last days

Things are rapidly coming to a close here for me in Rome. This last week has been a flurry of thesis writing, job searching, and last minute sight seeing and shopping. I feel as though i have accomplished quite a bit this week and looking back over the last 11 weeks too.

My 40 page paper is finished as well as the presentation that goes along with it = ) Printing that sucker out was a huge weight off of my shoulders. I put in only one half day at the office this week to wrap up things otherwise I was at home writing away and hoping I would make my Aug 1st deadline. I did = ) Now its R & R time and also the moment to squeeze in anything else I could possible want to see in Roma. I cant think of one thing I need to see yet - so I went to the beach and soaked up more of the summer sun on the mediteranean sea. I will dedicate most of my last full day to wash and packing and then drinks and a glorious dinner with friends.

Coming home will be really a joy this time. I cannot wait to go shopping with my sisters and hang out with my friends on the Terrace, on a lake, or a backyard patio. I feel its a good moment to leave and that upon my return life should get back to normal fairly quickly. I dont think reverse culture shock will hit me too hard this time around and I pray i am right. After France I was depressed for months...I will be busy to help with the transition - several weddings, family gatherings, and of course finding that perfect job. Out of all the applications I have sent out, I have had only one interview. It is a bit discouraging but maybe its a sign that I should take a must deserved break! I did do a 2 year masters in one after all.

For all of you blog readers, thanks for checking in with me. This will most likely be my last entry. If ever you want to go to Roma, or just see hundreds of beautiful pictures, you know who to ask.

un bacio! Ciao!

Ostia Antica

I met up with friend at Pyramide station one afternoon to take a train to Ostia Antica. This city was the first harbor for Rome and perhaps its first colony. Located at the mouth of the Tiber River, Ostia was founded by the 4th king of Rome in 7th century B.C. Over the centuries, the river shifted its course more north thus pushing cargo up the coast away from Ostia. As a result, the city became ghost like and was forgotten. The buildings that exist there now have been untouched since Christ times and are slowly eroding and being restored by archaeologists. Ostia Antica is three times larger than the ruins of Pompeii and are much closer to central Rome.

My friend and i spent a few hours wandering through the ancient city. We imagined what the buildings were once used for and what life was like before Christ. Difficult we decided. I may not have visited Naples and Pompeii this trip but i think i got a flavor for them. In addition to seeing an ancient city, i also went to a pizzeria the other day for Napoli pizza. This city is known to have created pizza and the pie is characterized by a thicker crust. It honestly was the best pizza i have ever had. Prosciutto, fresh mozzarella and basil - it was really delicious!

Musvei Vaticani

I was fortunate to enter the Vatican Museum at last for free! Usually 14 euros, the museum is free to the public the last Sunday of most months ( i say most because i wanted last month and it never opened). This time however, the line stretched far into Rome and the wait was about 1.5 hours. I entered at 1220p just ten minutes before they stop letting people in before closing at 2pm. The museum is a maze of rooms and gardens. My first priority was the Sistine Chapel and it took an hour (all the time i had) to reach it! On the way I saw wonderful tapestries, marble statues, paintings, and exquisite furniture. I really liked a hall dedicated to paintings of parts of Italia and a round table inlaid with several different colors of marble. There is so much gold in the Vatican i bet it could feed a few impoverished countries for decades. It is almost too ornate. Vatican city has its own post office, radio station, and the most beautiful gardens. I was not allowed into the main section but from the windows of the museum I saw it was exactly where i wished i could be.
I had about 1.5 hours in the museum and was very content with that. It is another world within the Vatican walls.

Terme di Caracalla Opera

Last night, the food safety crew from the WHO Rome office went to an Italian opera called AIDA. The theater was in the open air in the center of Rome just in front of the Terme di Caracalla - ancient ruins of a Roman bathhouse. Back in the day, this large building was used by the up to 1600 bathers at a time. It also housed wrestling and boxing rooms, a sauna, and both Greek and Latin libraries. The opera story takes place in Egypt thus the hieroglyphics and columns were complemented nicely by the bath ruins behind them. The synopsis of the opera is Aida, an Ethiopian princess, is captured and brought into slavery in Egypt. A military commander, Radames, struggles to choose between his love for her and his loyalty to the Pharaoh. To complicate the story further, Radames is loved by the Pharaoh's daughter Amneris, although he does not return the feeling. This love triangle raises suspicion about Radames loyalty to Egypt. Like Romeo and Juliet, the story concludes not so well for the forbidden lovers.

It was a wonderful experience. My boss and I walked to the opera together crossing most of central Rome. We joined another colleague for dinner (for me artichoke pizza) in the Testaccio neighborhood. The operas use of color and motion was breath taking and the acoustics incredible for being an outside theater. Surrounded by Italians wearing their best clothes, watching beautiful costumed actors dance and sing, in the heart of ancient ruins in Rome is something I will never forget.

back to my roots

Most people dont realize this but i am part Italian - Carolfi is an Italian surname. While I have been here i have met some of my distant relatives in Milan and got a tip that I may be eligible for dual citzenship 'jure sanguis' or by blood right. In my case, my great grandfather emmigrated to the US in 1907 at the age of 25. A single young man, Fiore Carolfi, took a ship from le Havre in the north of France and arrived at Ellis Island on March 5, 1907. His plan was to settle in Monroe, Wisconsin to make cheese with other family member who were already settled there. Later, his beloved 'Anna' joined him there from Casalpusterlango, Italy, they married and they started their family including my Grandpa Ervin.
If Fiore was not a citizen at the time of my grandfather birth, and neither him nor my father have claimed their citizenship rights to Italia, I can do so now. This part of the story is still under investigation. Assuming, Fiore had not yet been naturalized when my grandpa was born, all i have to do to be a citizen of Italy is collect and translate into Italian everyone's birth and marriage certificates from Fiore down to me. Sounds easy right? Well from what i understand, some of these documents have to be taken from the birthplace itself, so a return trip to Italy might be in order. Translations can costs in the hundreds, and the process to approve the paperwork is now taking up to two years. I know it can be done. I have heard of other Italian Americans being successul acquiring dual citizenship and so being a part of the EU. A European passport would definately be an asset for me as I love to travel and it will be so much easier to find work, purchase property in Europe etc. I am just not sure if I should be starting this process now.

Summer Reading List

I have had a lot more free time here than im used to being in graduate school. So i have borrowed some books from collegues over my stay here. Buying books in English is not a problem in Rome, I just didnt want to buy them because cant take them home with me later. To use any of the English libraries here you have to pay a annual fee or be a student here. Anyhow, here is the list of books I have read/am reading over the summer-

Goodbye, Jimmy Choo by Annie Sanders
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown (loved that it is set in Rome!)
The Brethren by John Grisham (a convict run scam that blackmails gays)
Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwall (too creepy, murder mystery)
Lucy Sullivan is getting Married by Marian Keyes (hysterical, laughed non-stop!)
Thirtynothing by Lisa Jewell (quite funny about young love)
Le Fond de L'Enfer by Ian Rankin ( mystery about drugs and squats)

It is so nice to read for fun again! Do you have any suggestions?

