First "giorno" in ROMA

So many emotions already...

Yesterday, my parents and I left Puerto Rico at 1PM and arrived in Philly just in time to board our next plane to Rome. We had just gotten off a four hour plane--which I slept through after pulling an all nighter (that was wonderful; love you Briana and Marga)--and I hadn't gone to the b-room. My dad gave me this look before I ran to the to relieve myself before my EIGHT HOUR FLIGHT. Which really, wasn't bad at all: the food was decent; I watched the movie "Baby Mama" and then I slept till there was just one hour left to ride.

It was dark when I woke up, but through the window I could see this spread of red ahead. I thought it was red land but it was the sunrise. By the time we passed the Alps the sky was lit--I couldn't take my eyes off of them. I also couldn't help but see the resemblance the mountains had to the picture on the water bottles (I know, how "commercial capitalist" of me).

I fought the urge to sleep so I could witness the arrival--we swooped over marshy hills and arrived at the Da Vinci airport smoothly; although, I must share that the woman sitting behind me threw up a couple of times because she was sick. Still, the ride was pleasant. When it was still dark, I thanked God so much that this dream is coming true. I even cried out of joy a little.

Rome feels slightly like Viejo San Juan. Except no one speaks Spanish, so at one point I got = somewhat frustrated with myself for not being able to fluidly ask for the simplest things, but I got the hang of it as the day rolled on. The weather is nice, it doesn't feel too cold, and the Romans are tranquilo. For a big city there's not too much aggression.

EVERYONE is attractive! This, I know, is generalizing which I should avoid, but it's true. And I don't necessarily mean hot; I mean fashionable and elegant, well put together, handsome...you get the point. I was intimidated at first because even people on the plane looked like they were going out to a lounge party or something, amazing. Javi, you would die.

We've traveled around a lot for just one day. Our first taxi out of the airport gave us background history of Rome--the gated city, Marc Anthony's pyramid, Julius Ceasar's home... I tried to be outgoing like my mom and say what I knew in Italian, and he responded with "Si, brava!" I'm surprised how much Italian came back to me from the tutoring I took over a year ago. After we checked in to our hotel-apartment, my dad and I went looking around for wine, milk and water. Then we snacked with my mom before going to a museum. We saw the Coliseum from afar on the way, and a man on the bus helped us get to the Villa Borghese, but the museum was full. We went to the gardens and the Museum of Modern Art instead. And "modern" art is relative in a city of this longitude. This museum showcased Impressionism (Van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet), and other works from the 1800s and 1900s. The sculptures impacted me the most. There was one with a young man sitting with a blank stare, holding a woman with his right arm, her head resting in the swoop of his neck), while crumpling a paper in his left hand. I assumed it meant he was called to war, but maybe that's because other paintings in the room showed battle scenes.

We rode La Metro on the way back and sat in front of a woman with blue hair and her boyfriend, who had a matching blue mohawk. For some reason I thought of Closer and Natalie Portman's wig, and then, of course, I felt bad for always thinking of movies and for staring at her. I know it's tourist-paranoia, but I'm pretty sure she said something about me because right after speaking to her boyfriend, he stared at me. Maybe she said something good about my coat... It is a fabulous coat.

So, we're getting to know our way around, at least so by tomorrow we won't have to ask for help every ten steps, but the asking has been fun, seeing different faces and different dispositions and reactions. That's what I'm hear for--the uncomfortable situations, the humbling task of asking. I just don't want to be that stupid American who demands English loudly. I do look forward to making friends with locals though--at least, in Florence. Today in the street I asked for il Vino Trimani and someone thought I said something about "domani," to which she replied, "Domani e festa." That means tomorrow's a holiday-- I repeated what I had said and then she gave me directions, but I wish I could've been comfortable enough to cheer back--"a si, Auguri Nuovo Anno, pero dov'e il Vino Trimani?"

Familiarity and ease will come soon enough though, after all, this was just day one, and night still hasn't come.

Before I go...

My bags aren't packed--at least not completely. I've packed and repacked, gone over checklists, visited friends, but no matter how many things get done I won't be ready till I get there. These past few days I've been trying to see everything now--as I see it now because I know they'll change, and even if they don't, I have a feeling my perspective will expand to the point that Plaza might seem small come May 26th... Empty hallways remind me of quick greetings and junior highers at the church water fountain. Every familiar place is packed with a boquet of people and conversations and silent exchanges.

I'm only slightly melancholic and I have no idea how to express feelings on a blog without seeming trite... but I feel like I'm missing everything now because, honestly, I don't want to miss anything in Florence and London. You will all be in my thoughts; we will share glimpses of each others' lives, and I look forward to it (so keep in touch).

I'm only too aware that I will be picked up and plopped in a pile of adventures for the next five months, and it's everything I've dreamed of since the ninth grade, but I will treasure you all, dear memories, and I'll keep you all posted. As for my Knox peeps, we're all about change, and I look forward to re-meeting you Fall 2009!

As for now, the past few weeks echo with laughs, techno music, waves, dancing feet, movies, make-up brushes, camera clicks, and prayers, and these next two days I will do my best to pack in all my things and pack in all the hugs I can. My parents and I leave Tuesday, December 30th at noon and will catch a connecting flight in Philadelphia to ROME where we'll be spending New Year's. Then, come January 4th (Happy Birthday Javi), we're headed to Florence where I check in at Pensione Ottavini, meet the program people and get matched with a family. Language class starts the 5th--four hours a day, five days a week. I'm writing all this now, because I'm not sure when I'll get access to an internet café. My parents leave January 10th, and that's all I foresee for now because the rest is a mystery.

"I am doing something new; it's springing up--can't you see it?" Isaiah 43:19

I really feel this trip is a blessing from God, and I pray it serves as a chance to get closer to Him while sharing His joy and love in different accents and cultural languages.