Buon Appetito!

Last Wednesday we had our first cooking lesson with the architecture students. We joined for dinner time and prepared a typical Italian meal: as main course we had pasta alla carbonara, accompained by a rich salad with Parmigiano, pears and nuts, and the final Tiramisu’ as dessert. Useless to say that everything was dilicious!

We had a great time together: we cooked, made new friends... and tried to learn some Italian! In one word: a success! Was it because the good quality of food? Or because alternative lessons are always funny? Or because there’s a little cook inside of us?

Here in Italy, if an Italian invites you to have lunch together, inevitably he will consider you a friend. Eating together is like an initiation, something that makes us consider you as “part of a family”. And I feel that it was just the start of something good!

Quando a Roma... (When in Rome)

So much has happened since i've gotten here. That's because the days have been so busy! I'm taking Noah Godlman's advice about Rome and saving that whole sleeping routine for when we go back to the states.

The typical day includes waking up around 8 and having a bowl of cereal with way too much espresso. I spend between 4 and 8 hours in class and then return to Santa Maria in Capella to an excellent meal made by either Theresa or George Gard. We've indulged in risotto con funghi, Pork ribs wrapped in cured proscuitto,home made pizza, gnocchi, spaghetti and meatballs, and the fanciest tacos ever.

The evening entertainment has included a visit to the Leoknardo Da Vinci Invention Exhibit, discotecs, watching the Roma vs. Lazio futbol match in a bar, and 4th floor toga parties. A Friday night spent wandering Trastevere and watching street performers is still exciting. The gelato is excellent, the cafe amazing, the architecture mind boggeling. The fact that I live in a building associated with a 11C church is puzzeling.

So far, the experience of living in Rome is thrilling. I'm having more fun and learning more (more than just architecutre, but about people: how cultures shape attitudes and characters) than I ever have before. Too bad the real work hasn't yet began.. Fortunately, my teammates George, Elise, and Emily have us on track!

Campo de' Fiori: a slice of daily life!

The best way to get to know a city is trying to interact with its inhabitants. And the street market is no doubt one of the best places to do so! This is why we decided to organize a tour at the market of Campo de’ Fiori, one of the most famous and ancient of Rome.

As a matter of fact, besides being one of the night spots that young people like the most thanks to its numerous square-side cafés, pubs and bars, Campo de’ Fiori is a slice of daily life, the most genuine portrait of a city that is slowly being swallowed by the fast rhythm and the chaos of our times and that here, instead, seems to go back to its past and traditions.

The Pantheon Institute students demonstrated quite a bit of interest for this initiative: walking with me and Alessia thought the market stands, they had the chance to practice their Italian while buying fresh fruits and vegetables and to interact with local people.

Street markets are full of funny people…here you get to talk to persons that you would hardly meet in other places, so this was really an interesting occasion for our students to immerse themselves into the local Roman culture. And they did so without embarrassment: some of them filled up several plastic bags with fresh fruits and veggies that later coked together with their mates in the Trastevere dorm.

After doing some food shopping, me and Alessia lead the students to the famous “Forno Campo de Fiori”, a true paradise for pizza and desserts lovers. This bakery shop is definitely one of the best of the city center…it was so crowded that we had a hard time to get in!

The students bought some pizza, bread and handmade desserts…and everything was absolutely delicious!

The next step to become familiar with Italian culture will be learning how to prepare some of the most famous recipes of its culinary tradition; this is exactly the reason why we have decide to dedicate the next two weeks to a series of cooking classes that I will be arranging with the students and that will take place either at the dorm in Trastevere or at the students apartments.

Villa d'Este and Villa Adriana

Yesterday my school school went on a field trip to Villa d'este in Tivoli and Villa Adriana. We were not super excited about the field trip because we had to wake up at 7 am and we were out late the night before celebrating the end of our first week of classes. However, the trip was well worth the early wake up time. We started the day at Villa Adriana, which was a villa that Hadrian built to live and rule his empire from. It is on the outskirts of Rome, only a 30 minute drive away. It is an enormous site, filled with the ruins from Hadrian's decadent place of residence. There are many interesting things about this site, most is that only a small percentage of it is excavated yet. We saw a model of the Villa as it once stood, but only a fraction of that is visible today. Archiologists are constantly working to uncover more of this villa. The villa is amazing for architecture students in terms of construction, material, and program. I can't even describe the mass of structures that are still standing. And the villa also includes an array of underground tunnels and passageways that no one really knows what they were used for. There are also rooms that don't make any sense. We literally don't know how Hadrian lived. The most fascinating and most famous part of the villa was Hadrians island, or the Maritime theater. This was an island that Hadrian designed to be his personal getaway. He dug a moat around a small piece of land where he could go to be alone. Apparently there used to be a drawbridge that he could pull up so no one could get to him in his private island-room. It is really an amazing piece of architecture.

