No I haven't just discovered this, but it really is amazing how productive a day can be when you wake up a few hours earlier. I wish I was a morning person. As in I wish I could willingly get up before 10 just because it's productive. I need to start trying. Sleep is so nice though, isn't it? Haha.
Anyway, it's 10:15, and after studying for a few hours, showering and miraculously spending more than 5 minutes doing my hair, I am off to give my Italian test. Now as far as school goes, the class is worth an almost insignificant amount of credits, and it was basically self taught...(which would technically speak of my skills as a teacher if I do well? ...my way of boosting my ego), but I really want to do well because it's probably the test that means the most to me personally. Learning Italian was really one of the biggest reasons to come...and I can finally say that I am starting to feel the tiniest bit trilingual...juuust a little. So, yes I want the validation of the grade. Which here is 30/30...so...
Wish me luck!
Showing posts with label language. Show all posts
Showing posts with label language. Show all posts
Friday, June 1, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Day 83- Centro Storico
Well I'm a lot happier than the other day. Yesterday I was determined to validate my understanding of the Italian language to myself so I went out on a mission. For Parmesano, Prosciutto di Parma and VINO. So I went to a nearby "salumeria" and asked the stout white-haired man behind the counter for the goods. The conversation went better than I thought. He understood everything I said, promptly gave me a variety of things to try before handing over my choices. I even got a compliment for my Italian. I did have to point silently to the olives though...I still can't remember the word for them. Anyway. After that I walked around for a while...I have to do an entry on my neighborhood sometime, which I am so happy to live in, by the way. I'm hoping how much I spent and that I brought home food doesn't have everything to do with the fact that I was in a better mood...?
Also, I forgot to mention that I got a 27/30 on my Spanish Lit exam so...it's a good start! The whole thing was nerve wrecking though, the teacher totally grilled me on some topics. But anyway I'm not complaining. So long as I do at least that good in English and Italian. I have to study.
Speaking of which, I love how now that I'll have more time because my classes and exams will be over, ironically so will all of my shows...Oops. I hear Grey's Anatomy's finale was a tearjerker...but I'm waiting for Maria to see it. I hope she doesn't mind me bawling, because there's a 95% chance I will. Oh my.
One of the purchases I made yesterday was of a new travel guide for Rome. Yup. Lonely Planet: Encounter Rome. So today, after running I was ready to put it to good use. At 12, I left the house and took the bus/tram trip to Piazza Navona where I met Daniela. And after circling around a few blocks looking for the recommended Panini place, Lo Zozzono, we had lunch. Basically, we wandered around Centro Storico, getting lost (like the book said we should!), until making our way to the Jewish Ghetto. Here, surrounded by kosher bakeries and restaurants, we found the archeological site of the Teatro di Marcello and Portico d'Ottavia. And let me tell you this is why I love Rome. You think you know what it's all about. You've seen the movies, you've seen the post cards. You know what the Colosseum looks like. And I've lived here for almost three months now (woaa...) and I go past some of the most amazing landmarks without being dazed. I walk along the same streets thinking I've seen most of it. No way. Rome is a city of discovery. It's about being in the same place a hundred times and still finding new things. Granted, this was the first time at this site, but I had driven and walked past it on my way to something else, many times. But now, I got up close, and it has to be one of my favorite historical sites so far. In short:
The 1st-century BC Portico d'Ottavia was first a temple complex, built by Augustus in the name of his sister, Octavia. After various fires over the years, it was restored using foreign marble and was adorned by many fresco paintings and now famous works of art. In the medieval era, the area and structure was later used as a fish market, which lasted up to the end of the 1800's. This role is remembered by the name of the annexed church, partly formed by its columns, Chiesa di Sant'Angelo in Pescheria.
The "dramatic fusion of eras" (as Lonely Planet puts it) continues at the Teatro di Marcello, where a Renaissance palace by Baldassare Peruzzi is incorporated onto the ruins of the theater, that had also been built by Augustus, in the last years of the Roman Republic.
So, nothing crazy or anything...but as I was reading about it, the architectural diversity became completely obvious and I could imagine what each era was like. First, the Portico d'Ottavia being a huge Roman Building, where important people in their togas would channel in and out of; then a fish Market, where Romans would compare the size of their fish and promote their catch on big slabs of marble taken from the monument itself; then part of a holy entrance to a church. You could just see centuries going by before your eyes like some sort of history movie. I just loved how each part corresponding to another time period was molded together to make a new structure...like they melted into each other over time. You look at the theater, and there is clearly a contrast in materials and styles, but there's also something about it that looks so natural.
We took it all in for a few minutes, then walked through the streets of "Il Ghetto" for a gelato, to finalize our outing of the day. So as of now, I am thoroughly satisfied with another day here, overseas. Tomorrow is La Notte dei Musei (Museum Night), which means that museums all over Rome are open for the night, for free. So we'll see what that brings. And Sunday, the plan is to go get lunch in Orvieto, a town near Umbria a ways off from Rome. Marta went and had some sort of stuffed pasta dish with melted pecorino cheese at a trattoria, and I hear they have rabbit too, so that's enough to convince me.
After a long day, it's off to bed for me...
Also, I forgot to mention that I got a 27/30 on my Spanish Lit exam so...it's a good start! The whole thing was nerve wrecking though, the teacher totally grilled me on some topics. But anyway I'm not complaining. So long as I do at least that good in English and Italian. I have to study.
