First Week in Roma!

Ciao everyone! So for my first week in Rome I was so busy I did not get a chance to blog about all of my new experiences! I am going to try and sum it up now though :) When I arrived in Rome at the airport I met my roommate Kelsey, whom I already adore. We were escorted in buses to our new apartments. My apartment is on a road called Via Benzoni, right near the Roma Ostiense metro/train station. It is in a decent area with cute bars (what italians call cafes), some restaurants, markets, and much more! After settling in for only two hours and meeting my new roommates, we were taken to one of the seven hills of Roma, which was multo bella! After, we went to a pizzeria right by the Colosseum, where I had my first tomato ever! I loved it. Also, I enjoyed an amazing margherita pizza and some tirimasu! mmmm buono! The next morning we did a lot of orientation activities such as a tour of the school, some of the neightborhood around school (called Trastevere). There are such cute shops and restaurants in Trastevere and a bar at every corner! American bars are called American bars in Italy so there is no confusion between a cafe type bar and a pub. That night we went for apperitivo which was held at a book shop and we were treated to small dishes of food and wine. Wine here is served at every meal and it is so weird not being carded! Also, the wine here is so amazing, and cheap! Later that night, Brooke (my friend from Whittier) and I went out to a pub three doors down form my apartment called the Beefeater, and met some very nice Italiano boys who tried to explain the many bella places we should go! The next morning the orientation group went to a farm.....farm is not me right? I despise stuff like that. However, I was pleasantly surprised when we left the city of Roma and went into the outskirts, very much reminding me of California with beautiful mountains, a vineyard, some farm animals, and I was treated to an amazing vegetarian dish! (It is SO hard to not eat the prosciutto). :) Anyway, later that night my roomates and I went to a restaurant right down from school in Trastevere, where we had many liters of Vino Bianco, caprese salads, and I had a vegetarian pasta dish! mmm. Later that night, and followed by a few more nights we went to Campo di Fiori (literally means field of flowers), but in Roma it is the college section, where American students go to bars at night and meet local Italians as well as  other American students. This area is so much fun! Thursday my group did a walking tour of the spanish steps and the Trevvi Fountain, where people come and throw a Euro in the water and make a wish! After that, it was so scary, because my friend had an allergic reaction to food and I had to take her to the hospital ALONE speaking barely any Italian. Luckily, she was fine and a nice Italian women in the waiting room calmed me down right away. That night, we went to a discoteca and stayed out until 6 am! It was so much fun and my whole program went basically. Friday, which was a horrible day for my feet, we went to the famous Tivoli. Tivoli gardens used to be a "villa" but now is owned by the state. It was the most amazing beautiful place in the whole world. Gorgeous fountains and stairs, however, my feet were killing me so bad, I was walking like I was 90 years old! Enduring the pain, that night we went to Campo di Fiori again and met up with some of my roommates friends studying in Roma! Saturday I walked around some shops on the other side of town and bought a cross-body bag/satchel, so I dont have to worry about the gypsies and pick pocketers with my bag around my shoulder.  Also, I bought a post-card for my friend back in California by the Spanish Steps. That night we went to an area called Testachhio (rhymes with pistacchio!) which is known for its lounges and discotecas! It is like 3 blocks from my apt. which is great! Sunday took a full day of recovery and settling in form the busy week of unpacking, getting a European phone, figuring out how to use it, and making plans to go see my friends in other countries. So far, I have been nonstop travelling, walking, eating, and loving Roma and I dont expect it to stop! Keep reading for more of my adventures!