Always Interesting in Roma

Walking around Rome today I encountered some unusual things, as always happens in this wonderful city.

1. You know those crazy outfits on the catwalk that make you ask 'Who wears these? Where do you even buy them?" Well I found them in an outlet store on Via Tritone, near the Trevi Fountain. The world 'outlet' is kind of a stretch, since I hope no one would pay 1,300 euro for a fur and metallic vest, but whatever floats your boat. The clothes were just so weird and so expensive, I couldn't get over it. One dress looked like a black and white christmas tree skirt that you just wrap around the body.

This is probably why they were in the outlet.

2. I'm on a quest to discover all these fantastic, unassuming Churches. When I walked by Piazza Silvestro, I noticed a church set back in a quiet little courtyard. Intrigued, I walked in and was surprised when I heard english music spilling out of the church. Obviously I had to check it out, so I went in and decided to attend mass. It was the end of the homily so perfect timing! I sat down and participated in the first english mass I've been to in a month and a half. After I got over the surprise of a random english mass in this tiny church, I realized I was in a group of Hawaiians. I got SO excited when they started to play the ukulele and sing songs I knew, except with an Hawaiian twist and a really bad soprano. Also, the choir director was randomly Scottish.

Love it. Maybe he moved to Hawaii.

3. I'm staying in a hostel behind Termini, which is kind of creepy. The fun occurrence of the day is that I just walked by a guy stuffing a blunt in the middle of the street. Although he was nice enough to offer me some, I politely declined. This kind of convinced me not to come home late tonight.

shit

Alright, fine, I admit it. This is a little scary.

So it has been almost 2 years since I studied abroad in Rome. A lot has happened since then, and a lot happened during that semester that I obviously didn't put in this blog. My semester was so fantastical that after I graduated from college about 2 months ago, I decided to actually make my 'home in Roma.' I will live in Europe, namely Rome, until Christmas. I'm picking up the blog again to keep people posted about what is going on in my crazy life, and also to entertain Jimmy. Here you go, now you have some material to make fun of me with.

Until this point there has been a plan. I arrived and worked for my university's study abroad program. This 'work' consisted of living in a cushy one person apartment near the Vatican, giving tours, and hanging out with male Italian students at school. Well, it was actually a great deal more work than that, but it is easy to generalize.

My family was just here for two weeks, and we just parted ways at the airport.

Until Christmas. Shit.

My sister pointed out that I am jobless, homeless, and alone. Thanks Vic. The time with my family reminded me what it is like to have the people you love around, to eat regular meals, and to just have it easy. We stayed in Rome for half the trip, and I got to actually go to restaurants in my city. It was so exciting.

The rest of the time was in Positano, where we lounged at the beach, meandered around cute boutiques, and took in the impressive sea view from the hotel. Yeah, hotel. Not hostel! I should not have gotten used to that way of life, because it made that goodbye at the airport that much harder.

The realization hit me that I will not be home or see anyone I love (except for a few visiting friends) for 6 months. I started thinking that I am an absolute idiot. I've pondered the key to happiness, and I think it revolves around relationships. The better your interpersonal relationships, the happier you are. Well, I am an idiot because I am in ITALY and everyone I have relationships with is in AMERICA. It was so weird that my family was leaving me in Italy. They went home and just left me alone in a foreign country. Six months seemed like 6 years, and I could not believe I will not see anyone until Christmas. It would be so easy to just hop on the plane and go to comfortable, easy home.

In the midst of my freak-out I noticed a billboard of the Trevi fountain. Right next to it was one of the Colosseum. Ah. There it is. That is why I am staying here. I love this city and this country so much. The history and culture is fascinating and there is always something to discover. Numerous friends who have visited have told me that I just fit here, and they've never seen me this happy. As I took the train from the airport into Rome, my panic began to subside. I rode by Mussolini's EUR and the ancient city walls and thought - this is home. At least for now, this is home.

This is an adventure of a lifetime and I just need to suck it up. Yeah it is going to be hard and uncertain at times, but I am tough and will figure it out. I can handle staying in this nasty shoebox room hostel with no blinds for a couple days.

Truth is, I'm really excited. Scared as shit, but excited.

The most pressing issue is finding an apartment . . .