After Villa Adriana, we visited Villa d'este. This villa is not at all like the ruins of Hadrian's villa. Villa d'este reminded me of a mini Versallies. It is brimming with fountains and gardens built into a hillside. The villa is at the top of the hill and you must travel down several beautiful winding staircases in the garden to get to the bottom of the hill. The site is very famous for its water organ, which plays music at certain hours. I can't even describe the wonder of this place, it was truly a garden from a fairy tale. I wish I could just get lost in the garden for days and days!

Prime Impressioni Di Roma - First Impressions of Rome

Ciao! Chad and I are finally here after much anticipation and I am already falling in love.

After we got off the plane and entered through border patrol without the staff even opening our passport, we found our luggage (PHEW!) and headed out the door! Too bad we didn't know where exactly we were heading..haha. Fortunately, a nice man could tell we were lost and offered us his shuttle that would drop us off right at the hostel. Perfecto! One thing is for sure, Italian's are bold drivers- I wouldn't last a minute!

Our hostel was just as a hostel should be. A bunch of rooms with a ton of uncomfortable beds and dirty showers! The view of the Vatican from our window certainly was a highlight. We dropped our bags off and immediately headed right out the door ignoring all jet lag- we were ready to experience Roma! And since then, it's all been a (mostly) enjoyable learning and cultural experience!
I found people move fast on the road but have a more relaxed state of mind. Few traffic lights and 4 hour break in the middle of the work day is certainly a reflection of this contrasting description.When you order "un cafe", you will not be receiving a cup of watered down caffeine like we're used to in the states nor will you be sitting down to enjoy it most times. Ordering a cafe will get you a deliciously potent cup of espresso that you will drink quickly standing at the bar.

There is history around us down every alley we walk down. It's an eye opening experience to be surrounded by buildings created nearly 2000 years ago when our own country has been around for only a little over 200 years.The streets are mostly filled with apparel stores and nice sit down restaurants. Convenience shops and fast food are few and far between (which is a nice change of pace).I have tried to speak what little Italian I know wherever I go out of respect. Fortunately, many people speak English and have been patient as I struggle to explain which loaf of bread I would like to take home or how many grams of meat is appropriate to order.My biggest complaint thus far? No "American" peanut butter (as warned) and no Mountain Dew!Otherwise, I am thrilled to call Rome my home for the next few months.

Benvenuta a Roma!

Today I arrived safely in Rome after a long day of traveling. I started out my day yesterday, Thursday, January 6th, in the Providence airport and took a short flight to Philadelphia where I waited to board my flight to Rome.

As I sat waiting for my zone to be called to board, I realized that not knowing much Italian is going to be difficult. I turned to the man who was sitting next to me to ask him a question about needing to check in with the front desk at the gate. He looked at me puzzled and said "I don't speak much English." By the time I boarded the plane I realized it was no use trying to engage the man next to me in conversation. Not only did he not speak English, but he did not appear to be in a good mood. So, we sat in silence for 8 hours.

I tried so hard to sleep while on the plane yet was unable to sleep a wink. I didn't sleep much the night before in hope that would help me drift into a sound slumber. However, no matter how tried, I was the uncomfortable position of my body and neck proved to keep me awake. The flight attendants "woke" us up at 8am (2am EST) to give us a danish and coffee for breakfast.

