First day of classes in Roma! I have to say, this was the best first day of class that I have had. Let me tell you what it consisted of: Un Panino (a panini ham and fresh mozzarella), then a short Orientation and tour of our Studio space, a two hour walking tour, and it ended with gelato (that of which was bought for us). Canella e Ciocolatte (cinnamon and chocolate is my new favorite).
However, the real people activities such as going to the grocery store and using the bank, did not go so well... Most italian doors open in and not out. That was something I learned the hard way with everyone in the bank starring while they watched me try and enter the bank. The grocery store can be a bit stressful too. Its hard to know what to buy. Lots of pasta and I personally think the coca-cola in Italia is better than in the States but it is a bit more expensive. The check-out line was the most stressful part. They move so quickly and I hate when they ask you something and you look at them with a dumb-founded face and say uhhhh... But they talk so quickly its hard not too. I'm working on it. It will take some time. I am excited for our Italian class tomorrow. Hopefully they will teach us how to use the grocery store, the bank, and the post office successfully.
We really have such a unique opportunity here in Roma to use the city as our classroom. We started out our tour today with learning about the floor. Yes, I was a little confused too. The cobble stones act as the floor and not only do the building help form space but the patters of the cobble stone does as well. There is a reason to every design of a piazza. The form of the buildings create a void in which you enter. At CUA, we typically meet each other say, at the Pryz or out on the Law School Lawn. These spaces act as gathering places within a large campus. Rome however, has small voids within the large footprint of the city. One must weave their way in and out of small alleys to reach these common piazze (piazza's plural). If you think about it, its really an interesting way to solve the solution of a common space. No one would ever be able to find you if you told them to meet you at the pizzeria on Via Santa Costanzo between the bookstore and next to the cafe. The city is too large and the alleys all look so similar. Great architects of the time such as Bernini and Borromini created palazzi to create an urban setting. Causing people to be civic and to share in each others company. A lot of what happens in Rome is exactly that. People eat, drink, and enjoy the company of one another.
Not only does a palazzo serve a purpose as a functional space, but it also looks beautiful. A large open space with architecture designed purposefully for that area with fountains and statues all about. Great architecture is not only beautiful but also functional. If you take Campo di Fiori for example, a freshmarket for locals in the morning, a open market for lunch time, and by dinner then entire place is cleaned up and restaurants open up for dinner. A space is created that anyone can use and it all because of the architecture which forms the space. It all comes full circle.
We did get to visit a magnificent church called the Santa Brigida a Campo di Fiori. This was the first building that appeared in the piazza. What we are told is that if you see an open church, go in because each one is unique and you never know whether it will be open at that same time the next day.
What a day. Your feet sure do get a work out in this city and no wonder Romans are so thin, you can eat an entire plate of Ravioli Quattro Formaggio (4 cheese Ravioli) and in two hours walk the entire meal off.
Pictures are to come. Buonanotte.
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