This past weekend the school hosted a trip down to Ischia, Capri, and Pompeii, and it was amazing! We lucked out with the weather as it was sunny and warm the whole time (I guess Perugia got some rain though).
On Friday we took a bus down to Pompeii and walked around the city that once was. It was just mind boggling how an entire city could still just be there after so many years of having no inhabitants. A lot of the house and buildings had collapsed or were just frames at this point but it was incredible to see some still standing. As you walked down the streets you were almost transported back in time, just seeing many people walking the streets gave you this incredible idea that the city was still alive.
On Saturday we went to the Island of Capri; my roommates and I explored this place called Villa Jovis, which belonged to Emperor Tiberius. It would have been nice to get a few more descriptions of what the rooms were besides a generic map, but it was still impressive. The whole house was huge and the size of most of the rooms was incredible. At lunch we tried this thing called a Lemoncello which is a drink that is popular on the island...we all thought it was gross haha!
Both nights we stayed on the Island of Ischia and it was absolutely gorgeous there. On the second night my roommate and I went into the water with a few other people and it was so warm. The others were complaining that it was cold, but being used to the Atlantic, the Tyrrhenian Sea was just perfect in comparison. We were glad we waited to swim at Ischia instead of Capri because Ischia has sandy beaches, where as Capri is covered in rocks!
I tried eating swordfish on this trip, having never tried it before I thought it was good but a lot of people claimed it was over cooked. We also had a rum cake that needs to lay off the bottle, it was like they drowned a defenseless sponge in rum and called it cake.
On Sunday we took a bus tour of Ischia and learned about the hot springs and the giant who is the reason for naming most of the towns (mythology right haha). I found this staircase at one of the beaches so naturally I followed it out of curiosity, and found a really sketchy abandoned house. Pictures were taken of course because you can't just find something abandoned and just not take a picture haha.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
The Internship
One of the main reasons why I chose to study at the Umbra Institute in Perugia was because they offered an internship in my field of study. To get it you had to sign up showing interest in the course and fill out a small application. The most stressful part of it was waiting until I showed up to find out if I got it or not since they were only accepting four people and I guess quite a few applied.
Well I got it!
It's got a seminar portion to it in which we learn about museums in general and our museum in relation to Italian History so it looks like it'll be a lot of fun. We also get to learn how to use WordPress which is a website design software found online to make your own website, so that will certainly come in handy for the future. The professor also said that we can do personal projects there too and gave a few ideas that they had. One was looking through World War 1 documents as we are in the 100th anniversary of it this year, and making a database for it. Another was creating a program for school kids to enjoy when they come to visit. Both sound wicked cool and peak my interests so I can't wait to see how this plays out.
Well I got it!
It's got a seminar portion to it in which we learn about museums in general and our museum in relation to Italian History so it looks like it'll be a lot of fun. We also get to learn how to use WordPress which is a website design software found online to make your own website, so that will certainly come in handy for the future. The professor also said that we can do personal projects there too and gave a few ideas that they had. One was looking through World War 1 documents as we are in the 100th anniversary of it this year, and making a database for it. Another was creating a program for school kids to enjoy when they come to visit. Both sound wicked cool and peak my interests so I can't wait to see how this plays out.
Monday, September 8, 2014
First Day of Classes
So today was the first day of classes aside from just Italian language and it's looking like it'll be a fun and challenging semester. Two of my classes are mainly Art history based but they seemed pretty interesting. The one I'm looking forward is my Archaeology class, we get to do a lot of museum visits and a project for one so it really peaked my interest. It's my last class of the day and it made me wicked excited to be back in school again. I definitely picked the right major in life if just defining it puts a smile on my face.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
City Vintage Weekend
This weekend has been amazing! They had a fair in one of the city gardens and it was themed for the 40's, 50's and 60's. You could buy clothing and jewelry from the time period and it was amazing stepping back into that fashion style.
They also had a dance show Friday night it featured different dance types from the time period like Rock 'n Roll, Boogie Boogie, and Burlesque. Then Saturday and Sunday they gave free dance lessons in the style of Boogie Boogie and a little Rock 'n Roll. We had to switch partners a few times so I had a total of fours partners over the two days. We used the second dance from the Saturday and they just retaught it today so I already knew it. I had the same partner two days in a row too, it was fun because he knew English (made talking easier), and he knew I had danced before so it was really fun getting to dance with him.
I might sign up for lessons because the style was a lot of fun! Today definitely one of my best days. I did spend the morning watching How I Met Your Mother, but getting to dance again and with people who like to dance as well was amazing. Actually dancing today was certainly my favorite day so far. Next weekend I get to go to Pompeii and Capri but I'm not sure if that trip will surpass how I felt today. I hope I have more adventures like it in the future, but only time will tell.
They also had a dance show Friday night it featured different dance types from the time period like Rock 'n Roll, Boogie Boogie, and Burlesque. Then Saturday and Sunday they gave free dance lessons in the style of Boogie Boogie and a little Rock 'n Roll. We had to switch partners a few times so I had a total of fours partners over the two days. We used the second dance from the Saturday and they just retaught it today so I already knew it. I had the same partner two days in a row too, it was fun because he knew English (made talking easier), and he knew I had danced before so it was really fun getting to dance with him.