A surprise care package!

A big shout out and thank you goes to Ann for being so thoughtful! I was surprised at work this morning by a package full of great goodies. Cereal, candy, a book and memento from China (where she has been the last year) were all included. Did I tell you I loved Wheat Chex? Thank you so very much!

Civitavecchia

This weekend I spent a lot of time with my German colleagues. We did dinner and the movie WANTED one evening, and the beach followed by a house party another day. There are a few theaters that show movies in their original language here so I was able to see Wanted with Morgan Freeman and Angelia Jolie in English. The movie is high action, great cinematography, but really bloody. I have a hard time with that so was closing my eyes about every 7 minutes. Its has a interesting twisting plot as well so I must say in spite of the gore, i enjoyed it. I especially liked the car chasing scenes (they used an old mustang!) = )
The beach we went to is near the town of Civitavecchia and is located about an hour north west of Rome. I had to take a train there and had a bit of confusion purchasing my ticket. I had to take one headed for PISA actually and just get off sooner. I did find the right one in the end and one of my friends joined me on the train a few stops away. We descended at Marina di Certerveri where our colleague lives and was waiting to pick us up. The sea was beautiful there! It was bit more wild, fewer people, and a great breeze to keep up cool. We spent a few hours swimming and sunbathing and then went to a Winery or 'cantina' to purchase wine for the party. The wine here was so inexpensive! The highlight was the 'petrol' station wine fill up. People bring their own jug, fill it up from a spout like a gas station and then pay for it. It is brilliant and good for the environment= ) For dinner, we prepared tomato and fresh mozarella salads followed by proscuitto and melon. This is a very common meal for italians in the summer time and so refreshing! Our beverage was the most common sort of italian champagne called Prosecco - we could start drinking early because we took public transport to the party.
One of my German colleagues friends was throwing a party to say goodbye to his current flat. He works for a international development firm in Rome. Thus the party was full of international development folks, was a mix of many nationalities, and backgrounds. I met an Australian, French, African, Italians, etc. The party was on the rooftop terrace of this building in San Saba, one of the wealthier neighborhoods in Rome. It was a beautiful night. There was a lot of great Italian food and wine and the conversation was very interesting due to the diverse people there. I thought i definitely could get used to mingling in this crowd. So expats are one thing (like the Irish and American club) but expats who work in your field are quite another!

Florence Part II

I broke for lunch in another piazza where restaurants boasted tables under tents (and spraying things like the super market!) to keep us cool. I had pasta bolognese and 'Coke Light' as i watched the world go by. It was delicious and just the burst of energy i needed for the second part of my day. After i had digested, I meandered down a pedestrian street full of shops to the Palazzo Vecchio. Once a government building for meetings and city council members lodgings, it now is a favorite for tourists because it is surrounded by Neptune fountain, replicas of famous marble statutes, and has an underground tunnel to the Uffizi Art Gallery next door. Nearby is the Ponte Vecchio which is the oldest bridge in Florence and the only one to survive WWII bombings. Centuries ago it held butchers that dumped pig pieces & blood into the river, but now the bridge is lined with diamond cutters and jewelers. I spend about an hour here window shopping and dreaming about all the gorgeous jewels. I know what my engagement ring is going to look like after that experience! It was really fun.
My last stop of the day was the Uffizi Art Gallery. This museum look almost an hour to get into because it has over 45 rooms of beautiful paintings and drawings, hallways full of marble busts and sculpture, and shows works from the most famous artists in the world. I really enjoyed the drawings and might take drawing classes in the near future, but my favorite part was the huge surprise I had. I walked into a room full of people and saw Botticellis Birth of Venus! His other famous painting 'Primavera' was in the same room and they both are so amazing in person. I had no clue they were there. The gallery also has works from DaVinci, Michaelanglo, Caravaggio including Bacchus, Raphael, and so many painting of madonna and child ( i was getting tired of that). It took me a few hours to get through the gallery but wow, what an experience. What a day really. I had to catch a train in the early evening so my last hour in Florence was spent shopping in the open market for gifts, eating a panini and gelato from street vendors, and thinking so THIS is why people fall in love with Italy. I had a great day in Florence and feel truly lucky to have such a wonderful experience.

liquore aqui e non per mi

Italy has an interesting collection of liquor and spirits unique to this country. Despite the wonderful wine they make here (my fav so far being Morinelli from Tuscany) , I have also tried some specialties.

Limoncello- is a lemon liquor produced mainly in the south around Naples. It is made from lemon rinds, alcohol, water, and sugar. See this link if you would like to make it. http://whatscookingamerica.net/Beverage/Limoncello.htm Its sweet and lemony but not sour and perfect for a after dinner digestive. My friend licias father in Pescara makes his own and let me try this strong yet pleasant drink.

Sambusca- is anisseed flavored colorless liquer commonly taken after meals and put in coffee. It is a bit more complex to make because it uses essential oils created by distilling anise seeds. You can easily find it in supermarkets here and in just about everyones home. My relatives in milan gave me a shot of it after our meal of pasta pomodoro.

buonissimo gelato

ok, i know what you're all thinking. shes lactose intolerant and should NOT be eating the creamy delicious wonder - gelato. Well you are partially right. I have had some trouble with the gelato tummy wise but am happy to report that i can enjoy the fruit and yogurt flavors no problem!

So here is a list of flavors i had tried:

Strawberry - Fragola
Lemon -Limone
Coffee - caffe
Tiramisu - duh
Stracciatela -which is like a creamy choc chip
Panna Cotta -caramel swirled flan
Spagnola - raspberry swirl
Frutti di Bosco - mixed fruit yogurt

and the winner is (and also gave me the most trouble) TIRAMISU! but then again it is one of my favorite desserts as well.

