Hello, looks like I’m due for an update. Seems all of the walking from my Venice trip aggravated my foot a lot as it is now purple! I rest it occasionally but I don’t like to stay in one place for long so it hasn’t fully recovered. My classes are going great and the tours are fantastic. In Ancient Art of Rome we looked at the site of the five Imperial Forums and imagined they were still there. It required a lot of imagination. Luckily Trajan’s Column is still standing which is one of my favorite monuments. For Bernini, we looked at the churches of Bernini and his rival, Borromini, who was a far superior architect than Bernini, in my opinion. And for Art Conservation we went to the Casino of Pope Pius IV (my gosh it was beautiful).
I’ve been here for over a month now and midterms are a week away (currently freaking out internally). But it finally hit me how long I’ve been gone and away from my friends and family. Yup, I’m homesick. Rome is a great place with the shopping, the art, and the food and I don’t regret coming here and have no intentions of calling it quits. I just miss all of the little things I left behind, joking with my sisters, home cooked meals from mom, the annoying barking of my dog, and hugs from my family and friends. I know this isn’t forever and I guarantee on my last day here, I’ll be wishing I didn’t have to leave. That’s why I’m so happy a little piece of Rollins came to Rome.
Today I had a meeting with the Head of the International Studies Program at Rollins College, Giselda Beaudin. When I was told she wanted to talk I thought it would be a very formal interview. It was my first time meeting her and I wanted to leave a good impression. But the meeting was the exact opposite. Ms. Beaudin was so friendly and open that she caught me off guard. It was like I was talking with a close friend. She even offered to buy me a coffee. And the interview, if that’s what you can even call it, was so informal and relaxing. We talked about my experiences here, what I did in my free time, and how well I adjusted to the culture. There was laughing, little anecdotes, and she was genuinely interested in what I was saying. We talked for no more than thirty minutes and I had so much fun. Meeting with her made me remember how welcoming and kind everyone at Rollins is and why I love it in the first place. So while Rome is paradise, I can’t wait to return to my home away from home!
Thank you Ms. Beaudin for meeting with me and treating me so kindly! I really needed it!