Italian Excursion 2008 by Elizabeth Haire

     Choosing to go to Italy again with Dr. Bunkers and Dr. Kunkel was an easy decision.  I enrolled in the English course last year and to say I enjoyed the course and the trip is an understatement.  Traveling to Europe for the first time in my life opened my eyes and expanded my worldview beyond all of my previous travel experiences.  The numerous opportunities to see places and things I had only read about in books or seen in movies created memories that will forever stay with me.  As a graduate student and soon-to-be new student affairs professional, I found a passion in working with students studying abroad.  After returning from the first trip, I presented on the topic of students studying abroad in a Crisis Interventions course and wove my new area of interest into several other courses.  My interest had been peaked and I knew from that point forward this experience would alter my life path.       

     So, again being presented with the amazing opportunity to participate in the course and travel to Italy I signed right up and I was not disappointed.  The excursion this year visited cities I had not previously been to and provided me with several new experiences to learn from and enjoy.  I was much more prepared this trip; I knew what to pack and more importantly, what not to pack; I was comfortable with the currency exchange; and excited for the long airplane ride, fully aware of the free movies and games to play.  This year was also even more special because the day prior to leaving I had taken my comprehensive exams for graduate school.  There was no better way I could think to celebrate the successful completion of comps than traveling to Italy. 

     Prior to embarking on our adventure, I participated in the English course and found the course information informative and helpful in preparing me for the cities we would visit.  I have always thoroughly enjoyed Roman mythology and was excited to refresh my memory and learn more about this genre of literature.  I was somewhat intimidated by my English undergraduate and graduate counterparts, but I allowed my interest to drive my participation and hopefully contributed one or two thoughtful points. 

     Daisy Miller was enjoyable to read and the movie brought the story I life.  I found the comparison of American and European culture very interesting, because I think that speaks to real life.  The United States is looked to and looked down upon in so many different ways; the story presented an underlying commentary on social mores with an overlay of a love story that kept people enthralled. 

     I viewed the presentation of Julius Caesar coupled with Roman Holiday as a requirement for Americans visiting Rome.  Julius Caesar is a classic not to be missed that brings history to life as films often do.  The version we viewed was especially captivating and provided me with a context for much of what we visited in Rome.  Roman Holiday was also great to watch and presented several places we would visit while in the city.  The film fit well with several of the other course readings and I would recommend it again when teaching this course in the future.  So many students lack an appreciation for black and white films, myself included, and the presentation of both of these films reminded me why these films are considered to be some of the best.

     We also reviewed Roman Fever in class and I found this piece of literature to be excellent.  It was simple, to the point, and exciting.  It had drama and suspense and was all of maybe 15 pages long.  Being a non-English major, I was unaware of the power a story this short could contain.  It also fit very well within the context of the course and contributed to the allure of Rome. 

     I read City of the Soul: A Walk in Rome by William Murray and Rome’s 25 Best by Fodor’s on my own and found both to be captivating and useful.  Murray’s book made me want to write my own reflection about the time I would spend in Rome.  His thoughts drew me in and I could picture myself in the areas of town he described.  The book significantly peaked my interest and I was ready to leave right away after completing it.  Rome’s 25 Best was also a useful guide that contained a wealth of information.

     From the classes attended jointly with Dr. Kunkel’s class, I found the film we watched about Pompeii to be excellent.  It provided great historical background and the real life stories considerably added to the excursion to the city.  I am also, and always will be, a huge fan of Rick Steves’ travel videos.  This affliction began last year in the course and was not swayed by the other travel videos we watched this year.  In the end, I again felt very prepared to embark on this adventure and felt that I had received a good foundation of coursework prior to our travels.               

     The adventure began in Rome.  I caught a glimpse of the Colosseum on the way to the hotel and knew that was the first place I wanted to travel.  Rounding the corner and seeing it in full view brought me right back to Florence last year when I came around the corner and saw the Duomo.  The experience was breathtaking.  Pictures are unable to give you the feeling of standing in the shadow of this monumental creation. 

     After taking the signature tourist picture, we spent the remainder of daylight exploring San Giovanni Laterno, the Santa Scala steps, and the San Clemente church where we explored the Mathrian tombs.  The Santa Scala steps were the highlight of my evening.  It was my first introduction to the significance of the Catholic church in Rome.  Seeing churches and cathedrals throughout the city is one aspect, but viewing the ritual of climbing the steps on your knees provided me a very moving first hand experience of a different kind.  It was unlike anything I had witnessed previously. 

     The next day was also full of new experiences.  We ventured inside the Colosseum, walked past Circus Maximus, and meandered through the Forum.  I struggle to find words to describe the magnitude of the experience.  I walked where the Romans walked.  Stopping to take in my surroundings and visualize what the city looked liked thousands of years ago was an experience that cannot be replicated in books or movies.  It was the reality of actually being in Rome that was beginning to sink in. 

     Reality in the city is also comprised of tourists, several thousand of them.  Entering the Colosseum reminded me of waiting in line to enter Disney World.  Throughout the rest of the day my two least favorite spots were the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain.  Both places were packed wall-to-wall with people and it took away from the experience for me. 

     Lucky for me, I was in Rome and it is not without several other things to see.  As an American, near the top of my list was the Hard Rock Café.  It was located further out than several of the main attractions and the trek around the city was well worth it.  The U.S. embassy was located across the street from the restaurant and I was surprised at the absence of large U.S flags or signs that identified it as the embassy.  We walked by Villa Borghese Park and stumbled onto Piazza del Popolo as the sun was setting.

