Getting Settled, and Initial Differences

Seeing as I've been in Rome since Tuesday morning, and it is now Saturday, I guess I better write a post :)

I'm not sure where to start, but I guess I'll start with my flight. We got in about an hour earlier than scheduled because of tail wind, so that was pretty cool... But it was still an over-night flight, and I couldn't sleep at all! Whether from excitement or anxiousness or just from the sheer fact that airplane seats are crazy uncomfortable, I don't know... but I had no sleep. I thought that was pretty weird though, because on my 2 hour flight from Rochester to Atlanta I fell asleep in about 10 minutes! I was even sitting in a center seat on that flight and I could still fall asleep.

Needless to say, I was quite annoyed on my flight to Rome that I couldn't sleep, and though the elderly man next to me was very nice, I couldn't help but wishing it was Stephen in the seat next to me so I could rest my head on his arm. That's how I slept on my flight to CA and back this summer, and it worked splendidly. <3

Anyways, by the end of a sleepless flight, I felt a cold coming on... it was awful. Thank goodness this week that feeling went away after a good night's sleep, but I felt terrible once I landed in Rome.

Well, off the plane and it took me a minute to figure out where my luggage was, but really, the airport was extremely easy to navigate. Oh and customs? It was essentially nothing. I was so surprised (as were the other kids in my program) to see that walking out the exit where the customs officers were standing was no problem. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to go up to them and say hey, I'm leaving, but they didn't seem interested, so I just walked out. Yep. That's all it was. I just walked out. One guy did look at my passport before I could go through to where the luggage belts were, but even he barely glanced at it! Why we needed a visa I'll never know, because I didn't have to show it to anyone.


Well, that was getting here... since then I've settled into my apartment, and gotten a tour of the Colosseum as well as a lot of Rome. Unfortunately, the main center of Rome is very touristy, so finding places that is NOT all american students is a little difficult... but then again, it's barely been a week, so I'm sure that we will find things soon enough.

I don't have much more to say now, I'll be posting pictures to face book soon and you can all look through those, but the only other thing I really want to highlight is a major cultural difference...

Romans have quiet hours that are enforced by law. Now, the general times are in the afternoon from, 1:00pm-4:00pm, and then in the night from 11:00pm-8:00am. It's really interesting... I knew that they had the afternoons off for business, but I never imagined that it was a law to have quiet during those hours! Just so you don't think it's more extreme than it really is... it's actually not all that intrusive. It's not like it's silent during those times, there are still people out doing things and driving around. I think it's more for in the apartment buildings, people are respectful and quiet for their neighbors. The american students (luckily not my apartment, or my roommates) really make themselves known by being too loud at night when they come home... It may seem weird to Americans, but for Italians there is much more respect for neighbors' peace and quiet.

I've always known it, but it's so much more obvious here how flashy and showy us Americans like to be. Everything is loud, even talking on the street in normal voices we seem loud compared to the Italians walking by us. Not always, but often.

5, 4, 3, 2, 1... GO!

So long USA!!

Well, almost that is... I'm currently sitting in the Atlanta airport, waiting. Luckily I don't have to wait long, we'll board the plane in about a half hour, then I'll be on my way to Rome for the semester!

Many emotions came up on the way, when I first got the the airport at Rochester this morning I realized finally that I wouldn't see Stephen, or anyone else for 4 months. It was very sad, and I almost didn't know what to do. Luckily Stephen called me and he reassured me that this was going to be fun, and I remembered that I had actually DECIDED to go, I wasn't being forced to leave the country :)

Then I got on my flight to Atlanta, met a very nice lady on the plane and chatted for a bit, then found my way around the Atlanta airport. For everyone who's been telling me that flying on your own isn't hard and I'll be fine, you were right! I knew you were, but I feel great being able to travel and I am no longer nervous for anything else about getting to Rome. Granted it will be much different when I am in a foreign country, but I'm no more nervous for customs than I was for regular security so it will be perfectly fine.

Anyways, considering I'm still not out of the country I don't have much to say!

See ya soon!

Less than a week to go...

So, first blog entry -- I'm feeling pressure.

On Monday morning (in about SIX days) I am boarding a plane and leaving the country to spend an entire semester in Rome, Italy.

I decided that now was a good time to start my blog... Though I'm not a writer, I thought it would be a nice way for those of you at home to keep up with what I'm doing for the next four months. I know some who will appreciate it greatly, and this way I don't have to incessantly post to Facebook in order for them to know what I'm up to.

So, for travelers, this last week is like crunch time. I have to pack up enough stuff to last me through four months of living abroad, plus do all of the other random preparations, in a week. However, I also have plans to visit with my grandparents and other family members before I go, so I really only have tomorrow and Sunday to get everything put together.

It's doable.

Honestly, I am not worried about this trip much at all. I mean, I know that I will probably be freaking out on Monday, wishing that Stephen was there to lead the way around the airport and go through customs ahead of me, but I know that it will all turn out fine anyways. God has really provided His peace for me this last week, and I know that it is going to be an awesome semester. But, for now, I need to sleep and we'll see how stressed I am by the end of the day tomorrow after I try and get a lot packed...