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The McDermott Scholars Award covers all expenses of a superb four-year academic education at The University of Texas at Dallas, in concert with a diverse array of intensive extracurricular experiences, including internships, travel, and cultural enrichment.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Buon giorno di Roma!


Buon giorno di Roma! I have almost completed my first week in Rome and it feels indescribably wonderful to be here. Nothing could have prepared me for how breathtaking it is to be caught up in such a vibrant city—racing motorini (souped-up mopeds?) zip by next to ancient ruins that seem to be on every corner.

My apartment is very close to the Colosseum (a five minute slow walk) and borders a park that is filled with locals (often accompanied by very cute dogs) and tourists alike. There are flowers blooming all up and down my street and I don’t think I have ever smelled anything so beautiful in my life. Most of the streets here seem to have hidden surprises—beautiful flower bushes, ancient ruins, sweet boutiques.

I have gone to most of the main monuments already: Trevi Fountain, Fountain of the Four Rivers, St. Peter’s (pictured above), Sistine Chapel, Colosseum (of course), the Roman Forum…it seems like the list just goes on and on! There is sooooo much to see I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to fit it all in. Rome has sucked me in and is begging me to never, ever leave!

I start school at John Cabot University on Monday. The school is located in a very hip district called Trastevere, which comes alive at night for a club/bar scene. I can assure you I’m having a lot of –responsible—fun. All the Italians are so friendly and I’m picking up the language fairly quickly.

With such long days I have been getting sleepy pretty early, so buona sera and ciao!