Grow old with me, and the BEST is yet to be...

Rome is Home.

It is 10.33 am and I am wide awake, sitting on my balcony on 41, Livio Tempesta in Rome, Italy, trying to accept reality. I have a love/hate relationship with Time. I want things to go fast in certain aspects of my life: during exams, commuting to and from work/school, and becoming 21. On the other hand, my time in Rome has gone by too fast for comfort. Of course I miss my family, friends, a dryer, screens, carpet, microwaves, a coffee pot, of course a cell phone.  However, livings without these so called “necessities” in America are a breeze. I have become such a Minimalist here that in the long scheme of things, all you need are good friends, a supportive family, and some wine from time to time.  I have grownup so much here in Italy: I have gained self-confidence, patience, and appreciation of the small everyday things.  I have gone to places where I would never dream I could go: Paris, London, Ponza, Santorini, Athens, Capri, Mt. Vesuvius, Sorrento, Pisa, Tuscany, Florence, and Amsterdam.  Each place is so unique and there is ALWAYS a story that goes along with our excursions.  I have met so many different people, ranging from all ages, all different background, and mixed genders .I have heard their life stories: triumphs, disappointments, struggles, and love.  I have appreciated the Italian culture ranging from their expensive currency, their passion to be “on time” (which of course is at least 10 minutes late), their fashion (how it can be 75 degrees out and the locals are still in pants and fur coats), their food (can you say CARBS?), drinks( Pinot Giorgio is 3 Euro daddies/bottle), and their “breaks” or siestas (which are conveniently on right when I get out of school, so everything is closed),   I have seen gypsies begging for money or food day in and day out in Trastevere,  helped an old Italian woman and called 119 as she slipped and fell on Eduardo Jenner, been bombarded by the Algerians trying to sell fake Louis Vittuon pursues, wallets, and Ray-Ban sunglasses, and still, I feel like Rome is Home.

Yes there are my  everyday struggles, which include trying to scavenge enough Euros for some bread (pane) and wine for dinner, the occasional purchase of a bus ticket on the A.T.A.C (although I totally abuse their public transportation to the max), stressing about final exams, and trying to communicate with all my friends via no cell phone.  Being in Rome has made me more reliable, more dependable, and more reliable as an individual.  I follow through with everything I say and do, and for that Rome, I thank you.  

Staying in Rome for this long has made me appreciate the hidden pathways, steps, views, parks, and statutes that are unnoticed to the typical tourist.  Yes I love the Vatican, Piazza Venezia and Via Del Corso with Zara and mouth-watering gelato, but my favorite places are the ones that I have been lost and found along the way.  As Arielle and I were relaxing, tanning, and studying for finals in the Borghese gardens this past weekend, we found out through the grapevine that there might be an earthquake that may tear Rome to the ground on May 11, 2011.  At first we laughed, and then we were sort of panicking…”What if it actually DOES happen?” As we were subconsciously thinking, a sudden tingle went down my spine: “Well I have loved, laughed, and cried, seen everything that I dreamed about and more, been blessed with fantastic friends and family, what more could I ask for? I have lived my life to the absolute fullest, counted my blessings, and treasured everyday like it was my last.” That was when I realized how much studying abroad has changed me.  But rather, how ROME has changed me for the better, and for that, Roma, ti amo.

Bliss.

