Today was our first official day in Italy. After class, we took the train into Rome. Our goals for the day were to see the Coliseum and Roman Forum. As soon as we walked out of the Metro, there it was…The Coliseum! I could not stop taking pictures. I was just trying to grasp the fact that I was standing in front of one of the most historical monuments in the world.
The tour was very interesting. Laura did a great job of helping us get a better understanding of the how exactly the Coliseum came about. At one point, it was covered in marble! I never really thought about animal deaths during the battles and we found out over 5,000 animals were killed during the time of the Coliseum.
After wrapping up the Coliseum tour we went to see that Roman Forum. Personally, I had somewhat of a clue about the Coliseum, but the Roman Forum was totally new for me. After finding out that all the ruins were underground, I was in shock. It is unbelievable what is found and what they are continuing to find. I took this experience as one of many moments where I would have to learn from scratch. Knowledge is power!
This is evident in Barzini’s book when he writes about foreigners and their experience with Rome. He mentions that they continue to come back and indulge themselves in the city they love the most. Barzini points out that some foreigners are even “more Italian than the Italians.” To be able to gain that much knowledge from this country is outstanding. We are starting from the bottom and getting our first taste at a magical experience.
It is hard to say how I will change from this experience. Physically, I may get a tan, sport a new hair cut, or even pack on a couple more pounds. When I leave for the United States, I expect almost a new beginning. I want Italy to be my water in the desert; every bit counts and it gives your whole body a new, refreshing feeling. I want to be able to leave this experience knowing that I soaked up every minute of culture, history, beauty, and friendship. I sometimes get worried thinking that I will leave Italy following the saying, “You don’t know what you got until it’s gone.” I want to realize what I have before me and truly embrace the fact that you only get one first shot at Italy and this is it!
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Dayna, Very nice blog. I liked the way you integrated the experience with the readings, and your own reflection on both. Looking forward to reading more from you. Well done. I really liked your water in the desert analogy.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting blog mixing humor with genuine insight. Well done, Dayna. I was right with you when we entered the Forum. I was not sure what to expect. I also would like to leave Italy with a tan, but I'm not quite comfortable with a flashy Italian haircut yet. Regardless, I want to leave Italy with no regrets.
ReplyDeleteNice blog Dayna! I agree with you on a lot of this. I never really thought about animals being killed in the Coliseum and I have heard about the Roman Forum but never knew anything about it. Going home with a tan and new haircut sounds incredible, along with lots of culture, history, beauty and friendships. Well done!
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog Dayna. I also dont want to leave Italy saying "you dont know what you have untill its gone". Hopfully we can both fully appreciate Italy and what it has to offer!
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