Florence, Firenze, Florens

Well I think I have discovered my new favorite Italian city, Florence. In an effort to forget my terrible weekend prior, I escaped to Florence early Sat morning via the 1.5 hour train. There is a calmness in the city that is so much more enjoyable than the feel of Rome. As i walked to the first art muesum I found an open air market near Piazza S Lorenzo where people were selling leather, scarves, italia gear, and household goods. I wanted to peruse but i knew i would have wait so i hurried along. Just before 10a I arrived at the Galleria dell'Accademia and passed my 40 min wait by talking to Minnesotan law students. When i got inside, most of the artwork is from churches and convents. Paintings on wood or canvas with gold inlay were the general theme. But then as I entereda new room, I saw marble statues along the walls leading to the infamous David by Michaelangleo at the end of the corridor. He is BEAUTIFUL and HUGE (17 feet)! This piece of marble is really mesmorizing and NOT because its of a nude male but because of the detail Michaelangelo included. You can see veins sticking out of his hands and behind his knees and he seems alive. Michaelangelo is known to have said that he 'released' figures out if living stone. Also interesting about the David is that Michaelanglo made his head and hands proportionally bigger so that the viewer from below would perceive a normal body. This guy was talented.
After that I headed to the Duomo or cathedrale of Florence. This church reminds me of candy land for the outside is decorated in light green and pink stone. Nearby, there is an octangonal structure and a tall bell tower with similar decorations. The octogon is called the Battistero and is where supposedly Dante was christened. I went into the church for about an hour to rest and to pray. This church (until the ones in Rome) is simple on the inside and seems more for its original purpose. In the basement, there is an archeological dig going on which i didnt check out. The Duomo was really something though, I have really beautiful pictures to share.
More in pt II coming up!

Independance Day - Expat Style

So instead of the usual fireworks show and family picnic to attend this year, I attended a fourth of july party hosted by the American Club of Rome. The party was held in the city at the Marymount International School which is a private Catholic co-educational day school from Early Childhood (age 3) through Grade 12 with a curriculum based on the American system of education. The school was north of the city so it took me about an hour and half to get there...well a bit longer due to an unpleasant run in with the italian police. This guy accused me of having the wrong ID (even though its worked every other time before) and did not try to understand my array of other languages. He only knew italian and was just annoyed as i was that we couldnt communicate. He gave me a bill for 50 euro that quickly went up to 100 euros because I refuse to pay. I think the only way he didnt take me to the station was because i agreed to go to the ATM to get the money - fool. They have no contact info on me so by the time they realize i didnt pay ill be back in the good ole USA. Jerks.
The picnic was a nice change. The food was a decent bbq complete with smores and pepsi. They had a live band, games for the kids, and a raffle that created a nice ambiance. The people I met there were from Nebraska originally and were quite characters. Women who had fallen in love with ITalians and somehow (sometimes against their wishes) wound up in Rome. I heart some bitter women complain about how difficult it is to live as an american here and they envied me for being able to go back in a month. It was not exactly the uplifting evening i was seeking and after the run in w/ the cops that day - i really needed a drink. I successfully hurt my ankle, got a huge fine, and got sunburned this weekend. I think next week, i need to get out of town.

Italys Immigration Issue

The problem is that fears about crime by immigrants, inflamed by the news media and populist politicians, have combined with one of the largest waves of foreigners in Europe. The Northern League, a political party that once advocated the secession of Italy’s north, joined Mr. Berlusconi’s ruling coalition this spring after distributing posters around cities like Siena showing an American Indian next to a warning that Italians will end up, as the Indians did, penned into reservations if they don’t stop immigrants from taking over the country.

Here in Rome the first conservative mayor in years, Gianni Alemanno, won on a similar platform that advocated being tough on crime and illegal immigration. Rome, an ancient magnet for foreigners, is naturally more integrated than most Italian cities and, unlike most of the country, it has taken at least a few steps in recent years to come to terms with its multicultural reality, among them instituting a public library program to reach immigrants and provide Romans with books and lectures about foreign cultures. The question now is whether such efforts will continue.
Italian culture certainly isn’t diverse now. It subsists on an all-white, all-native, monoethnic diet of Italian game shows, Italian television mini-series, Italian advertisements on cable stations for improbable vibrating contraptions that promise to jiggle fat away, and Italian pop music. Even Roman schoolchildren no longer stray far from a spaghetti-with-ragú diet now that an intercultural city program to serve one international-themed lunch a month has been abandoned by the new center-right government, heeding some Italian mothers, who doubted the nutritional value of falafel and curry.

People here remember the last time the Italian government promised to deal with illegal foreigners, in 2002. Expulsions, 45,000 that year, dropped to 23,000 by 2006, while 640,000 new immigrants were legalized as part of the largest one-time legalization in the history of Europe. You could say that Italy, in its paradox, is going through the sort of culture shock the United States experienced a century ago, when millions of Italians, among others, immigrated to America. Romanians now make up the fastest-growing immigrant population here. There were 75,000 at the end of 2001. Since then, hundreds of thousands have arrived.

Romanians also account for 5.7 percent of the prison population. More than a third of all prisoners in Italy are foreigners. Foreigners are charged with 68 percent of rapes, 32 percent of thefts. (NYTIMES, June 25, 2008). So with this problem festering what would you do? Prevent all immigrants from coming in? I constantly see senegalese on the street selling their wares to earn a living - just like they did back home. The main different i see here though is the extremely high cost of living. I really wonder how they live without their families/friends support here. On one had the popluation is decreasing in Europe and people are needy and willing to work from other parts of the world - yet with this crime rate threatening to worsen how do you react? Is the prison rate due to disparity and desparation. Should the Roman government start programs to assist the immigration population?I unfortunately dont have the answer at this point but I find the situation extremely sad and feel its something we all need to consider. My family were immigrants once and you never know when you will be uprooted. How would you want to be treated?

My Churches in Roma

So there are a lot of churches here. Too many to possible visit in a lifetime Id say. So im going to highlight two of them that I have had some experiences with. First, St. Pauls within the Walls.

In France, I found a great international church in French that instantly became a favorite part of my weekly routine. Due to that great experience, I sought out a similar church here in Rome. St. Pauls Within the Walls is located near the Piazza Repubblica and holds international services on Sundays at 15h. I went for the first time last week and was amazed at all the nationalities present. The service is nondenominational, welcoming all outsiders regardless of core beliefs. The pastor speaks in English (and sounded quite American) and it is translated on the spot into Italian. It was rather powerful to be sitting in this BEAUTIFUL Church in Rome with people from all over the world, praising God and praying together. Quite the moment.

