February 1st marked the start of my first full calendar month away from home and outside the United States. It’s easy to forget that I’m in a foreign country until I step outside and no one is speaking English. School is still uneventful and tiresome. I very much enjoy the first teacher, as she explains grammar concepts very well, and with some English if we need it. The second teacher knows hardly any English and only explains things in Italian. While being immersed in a language is the best way to learn it, no one learns to swim by being thrown in the deep end while someone shouts instructions from the lifeguard stand. That’s what it feels like anyway.

This afternoon, I researched a lot on the ski trip to Interlaken that we’re planning in a few weeks. I’m getting really pumped about hitting the slopes at Jungfrau

Tuesday was one of the best days I’ve had since I’ve gotten here. Class was nothing to sneeze at, although I’m still blowing my nose like it’s my job. After class, we went to the academic gallery and saw the original Statue of David in all his Apollo-esque glory.

The highlight of my day came afterwards though, when I walked with some friends up to Piazza di Michelangelo, a square up on a hill at the northwest corner of Firenze, overlooking the city. It was the most beautiful sight that I’ve seen since being in the duomo. Words and not even pictures can truly describe the view.

 

 The next day, we took another bus trip to a winery near Sienna. The wine tasting definitely was the highlight of the day. We sampled four different wines while we were there, and my table got seconds. The bus ride back was loud…and then quiet.

Thursday saw much rain and cloudiness to cover Firenze, and the extra two hours of class did not help anyone’s mood. Friday was our last day of class. I went to the first session with Constanza to review for our final. That evening we signed forms in preparation for going to Roma, and received a map, more housing info and a bus ticket.

Saturday was one of the longest days I’ve had thus far. I was up early at the usual time to eat breakfast, pack the last few things, and check out of my room. I then headed over to the school early so I could do some extra study for the final. The test itself was very straightforward and I feel confident that I did well.

Kids slowly drifted back to the hotel with food, preparing to leave on one of four buses, departing at fifteen minute intervals. Last night we learned our bus assignments, made in accordance with our housing. I grabbed lunch at a kebob place down the street from our hotel, and enjoyed my last meal in Firenze. The bus ride to Rome turned into the most successful bus nap I’ve had in a while. We parked on the southwestern outskirts of the city, where AIFS coordinators had taxis coming in at a relatively constant flow rate, each designated to take us to our various apartments.

The five of us finally got our taxis and got to our apartment, and it was absolutely the coolest flat I have ever seen. We have two large common areas, a kitchen, and three bedrooms. The walkthrough of our apartment is as follows (skip to the next paragraph if you don’t want to read this): there is a dining room area as the first room when you enter; on the opposing corner, you walk down the hallway, there is a bathroom with a tub and a washing machine on the right, then the kitchen on the right, two steps down the large living room on the left; straight ahead is one of the double bedrooms, and to the right, through the kitchen and left, is the single bedroom; right and into the living room, you walk across the room, and there is a very narrow, very steep, concrete spiral staircase; down just a few steps is a bathroom that redefines the word tiny; the whole room is a small shower, with a sink and toilet included; up the stairs is another double bedroom.

 Through an almost hour-long discussion process that is hardly worth repeating, I got the single room. The five of us unpacked and moved in, something I have been looking forward to for almost three weeks. We then walked down to a local supermarket to buy some groceries – a convenient five-minute trot from our flat. After stocking up, we then tap-danced around each other in the kitchen, fixing our pastas, salads and sandwiches before sitting around our dining room table, eating together as flat-mates for the first and most likely last time.

 After dinner I grabbed a map and plotted a surprisingly short route to the Vatican. Standing in front of St. Peter’s Basilica was one of the most humbling and awe inspiring experiences of my Catholic life. I absolutely cannot wait to go back (as I will many times in the next three months) and even go inside, and assist at Holy Mass there.

 On a side note, “when in Rome” has quickly become the most overused phrase in our group …

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