It's almost been a month since I landed in Rome. The experience so far has been unbelievable. I honestly learn/see something new everyday. While I do miss some of the conveniences we have in the US, and the school services that NU provides, I think it's great learning about another country's culture. I'm seeing a unique aspect of the culture by having the opportunity to live in this city and experience it first hand. I feel I am really benefiting from what Italy has to offer by studying here. I am lucky and blessed to have this opportunity.

School hasn't been too bad. I'm finally getting a routine going and really adjusting to how other people live here. Rome almost has two sides to it. Life in the morning is full with people running errands, doing their grocery shopping at the many farmers' markets, or socializing with friends at a cafe. However, the bustle is different. It has a certain calm to it. People seem relaxed, and friendly with each other, so it feels like a very small community. Nightlife is a different story. People seem to come out of the woodworks to experience the nightlife here. Restaurants and bars are always busy, and the city's many piazzas (fountain squares) are full of people hanging out, entertained by various street performers. The popular streets of Via Del Corso and Via Condotti, lit up by the streets' retail stores, are filled with tourists and locals alike. The nightlife reminds me of the flow of big cities in the US. I find it very unique seeing how this city operates. The quieter, slower, small town-like feel of the day, and the urban hustle and bustle of the evenings.

With September passing, that leaves me with roughly two and a half weeks for this adventure abroad. Time has gone by quickly and I feel like it's going to go by even faster once I start going away for the weekends to visit other cities. All I can do is let it all soak in and appreciate everything that goes on around me.