Spring has Sprung

The post-spring break return to Rome has an atmosphere of tension. After a week-long, stress free excursion across the most marvelous places in Europe, returning to Rome means confronting a certain level of reality. Studio, exams, essays… the everyday tasks of a student. Many of us are frantically putting together portfolios and sending out cover letters to various firms. At our apartment, the dining room has been converted into a workspace with laptops, coffee mugs and packages of Mulino Bianco cookies strung across the table.

Returning to Rome has made me reflect upon the past three months here. It hardly feels like so much time has passed. In a way, the time here is as eternal as the city itself. The days melt into one another in a continuous flow of long dinners with wine, frequent visits to ruins and museums, and the occasional late(ish) nights in studio developing our project.

I’ve been interested in the way my studio-mates here have adapted to this new place. Some seize every opportunity to leave Rome and hop across different cities in Europe; London, Brussels, Budapest, Geneva, Copenhagen, etc. all seem like viable options for a whirlwind weekend trip. Others relish living in Rome and spend the weekends exploring hidden gems (local bars, theater performances, lesser-known art galleries). Still others hardly seem to have left Ithaca in the way they spend their day-to-day (though this approach is rare).

Nonetheless though, I feel that this time here in Rome (and elsewhere) has been especially dense in the visceral, intellectual and personal experiences.

A few memories:

Bellissimo | Photo by Chris Andras
Touring with Studio | Photo by Chris Andras
Touring with studio | Photo by Chris Andras
Siena | Photo by Chris Andras
Sightseeing in Siena | Photo by Chris Andras