Another great experience occured in St. Peters Basilica. Officially known in Italian as the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano and is one of the most well known churches and is located within the Vatican City in Rome. It occupies a "unique position" as one of the holiest sites and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom." In Catholic tradition, it is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, according to tradition, was the first Bishop of Antioch, and later first Bishop of Rome and therefore first in the line of the papal succession. (Wikipedia)

St Peters Cathedrale can hold up to 60,000 people is now the stomping grounds of Pope Benedict XVI. I left at 7am to attend a 930a mass and just barely got in (so i think we were at capacity). After an 1/2 hour wait outside, I approached the metal detectors and a man yelling -Advanced ticket holders only! TICKETS? I was not aware you need a ticket to go to church. Considering the pile of people milling about, I decided to chance it and see if I could get in. I avoided all eye contact, stuck in gob of people as they checked tickets and got in problem free! I did feel rather guilty sneaking in to THE church of the entire catholic world but hey I did not want to wait for nothing (and the museum in contrast to the guidebook was closed and therefore not free). So I was seated to the right of the alter, thus able to see the left profiles of Pope Benedict and his large entourage of ArchBishops during the 2.5 hours mass. The service, in a mix of languages as usual, was quite bizarre in my opinion. I felt as though I had wandered into a sporting event by accident. The Pope would say something then a group of the crowd would stand and cheer, then he'd switch languages and another group applauded, and on it went. The Bishops received honors of some sort and people would cheer for them as well. First of all, growing up WELS you do NOT clap in church. So that in itself was weird but honestly i half expected the Pope to start doing acrobatics or something to really earn recognition! = )
The entire crowd was offered communion in the end- and I thought oh my Lord this is going to take forEVER. But with that many archbishops and other men of the cloth around, it went pretty quickly because after all catholics only receive the bread and not the wine. After the Pope blessed the cup and bread (followed by bells respectively) the bishops took their positions and feed the hungry! It was nearing 12p at this point. So we all were herded out after a blessing for the entire group and giving 'Peace be with you' greetings to those around us. I took some great pictures on the way out. So I went to Catholic mass in the most famous church in the world. Its a shame I couldnt understand most of it.

Castel Sant'Angelo - A castle in the heart of a city!

I had the afternoon free and decided to instead just look at the outside, I should see the inner chambres of the imfamous castle. It was a great way to beat the heat too!

The splendid fortress of Castel Sant'Angelo was originally built as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian in 139 CE. In the 10th Century CE it was transformed into a castle, then, 500 years later, into the elegant residence of Pope Alexander VI Borgia. Michelangelo designed the marvelous main court for Pope Leo X and many of the rooms inside are decorated with frescoes of great beauty. It is also been used to house prisoners, including the sculptor Benvenuto Cellini. The terrace offers a fine view of the river Tiber and opera lovers will know that this was where the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Tosca (1900) took place. The building is now a museum with a fine collection of suits of armor. There wasnt too much to look at in terms of museum quality collectibles but the feeling you had in the castle was well worth the entry fee. There was a lovely snack bar at the top with tables available under a trellis of plants. The view from the terrace was really beautiful - you could see most of the major monuments of Rome from there. I am already designing my country home..

un caffe, per favore

I am sure you all are aware that coffee is a large part of Italian culture. I bet they have just as many kinds of coffee drinks as pasta! I often go out for coffee with colleagues and realized just how ignorant I was to this part of their culture - such as having cappucino is a faux pas after lunch or dinner. So i did a bit of research and here are the new terms i learned:

• caffè (espresso)—a small cup of very strong coffee, i.e., espresso
• caffè Americano—American-style coffee, but stronger; weaker than espresso and served in a large cup
• caffè corretto—coffee "corrected" with a shot of grappa, cognac, or other spirit
• caffè doppio—double espresso
• caffè freddo—iced coffee
• caffè Hag—decaffeinated coffee
• caffè latte—hot milk mixed with coffee and served in a glass for breakfast
• caffè macchiato—espresso "stained" with a drop of steamed milk: small version of a cappuccino
• caffè marocchino—espresso with a dash of hot milk and cacao powder
• caffè stretto—espresso with less water; rocket fuel!
• cappuccino—espresso infused with steamed milk and drunk in the morning, but never after lunch or dinner
• granita di caffè con panna—frozen, iced beverage (similar to a slush, but ice shavings make it authentic) and topped with whipped cream
• caffe con crema-hot espresso with a dolop of your choice of gelato in the middle
  

With this vocab, you all can order like a local! I think i will have to buy an Italian stove top coffee pot or Moka Pot as they are called as well- they know how to do coffee here = )

An artsy side of Roma

A very warm evening in Roma, I decided to find the Piazza Navona home to the Nettuna Fountain and art lovers. I strolled down via Pietra by sketches and paintings of famous Roman momuments and stubbled upon a large open area full of people, artists easels, musicians, and carnies. Piazza Navona is known as the best place to buy local artwork and it showed. People were drawing charictures and architecture there on the spot- and the talent was visible everywhere you looked. Just north of the piazza there is a fun toy shop. It hosted dolls, cars, and wooden and metal toys that may be centuries old. I had fun perusing through the different kinds of toys as the owner had a watchful eye on my bag - schmuk. After that, I walked through the Piazza Fiamette where a friend of my cousin has a restaurant. I wanted to introduce myself but lo! I picked the only day of the week when it was closed = ( So I went to the Tevere river instead and crossed the Umberto I bridge that has an excellent view of St Pietro cathedral to the west. I followed the murky green water, passed several house boats and animals (even a beaver!) up to the Piazza de Popolo to find a great surprise.

Carvaggio was an Italian baroque painter, who was the most revolutionary artist of his time and the best exemplar of naturalistic painting in the early 17th century. Originally named Michelangelo Merisi, Caravaggio was born September 28, 1573, in the Lombardy hill town of Caravaggio, from which his professional name is derived. Orphaned at age 11, he was apprenticed to the painter Simone Peterzano of Milan for four years. At some time between 1588 and 1592, Caravaggio went to Rome and worked as an assistant to Giuseppe Cesari, also known as the Cavaliere d'Arpino, for whom he executed fruit and flower pieces (now lost). I was fortunate to see some of his famous work in a church off the Piazza de Popolo this week = ) Many people come to Rome just to see the sights where his work still hangs. They are beautiful but due to my lack of art knowledge and the fact the mass kicked me out of the church, i dont have much to say about them. Google Carvaggio and decide for yourself!

