GL 350 week 1

 I'm blogging and it's the 25th of Oct. so that means I have made it five days here in Rome. No getting lost or kidnapped or any other of the things that happen in movies like Taken. I call that a SUCCESS. Well maybe I got a little lost a couple times but being lost in Rome isn't exactly the end of the world. Actually it's more of the complete opposite,it's like an adventure which so far has led to shopping, seeing different sights and cute balconies covered in vines and flowers, and eating gelato. See I told you, definitely not the end of the world; more like a whole new better world.

In his book Barzini writes about the nature and beauty that is Rome.What he writes I can't help but agree with and nod my head along. Just the train ride into Rome looking out the window is at most times gorgeous. Seeing rolling hills with century year old trees growing and the sun shining is like something out of a picture it almost makes me think that this can't be real life. In fact the first day I was pretty positive this wasn't real life until we walked out of the subway station and there was the Coliseum. Like that really isn't something the average person sees everyday, but honestly it isn't even the big ruins and sites that make me think this isn't real life, it's the crowded streets with tiny cars lining the way, and cats and dogs wandering the market streets. Basically it's this everday Italian life that I can't comprehend is real and that I'm actually here.

There are some aspects of this Rome experience I do realize are real life. For example I comprehend that I can't comprehend anything anyone is saying to me. My greeting, goodbye, and answer to everything right now is "Ciao." Hopefully this changes soon because I'm pretty sure I can't survive on just one word for 8 weeks. Another aspect of Rome I realize as real life is dinner time. Dinner time was and still is a important time in my family and having dinner here together is like having dinner at home, it's nice.

Obviously everything I have been talking about is real life but it just hasn't hit me yet. This weekend I'm headed to Spain and I'm sure during the whole weekend I'll have my camera glued to my hand and it will be another experienceof me thinking there is no way this is real life. I'm so excited for everything that is coming and can't wait to keep taking pictures, using my map, and seeing the world that is Rome.