Well, I'm in a weird place. I don't mean physically, but emotionally. I've been using the past tense about my semester abroad, I never fully realized that would happen. I was so used to talking about it in the future or in the present, but not in the past.
My last night in Rome to say the least was incredibly memorable. Out with the majority of my friends one last night. I miss all of you so much already! Saying goodbye was one of the worst things in the world and now they are in the States. But we went all around the city and saw all of our favorite things. Rome really has become my home and I already miss it so much as well.
Venice is beautiful. Finding my hostel was a mess though. I had the directions, but one street didn't lead to the right street, which lead me asking directions, but those weren't right either. I was so exhausted because of hardly any sleep and lots of crying, so I ended up just taking a water taxi. It was much easier after that.
My hostel is really nice. I'm on the main island and pretty close to everything. However, I could never live or have studied in Venice, it's a mess trying to find your way around. The people in my hostel are really nice though. I went exploring with one girl yesterday from Germany, we had a good time. She spoke perfect English, I was so impressed.
Everyone eats breakfast and dinner together, which is really nice. There has been lots of good conversation and hearing about where everyone is from, where they are going, and how long they have been traveling is so interesting. One guy, who sat across from me at dinner, has been traveling so far for 10 months. He started in London and has been working his way around Europe. He's going to go to Istanbul, then up to Russia, Moscow, then into China, then he is going to Australia and then before heading back up north to Canada, he is going through South America. So he still has another year ahead of him. He's going to be traveling two whole years out of his backpack!! I was so amazed. I can't believe it. He put my 5 months of travel to shame!
Yesterday, I thought of Adri when I was walking around, because the pigeons here are crazy! I've never been scared of birds before, but these were intense and flying right next to me. Even landing on people. After spending a semester with Adri around a lot of birds I've somehow developed a fear of them too. Not as bad as Adri's though. haha.
My parents get here tomorrow. To say the least I am incredibly excited and anxious to see them. It will be so wonderful to be reunited again and spend lots of good quality time together.
I have my computer with me for now, which is nice. So I will update when I can. Five weeks until I'm home. I feel as those these five weeks, will be the most interesting ever. Full of uncertainty, excitement, anxiousness, loneliness, and happiness. Hopefully more happiness than anything else.
Love,
Katherine
Friday, April 30, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
7 weeks and a volcano
Life is always a funny thing when you look back at it. Things that happened last week feel like a year ago, but then memories from years ago feel like yesterday.
I have a film paper to write, but I'm listening to The National and can't help but write.
This volcano has everyone freaking out. People are really worried they won't be able to get home. I'm just worried my parents won't be able to get here. Good news is I still have some time before they are supposed to arrive. Please, everyone, cross your fingers.Volcano calm down!
In the meantime . . . assuming everything works out, I have successfully booked my trips for the summer. I can't wait to start. It was really difficult for me to get to Krakow, not sure why. At one point I was going to book a flight through Oslo or Stockholm to get there. Those places would have been awesome to see for sure. In the end though I had a top hit list of places I really wanted to visit. I decided it was better to not overwhelm myself and stick to a few countries and cities. I'm really happy with how it turned out. It was really important for me to get Krakow, so I made it work.
I start in Dublin, then go to Krakow, then go to Vienna, then to Berlin, then to Geneva and then back to Rome. I'm very excited!
I'm having a love affair with Rome. So I've decided I'm going to make a top 10 list of things I love while being here.
1. Villa Borghese. I can't get enough of this park. Every time I go it just makes me so happy. Granted there are a million couples making out everywhere, but I love being outside, seeing the trees, laying in the grass. It's become a great spot to journal.
2. Walking through the Monte Mario neighborhood. Especially the walk to calcio every Wednesday.
3. Hearing children playing outside. I love hearing them speak Italian. Walking by the schools when they are out at recess is the best.
4. The cobblestones. Lots of people are sick of the cobblestones because they hurt their feet. But I can't get enough of them. I love the sound when my foot hits the pavement and feeling the stones beneath my feet.
5. The Protestant Cemetery. One of my favorite places in Rome for sure. It's oddly very peaceful and beautiful there. Flowers and trees growing everywhere. Plus, a nice place to reflect.
6. Cappuccino's. Who knew I would become such a fan, but I love the taste, but more than that the feel of drinking them.
7. The view outside my bedroom window to a beautiful tree and field. It's lovely to wake up to every morning, feel the sun and hear the birds.
8. Going to the million different gelateria's. Trying new flavors, figuring out how much you will get at each place and rating all of them.