Parks, Irish Pubs, and 'Hidden' Rome

When i was in Paris years ago, i was feeling a bit lonely so I went to the Disney Store on Les Champs d'Elysee and bought a hefalump to be my sleeping buddy. In Rome there is a Disney Store as well on via del Corso so i went to find what other character I could add to my collection. I fell for Roo the Kangaroo also from Winnie the Pooh (wow poetic huh?). Sadly though, it was 19 € , and i could not bring myself to spend over $25 on a little stuff toy. Ill just have to find real friends.
This week was a bit more busy and fun. I decided to go to a new part of Rome everyday after work. The most notable discovery this week was the 'central park' of the city called Villa Borghese. In this large heart shaped park, you can find museums, music auditoriums, and above all some peace and quiet away from the bussle of the city. It was very nice to wander near the lake and see the calmer side of the city for a few hours. Another evening, along with some coworkers, we took slices of pizza and ate on the Spanish steps to people watch. The European cup is coming to a close and Germany played Portugal. Several of my colleagues went to an Irish pub to watch the action and have a few pints! The bar was packed with German fans and due to the warm weather, the beer went down easily. Needless to say, I missed my last train and crashed at my friends for the night, dragging into work the next day wearing the same clothes and red eyes. Oh to be young. A different day, I scoped out the Auditorium here in Rome where most of the musical events happen. Next week for example Alanis Morrisette is going to playing there.
When the weekend hit so did the real heat. Saturday night my roommate arranged to meet some of her friends from college out for pizza. Our reservation got pushed back to 1030p to eat in the Parco Torlonya where Mussolini has a home. Our group of six, five Italians and me, ate our thin crust pizza in open air followed by limoncello (a strong lemon flavored liquor) bitters, and coffees. I think i finally made it back near 4am after a lovely glass of red wine (Morenilli) from Tuscany, champagne to celebrate a birthday, and a croissant with nutella. (mmm) Italians eat quite late compared to us Americans. I was famished by 8pm!
The 'Hidden Rome Tour' took up most of Sunday. A fellow intern and I, were guided by a local Roman - Francesco- who also works with the WHO. He drove us all over the city to the parts were tourists rarely see yet are very special indeed. Rome is known as the city of seven hills and was born between three of them. We visited four of them during this tour - all with impeccable views of the city below. A few of the hills show monuments for the founding fathers of the Rome Republic - Garibadi, Cavour, and Mazzini. Aventina boasts a huge monument of Garibaldi who was known as the arm of the city, Cavour the brain - never used force to implement his policies unlike Garibaldi, and Mazzini the heart. Also on the hills are the rich neighborhoods of Rome where you can find embassies, mansions, and beautiful churches and monasteries. We stopped at a monastery and peered through the keyhole to a beautiful garden of the Malta embassy. On Hill Gianicolo is where its thought that Peter was killed on an upside down cross.

We also toured a few secluded neighborhoods that date back hundreds of years including San Saba. You can immediately tell when you are in a modern or ancient area of the city. The architecture changes the materials and colors used. One of the neighborhoods were built like american cooperatives. I took several pictures to use for the design of my house one day = ). Near Piazza Vittorio we stopped for lunch. This area is one of most ethincally diverse neighborhoods of Rome where Indian, Chinese, and African immigrants come to hang their hats. We ate at an incredible Indian food restaurant that reminded me of being back home. Later in the day, Francesco has one more big surprise for us. He drove to the SE corner of the city to the Parco Dellappia Antica where you can find an original foot path to the city that goes on for miles. The great part of this park is the ancient aqueducts ! I got some amazing shots and heard interesting stories about illegals using the aqueducts as one wall of their huts to survive. Prostitution was also rampant in that part of time back in the day. Francesco grew up nearby so showed us little nooks and crannies I bet few people know about. After five hours in 84 degree heat, we parted ways. What an incredible experience- I am so lucky to have a local roman show me around!

The Adriatic Sea

No doubt about it - i must live near the ocean! I am feeling particularly refreshed after this weekend. As a result of my down and homesick week, I decided to get a change of scenery and visit an old friend in Pescara, Italy. As luck would have it, Pescara is located on the eastern coast of Italy on the Adriatic Sea about 2.5 hours from Rome by bus. I left early Saturday morning and was welcomed by my Italian friend Licia, her family, and her boyfriend Paolo. Even though it was pouring, we found a way to visit the city, the nearby village of Ortuno, and the beaches and ports. The sea was brillant color blue and the coasts have lovely cliffs that reminded me of Senegal. People from all over Europe flock to Pecsaras beaches for holidays. The water so warm-like bath water! I found a silver cross necklace on the beach that day- i think my luck is changing... In the evening, they took me to a restaurant for local food. We had beef kebabs, fries, and beer - i felt right at home! After dinner we strolled along the boardwalk that follows the coasts eating ice cream and discussing all good things Italian and American.
The following day was beautiful so we headed down to the sand right after breakfast. We stopped to see all the yachts in the tourist harbor and strolled in the glorious sun. I was really happy to have spent a lovely weekend seaside with a now good friend. I spent time with her italian family and that is always a great experience to see how the locals live. I didnt want to come back to Rome at the weekends conclusion, but i did.

Piramide, FAO, and San Gio - Who?

So work was slow one day and i wanted to check out the Food and Agriculture Organization (cuz i might work for them one day) to visit their English library. The structure isnt so interesting and sadly I arrived when the library was not open to the public! I thought I didnt come all that way for nothing, so i snuck in past the guard and saw i must say a pathetic library compared to the ones at UW-Wisconsin. After a quick stroll through the building, I realized i had a bit of time so decided to see why one of the metro stops was called piramide. Was there in fact a pyramid? YES THERE WAS! The pyramid was included in the Aurelian Walls, and is close to Porta San Paolo. The pyramid is a funerary monument built about 12 BC as a tomb for Caius Cestius, a member of one of the four great religious corporations at Rome and is made out of white marble. The Roman Empire had conquered Egypt a few years before, in 30 BC, and the ancient culture of the new province became fashionable for a while; at any rate the tomb is unique among ancient Roman monuments. It was a nice surprise after a tough week.
Earlier this week, i had another nice surprise. I was wandering in a new part of the city and came across a beautiful church! Later i looked it up and discovered it was the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano - the oldest and ranks first among the four patriarchal churches of Rome; it is the head of all churches throughout Rome and the world. Originally the palace of Constantine, it was later adapted to serve as the church of the Pope. Not a bad discovery i must say! http://rome.arounder.com/san_giovanni_in_laterano/index.html

Italian remarks on america

Starbucks was here for a few months then promptly closed. McDonalds is found in several piazzas with higher prices and better quality food -yet you pay for the ketchup. Italy is against letting to many foreign (including Spanish Zara) companies in. They hope to keep Italy -Italy.
Bush is here in Rome this week to urge Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to expand his military support in the Middle east and to visit with the Pope.... and the Romans were waiting Monday, ready to protest his presence here, the fact that 3,000 parking spots were vacated for his arrival and as well as the blocked cell phone signals he caused. 10,000 extra cops are in the city this week due to Bushs visity so as you can see Italy is not exactly Bushs best buddy these days.

Forza Italia!

The great part about June, is the European soccer tournament (Europai 2008)! From the 7th until the 29, there are matches almost every night to see who is the european champion. Last night, my roomate and i huddled around the Italy vs Netherlands game in our flat as people from all over europe on vacation or business in Rome gathered in bars to cheer on their favorite. Sadly, the Netherlands had a solid game and came out victorious 3-0 against the Italians. The enthusiaum of soccer in unavoidable here and I have gotten hooked on watching the matches (george and benn i think you have something to do w/ this!). Im going to root for Italy and France since they are close to home for me now and when they play each other on the 17th -let the best team win = ) Check out all the details on the tournament at http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/

a word about transport and 'foreign food'

I use the public transportation everday in Rome to reach my destination. I must say that without it i would be completely lost as far as getting around but I also need to say that if you come here , you must experience it. Not because its a hoot and a holler, but because its an unpleaseant but large part of the big city culture. Imagine yourself a sardine, pinned on either side by fishy smelling Italians. They naturally have their armpits exposed as they hang onto the overhead bar and have no qualms about practically massaging you with their failing appendages as the train or bus jolts. I am sure that Italians wear deoderant and perfume and unlike that old cliche - Europeans dont always smell. But the transportation is always cramped and the bodies created quite the sauna. Everyone sweats, i just think Italians have the best genes for it. So needless to say, I dont exactly look forward to my 45 minute commute twice a day.

