Student life
Our average day started, after waking up to the sound of an annoying rooster or UD's alarm system, with a breakfast that consisting of spiced ham, cereal, pastries, and yogurt. Afterwards, we would head into Rome for seeing different sights (around 8:00), with explanations of those scenes by the main instructor, Dr. Swede, a very knowledgeable and interesting classicists. As soon as we returned (around 12:00), we went to the dining hall to eat lunch which included pastas, vegetables, and some meat. Thereafter, we would have some free time to do whatever we wished. My downtime would usually be spent playing card games or chess with my newly met friends. After that little break (around 3:00), we would diligently prepare large chunks of Latin, which we had been assigned the night before, in order to review it in the later group meetings. Sometimes, if we had to do chores (such as laundry), we would do those things intermittently in these periods to break up the tedious Latin. When I finally finished, I would resume playing with my friends who had finished. When dinner finally came (around 7:00), we would go to the dining hall to eat dinner. To Italians, dinner was considered to be the most important meal of the day, and, in accordance, the meals were bigger, grander, and more tasty. Almost immediately after dinner, we met in small groups to discuss Latin. After our small group met, we would be released, and, exhausted, refused to look at Latin for the rest of the night. After the free time, we went to bed at curfew (11:00). The most important part of the daily life was water. This summer was the hottest summer since 2003 according to Dr. Swede. Staying hydrated and cooling down during the long walks was very necessary, for it was miserable to not possess water. I made the mistake one day during our trip to the forum and the thirst was almost unbearable. The heat was magnified by the lack of shade and breeze. I will never forget this lesson since that day: When in Rome, ALWAYS HAVE WATER. At campus, there were two ice machines that softened the heat and were life-savers.
Out in Rome
In our many adventures in the Eternal City, we had the chance to see many marvels. From the famous Colosseum to the infamous temple to the fatherland, we experienced most of what Rome had to offer. We even went to St. Peters. Basilica, although it had no connection to Latin or the Romans. During these trips, Dr. Swede would explain each wonder by blue box, a device that allowed him to communicate to us so that we could hear him even in crowded areas. Such venues included a million gargantuan churches, an eighteenth century church built upon a sixteenth century church that was built upon a Roman treasury and Cultist temple, the lofty Pantheon, Roman temples A, B, and C, the Roman Forum, the Palatine hill where the emperors' palaces were. All of these abandoned, ancient sights were isolated in the bustling city which created a nice juxtaposition. My personal favorite site was the Altar of the Fatherland, where my friends and I could beautiful chunk of Rome on the tallest and most elaborate building in the city.
| Capitoline, Colosseum, Palatine, etc. as seen on the top of the Altar of the Fatherland |
Out of Rome
A few times on this trip we left Rome to experience other sites. One such place was the Etruscan Necropolises, which we had the opportunity of exploring. The ominous sense of death in those black abysses of the tombs that you sensed when you climbed down into the manhole was definitely a thrilling experience. Another treat was Ostia Antica, the port city of Rome. This place was exhilarating to explore as nothing was roped off and everywhere was an awaiting adventure. The staff let us go, and off we went to explore the vast city of thirty thousand Romans. As I explored, I gained a sense of the power and wealth which the Romans possess through seeing huge buildings and wonderful tiled art. By far, the most exciting experience came from the Naples trip. Climbing the heights of the towering Vesuvius and thence seeing the azure ocean and the dense city, ascending the cliffs of the lofty and bustling Capri, observing the masterpieces of art painted on the walls on Pompeii and Nero's wife's villa, wandering in the home town of Cicero, standing on the marble paths of the Monte Casino while gawking at the view, and so on made this experience very enjoyable. Finally, in our latter days in Italy, we visited a few ancient Roman towns on hanging cliffs. The highlight of this trip was seeing the farmlands from a cliff opposing the city of Lavinia.
| Mt. Vesuvius and Naples as seen on Capri |
Latin
UD had devised a system for learning Latin. At first, we all went on the same pace until they decided who were the faster and better Latin students. Then, they divided the whole class into smaller groups which would meet at 8:00 (pm) to translate the Latin that we prepared that day, which included works from Tacitus, Suetonius, Livy, and much from Vergil. At the end of the month, we had a final exam which encompassed all the material that we had covered.
No comments:
Post a Comment