Speaking of which, I love how now that I'll have more time because my classes and exams will be over, ironically so will all of my shows...Oops. I hear Grey's Anatomy's finale was a tearjerker...but I'm waiting for Maria to see it. I hope she doesn't mind me bawling, because there's a 95% chance I will. Oh my.
One of the purchases I made yesterday was of a new travel guide for Rome. Yup. Lonely Planet: Encounter Rome. So today, after running I was ready to put it to good use. At 12, I left the house and took the bus/tram trip to Piazza Navona where I met Daniela. And after circling around a few blocks looking for the recommended Panini place, Lo Zozzono, we had lunch. Basically, we wandered around Centro Storico, getting lost (like the book said we should!), until making our way to the Jewish Ghetto. Here, surrounded by kosher bakeries and restaurants, we found the archeological site of the Teatro di Marcello and Portico d'Ottavia. And let me tell you this is why I love Rome. You think you know what it's all about. You've seen the movies, you've seen the post cards. You know what the Colosseum looks like. And I've lived here for almost three months now (woaa...) and I go past some of the most amazing landmarks without being dazed. I walk along the same streets thinking I've seen most of it. No way. Rome is a city of discovery. It's about being in the same place a hundred times and still finding new things. Granted, this was the first time at this site, but I had driven and walked past it on my way to something else, many times. But now, I got up close, and it has to be one of my favorite historical sites so far. In short:
 |
| Portico d'Ottivia |
 |
| Corridor of Teatro di Marcello |
So, nothing crazy or anything...but as I was reading about it, the architectural diversity became completely obvious and I could imagine what each era was like. First, the Portico d'Ottavia being a huge Roman Building, where important people in their togas would channel in and out of; then a fish Market, where Romans would compare the size of their fish and promote their catch on big slabs of marble taken from the monument itself; then part of a holy entrance to a church. You could just see centuries going by before your eyes like some sort of history movie. I just loved how each part corresponding to another time period was molded together to make a new structure...like they melted into each other over time. You look at the theater, and there is clearly a contrast in materials and styles, but there's also something about it that looks so natural.
 |
Teatro di Marcello  |
We took it all in for a few minutes, then walked through the streets of "Il Ghetto" for a gelato, to finalize our outing of the day. So as of now, I am thoroughly satisfied with another day here, overseas. Tomorrow is La Notte dei Musei (Museum Night), which means that museums all over Rome are open for the night, for free. So we'll see what that brings. And Sunday, the plan is to go get lunch in Orvieto, a town near Umbria a ways off from Rome. Marta went and had some sort of stuffed pasta dish with melted pecorino cheese at a trattoria, and I hear they have rabbit too, so that's enough to convince me.
After a long day, it's off to bed for me...
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Day 15
It is so odd how sometimes you think you want something and then once it's happening, you feel the opposite way. I fueled this trip with the thought of an adventure, telling myself I wanted so badly to feel scared, out of my comfort zone, doing something new. So why is it once I'm finally in that position, sitting alone in a classroom full of 50 Italian students, that I want to turn and run. Really, why would I do this to myself? It's the awkward introductions that kill me. "Hi, I'm Nasha..I don't know how to say anything else in your language. Be my friend?" God.
I finally went to my first class last Friday. It's an English Lit class, kind of a cop out move on my part, but I thought anything that could help me ease my way into the system and give me some sort of cushion language-wise would be a good thing. The lectures are all in Italian, but the texts and novels we have to read are in English and the teacher said I could give the final exam in English as well so that's enough cushion. We'll see how it goes. So Tuesday is my next class. English Lit or Social Skills 101?
Also this week is my placement test for Italian classes, tomorrow at 9:15. We'll see how far a language learning app can get you. At least it means I'll be surrounded by people in the same position I am.
So...I'm hoping both classes will help me turn around my social life here, which has been a little non-existent so far. People keep telling me I haven't even been here a month, but it honestly feels like three. It's a little confusing because I feel like I've done so many things, and new things, which makes everyday so long. And makes me a little homesick. But at the same time I'm getting antsy thinking I haven't done anything at all. I mean I woke up after 12 today. I really feel like I should be off doing something. On that note, remember how I was going to go to Pisa? Daniela and I went to get the ticket and we were going to leave at 6 the next morning (4 hour trip to get there), so I stayed at her house because it's closer to the station. So the alarm was set and we should have been ready to go around 5:30, but....we both jumped up around 6, when her roommate walks in more aware of our trip then we were telling us that we were tardi tardi. There went our train. And Pisa. Thankfully, the train ticket is valid through May, so we can go next weekend. Oops.
After that, the weekend left much to desire, so when I did wake up today, I went running, and then went out and walked around with my camera a little. A few times I wanted so badly to take pictures of random people...the old couple sitting on the bench or the little boy stuffing his face with gelato...but I don't have the vocabulary to ask permission yet and even if I did I'm not so sure I would. Some people in a pastry shop saw my camera and posed for me though, without even having to ask. So there you go.
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| View from my room-Basilica di San Paolo |
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| Eat and Run |
While these were uploading, I had dinner. I thought I was eating a weird cut of beef until Maria told me it was veal. So. Much. Better. Haha. Any takers?
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