Day 1

11:10 pm Rome time, May 18th

Ciao from Roma! I have successfully arrived in Rome and moved into my apartment! I have 4 other roommates in a 3 bedroom, one bathroom typical Italian apartment with Italian neighbors! We have a beautiful view outside our window and are right in the middle of the city business! Rome is so gorgeous... full of old buildings and trees and plants everywhere! I have, so far, learned two important things since I have been here: 1. Italians are TERRIBLE drivers. Earlier today I was exploring the city and watched a Smart Car pull fully onto the sidewalk and maneuver itself around several street poles and back onto the street in order to go around another car. A slight case of road rage, I do believe. The second important thing I've learned is how to say the word "chocolate." Cioccolato. Upon entering the most heavenly of all places in Italy, obviously a Gelato shop, I learned how to order my favorite flavor, cioccolato, very quickly. Tonight, my roommates and I joined together with another apartment of girls with my program and taught ourselves how to ride the tram and found one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen called the P.Zza Navona. Complete with sculptures, fountains, historic buildings, yummy restaurants, and performers, this area was a great place to spend our first night in Rome! Of course, I left my camera in our apartment during our dinner excursion, so I didn't get any pictures of the P.Zza Navona, but I am very confident that we will go back there... probably tomorrow night. My photo uploader is being annoyingly slow to upload my pictures, so I will post them soon when I get it working! For now, this will have to do! Now that we have figured out how to access our wireless internet, I'm hoping to update my blog often! It's safe to say that I am LOVING this city, and may never come home... just kidding, Mom and Pops! :)
For now, arrivederci!
Love, Corinne