Well as I am sitting here in the kitchen of our beautiful Rome apartment on Via Livio Tempesta, 44, it brings chills to my spine that I only have 3 weeks left.  Three weeks?!? My stomach has been churning ever since I realized this horrible realization.  With the semester coming to a close, school is getting more rigorous and more time-consuming, so I want to write down everything that I have been doing these past two weekends....
First off, two weekends ago Kelsey, Shaune, Maria, and I all went to the AUR field trip to Sorrento, Capri, and Pompeii.  To start out this weekend, Kelsey and I woke up at 5 am to make the two and a half mile trek to our school by 7 am. Of course we pulled our suitcases through cobblestones, cement, and steps all the way there.  We have gotten so used to the annoying sound of our suitcase wheels that we forget that it sounds like nails on a chalkboard.  Anyways, after our 4 hour bus ride, our first destination was Mt. Vesuvius, which killed approx. 20,000 humans living in Pompeii in the 9th century due to volcanic ash and toxic fumes.  Actually, a more startling fact is that its' last eruption was in the 1940's.  The hike was approximately 30 minutes straight uphill, but I did not mind in the last bit.  We were all talking with Stefano (who was our AUR Student Life Advisor) on the history of Mt. Vesuvius and the nearby cities of Napoli (Naples) and Pompeii.  He said that the biggest mistake people have made believed that Pompeii was destroyed by volcanic lava.  It was roughly six miles away from Mt. Vesuvius at that time, so there was no way lava would have buried the city underground.  After our long trek to up the mountain, we finally walked back down and got on the bus to go to our hotel.  Poor Maria...while she was vacationing in Morocco the weekend prior, foot became infected from the water. However, she did make it and we were all proud of her! When we arrived in Sorrento (which is the homeland for lemon cello), the first thing that Kelsey, Maria, and I did was go out and explore the city.  "Remember, while traveling, the road to success, its fun to get a little lost along the way. In fact, an explorer is someone who is ALWAYS lost." We decided to search for the best lemon cello out there, by going into small, family-owned shops.  Of course with Maria's sweet tooth, we end up in a gelato shop.  The lady working there offered us free shots of lemon cello and we could actually take home a FREE LEMON from her family-owned garden! No way 3 free LEMONS! We decided to eat them right then and there, forgetting that we have cuts on our dry lips from the sun and that lemons are super sour.  Well that did not stop us. We also found her family-owned lemon garden and started to peel the fruit like wild savages.  The locals just stopped, watched, and stared at Kelsey, Maria, and I trying to eat these huge lemons while crying because it hurt so bad.  Why did we proceed to do it? I ask myself that question every single day of my life.  After our lemon party, it was getting late, so we went back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner...on our way back we saw Sky Vodka for 10 Euro...10 EURO! WHY NOT?! There was no way around it: we had to see what Sorrento brought to the table and explore the nightlife.  After dinner and a little pre-game, we met up with our friends Billy from Missouri and Tony from University of Illinois. It was a blast!
The next day, we woke up feeling like a million bucks and proceeded to go on a 30 min stomach-churning ferry ride to Capri.  On my god, I felt like I was walking on a dream. The little island was full of gorgeous blue grottos, mountains, steep hills, baby blue clear water, lavishing and colorful fishing boats, yachts, speed boats, and sail boats. My jaw dropped to the floor at the sight of it all.  When we got off the yacht, we immediately got into three busses that took us to the base of a mountain. Our driver was a speed demon, who twisted and turned at every curve.  We all were screaming with fear at the thought of tipping or falling off the steep edges of the mountainside.  Lucky for us, we made it to the bottom of the mountain in one piece. We then proceed to take a chair lift to the top of the mountain.  Now I have been to the tops of mountains before, but never EVER in a cloud.  I was literally in a CLOUD! My ears were popping left and right and the altitude pressure got the best of me, but oh my god. What a rush. 
            After taking multiple pictures with my bests (Shaune, Maria, and Kels), we decided it was time to leave and go down the mountain and onto a private boat tour along the island.  Once we got down on the island, we met this man named Gerry who agreed to take us around the island of Capri for 20 Euro each. DEAL. Of course, we had to have a beverage (or road pop as Paul would call it) for the ride.  Kels and I purchased sparkling wine and immediately jumped on the boat.  I felt like I was a pirate, or better yet Johnny Deep.  During our excursion, we saw all different types of Grottos , the Gerber mansion, and where Jackie Kennedy resided with her Greek hubby.  Gerry then  proceed to go into the Blue Grotto (which  is usually 10 Euro extra) and told us to jump in and look at the bright orange coral.  Of course Kels and I (with a little liquid courage!) immediately jumped in the freezing cold water and started breast stroking towards the cave.  I have never felt so cold, yet so content in my entire life.  I thought I was Ariel (the mermaid!) all over again diving into the deep blue sea.  Gerry told us he would met us on the other side of the Grotto and before we knew it, was time to get back on and finish the tour.  I did not want to go, but jelly fish were inches away from my feet, so I had to book it!
            After our excursion, everyone was burnt, drunk, and exhausted.  It was defiantly time to go.  However, that day was one of the best days of my ENTIRE life.  I would constantly yell to Kelsey throughout the adventure “Kels is THIS REAL LIFE???!!?!” and she would always respond “YES SAV. THIS TOTALLY IS.” I have never felt so alive.  That day was pure bliss.