Buon Giorno!

Howdy!  So I've decided to start a travel blog about my experiences while abroad in Rome.  Hopefully, this one will be more successful than my previous blog.  My attempt to be the next Nate Silver (the electoral guru who, unlike me, successfully, predicted the results of the previous two presidential elections) did not go as planned.

My journey began in the Philadelphia airport, where I boarded a 6 PM direct flight to Rome.  Unfortunately, I boarded the plane as the two minute warning approached during Niners and Falcons game, so I was unaware of the results of that game, and the Pats Ravens game, until the next morning.  (Although, I must note that I'm pretty stoked for what's being billed as the "Harbaugh Bowl" or "Superbaugh."  I imagine that American football is broadcasted a little differently in Italy.  I can't wait to hear "GOOOAALLLL!!!" every time a touchdown is scored.)

The flight was pretty smooth and I arrived in Rome the next morning, where the AU Rome folks picked up a group of us from the airport.  They dropped us off at our apartment in Trastevere, which is a city environment.  I live with 5 other guys in an apartment which has 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room.  We live right above a pizza shop called "Pizza Boom" which is spectacular.  Although I must add that on my first day,  I sounded like quite the tourist as I asked for "goat cheese pizza."  The woman working there gave me a puzzled look as she said "Goat Cheese?!" in a soft Italian accent, clearly having no idea what I was talking about.  I settled for a different type instead.

The first two nights have been very fun.  Most of the students, me included, have spent their nights at a bar downtown called Scholars, which is a pretty American bar for being located in downtown Rome.  Last night was karaoke night, and unfortunately (although I had signed up) did not get to sing because I'd signed up too late.  We've had guided tours around the city from the folks at AUR, and last night we got to see the coliseum.

Classes don't start until Monday January 28th, so we have the rest of the week and weekend to meet people and see the city.  I'll try to update this periodically.

JC