Birds Eye View

"Each fresh peak ascended teaches something." 

-- Sir Martin Convay

One week, two outstanding views.

The first view was discovered one day after class when my roommate and I had some extra time on our hands and wanted to go on an adventure in our neighborhood.  After flipping through our guide/tourist books, we stumbled upon a hike in Trastevere.  After more research we saw that it was one of THE top things to do in Rome - at that point we grabbed our coats and ran out the door, excited for what great sights were to come.  

After a steep hike up Gianicolo Hill - we reached it - one of the most beautiful, hidden gems in Rome - Gianicolo Park

This view hold the best panorama view of Rome (with the addition of beautiful greenery).  It was so nice to escape the chaotic busy streets and admire the city from a birds eye view.  Being able to just sit... relax... and do nothing but enjoy the view in front of me was a very humbling experience. 

Enjoying the view

Irem and I

But - then I went to Assisi.

My Mystics, Philosophers, Saints and Sinners class took a day trip to Assisi, Italy.  A small quaint town 2.5 hours north of Rome in the Umbria region of Italy. It is the birthplace of St. Francis (who founded the Franciscan religious order) and St. Clare (the founder of the Poor Sisters).  My teacher is American and moved to Italy 8 years ago - and now LIVES in Assisi.  My classmates and I were confused why she commutes that long of a time and then when we got to the city it all made sense.

The Cloister

Selfie with a Fresco

St. Francis viewing his homeland

Statue of St. Clare and my roommate Rose

Rocca Maggiore

I never heard of Assisi, nor was it on my list of places to go to during this semester AND I am not Christian BUUUUUT I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a peaceful, quaint get away.  I would have loved to have done yoga outside here!

I don't know if it's because I grew up in Florida (aka flat lands) or what, but I still can't get these views.  I literally felt like Leonardo DiCaprio...

              

First Week of School

The first week of classes: DONE! In a nutshell here are the classes that I will be taking this semester:

• The Jews of Rome: Sites and Times of the Oldest Diaspora in the World
• Mystics, Philosophers, Saints and Sinners: Studies of the Catholic Tradition
• Rome as a Living Museum
• An examination of the management of Roman cultural heritage from a multidisciplinary perspective. The course draws on art history, papal history, economic interests, and cultural aims in its approach to the transformation of the image and the perception of Rome. Includes site visits within Rome
• The Renaissance and its Classical Heritage

Through these art and humanity classes I will be taking field trips to:

• - Ostia Antica
• - Florence
• - Roman Forum
• - Beth Michael Synagogue
• - The Ghetto
• - Il Pitigliani Jewish Community Center
• - Colosseum
• - Capitoline Museum
• - Vatican Museums
• - Galleria Borghese
• - Piazza Augusto Imperatore
• - Museo Nazionale Romano
• - Assisi
• - Sant'Anselmo Benedictine College
• - Papal Audience
• -Cistercian Monastery
• And much much more...

I am also taking Italian and am having a very hard time with pronunciation (this may not come as a surprise to some).  With a little practice, I will be fluent in no time #wishfulthinking

My school textbook store was located right by the Spanish Steps - and one of the best shopping streets in Rome, Via del Corso. I happened to stumble across:

This and every other designer store I have ever heard of... Very different from the HUB bookstore in State College haha

My roommates and I also found a coffee bar in Trastevere that makes "normal sized" cups - but it might as well have been the worst cup of coffee that I have had in my life.  As much as I would love to sip on a 16 oz cup of vanilla Dunkin Donuts coffee, I have to stick to the cappuccinos and espresso.  

On one of the first non-rainy days of Rome, I had an awkward gap of time (5 hours) in between my classes.  Instead of walking back to my apartment, I thought I would roam around Rome and see where the roads would lead me.  I went to Campo di Fiori's market and bought some fresh apples and browsed through the other products being sold.  It was funny being in the Piazza during the day and seeing the market because at night it turns into "The Place To Be" among young Italians and students studying abroad.

Over the weekend, I visited local boutiques in Trastevere and bought an awesome new pair of pants (you will see them soon, don't worry), went on runs/walks with my friends to discover new parts of Rome and tried out some restaurants (There are 20 restaurants located within a few feet of my apartment - how lucky can a foodie get!?).My roommates and I ended our week with our first family Fienaroli homemade dinner.  We made eggplant parmesan, mashed potatoes and a salad.  It was delicious and gave us the energy to plan our future trips.