9. Trastevere, my favorite neighborhood in Rome. A maze of pathways, all intertwined and Italian's everywhere. It's the best place to feel lost and yet feel at home.
10. The feeling of going to a new part of Rome, pulling out your map, not sure where you are, then turning the corner and realizing you know exactly where you are. Rome is not as big of a city as people think. It's all connected and I'm convinced you can walk everywhere.
Thinking of all of you, sending a big hug to the States.
I have a film paper to write, but I'm listening to The National and can't help but write.
This volcano has everyone freaking out. People are really worried they won't be able to get home. I'm just worried my parents won't be able to get here. Good news is I still have some time before they are supposed to arrive. Please, everyone, cross your fingers.Volcano calm down!
In the meantime . . . assuming everything works out, I have successfully booked my trips for the summer. I can't wait to start. It was really difficult for me to get to Krakow, not sure why. At one point I was going to book a flight through Oslo or Stockholm to get there. Those places would have been awesome to see for sure. In the end though I had a top hit list of places I really wanted to visit. I decided it was better to not overwhelm myself and stick to a few countries and cities. I'm really happy with how it turned out. It was really important for me to get Krakow, so I made it work.
I start in Dublin, then go to Krakow, then go to Vienna, then to Berlin, then to Geneva and then back to Rome. I'm very excited!
I'm having a love affair with Rome. So I've decided I'm going to make a top 10 list of things I love while being here.
1. Villa Borghese. I can't get enough of this park. Every time I go it just makes me so happy. Granted there are a million couples making out everywhere, but I love being outside, seeing the trees, laying in the grass. It's become a great spot to journal.
2. Walking through the Monte Mario neighborhood. Especially the walk to calcio every Wednesday.
3. Hearing children playing outside. I love hearing them speak Italian. Walking by the schools when they are out at recess is the best.
4. The cobblestones. Lots of people are sick of the cobblestones because they hurt their feet. But I can't get enough of them. I love the sound when my foot hits the pavement and feeling the stones beneath my feet.
5. The Protestant Cemetery. One of my favorite places in Rome for sure. It's oddly very peaceful and beautiful there. Flowers and trees growing everywhere. Plus, a nice place to reflect.
6. Cappuccino's. Who knew I would become such a fan, but I love the taste, but more than that the feel of drinking them.
7. The view outside my bedroom window to a beautiful tree and field. It's lovely to wake up to every morning, feel the sun and hear the birds.
8. Going to the million different gelateria's. Trying new flavors, figuring out how much you will get at each place and rating all of them.
9. Trastevere, my favorite neighborhood in Rome. A maze of pathways, all intertwined and Italian's everywhere. It's the best place to feel lost and yet feel at home.
10. The feeling of going to a new part of Rome, pulling out your map, not sure where you are, then turning the corner and realizing you know exactly where you are. Rome is not as big of a city as people think. It's all connected and I'm convinced you can walk everywhere.
Thinking of all of you, sending a big hug to the States.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Chapter Four: Life between the adventures
Ciao!
I suppose it was inevitable for me to fall behind in the blog. But here is an update from life in Italy thus far. Though I might not be blogging a ton, I am writing in my journal and at the end of the day, I know that is the most important one for me. My journal holds everything from this trip, from all the big events to all of my random thoughts. I've already started rereading some of the entries at the beginning of the semester. So much has already happened, it's hard to believe. But of course I still have to give everyone an update, hence the blog.
The semester is coming to a close. So weird to say. The majority of all of my friends will be returning to the U.S. in just under three weeks. If I wasn't staying I would be going with them. That is even stranger for me to think about. The United States still feels like a different universe for me.
The last few weeks have been full and exciting. I've been to Istanbul, Greece, and Malta, not to mention many wonderful days in Rome. I've been a machine these days when it comes to traveling. Taking international trips has become so normal to me (I know, that's crazy!) but seriously traveling has become my life. I think my perspective of traveling in the United States will be very different once I get back. The idea of picking up for a weekend trip will be no big deal.
So, at this point, it will be easier for me to share about these last few trips in person with all of you. However, I will say a few comments about each of them.
Istanbul: This could very well could be my favorite trip. I think it was the one that impacted me the most. The culture, the people, the food, the city was all so amazing. If I could back to one city that I've been to this semester it would be Istanbul. My favorite thing there was when we were walking around the city and heard the call of prayer on the loud speakers between the mosques. It took place five times a day. It was as if the mosques themselves were chanting to each other. Such a cool experience to see and hear.
