Last Day in Rome! by Kevin Wang

Day 20- August 3

This morning, I had breakfast and started studying, when I discovered that my notebook,

dictionary, and tutorial book were all missing. I had left it by the computer before breakfast, and when I came back, it wasn’t there. I had to do what I could: I relaxed and went through the passages in my head. Then I headed into the Aula Magna to take the exam.

Left: Campus pool

Right: Aula Magna

Campus

I felt pretty bad about the exam. I didn’t remember a lot of the principal parts, since I was planning on reviewing it this morning, and I didn’t study the vocabulary in Vergil’s Georgics enough. I should have managed my time better and played less ping pong the couple of previous days. I walked out of the exam sad and regretful, but I was soon elated and relieved to have finished the summer course. We had our last meal on campus, and then headed to Rome for the last time! We were let loose to wander wherever we wanted in the eternal city, so I walked with Aman and Dakota from the Trevi fountain to the Spanish steps to the Pantheon, devouring 2 cones of lemon, coconut, and pistachio gelato on the way. I got some last minute souvenirs and rendezvoused with the Latin in Rom-ers at a Trattoria, where we had pasta with tomato and mozzarella, veal, salad, and Ammaretto gelato (My fourth gelato of the day). We called it “The Last Supper”. We were also allowed to drink, since the drinking age is 16 here, and many people got drunk. But I hated the flavor, so why get drunk when you’re not even enjoying it?

Me, Dakota, Aman, and Austin at the Trevi

Trattoria- The Last Supper

Back at campus, the teachers gave their farewells. Dr. Travillian gave a speech on the education system in America, which is going to be published in a German magazine. We didn’t have curfew tonight, so I played ping pong and jammed at the piano with three girls, Claire, Cindi, and Connie, singing around me. What a lovely way to end the trip...

The 3 Greats- Travillian, Maurer, and Sweet

 I stayed up till 3:30, and I was going to start packing at 5:00, but I slept heavily through my alarm, waking up at 6:30 instead, which meant I had 30 minutes to pack everything.

On the plane, I timed my naps to match up with nighttime in Nashville, so as to reduce the effects of the jet-lag. Hopefully, it will work. I got off the plane at 6:00 P.M and was so glad to see my family and excited to tell them all about the amazing dream that I had just had in Rome, Italy.