Chapel about 3 times since we kept getting lost on the way to the Raphael Rooms. I hadn’t been since the summer before so it was really wonderful to see the collection for a second time. It is really an incredible display. After finally seeing the School of Athens, the three of us decided to climb to the top of the Vatican and enjoy views from the highest point in Rome. I was especially excited to scale the steps as it was my first time, though my decision to wear a puffy, fur-lined winter coat and lug up my 35 millimeter SLR, didn’t make climbing the dome the most enjoyable activity in the world. After the Vatican, I parted ways with Nati and Jenny and brought my digital to Sabbatini, the sleek camera store with which I had become quite familiar. Unfortunately, they only repair reflex cameras there, so I would have to try with Cannon. While I was there, I purchased a red filter for my photo class. That night, I ate dinner at home as usual, though another one of Elena’s friends came over, and despite Marina’s hesitation, I received somewhat of an education in indecent Romanesque.

Wednesday, March 7, 2007: Against the wishes of Paulo, my art history professor, we were required to meet at 9AM sharp on-site at Campidoglio since there were a few alumni from the Temple Program who had signed up to go as well. Of course, they were the only one’s who arrived late. Although we were let out early from the lecture, I forgot to bring my camera and didn’t realize until I arrived at school for photography class, I had to go all the way home and ended up wasting the whole day on the bus. The six rides I took that day equaled about 4 hours sitting on the 628 bus. Dinner was ready when I arrived home and I lucked out in that only a few raindrops fell here and there, despite the generally miserably foreboding, overcast sky. That evening I researched where the Canon office was located and later that night, after having spent a good deal of time thinking about what I want to do with my life and coming up with very little, Elena and I a discussion in which she made me promise not to be a lawyer (the concept of law in Italy is not quite the same as in the U.S. however). Elena also booked me a haircut with Hadriano, her trusted stylist and former pupil of Paul Mitchel for the next day at 1pm.

Thursday, March 8, 2007: This morning was devoted to Hadriano. His shop, Harumi, was located right at the Cipro metro, so it was very convenient and his entire staff was extremely friendly. I was surprised at the age of most of the guys working there. Most of them were around 19-20 years old and had just finished school. They seemed to be quite fascinated with my “cappelli come un nero” or “hair like a black person.” After Hadriano, I made a mad dash across three bus lines and the metro to drop off my camera and make it back to class before 4pm. Luckily, we were just watching a movie and my professor wasn’t even in the classroom when I walked in about 20 minutes late.
Thanks for visitng!