I might sign up for lessons because the style was a lot of fun! Today definitely one of my best days. I did spend the morning watching How I Met Your Mother, but getting to dance again and with people who like to dance as well was amazing. Actually dancing today was certainly my favorite day so far. Next weekend I get to go to Pompeii and Capri but I'm not sure if that trip will surpass how I felt today. I hope I have more adventures like it in the future, but only time will tell.
Friday, September 5, 2014
Differences
The Biggest difference I've noticed so far between America and Italy.
1) The trees (see post one)
2) The stairs - The are very far apart and short, it just doesn't make sense to me! American stairs seem more proportional and seem better for walking up. I feel like I have to take smaller steps and it's weird.
3) Beverages - In Italy the drinking age is 18, and that includes drinking outside, in public. In America this is illegal to do seeing people drink during the day has definitely been a new daily sight.
4) Peanut Butter - THEY DON'T HAVE IT!
5) The WiFi - It's awful compared to America, in order to get it I need to be in the school or my kitchen table, or the closet space before my bedroom.
6) Breakfast - It's really hard to find breakfast items in a grocery store here, and coming off a summer of full breakfasts of coffee cake, that's been a hard transition!
1) The trees (see post one)
2) The stairs - The are very far apart and short, it just doesn't make sense to me! American stairs seem more proportional and seem better for walking up. I feel like I have to take smaller steps and it's weird.
3) Beverages - In Italy the drinking age is 18, and that includes drinking outside, in public. In America this is illegal to do seeing people drink during the day has definitely been a new daily sight.
4) Peanut Butter - THEY DON'T HAVE IT!
5) The WiFi - It's awful compared to America, in order to get it I need to be in the school or my kitchen table, or the closet space before my bedroom.
6) Breakfast - It's really hard to find breakfast items in a grocery store here, and coming off a summer of full breakfasts of coffee cake, that's been a hard transition!
The First Week
So I forgot my journal at home, and I honestly don't see myself posting to Facebook often, so I figured to write everything down I'd start a blog for the next four months. I've already been here a week and what a week it has been, for this post I'll give a quick synopsis of each day and everything different between here and America.
Friday:
When I first stepped off the plane I noticed the trees, they weren't like the trees back home. Here the trees almost seem manicured, like they grow and only have leaves on top. Either that or they seem to have grown stuck in one of those tree wrappings you seem at Christmas time so that you can bring your tree home without the branches flying everywhere. The first night we stayed in the Hotel Gio and apparently some guy was staying in the room my roommates and I were supposed to, so we each got singles.
Saturday:
Moving into the apartment was something that started to make it all seem real, I guess we got an apartment so nice it's used for professors in the off season. Its got two bedrooms (mine has a view that stretches as far as a clear day on top of Mountain), our bathroom has a tub and our kitchen gives us a nice view of a chapel and the University of Foreigners. Aside from the apartment it was really all orientation for the next few days.
Monday:
Hey this was my birthday! It started off our week of Intensive Italian, which for me meant learning Italian as if I was in English class meant for a second grader. In the afternoons we did Survival Italian which meant, learning about grocery stores, transportation systems, all that good stuff. For dinner I got to go out with the CISabroad group and we went to this Medieval Restaurant, it was pretty cool they had a hole in the ground that seemed to stretch for miles.
Tuesday:
The librarian took me out to breakfast for my birthday. We went to a cafe and I order a what's called a cornetto and it was filled with honey, she got a candle put on it and sang happy birthday. She suggested I talk to some people on staff about Scouting and Dance in Perugia, so that is now in the works! Italy doesn't have Netflix by the way, but that night, I got American Netflix in my apartment! How? It's a a little trick that my best friend in college taught me and I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.
Not much else happened this week, my roommates and I explored the city a bit and I started thinking of Fall break plans. It should be an interesting semester, I'll be sure to keep you all posted!
Friday:
When I first stepped off the plane I noticed the trees, they weren't like the trees back home. Here the trees almost seem manicured, like they grow and only have leaves on top. Either that or they seem to have grown stuck in one of those tree wrappings you seem at Christmas time so that you can bring your tree home without the branches flying everywhere. The first night we stayed in the Hotel Gio and apparently some guy was staying in the room my roommates and I were supposed to, so we each got singles.
Saturday:
Moving into the apartment was something that started to make it all seem real, I guess we got an apartment so nice it's used for professors in the off season. Its got two bedrooms (mine has a view that stretches as far as a clear day on top of Mountain), our bathroom has a tub and our kitchen gives us a nice view of a chapel and the University of Foreigners. Aside from the apartment it was really all orientation for the next few days.
Monday:
Hey this was my birthday! It started off our week of Intensive Italian, which for me meant learning Italian as if I was in English class meant for a second grader. In the afternoons we did Survival Italian which meant, learning about grocery stores, transportation systems, all that good stuff. For dinner I got to go out with the CISabroad group and we went to this Medieval Restaurant, it was pretty cool they had a hole in the ground that seemed to stretch for miles.
Tuesday:
The librarian took me out to breakfast for my birthday. We went to a cafe and I order a what's called a cornetto and it was filled with honey, she got a candle put on it and sang happy birthday. She suggested I talk to some people on staff about Scouting and Dance in Perugia, so that is now in the works! Italy doesn't have Netflix by the way, but that night, I got American Netflix in my apartment! How? It's a a little trick that my best friend in college taught me and I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.
Not much else happened this week, my roommates and I explored the city a bit and I started thinking of Fall break plans. It should be an interesting semester, I'll be sure to keep you all posted!
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