Italian Intentions

A month later and so much has happened!

Good news: I've 100 percent officially been accepted to study abroad at the American University of Rome. So that saves me a lot of embarrassment.

In addition to my acceptance, I've signed up for the classes I'll be taking in Rome: Italian Language, Living in Rome (a sociological view of life in the city), Rome: History and Empire and a Management Capstone (necessary to stay on track with my CMU schedule).

Originally, my parents had planned on coming to Italy the week my classes get out in May so we could all travel the country together for a week or so. After a brief meeting about my student visa, however, this is apparently close to impossible to do without getting detained and kicked out of Italy for 10 years.

What the heck, right?

Yeah, apparently when I apply for my visa at the Italian consulate, I have to ask them (with pretty please and sugar on top) if I can stay an extra two weeks past the last day of classes, and they can pretty much respond to that however they want.

That being said, I'd like to get some of my goals for being in a different country on paper (so to speak) so that I have witnesses, and thus slightly more motivation to follow through.

1. Become immersed in the culture. It's easy to stay consistent with what I'm comfortable with, but that's not really the point of studying abroad, is it? I want to make Italian friends, join a running club to see more of the city, try new foods (this one shouldn't be a problem) and truly see the Italian's Rome--la dolce vida. The sheer length of time I'll be there should make this one easier.

2. Travel, Travel, Travel! There are some people who may call me a hermit. That may be a bit excessive, but I am definitely introverted. It's far too easy for me to stay in comfortable places and not branch out, but as I said above (the more I say it, the more I'll believe it), DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN IS THE POINT OF STUDYING ABROAD. I want to visit Spain, see the remains of the Berlin Wall, eat a croissant on the lawn by the Eiffel Tower (to name an obvious few). I have 4 months to do it AND BY GOD I'LL DO IT.

3. Overdose on Italian history. A lot of people don't realize it until they've traveled to Europe and my parents can attest to this from their recent trip: there is thousands of years of history on the mother continent. Of course it'll be terribly cliche to do most of this, but amongst the art museums, the architect, the colosseum and related structures, I want to see as much as I can.

4. Make an Italian meal with market goods. So this is super "Eat, Pray, Love", but let me defend this one. The University has an alum that is now the head chef at his own restaurant in Rome. Apparently, this chef gives free cooking lessons to students once a week. How awesome would it be to cook an authentic Italian meal with authentic Italian food that I learned to make from an authentic Italian chef? Super freaking awesome.

5. Take time to document the trip. So I'm notorious for taking trips where at the end, I'll only have a handful of pictures. That's not going to happen this time! I'm taking an actual camera, I'll ask strangers to take my picture (maybe I should bring a few cameras?), and I'll post them as often as possible. This is, of course, for memories, to keep friends and family updated, and most importantly, too make everyone envious. Enjoy.

Folks, this is going to be spectacular.

Thoughts for next time: weekend travel ideas--where to go, what to do, when to do it.

Thanks for reading,

Kasey Ann

Mambo Italiano

Greetings! Or rather, Ciao!     <-- Obviously that was lame.

Despite the fact that I won't be leaving for Italy for another 3 months, I feel as though I should introduce to everyone WHAT I KNOW thus far, having just been accepted to my study abroad program. So here we go:

The Things I know for Sure (as of Tuesday October 14, 2014)

1. I haven't officially been accepted yet (won't this be embarrassing if I don't get in). That's right folks, there's a distinct (not really distinct, but it could happen) possibility that I won't be going to Rome. I've been accepted to Central Michigan University's Study Abroad program and now they are sending my application to the American University of Rome (the institution where I'll be talking classes). I will know for sure by the end of the month.

2. I actively avoided naming this blog "When in Rome" or any derivative of that phrase. Similarly, I will avoid titling posts and captioning pictures in such a way.

3. The semester that I will be spending there begins January 26 and ends May 12. I will be arriving in Rome about a week before classes start, and I will be leaving a week or two (or three, or four) after the semester ends.

4. There are 3 field trips that study abroad students have the opportunity to participate in. I will be participating in all 3. The trips include visits to the fields of Tuscany (literally a field trip--HA), the town of Assisi, and a mega-trip to Capri, Mount Vesuvius, Sorrento and Pompeii. Don't worry, you'll definitely see the pictures.

5. I will be living in a University-provided apartment in the city of Rome with (up to) 4 other people (possibly co-ed). The apartment comes furnished with towels and sheets, and a fully equipped kitchen. So I have that going for me. Which is nice.

6. It's possible this will be the greatest 4 months of my life. Obviously I'll be homesick. Of course I'll have issues with my visa. Without fail, I'll forget to pack necessities. THINGS WILL GO WRONG AND I MIGHT CRY. But it's going to be awesome.

For now, I won't be posting too often simply because I don't have anything interesting to say. This is merely an introduction to what will likely be a picture-based documentation of my semester in Rome.

Thoughts for next time: goals and advice for spending 4 months on a different continent. 

Thanks for reading,

Kasey Ann