Rome is quite the international city and hosts a variety of cusines. You can eat Indian, Chinese, Sushi, Mediteranean, etc. On the via Veneto where the United States Embassy is you will see the Cafe de Paris, and even A Hard Rock Cafe! I checked out the menu as I walked by and it will cost you 13,75€ (about $22) for a normal hamburger. This is the only 'American' restaurant besides McDonalds listed in the WHERE magazines special dining issue. As far as sweets are concerned, you can stop just about anywhere for something terribly bad for you. The infamous gelato is found everywhere, baked goods like sweet crossaints and cream puffs made daily tempt you from behing glass cases, and so far my favorite the Lindt Chocolate bins at Termini train station. In the Lindt shop, you can go in and scoop your favorite varieties of Lindt roulettes into plastic sacs by the kilo! Its like jelly bean bins at home but with the best chocolates in the world = )

Pizza is THE fast food here-found on every corner and sold by weight. I have had some terrible pizza that was almost too salty to eat (ham) and i have also had some tasty slices with lots of tomatoe sauce and vegetables. So be picky about your piece and you will land on a good kind.
I have discovered some other Italian foods that I do quite enjoy. Pasta tomatoe and fresh mozzarella salad, tiramisu, and McDonalds Italian version of baked goods are quite nice. Ill be sure to talk about Italian cuisine in the future but for now I think France has this country beat.

Getting Involved - As an expat

In my last entry i was feeling a bit down and lonely due to my language frustration and the fact I dont know anyone here. So to beat those blues, I decided I had to stop living like a visitor and start living like an expat. In Rome there is an enormous expatriate community. My Irish colleague informed be about the American and Irish Clubs of Rome. They plan numerous events and provide support for expats in the area. It is hard to determine who is Italian and who immigrated here for other reasons because it is such and international city.
So to my movement to 'get involved' started Friday night. The ladies in the WHO office arranged a girls night out. So at 6p we went for drinks in the place where Tom Hanks was spotted earlier that day. He is currently in Rome filming for Angels and Demons. After that, we went to Sex and the City in its original version with Italian subtitles. It was a good girls night choice and quite funny yet dramatic. The conclusion of the movie led us to La Gustto which a very modern restaurant in the same area. The ladies had to help me translate the menu, Italians have about 50 words for pasta and 50 more for cheeses! I called it an early night since i didnt know how late the buses ran to my neighborhood. One metro was already closed so i had about a half hour walk to the other which stops at 1am. The walk allowed me to see the sights of the ancient city at night which are all lit up. It was a great night. Then, luckily the bus runs all night so i made it home just fine and met a nice french speaking Tunisian man on the way to boot.
Saturday after chilling all day with a sore throat and ear ache (either the pollution is getting to me or some teeth are coming in) I went out to a typical European saturday outing location. IKEA. My roomie, her boyfriend, and a spent hours there - it was a good thing there are beds in the store = )
I also heard that the Irish club was hosting a picnic this weekend at the Irish College downtown. The college has about 50 students from all over studying to be a priest. The grounds of the college were perfect for a picnic full great foods, sack and egg, races, and table triva! I spent several hours meeting Irish expats who live in Rome for a variety of reasons and who work in diverse areas. It was a lovely day hearing about the many success stories of foreigners moving and loving Italy. The American Club has a big 4th of July celebration planned and I already have a date. Even though my italian is slowly improving, it feels really great to meet new people that i can completely communicate with.
On the way home, I had a run in with the cops. I am technically not a resident here because my stay is less than three months. I have however the metro pass for a resident recommended by my roomate because its cheaper. I was stopped to see my pass in the metro. If they discover foreigners with such passes there is a hefty fine. The policeman eyed me for a good 5 seconds and then asked me for my identity card (well i think thats what he said cuz he didnt have any objections when i then gave it to him). I gave him my university ID for some reason i thought it would be more believable..He studied for a moment, then me a bit more as i thought 'dont talk, dont panic, dont show fear!' and he said ok and let me pass. WHEW! I think what saved me is my Italian last name - the ID clearly has university of WISCONSIN in huge letters. Hurray! I can blend in!

and the honeymoon is over ....

I said this before, and ill say it again - at one point when you travel and have an extended stay you will hit a wall. This is the end of the honeymoon stage. Things are no longer exciting and interesting. You realize that this new existence is your norm to bear for how ever long you are staying in that location. For me, 2 months more, which seems long considering ive been in Rome less than a week and already feel like that if ive seen one church and piazza, ive seen them all. I would love to continue to visit new places and try new foods but the mighty euro is killing me. If these feelings were not enough to get me down, i think i ripped someone off today as well and feel really bad about it. I went to buy a slice of pizza and went to pay but didnt have exact change. I know he asked if i had a certain coin but Im sure if i gave him too much and he didnt have the change or I i didnt give him enough. Frustrated, I stormed off with the pizza and now feel i need to go explain myself. This pizzeria is in my neighborhood so im likely to go again - but not if they think i steal! Granted, it was only about 4 cents but still! When i get tired, I do not have the patience to figure out a new language. Furthermore, the pizza wasnt to my liking. It was super salty and had no tomato sauce on it whatsoever. (can you tell im cranky at the moment?)

I was pretty tired by then because I did explore a new area of Rome today after work. From my office, I walked to the Pantheon which is a building in Rome which was originally built as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome. It is the best preserved building in Rome and the Pantheon has been used as a christian church since the seventh century. I then meandered to the Piazza San Marco & Church de San Marco. I think there are over 800 churches in Rome alone so there is now way im going to see them all! Right next door is the Piazza Venezia and la Vittoriano or (National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II). This momument cuts into the side of Hill near the forum, is all in white marble, and honors the first king of unified Italy. Very beautiful indeed. I then wandered back to the roman forum for a while, through a public park were many kids were playing basketball, and finally to metro to head home (after two hours my feet were sore). Even with all these new discoveries though, I cant help but feel lonely. Everywhere you look in Rome there is couple making out or enjoying the sites together-it truly is a romantic scene. I think this trip maybe the last one i do alone.

