Le Classe

These past few weeks, I've had to come to terms with the fact that I am not on vacation, but in school. It was really, really difficult to get back into school mode, especially having an amazing first week of sightseeing. School while abroad is very different from being at university back home. One of the biggest differences is the fact that people go out a LOT during the week. Whether to dinner or out drinking or socializing, it can be exhausting!

Its really great to meet people and get to know each other better, but I'm trying to keep in mind that classes are important too! My classes at American University of Rome are a little harder than I was expecting, and as an admitted procrastinator, it has been difficult to stay focused and do work. This semester, I have Masterpieces of Italian Opera (we watch many scenes from various operas and have to completely dissect the voices and music), Art of Rome (an on-site class where we visit different museums and sites around Rome each week for class), Italian 100 (the most boring class ever for someone who took Italian all through high school, but the only Italian class that fit into my schedule), and Criminology (taught by a professor who was in the army and was a prosecutor- defender?- for many criminal cases). I'm happy that all of my classes really are interesting and taught by very knowledgable professors. It's just so hard to do work when there is so much else going on!

 Views from the garden at AUR

The red and yellow building is the single "classroom building"

The garden in the middle of campus (very small campus- this is everything)

The actual view out the window of my Italian classroom!

I've done some more sightseeing with the awesome friends that I've made, and of course gone out to dinner and to get gelato many, many (too many) times.

 Classic Pantheon picture

Pantheon alter

Best gelato ever- Giolitti

Beautiful church I stumbled upon one night

Class destination

Colosseum for Art of Rome (except we didn't actually go in though we bought the ticket, then the next day when they closed at 7:30 I tried to go at six and was turned away..... long story with a bad case of short man syndrome)

A little exploring after I was turned away from the Colosseum led me to L'isola di Tibera, tiny island in the middle of the Tiber River

15 euro wine bottle.... nicknamed "vino bambino"

A great part of what I'm doing for school actually has nothing to do with AUR but is through the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. As an education major, I do four practicums through BC at different elementary schools in the area. When going abroad, I had the option to do an International Prac, and I chose it. I was placed at the American Overseas School of Rome, and just started last week. I was extremely nervous to go because I was alone and had no idea what to expect, but I was overwhelmed by the friendliness of the staff, and students. I've only been there one day but I already feel so comfortable and welcomed!

I was placed in a fourth grade classroom with a great teacher, and really nice class. The language spoken at the school is English, though the students come from all around the world. About half the students are Italians (sent by their parents to this prestigious private school to perfect their English), some are American, some from Asia, South America, and other parts of Europe. I love the diversity of the class and its unlike anything I've ever seen.

What a great outdoor view they have.

Colorful and adorable.

Though sometimes it feels like classes are just the filler between going on trips and weekends in Rome (how I would feel no matter where I was abroad), I'm really enjoying them so far and I'm glad to be at AUR in bella Roma!!