Eggplant: Sam, Mashed Potatoes: Sarah, Salad: Irem, Decor: Rose

A Week of Reflection

So its official.  I have been a resident of Rome for one week.  And I realized I didn't take the time 

to introduce myself and my goals for the adventure I am embarking on.  I know that many (or all) of you already know me but I still feel that a proper introduction is needed.

First things first: my name is Samantha Oliver.  To most I am Sam, to others I am Samantha, and a certain few Samantha-tha.  I am a twenty something Floridian studying Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management at The Penn State University.  I knew from a very early age what I wanted to be involved in and what I wanted to do for the rest of my life (I am lucky that I have such great role models in my life to inspire me and show me the way).  But, with having "discovered myself" at such a young age, I have been constantly planning every second of my life to a T to ensure that all of my dreams are able to happen.  Its hard for me to sit down, relax and enjoy the environment around me.  In school, I tend to be a nerd, attending all of my classes and sitting in the first row ready to absorb all the information that my professors have to offer.  Since I decided I wanted to study abroad freshman year the majority of my classes have been for my major.  In between classes, I am at White Building Gym or cooking delicious meals that I have found on pinterest (most of the meals are photographed on my Instagram feed for anyone interested in Samantha "FoodPorn").  I enjoy the Big 10 nightlife and lifestyle of football games, frat parties and a culture that can only be understood by anyone who has lived in a college town.  My free time is also occupied by hospitality internships, spending time with my friends and wonderful boyfriend, window shopping and the occasional yoga class.  I know that most of you don't want to be bothered by this information but these characteristics about me are what make studying abroad such an adventure for me.

Here are a few cultural differences I have encountered:

• In the past two years I can probably count the number of times I consumed pizza/pasta/sandwiches on my hands and feet (not including food that I have consumed in a different mindset).  While I have been in Rome for only a week, these are the only meals that I have ate.  Pizza, pizza with vegetables, pasta, different colored pasta, paninis.. the list goes on and on. 
• At home, I also try to go to the gym or do hot yoga at least 3 times a week. In Italy working out has not crossed my mind once and I will not be joining a gym for the entire semester (insert sarcastic gasp here). 
• At home, coffee has always been available at my finger tips whether through my Keurig or home coffee maker.  In Italy, I have to stand at a bar and drink the smallest strongest coffee in the world.  And having a coffee to go is not an option.  
• At home, I excel in my academics.  In my study abroad program I will be taking Arts and Humanity classes; classes that I have struggled with in high school.  The addition of my professors Italian accents will make the academics harder for me to excel at and even harder for me to comprehend.  
• At home, wi-fi and data are EVERYWHERE.  Here in Rome, I rely on the wi-fi provided at my apartment and school to keep in touch with my family, friends and boyfriend with a 6 hours different.  My noon is my loved ones 6 am.  Finding a time that I am in wi-fi and my loved ones are available are slim - but is manageable.   

These differences are just everyday challenges that will allow me to learn more about myself and other cultures.  I am ready to jump out of my comfort zone and try new experiences.  And so far...I have been having the BEST time.

When I arrived at my quaint apartment which was built in 753 B.C. - yeah B.C. not A.D., my eyes were exposed to a new world.

a beautiful cobblestone street with vespas, local pizzerias and bars and ivy growing up the sides of the buildings.  There was not a palm tree or a Nittany lion in sight.  I was greeted by three amazing roommates 

Me, Irem, Sarah and Rose

I am so lucky to share this experience with them.  Together we cover four different regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and Florida (I don't consider Florida the South -- it is a mix of every other region who decided to retire or live by Disney).  We have bonded over getting lost multiple times, trying new foods and attempting to speak Italian in public.   

We discovered a route to school that is 1.5 miles long and travels through one of the most iconic streets in Rome, Via Giulia.  The street is mentioned as a must see attraction in Rome - and this is the street that I get to take everyday to class! 

In my program there are students from all over the United States: the majority being from Penn State WE ARE.  It's funny though because I did not know most of the kids that went on this trip - but I know I will have many more friends when I get back to school in the fall =) With such a diverse group, I get to learn about Roman culture and American culture at the same time.   

