FDOC

8/19/2021

Today was cool, I went grocery shopping alone for the first time. It’s a short walk, and not nearly as scary as I thought it would be. Also went to a shopping store named OVS, the Italian (and cheaper) version of a cross between Forever 21 and H&M. Its literally the first day of class and I was over an hour late. Ya girl thought it was on Zoom and I found out right at 4 that it was in person. And the CIEE Center is a whole hike... not exactly in my favor when I'm running late. So I ended up taking the tram and arriving around 5:15, embarrassed but eager to learn. I think I’m gonna like this class the most because it covers history, politics and religion. The name of the class is A City within a City: The Vatican and Rome. The professor is very witty and knowledgeable, and learning about different religions is very interesting for me, especially because I have been in the church since I was a child. It's different being back in the classroom listening to lectures, especially because they are three hours long. I also love how each class has different visits to on site locations, so I am not just stuck in a classroom during the week. Don't get me wrong CIEE is beautiful... it was actually an old palace, and each classroom is so eloquently decorated, it is a historical site in itself.

My flatmates and I walked back home from CIEE, and the walk was long and hot, but overall not as bad as I thought it would be. The walk was quiet in terms of conversation, but clamorous in background noise. Hearing the trams, buses and cars zoom by was somewhat soothing as I walked past many statues that I knew no meaning behind. I snapped a few pictures on my first walk home, and I'll let them tell the rest.

A classroom that was originally a wealthy man's bedroom. His bed sat under this (original) work of art.

One of the biggest classrooms where we held our orientation.

Lounge area for students. Even the common areas are beautiful! 🤩

Took a picture break while crossing the Fiume Tevere (Tiber River) into the Trastevere (Across the river) neighborhood.

A beautiful staircase in Trastevere.

Carabinieri, or domestic police, riding through Trastevere on horses.