Wait… what’s the Italian label for “whole milk” again? Why did I not use Google Translate before I left the apartment? Why does milk not come in bigger bottles? I have to buy milk like, every third day. This looks like whole milk… I’ll just get this and get something else Thursday if it’s wrong. (Plot twist: it was actually whole milk)
I love St. Peter’s. Like… I REALLY love St. Peter’s. I have been in Rome for just over 3 weeks and I have been inside 4 times. I get to see it in the light every morning on my walk to class and see it lit up every night on my walk home. I have seen the Piazza full of screaming Catholics as the Pope (who is clearly the nuns’ Leonardo DiCaprio) emerges from the window and I have seen it completely empty, smiling as I finally have it all to myself. There is not a greater joy than sitting in the Piazza, embraced by the colonnade’s arms. The Catholic Church may not be calling me home, but Bernini sure is.
With school starting up, my social media platforms have been full of people wishing they were somewhere else. Whether they are wishing for a warm beach or to return to their Christmas break travels, no one seems to be happy where they are. Normally, I’d be right there with them. The past four years have been characterized by being excited to be in Fayetteville, but always looking forward to field trips in Chicago or going back to Dallas to work or, gee I don’t know, ROME. This is the first time in a long time, perhaps ever, that I’m not wishing I were somewhere else, and what a refreshing feeling that is. I’m embracing every moment for what it is, instead of seeing it as a stepping-stone to a happier collection of future moments. Even when I’m looking forward to an upcoming weekend trip,
I still find that it’s in the back of my mind behind the awesome present. I’m opening my eyes and seeing what is ten feet in front of me instead of what is three years in front of me. But right now, St. Peter’s Basilica is ten feet in front of me, so I have a feeling that if you were here, that’s where you’d be looking too.
I will never, ever, EVER get tired of gelato.
Confession: I had gelato twice yesterday.
We’re going to Barcelona! WE’RE GOING TO BARCELONA! (more stories to come on January 31st)
I need a taco. Dear GOD I need a taco… or some queso… or fajitas. Does Anamia’s ship across the Atlantic? I would pay good money for some real Tex Mex. Pay attention Haley! Historic preservation… a monument is any object that is a witness to the past. I could probably build a monument to honor Anamia’s. Man, I really want that taco. *Looks at watch* 9:17 AM
Francesco is making a presentation about cities all over Italy. All across my sketchbook are notes with bubbles screaming “GO HERE” and “OMG SO BEAUTIFUL.” Dang it, I should have gone to Verona while we were in Venice. Is Pisa close enough to the Alps to do a weekend trip? There is so much to see and so little time to see it.
It’s 11:00 am. I am sitting inside the Pantheon, which, need I remind you, I CRIED inside of upon entering for the first time. But now, I’m here and I’m supposed to be drawing it. Funny how your perspective on a monument changes when it’s 30 degrees outside and instead of sipping hot cocoa trying not to cry, you’re struggling to hold your pencil because your fingers are so numb. Maybe I’ll go stand in the small sliver of sun outside to warm up… but then Francesca might be out there and she might tell me to draw more. I need hand warmers. Can’t we draw from a warm café nearby? (Spoiler Alert: as soon as class ended, we all went out for gelato)
Words cannot express how happy I am that I’m not in the United States for this winter weather. I see so many posts on social media that showcase thick blankets of snow and people sledding and drinking hot cocoa. Interestingly enough, Italians dress for the season regardless of the day’s weather conditions, so if you look at them in their puffy coats and fur hoods, you might suspect that it’s also 20 degrees here… easily forgetting that it is 50. FIFTY. Today, I walked to school with a light sweater on and I passed ample groups of Italians looking aghast/ dismayed/ offended that I would dare venture out into the Roman “artic” with nothing but my Target cardigan. I try to ignore them and continue walking as sweat gathers on every square inch of my body.
*later that day*
THIS STUDIO IS FREEZING. I chose the seat next to the radiator for a REASON, but somehow, sitting more than 3 inches away from the room’s only heat source is not enough. How did people in the good ol’ days survive without central heating? How am I going to survive without central heating?! Is this thing even on? I guess I’ll put loves on while I work. Now I’m wearing gloves indoors and I just feel silly.
We had Chinese for dinner. I’m not ashamed.
Number of Columns Hugged: 1
Days Since Mexican Food: 35 (like I said, I really need a taco)
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Read more from Haley at https://haleywalton.wordpress.com/
To find out more about the U of A Rome Center semester program for Architecture, visit http://studyabroad.uark.edu/romecentersemester/