I am still in shock that I am living in this amazing city.  A city that is thousands of years old and would take an eternity to see - hence the name Eternal City.  A city that when you get lost, you find yourself standing in front of the Pantheon (true story - the picture is shown above with my roommates and me).  Italian women wear leather jackets, ride vespas and smoke cigarettes at the same time.  When it is raining, the city becomes quiet; when it is beautiful and sunny, the fashionistas make their cobblestone runway debut.    

I am starting Rome with a blank pallet of expectations - ready to take on what ever path decides to jump in front of me.  Something that American Sam would have a hard time doing.  I don't plan out each morning and don't know what my day will look like, what I will eat or what site I will see.   I am living the life of W.W.A.D or What Would Amy Do (a joke in my family referring to our family friend Amy who always just goes with the flow).   

My goal for Rome - is to learn how to Roam. 

To say yes to everything, be able to communicate in a different language, and see the world from another point of view.

My mind is racing at the amount of changes that I have encountered in the past week.  I can only imagine how much I am going to grow from this experience.  

First week of Food

My first official meal in Rome: Pizza with Vegetables in a local pizzeria by my apartment.  The serving size was huge - and the Italian waitress was somewhat insulted that my roommates and I did not finish our individual pizzas.  And when we asked her for to-go boxes - her face said it all "You Americans".  

My roommates and I decided to up our food game by trying out other eateries in Trestevere (our neighborhood)

We also had our first dinner - although it wasn't the traditional way with all of the courses.  We decided to have an appertivo of brushetta and primi courses.

We also found a delicious gelato place right by our school. I can finally say I have had gelato in Italy! It's going to be hard to compete with this one (the flavor was tiramisu).

On my last day of orientation, my Italian language class took a "field trip" to a pizzeria called Pizzeria del Teatro -- right next to where I had my first gelato (Gelateria del Teatro).  While there, my class and I were given a demonstration on how they made their pizza.  As a foodie and hospitality major I was in awe of this experience.  

I love how the Italians take such pride in their cooking.  The chef said that he will only cook when he is happy because if he is sad or angry his emotions will be put in the dish he is creating and he does not want his customers to eat sad or angry pizza.  When a customer decides which kind of pizza he or she would like, the person behind the counter cuts their pizza with scissors and weighs the cut on the scale to determine the price.  

^^ Fresh sliced prosciutto and mozzarella!! YUM!

Another interesting thing that I found out this week is that most bakeries and small food shops will let you sample their food for free.  I offer to pay them even 10 euro cents and they refuse to take it.  This is just another example of how Italians take pride in their food.  They say, "You try, and you will like it.  You will come back if you want more."  I definitely want more.

Orientation

After a few days of being a Roman I can finally say that I have...

Finally learned how to navigate to my humble abode..

and find the best route to class...

 This is the view from my study center.  The Castel Sant'Angelo 

Had Italian language class in a cafe...

and my first taste of Italian gelato

I am finally starting to feel like Rome is my home (like the rhyming)?

During my programs orientation, they provided us with a wide selection of Italian food.  Here is some pizza, ravioli with spinach and ricotta, ziti carbonara, zucchini and potato.  I can't remember the last time that I have saw so many carbs on one plate! But after tasting these Italian staples my mouth was watering for more.... 

 

I have come to realize that in Rome, you walk EVERYWHERE.  The public transportation system is very undependable and you are better off relying on yourself in order to get to your destination on time. That being said - I have no shame in eating these delicious foods =P

Arriving In Roma

I sacrificed my Superbowl Sunday to fly to Rome.. - Yeah I'll take that over wings and people screaming at the TV any day (not that I don't like a good football game but I was really not a fan of either of the teams).  Although the meal wasn't that good... #airplanefood

I had my first legal drink in the air (Rum and Coke = classic)

and had a beautiful view! I was lucky enough to have a window seat for both of my flight to London and then London to Rome.

When I was at the London airport I was surprised to see designer stores in all the terminals and a huge perfume shop with every brand you could think of.. which is a relief to see after getting off the long flight - I helped myself to J' adore Dior.  It was also eye opening that there was not another American in sight.  And then.. I arrived to.. Roma.

Send Off

I went to Miami for my last night in the Americas.  I was able to spend quality time with my mom and brother (who studied abroad in Rome four years ago).  We went out to a nice dinner and I got great last minute advice from some of my brothers friends who also studied abroad.

The next day we had an amazing brunch on the beach.

and I was off to ROMA!!!!!!!