My roommates and I decided to go exploring today. We left at about 9:30 in the morning and walked all day. We meandered through the streets of Rome, stumbling upon Trevi Fountain, The Spanish Steps, Castile San Angelo, Capital Hill, and the American Embassy in our travels. We tossed our coins and took lots of pictures. After all that walking (nearly 6 hours worth), it was nice to get back to the apartment and take a small siesta. Not a bad day all together!!!

I walk through St. Peter's Square on my way to Class.

The Spanish Steps...the original stairmaster!!

Trevi Fountain...I threw my three coins in!!

Castle San Angelo

The Pantheon...Pegan temple turned Catholic Church!!

In front of the Collosseum

Posted by Toni Recca at 3:19 PM | Permalink

More orientation today!!! I took lots of pictures of John Cabot and figured out the bus systems. It was a proud day for a girl from a smaller Florida town. After this I could navigate the bus systems of New York City- piece of cake!!! A couple of friends and I also signed up for a few of the trips that are offered by JCU. We decided to go to Sicily in November and Switzerland for Thanksgiving. I can’t wait!!!

The University Entrance

Posted by Toni Recca at 3:18 PM | Permalink

Today we walked to the University where we will be attending classes. It was a long walk but the scenery was well worth it. I found out that the easiest way to get to class is through Saint Peter’s Square. We got to the University and met the John Cabot University staff and learned all of the rules and policies for the residence halls. I made friends with some people from Michigan State University and ended up hanging out with them and grabbing some dinner with three of the roommates.

The JCU students call this "top terrace"

One of the many courtyards around JCU

Not a bad place to study!!!

View from the University

Posted by Toni Recca at 3:17 PM | Permalink

After a very long airplane ride (11 hours in total), I finally landed in Rome, Italy at 7:30 in the morning local time. I was met with a burst of emotions. I was excited to finally be here, scared to have to meet new people, and sad to leave my family and friends behind. However, I plan to make the most of every single one of my 110 days in a foreign country. I started by settling myself into my room and ventured with one of my new roommates down to a little supermarket where no one spoke even an ounce of English. It was cool to hear familiar songs in the store in English and Italian. I know very little Italian but what I do know earned the respect of the people that worked there simply because I tried. We took a walking tour of the place that we will call home for the next three months and found a Gelataria with the best Nutella (brown hazelnut chocolate goo) Gelato in Rome. Figuring that we would get a little dinner to go with our dessert we stopped at a small Pizzeria and experienced a true Italian meal of vino rosso (red wine) and pizza which gave me another chance to practice my Italian. I miss my family but I can’t wait to experience all of the treasures that Rome holds for me.

Posted by Toni Recca at 3:16 PM | Permalink

In exactly 8 days I will be leaving for Europe. Wow I can’t believe how strange that sounds!! No one in my family has ever even been out of the United States. I am trying so hard to not have any expectations because I know that nothing is ever what you expect but I can’t help but think that this is going to be a huge adventure. Possibly one of the biggest adventures of my life and I am nervous, excited, anxious, and all of these questions are going through my mind. I keep rechecking my list of what to pack to see if I’ve forgotten anything. My mom says I’m driving her crazy. She’s just sad to see me go for so long. I will be in Rome for almost 4 months and that is by far the longest that I have ever been away from my parents. I live in Florida. I am literally a two hour drive away and, so, I go home a lot (what can I say sometimes you just need a parental fix and some home cooked food). Well work calls, gotta go earn some green so that I don’t bug my parents for money (and so that I have enough for some really good souvenirs).

Posted by Toni Recca at 3:13 PM | Permalink