Around 9am (3am EST) we landed in Rome. I was amazed at how beautiful and green the landscape is! It is also a beautiful 60 degrees Farenheit (a little warmer than I had anticipated). It took me a while to retreive my luggage from baggage claim and I then dashed off to terminal 3 where I was to meet a group of 21 students who were getting a shuttle to the Pantheon Institute. I went to the designated spot we were told to go to and no one was there. I knew they were to leave at 10:30am yet my watch only said 10am. Well, I decided that it was no use trying to track down a shuttle full of people I didn't know and decided to find my own way to get to the housing department, where I was to be heading. An older man who was calling taxis for people noticed me in my state of confusion and was kind enough to help. I went on a flat fee shuttle that took me straight to the housing department.

After I filled out all the necessary paperwork that was needed, I was handed the key to my apartment. The apartment is located in Trastevere in Santa Maria in Cappella in an old Roman neighborhood. The building I am living in was built in 1192 and has the largest private garden in Rome. I live with 14 other students in the fourth floor apartment and my roommate is another girl from Connecticut College. Tomorrow is the start of orientation, but right now all I am looking forward to is a good night's sleep!

Spring 2011 at the Pantheon Institute

The Spring 2011 semester has started about ten days ago and the Pantheon Institute students are already very busy with the various academic activities that have been scheduled for this term.

The first week was useful for all of our students to get to know the Professors and the courses that they had decided to attend before arriving to Rome and to do all the changes that were necessary to fix their schedule in the best way possible.

A very interesting daytrip to Villa Adriana, about 40 minutes away from Rome, took place on Friday. The Pantheon Institute students, lead by Professor Romolo Martemucci and by Professor Paulette Singley, from Woodbury University, visited this enchanting and huge Roman villa and started to become acquainted with the beauties of Rome and its surroundings.

The Pantheon Institute students will be attending architecture and landscape architecture classes but also Italian language, art history and digital photography courses; at the same time, they will have the chance to deepen their knowledge of the Italian culture and language thanks to a series of extra-curricular activities that the Pantheon Institute student services staff will be organizing throughout the semester.

As an example, a nice movie night was scheduled during the semester’s first week: we decided to screen William Wyler’s “Roman Holiday”, the film that introduced Audrey Hepburn to audiences as a modern-day princess. Among pop-corns, chips and cokes, the students had a good time watching this 1953 movie that gave them the chance to see some of the most beautiful and famous monuments of Rome…while waiting to see all of them in person!

On the other hand, we have planned a tour in one of the most famous markets of Rome for this week: Campo de’ Fiori’s! Thanks to the help of Simona and Alessia, our intern from the Roma Tre University, the Pantheon Institute students will be able to practice their Italian buying fresh fruits and vegetables, learn about local seasonal recipes and buy pizza in one of the most famous bakery shops of the city center!

The next two weeks will be dedicated to cooking classes, instead: with the help of Simona, the students will have the chance to learn how to cook a traditional Italian meal right at their place!
The Spring 2011 semester will therefore be demanding from the academic point of view but, at the same time, it will also be full of opportunities to get to know Italy, its culture and its traditions.

Cornetto Nights

The Italian version of the croissant, the cornetto in Rome, is faintly scented with orange or lemon essence and has more egg-based batter, which gives it a doughier consistency as opposed to the buttery flakiness of the French recipe.

A virtual Roman rite of passage is to leave the disco in the wee hours of the morning and have breakfast before heading home to sleep. We’re not talking the Danny’s All-American, but rather a cappuccino and the day’s first cornettos, fresh out of the oven and direct from the baker.

The address to a good cornettaro - Roman slang for the typical night-shift baker that sells croissants (usually an artisanal bakery/patisserie workshop) is worth gold. Rome is dotted with cornettari. A city ordinance scared millions of nighttime consumers in 2009 when voices started circulating that selling food in bakeries and workshops after hours was illegal.

«Il cornetto è salvo» —the croissant is saved. Rome's mayor Alemanno's thundering sentence ended the controversy lifted by news of a presumed municipal law involving historic Roman cornettari, which prohibited the sale of their tasty goods after 1:00 am. A group gathered 8000 signatures on Facebook for a picket line in Campidoglio, Rome's city hall; others feared a curfew blaming Alemanno's right wing affiliations to be returning Rome to its 20-year Fascist epoch, others simply feared the Eternal City would lose its status of cornetto capital that doesn't sleep. Whatever the political agenda, croissant bakers WILL continue to stay open and sell sweetness all night. And that's all that counts.