Festa della Repubblica & WHO

Today was a national holiday in Italy to celebrate the independence of the Republic. So many things were closed, people had the day off, yet I have to report to work = ) While the city was congregated around the coloseum to watch an extravagant parade full of beautiful men in uniform, i was meeting everyone in the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe aka my new prison. No, i shouldnt be so negative, I was actually pleasantly surprised at how friendly and welcoming everyone was and that the office was normal and not HUGELY WHO. After the tour and necessary paperwork, I met with my new boss - Dr Kruse. Originally from Norway, she has her DVM and her PHD. This women is very bright and has a laundry list of interesting positions shes held all over the world. She even worked for the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for a time in the states and claims she has strong professional connections there = ). I think im going to like working with her. Shes outgoing and very knowledgeable and isnt afraid to leave me to work independently. Dr. Kruse took me out for lunch today as well and actually believed i spokeIitalian after i ordered! I guess maybe i dont sound that bad after all. My first day was typical, intros, paperwork, and a lot of reading about the food safety programme in Europe. I met a really nice german intern and an irish women active with the American club here in rome (dont ask me, i dont get it either) so things are looking good = )

First Impressions of Roma

Milanos train tracks led me to Roma Termini, my new home, and my new roomate. I arrived in Rome friday evening to a smiling italian girl named, Stefania. She is a friend of a friend who offered to be my roomate this summer for a tidy sum. After we came to the appartment, I feel like its a steal! The place is super modern, chic, and I love it. There is a common area colored with red and black (ei the kitchen cuboards are all dark red), one large bedroom for us to share, a balcony, and a nice sized bathroom. Its clean, bright, and im happy to have it. My roomate is absolutely adorable too. She comes from southern italy and has worked as an architect in Rome for four years now. Her hospitality has been wonderful. She made us dinner my first night and helped me figure out the transport system to my job. She even went grocery shopping and bought my ticket for the metro for me. I am really lucky to have such a caring person around - especially since when i speak italian, its really hard to be understood. This language is all about intonation - so if you dont stress the right part of the word, no one understands you. So frustrating.
Yesterday, Stefania went to her parents place due to an Italian national holiday June 2. Therefore, I had my first weekend in Rome all on my own. The first day i didnt do a lot. I took care of my bags, spoke to my only french speaking italian friend on the phone, and walked around the neighborhood trying to memorize it. It seems if i need anything from a pedicure to a new pair of glasses - its all within a few blocks. After a lazy evening in eating Swiss chocolate, watching MTV Cribs in English, and talking online, I turned in early because Sunday i had some serious plans. Sunday morning, I went to town to find out where my office was located. So taking Stefanias advice i first took the bus, then the metro and then another metro to le Piazza Spagna (Spain Square). It turns out i will be walking by the infamous Spanish steps everyday i go to work! The WHO office is nearby in a large yellow bland building. After i found the place, I visted the Fountain of Trevi often seen in movies and ate my lunch there surrounded by tourists from all over the world. I dont know how many languages I heard! After lunch, I wandered back to the metro and decided that for the rest of the day I wanted to see the Coloseum.
As I came out of the metro, my eye caught the historical Coloseum and at that moment my breath was taken away! There is nothing like seeing it in person (you all have to visit rome). I stumbled upon a guided tour that left minutes later so i was immediately shuffled inside ahead of the long line of visitors. I visited the site with a group of enlish speakers and heard about the numerous uses of the coloseum (originally called the Flavian Ampitheater) and restorations over the years. The coloseum could hold over 50,000 spectators. Once entirely covered in marble, it was stripped during the Renaissance of its precious materials included marble and bronze. Gladiators and wild animals were the stars of the spectacles and water battles were also showcased here by flooding the lower levels and bringing in ships through the arches. Do you know that men and women were not allowed to sit together? Due to the sexual freedom of the day, women were seated in the fourth tier to avoid any public displays of ..... The coloseum was truly a sight to behold and pictures do not do it justice. After that, I went across the street to visit the Roman Forum - the origin site of the birth of rome, and Palatine Hill known to be the place where emporers built their palaces. These two sites were incredible, a bit eery even. Some of the marble walkways are still there from over 2700 years ago when Rome was born. The ruins of the senate house, emperors palaces, and chariot racing stadium made me wonder what life was like for royalty back then. Fanned by slaves, hand fed grapes, watching the best roman soldiers battle each other and exotic creatures. Rough, im sure = ) You know that saying 'all roads lead to rome'? Well i saw the road that ends all roads to rome. The original street is believed to still exist in the forum. Hows that for creepy?

The trek to Italia- Milano per favore

After a week of gluttony and relaxation, i continued my travels to the fashion capital of the world -Milan! It was about a four hour trip by train from my corner of France to Milan. Luckily, I arranged to have an old jolly man waiting for me at the station there. My grandpas family on my dad side is originally from Milano and came to Monroe Wisconsin in the 1950's to make parmaesan chesse. Some of our relatives still there and so I arranged to meet and stay w/ them for 2 days. My distant relative Sandro met me at the station. Sandro used to work for UPS in public relations. His English was impeccable and he had so many wonderful stories about traveling the world and opportunities he took advantage of. For example, he drove an indy car in Indianapolis and sat in the Air Force's F4 Phantome jet! Anyway, Sandro took me to there 3 story house in the suburbs where I met his mother-in-law Rosie (my grandfathers 1st cousin) her two daughters, Fluvia and Nella, and all four of their children, Robert, Stefano, Laura (30), Marta (23), Stefanos girlfriend Vanessa, and Lauras boyfriend, Masssimo. I had a 4 course meal with them that night including pasta pomodora, proscuitto & melon, pineapple, and apple cake. We drank regular and sparkling red wine, strong italian coffee, and sambusca - an famous anis flavored liquor in Italia that knocks your socks off! The conversation was a mix of English and Italian. Only the three young girls, Nella and Sandro knew any english so it was a comedy of errors. I was so happy to have the experience of our cultures mixing, to laugh with my cousins, and to discuss the worlds problems from a European and American viewpoint. American film, tv shows and music are universal, therefore we compared favorite singers and actors, and declared our desire to see the new Sex and the City movie. I felt really comfortable and at home. That night, i stayed in the same flat with Rosie who does not speak a word of English. We had some trouble communicating, but bear in mind that people are people no matter what they speak or where they live. With a little respect, patience, and lots of gestures, we actually became close by the end of my second day. Rosie gave me the best gift ever for my train trip to Rome. She gave me a huge box of Lindt Chocolates! How she knew that is my favorite is beyond me, but we had a connection it seemed and I felt a twinge of sadness leaving her. I think she even said the next time i come, hoping it would be for my honeymoon, she might not be there....
Early the next day, Sandro took me to the station where i deposited my bag, and then to down town Milan to explore. I first discovered the Costello (castle) Sforzesco where Da Vinci had his studio at one time. It is one of Milans best known monuments and was damaged in WWII and was orginally built to defend against the Venetians. I only took a look before going to the Duomo. The Duomo is the second largest church in Italy. It was inspired by the work of Michaelangelo and has beautiful views of the city from its rooftop. So i took the elevator to the top and took some amazing snap shots! The flying buttresses were so beautiful - i cant wait to see the photographs. After the church, I wandered in the fashion district of Milan near Teatro (theater) alla Scala (a very well known opera house) and to a galleria (covered outside mall) of shops like Prada, Louis Vuitton and to street via Monte Napoleone where shops like Cartier boast extreme prices and beautiful wares. Needless to say, I didnt buy anything but enjoyed window shopping among some of the most expensive brands in the world. My day in Milan ended with lunch in the public park and walking back to Milano Centrale, the train station. Although my stay in Milan was brief, i feel i was able to experience the best it has to offer. Between a day with my family and a day in the center I was able to get a good feel of what the place was about. Industry. Fashion. Somewhere that I dont think I would want to live but maybe will visit again someday.

