I cannot believe how fast the month of October flew by! I am terrified that the month of November will go by just as fast or even faster! I am having an amazing experience so far here in Rome.
There have been some challenges of missing home; but as I begin to realize that my time here is running low I can’t help thinking of all the wonderful things that I am going to miss once I leave. All the awkward culture shocks and getting lost in the crazy streets of Rome are events that I am really going to miss once I am back in the U.S. Through cooking dinner, eating, and doing the dishes together I have grown very close to my roommates. I can’t even begin to imagine saying goodbye to them once the semester is over.
Cooking dinner with the roommates!
One of our many delicious meals we created
The month of October was an eventful one. I had the opportunity to visit Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest. Germany was a nice reminder of home because of the fall leaves and bratwurst. I also got to have an eye opening experience and the concentration camp Dachau. It was unimaginable and surreal to be in a place where so much pain and history was created. The feeling of walking through the camp on that rainy day will forever be etched in my memories.
The crematory at the concentration camp Dachau
On a lighter note, my absolute favorite thing I did during the month of October was the Umbria Weekend Excursion with SAI Rome. We stayed at this amazing farmhouse where we were served traditional cuisines. My roommates and I decided not to use the internet the whole weekend, which ended up being an experience I will never forget. It was great to bond with them by playing the game Heads Up; there was so much laughter and endless memories being formed.
The sunrise from our window at the farmhouse
We also went to the Perugina Chocolate Factory which was to die for! I ate so much chocolate at the taste testing I did not think I would ever be able to eat chocolate ever again! But I was just kidding myself, because next on the agenda was the cooking class.
The cooking class at Perugina Chocolate Factory
The cooking class was a fantastic time and I highly recommend it to everyone who goes! It was a blast making our very own Baci and love notes to go inside. I told myself I would save my hand made chocolates for someone special; however, I ended up eating them all within the next two weeks! I could not help myself they were too delicious to stop at just one! The entire Umbria weekend trip was a complete success, but those are my favorite memories from it.
The love note I made to put in the package with the Baci I made
I cannot wait to see what the month of November will have in store for me, but I am positive that I will not be disappointed.
A statue we saw during our tour of Assisi
___
Ashley is a student at St. Norbert College studying at John Cabot University in Rome through SAI Programs during the Fall 2013 term.
