First Impressions

WARNING: THIS BLOG ENTRY IS NOTHING MORE THAN A STUDENT'S FIRST IMPRESSION OF A TRIP TO ROMA. NO CONNECTIONS, NO STRING-A-LONG IDEAS BETWEEN CLASS AND TRIP, NO DEEP THOUGHTS....

Now that that's out of the way...

There are no words for what it was like for me to go to Rome. It was everything I expected, everything I wanted, it was perfect (for lack of more imaginative words). I've always been interested in traveling, whether it is within the US or outside (preferably outside), because one can never really, truly appreciate anything until they see it through another culture's eyes. On a more personal note (patriots beware): I think it is every American's duty to get out of the country (Mexico and Canada do not count) and see the world so we can come to understand that we are just a small group in this big (and yet ever-shrinking) world. We can't just sit back, balance on our (old) laurels, and go around bragging about ourselves (how self centered are we?). But my politics aside...

I love Roma (yes, I call it Roma; as I call Florence Firenze). I love the food, the sights, the sounds, the architecture (oh GOD the architecture!!), the people, the language. Everything was so new and yet it was so old. So refined. So tested. So sure. Like the century old cobble stone streets, everything seemed so strong. I suppose that is why Roma is the 'Eternal City': it will always last.

I have to go back. Sooner or later, in 5 years or 10, I will somehow get back to Italy. I have yet to see Venice and Milan, and there is so much more to experience. I know that I will somehow, and it's a comforting thought. Perhaps I can talk my co-op adviser into letting me double-back my co-op and find a firm in Roma that will take me on for 6 months (and because I have plenty of time before that will happen I can teach myself more Italian). Either way, I'll be back. I will not say "Arrivederci, Roma".

So my apologies for not making connections in this post, but I assure you my next posts will include connections and deeper thoughts. However, as it is Christmas Day I am going to return to my family and enjoy a bit of well deserved R&R.