Daily Updates
Week Two: Oct. 3
03 October. Tori reporting: Today was our first day back in Rome, and it was also a free day. Katherine, Cordelia, and Karen ventured over to the Vatican at 10 am to do some research on their Independent Study Projects, but they were much dismayed to find out that the museums they needed were closed and the guards did not recognize any of the monuments they were looking for. Eventually they did get to see the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. After this they split up, Karen went to the Capitoline Museum, Katherine successfully used her elementary Italian to procure an appointment to see the necropolis below St. Peter’s tomorrow, and Cordelia headed back the hotel, disappointed, to work on her paper. Her spirits were uplifted, however, when she received a card and email with birthday wishes from her parents. Back at the hotel, lots of us used our free day to relax and get some work done: Joanna finished her tomb paper, Matt did some reading and some laundry in the great stone basins at the Albergo Sole, Peter took a nap and worked on his paper, and Courtney caught up on some sleep. Brian took advantage of Rome’s technology and spent some time at the Internet café checking up on sports. Maya and Sophia took a trip down to Ostia Antica where Maya took some notes for her ISP and Sophia decided she needed a new topic for hers. Tori and Sophia went on an adventure to the laundromat in the afternoon, where they befriended the owner, Mario, who gave them both love poems. Myung-Hee had a successful day of research at the Museum at the Palazzo Massimo and worked on her tomb paper. Adam celebrated his birthday with a trip to the EUR for some ISP research. Ariel went for a run and then worked on her paper. For lunch Sarah, Tori, Brian, and Matt satisfied their craving for American food at the nearby McDonalds. Sarah also spent some time at the bookstore. In the evening we all convened to celebrate Brian, Adam, Cordelia, and Karen’s birthdays at Professor Ulrich’s apartment, where we also met Paige, a student from Hartford High School who has been researching with Professor Ulrich and is spending the week touring around Rome with us. The food, bought and prepared by the students, was delicious and we all had a great time relaxing and enjoying each other’s company. We also got to sample some Italian birthday cake! After the party we all headed home for some work on our papers or an early bedtime, although Adam and Ariel finished their night by going out to a music bar and taking in a little Roman nightlife.
03 October. The dinner/birthday party at Professor Ulrich's apartment
03 October. Cordelia, Joanna and Sophia
03 October. Another aerial view...
03 October. A barely discernable Katherine, Adam and Maya
03 October. Paige, the newest member of our group
03 October. Fuzzy moments... Myung-Hee, Ariel and Sarah