Greece: I got my beach fill in Greece. The weather ended up being really hot and it was so nice to lay on the beach and relax. Eating gyros and greek yogurt as well as kayaking in the Mediterranean was unbelievable. The trip had it's good and bad aspects, but overall I really enjoyed myself as did Sara, Marriam and Adri. I'm thrilled I made it to Greece, it was one of the countries at the top of my list.
Malta: I just got back from Malta yesterday. The smallest country in Europe, besides Vatican city. Malta was also a lot of fun. My favorite part was traveling to Gozo, an island right next to Malta and traveling around and taking a boat out through caves in the water and seeing the cliffs. I also went with a whole different group of people to Malta, which was exciting.
My parents will be here in 19 days. I cannot wait for them to get here! It will be so nice to see them in person, catch up, and have some familiarity for awhile. We will be going on quite the Italian adventure. They have it all mapped out. So lately whenever I'm feeling stressed about school I just think about all the stuff we are going to do.
There is still so much I want to do in Rome. I'm determined to get through my to-do-list. I did go to the Vatican Museum a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed it. Especially after studying so many different artists and paintings in my classes, it made it much more special to see them in person, in particular Raphael's "School of Athens."
I'm the type of person that always gets sentimental. Those of you who know me are already very aware of this. I get attached to the most random things and now that the semester is coming to an end, I feel my sentimental side kicking in. The hardest part will be saying goodbye to everyone, especially my friends who don't go to Loyola and who I won't see in the fall.
But, it's not over yet! These next three weeks will be very busy socially and academically. I'm not going anywhere else for now, just focusing on spending time in Rome. Absorb the city to the fullest. :)
Love
Katherine
I suppose it was inevitable for me to fall behind in the blog. But here is an update from life in Italy thus far. Though I might not be blogging a ton, I am writing in my journal and at the end of the day, I know that is the most important one for me. My journal holds everything from this trip, from all the big events to all of my random thoughts. I've already started rereading some of the entries at the beginning of the semester. So much has already happened, it's hard to believe. But of course I still have to give everyone an update, hence the blog.
The semester is coming to a close. So weird to say. The majority of all of my friends will be returning to the U.S. in just under three weeks. If I wasn't staying I would be going with them. That is even stranger for me to think about. The United States still feels like a different universe for me.
The last few weeks have been full and exciting. I've been to Istanbul, Greece, and Malta, not to mention many wonderful days in Rome. I've been a machine these days when it comes to traveling. Taking international trips has become so normal to me (I know, that's crazy!) but seriously traveling has become my life. I think my perspective of traveling in the United States will be very different once I get back. The idea of picking up for a weekend trip will be no big deal.
So, at this point, it will be easier for me to share about these last few trips in person with all of you. However, I will say a few comments about each of them.Istanbul: This could very well could be my favorite trip. I think it was the one that impacted me the most. The culture, the people, the food, the city was all so amazing. If I could back to one city that I've been to this semester it would be Istanbul. My favorite thing there was when we were walking around the city and heard the call of prayer on the loud speakers between the mosques. It took place five times a day. It was as if the mosques themselves were chanting to each other. Such a cool experience to see and hear.
Greece: I got my beach fill in Greece. The weather ended up being really hot and it was so nice to lay on the beach and relax. Eating gyros and greek yogurt as well as kayaking in the Mediterranean was unbelievable. The trip had it's good and bad aspects, but overall I really enjoyed myself as did Sara, Marriam and Adri. I'm thrilled I made it to Greece, it was one of the countries at the top of my list.
Malta: I just got back from Malta yesterday. The smallest country in Europe, besides Vatican city. Malta was also a lot of fun. My favorite part was traveling to Gozo, an island right next to Malta and traveling around and taking a boat out through caves in the water and seeing the cliffs. I also went with a whole different group of people to Malta, which was exciting.
There is still so much I want to do in Rome. I'm determined to get through my to-do-list. I did go to the Vatican Museum a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed it. Especially after studying so many different artists and paintings in my classes, it made it much more special to see them in person, in particular Raphael's "School of Athens."
I'm the type of person that always gets sentimental. Those of you who know me are already very aware of this. I get attached to the most random things and now that the semester is coming to an end, I feel my sentimental side kicking in. The hardest part will be saying goodbye to everyone, especially my friends who don't go to Loyola and who I won't see in the fall.
But, it's not over yet! These next three weeks will be very busy socially and academically. I'm not going anywhere else for now, just focusing on spending time in Rome. Absorb the city to the fullest. :)
Love
Katherine
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