A priest, no sleep, and a full day in Roma

I cannot believe I am in ROME. I keep saying it but it just hasn't clicked yet. I think I was still in shock even after we boarded the plane. Of all the people on the plane, I was seated next to a priest (who was very nice and was going to Rome to study for his doctorate). I commend anyone who can have a successful night's sleep on an airplane- I think I contorted myself every way possible and still never really fell asleep for more than a few hours. It didn't help that the flight attendants had a fort set up in front of me which they used to speak loudly while I was trying to sleep.   

Once we were off the flight was a bit of a different story. Me and two other girls who I knew before we left were able to get through immigration and customs (which was actually just walking out a door and nothing else) spent a good five to ten minutes trying to find the elevator.  Once we got off the elevator, it was about a ten minute walk through the airport to the Hilton, where we were meeting John Cabot University ambassadors. My arms have never had such a good workout- I kept thinking how I could have dealt with only a backpack for four months in order to avoid such pain (later I decided that I was just being dramatic and truly needed fifty pounds of clothes). 

After getting a just lovely picture of myself fresh- off –the- plane for my id, I signed some forms and we waited for our shuttle to JCU. I ended up in a shuttle with my friend Sarah and two other girls from UW! There's a lot more people here from UW than I thought there would be, though I only know two of them. The car ride was 45 minutes of us discussing what we wanted to do and how none of us knew much Italian. Although the scenery was different, the driver had the same exact mindset as a New York taxi driver. The roads kept getting smaller, but that man kept driving faster. I was never more relieved to get out of a car. 

Although I have been to Rome once before, I was expecting the city to be a lot louder and more urban than it actually is. Our apartment complex is off the main road   so it is much quieter than I had expected. The buildings itself are beautiful- they open to a cobblestone courtyard and the staircases are marble! Despite the few quirks of odd internet and a tiny elevator (thank goodness I am on the second floor) it is a wonderful location. I am also thankful that I have a surprisingly spacious apartment with only one other roommate. I met one girl earlier in the day who has eight other roommates. I do not know how I would have been able to function living with so many people.

I walked with a few other people to the nearby campus, which is only about ten minutes away. The walk is right on the Tiber river, which is significantly cleaner than the Delaware.  The food at the cafeteria is all right- I’m a little worried about my lack of Italian for eating in the city, but I’m sure that will change once I get to know my way around the neighborhood. After meeting my leader for orientation (who is going to be great I can already tell) I relaxed the rest of the night in my apartment. I think everyone here was exhausted so it was pretty quiet, but I did see a few people already preparing themselves to go out. I  do not know how they did it because I could barely move after unpacking my clothes for two hours. 

A small taste of what life is like so far: 

My bedroom (my bed is the one on the right) 

View from our window.. an abandoned house?

Living room 

Kitchen

Walking around the neighborhood

I’m craving a good coffee and any type of nourishment but I’m not even sure where the nearest café is located. I think I will have to explore today. Crossing my fingers for a good place to eat and not getting lost but I think that’s at least part of the adventure.