Time with old friends and former collegues

During my week vacation in France, I have also had the opportunity to see my adopted families and my former collegues at the school where i taught. During my last stay here, I met an American family who invited me every week to church and then to their house for lunch. They took me out for lunch one day to a nice french restaurant called Les Veilles Prison (the old prison) within the winding streets of Annecy. It was so nice to catch up with them and they purchased my *cultural* meal of what the french call *friture* I wasnt sure what that was but now I know it is basically fried minnows they catch from the nearby lake! In short, they were not that great but an experience nonetheless. After lunch, we did a bit of window shopping and discussed the diffulties of french life and cultural differences that take years if not your lifetime to understand. For the past few days, i have been staying with my french family in the little town in the mountains. They picked me up and took me spulunking in a small cave in the alps near Seynthenex. The people in this part of France are so active! My pants were loose before from grad school but now they practically fall off with all the walking and activity im doing! The hike by the cave was beautiful complete with waterfall and flora and fauna. I did slip at one point and caught myself with one arm centimeters away from falling in the mud!
I also visited my former place of employment, Lycee Rene Perrin. It has been a joy to suprise my former coworkers and students. Everyone has been happy to see me and have invited me for a meal or coffee. Word of my arrival has traveled fast. I went to buy a newspaper from my fav tabac shop and they knew i was here! I also went to an english teachers house for dinner one night and met her 8 month old baby. It seems that all my good friends here are either pregnant or just had a baby. No worries though im definately not ready for that yet.
Its a good thing im walking as much as i am! French food as the rumor states is so good and good for you. I have had quiche, veal, tarte aux pommes et fraises, french bread (which is what i missed the most), chocolate mousse, all sorts of wine and raqulette -le regional dish of cheese and potatoes. Life is always beautiful when youre on vacation, but especially beautiful when youre in the French Alps.

My weekend in France w the boys

Last thursday i arrived in Europe to start my summer internship with the WHO. The first thing I want to comment on is how fun it is to travel internationally! You never know who you will meet and it all starts with your plane buddy. This trip from chicago to amsterdam and then to geneva, I met a Nigerian professor of philosphy who has his own ngo (and asked my advice about training african doctors) and then a woman who has a son that works for CARE. A well known international ngo that aims to take care of poor children. So right off the bat, I have 2 interesting contacts that could help me down the road one way or another = )
When i reached Geneva, I knew i was in Europe because all the trains were on strike! Protests, strikes, and demonstrations are not uncommon here. In fact, a few days later i ran into a group of protestors on the street who were all dresssed in black. It was a bit frightening but they were just there to raise awareness about the small salaries of teachers. Anyhow, I took the bus instead of the train into Annecy, France that evening after spending the afternoon in Switzerland and was well received by a former student of mine, Nicolas. Annecy, is known as the venice of France. It has canals running through it due to the snow melting from the alps- its so beautiful. Nicolas had dinner prepared for us and took me shopping the next day for a few things i had forgotten. The whole weekend was filled with visiting with 4 former students of mine. We went to a Orange themed party, to a discotheaque to dance both nights, and the beach. It was quite interesting to see young french people interact - especially drunk young french people. One guy offered me oral sex and asked me to follow him into the bathroom! A cutltural experience i guess. With all this partying and sleeping until noon everyday, im never going to adjust to the time change!

The beginning of the end

Graduation is only a few short weeks away. I have realized that I am only pages away from finishing my final projects and can not believe I am so far ahead. Maybe panicking a bit last month was just what I needed? I doubt it. Good thing that therapy here is included in the student seg fees. A bit of counseling has got me back on track. There is no shame in getting some help when you need it people! Anyhow, I almost have my masters degree and have been looking for job opportunities all around the world. Entry level positions (at no matter what level you are education wise) seem to be few and far between. I guess i shouldnt expect the perfect job to fall into my lap, but jeez. The degree was suppose to be the golden ticket! Then reality sits in.... My sister and I will be graduating the same weekend. My family is scheduled to attend her commencement ceremony (its her first degree after all) and then we are all going to a nice dinner together in a historical site here in Wisconsin. This restaurant used to be a farm house and barn made out of stone that has an underground tunnel between the two. It is going to be great people, a great ambiance, and two great reasons to celebrate - we will be done! A few short days after, I will be taking that jet plane to Geneva Switz where i will venture into France to visit old friends before continuing to Rome. I must admit that my life sounds pretty damn unbelievable. I often forget how lucky i am to partake in such adventures that on top of being a great time, add to my resume!
I just read 'The Last Lecture' by Randy Pausch. He's a former professor from Carnegie Mellon who was recently diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and has a few short months left here. He talks about the importance of taking advantage of his time left by being upbeat for his children and enjoying his time with his family. I think that I have been living like im dying since my mother passed in '99. It seems like i can not slow down. I feel this urgency to acheive my dreams, visit every where i want to, to pack it all in because i just dont know when it will be my moment to join her. It is a great thing to be proactive, but i may have missed out on some small things along the way. I am so intent on the next thing, that i glaze over the end of the current task. I am going to make a more conscience effort to live in the now as well as plan that next great thing. Its a journey right? Not just the destination.

Family Ties - bring on the scissors

So im sure you all have that one relative who asks too many questions, calls too often, and is generally trying always to get in your business. Lets just say i have one too and today ive taken a vow to stop being so assertive and such an emotional push over. I need to break free from the guilt trip persuasive methods of this person and remember what is good for ME. Nothing irks me more than people who dont keep their word.

Bienvenue

This is the sequel to my first blog (found at carolfieurope@blogspot.com) that will follow my life after graduate school forward. I hope you enjoy reading about the trials i face as a new grad my travels, and my career. Feel free to leave comments on my posts and contact me if you'd like!