     Rome at night adds another dimension to the city not seen in the daylight.  Via del Corso came to life and it was an experience to just walk the street.  I fell in love with Piazza Navona that evening when we stopped to eat dinner.  The atmosphere in the piazza was enchanting. 

     The highlight of the day actually did not take place at night though.  Santa Maria della Concerzione where we walked through the Capuchin Crypts was one of the most memorable experiences I had in Rome.  It was a very small space with no signs to provide direction.  It was a place you had to actively seek out.  Viewing the crypts was fascinating, but the quote in the last crypt made the experience memorable.  “What you are, we once were.  What you will become, we are now.”  It was a place I do not think I could visit at night, but I am glad I did not miss the opportunity. 

     Traveling to the Vatican the next day was also an unforgettable experience.  I am not Catholic and was unsure of what to expect while visiting the museum and St. Peter’s Basilica.  I worried that much of the experience would be lost on me because of my lack of knowledge about Catholicism; I was wrong. 

     As one would expect, we were joined at the Vatican by several thousand other people and that detracted from the first part of the day.  I was unsure of what to expect when we entered the Sistine Chapel, but even with more knowledge about the history and significance I would not have been prepared for the atmosphere.  Entering St. Peter’s Basilica provided more space and breathtaking scenery, but it was not until we entered St. Peter’s Square that I felt I was at the Vatican.  The square is what I associate with the Vatican and it was that visual recognition that changed the tone of the day for me.

     The experience that the made my trip took place when we went on the Scavi tour at St. Peter’s.  Being allowed into an area much fewer people are able to see provided an intimacy and a connection I had not previously felt when I was surrounded by so many other people.  Our tour guide Edwin provided comprehensive historical information and I felt as if I was transported back several thousand years.  Seeing the tomb of St. Peter is something very few people have had the opportunity to do in comparison to the masses that tour the basilica each day and I was very appreciative of the experience.  We ended the tour in Constantine’s private chapel and were able to look up through the grates in the floor of the basilica; it was amazing.  The exit from the chapel was next to the crypts of the Popes, so we walked through.  That was also a moving experience.  I am at a loss for words to describe it, but I felt very peaceful. 

     To end the day, we went to the top of St. Peter’s Dome.  It was a much easier climb with an elevator that for a few extra Euros would take you part of the way.  I was again reminded of the Duomo and reminisced about going to the top of that dome the year before and looking out over Florence.  There were several areas you did not have access to around the Vatican and the view was amazing. 

     Following an amazing day at the Vatican, we traveled around the southern portion of Rome for our free day.  I stood in line to have my picture taken at the Mouth of True, something every tourist must do; we returned to the Capitoline Museum and stumbled upon the Birth of Venus, among several other breathtaking works of art; roamed around Trastavere, which I will forever be unable to pronounce; ate lunch in the Jewish Ghetto; wandered through Trajan’s Market and took our picture with every Caesar; and ended the day at the Baths of Caracalla. 

     The Baths brought me back in time as walking around the Colosseum and Forum did.  The massive skeleton of what used to be was astounding.  I could have spent the whole day wandering around in the sun speculating about what used to be here and who used to go there. 

     Taking the train to Orvieto the next day transported me to a different place.  I felt as if I walked into the set for the film Under the Tuscan Sun.  I loved getting away from the city to a slower pace and much fewer people.  We leisurely shopped and ate lunch throughout town.  I ordered the most delicious mushrooms I have ever eaten and that was a different kind of memory I will keep with me; a very tasty one.                 

     The next day I was sad to leave Rome, but excited to visit new cities.  I found the National Archeological Museum in Naples fascinating, especially when we encountered a statue from the Baths of Caracalla.  The extensive collection of artifacts from Pompeii also began to bring the city to life.  I was excited to move on to Sorrento and get settled.  The three hour drive through traffic was not what we expected, but we were not going to let it bring us down.  Six days down in Italy and only three to go. 

     Pompeii came to life for me the next day in the sun.  I walked where the people of Pompeii had walked.  I saw what they saw and as I had felt several times before in Rome, I was carried back in time.  The hike to the top of Mount Vesuvius was something I can say I have done and would only do again on a clear day.  It was a long hike!  Traveling back to Sorrento that evening was more my pace at that point in the trip.  We enjoyed a relaxing dinner, shopped, and explored the city.  Traversing through the back alleys was an adventure I could have explored for many more evenings. 

     The last day in Italy was spent in Capri.  The ferry ride reminded me of home and it was the beginning of a great day.  We wandered around the island and explored.  It was relaxing and we did what looked like fun; strolling in and out of shops, taking a nap in the sun, and enjoying a glass of wine overlooking the crystal blue water were the makings of a great day. 

     My trip this year was the second of many excursions to come traveling abroad.  Taking advantage of the opportunity to travel as a graduate student has made the largest impact in my educational career.  It will also continue to impact my future career as a professional.  I want to share with others the benefits of my experiences and help them to create their own opportunities.  We live in a global society and it is not sufficient for students graduating from higher education in the United States to lack experiences abroad.  As a professional, I want to make those experiences possible. 

     Personally, I have also benefited tremendously from my travels abroad.  As I said several times throughout my reflection, I experienced things that cannot be replicated in books or films.  I learned from just being there.  The last two spring break trips have given me moments and memories I will cherish forever and I am not quite sure how to say thank you for those experiences.  They are not something you can plan for, but they are things I have taken away each time and I do not believe that either trip would have been the same with you or Joe.  People make the difference and when I travel abroad again it will never be the same as traveling with you two.  I thank you for your time and investment in teaching.