THE ARCHIVE

It has all come to an end. I spent my last remaining days saying goodbye to friends as they head home for winter break. Many will be in Ithaca this spring, but some will be studying off-campus in New York, London, or elsewhere. At this point in our college career, many people are realizing that they might not be together in classes ever again.

My life has been tightly compressed into a few bags as I attempt to relocate from Italy to Pennsylvania. I fly from Rome to London to New York with British Air (who I must commend on allowing me to carry a free “sporting good”). Extremely heavy luggage and the horrible weather forecast for NY have generated some travel anxiety, but I’m hoping for the best.

I look forward to seeing some of you over winter break or in Ithaca very soon. Ciao a tutti.

- Look, he’s got the keys to heaven!

- I like keys. Let’s go find more…

One of my roommates in Rome has been counting the “Mondays” before we return to the states. There were nineteen Mondays when we arrived in Rome and I have reluctantly watched as the number dropped to just a few. While some students couldn’t wait to return to the conveniences of America, I mourned the quick passage of time. Early in the semester, I asked our history professor how long it might take to see all of Rome. With the romanticism of a renaissance enthusiast, he answered “a lifetime.”

Unable to commit an entire lifetime to Rome, I have attempted to make the most of just a few months. I have spent my time working, travelling, partying and studying in regions of Italy spanning from Sicily to Tuscany and from Rome to Aosta. I have had an incredible experience here, which I have tried–at least in part–to share with all of you.

It goes without saying that I am indebted to the programs and institutions with which I have participated: WWOOF Italia, the Poggio Colla Field School, and the Cornell in Rome program. At each of these organizations, I have found incredible hosts and mentors who share and inspire my interest in Italy. I have met scores of locals and foreigners who have made the abroad experience so much more enjoyable.

Today is Tuesday and there are no more Mondays left in the Rome adventure. I finished the last of my exams this morning and have three days to quickly pack up, see a few remaining sites, say goodbye to friends, and eat my last Gelato before scouring the freezer section in Wegmans trying to find a decent alternative. At this point I am looking forward to going home to Lancaster and eventually to Ithaca where I will see family and friends. It has been a long time.

But I refuse to believe that my time in Italy has completely come to an end because too many things here remain to be done. I suppose I will have to find time in this lifetime to come back and do them.

The Cornell web cam shows that Ithaca has already received its fair share of snow this winter. Four thousand miles away in Rome we are experiencing a bit of precipitation ourselves. The past three days have been particularly wet, causing the Tiber to swell over its banks. The homeless living along the river have moved to higher land near our apartment and police are currently guarding some of the less stable bridges.

Images online show the high water engulfing Tiberina Island, house boats, and trees.  We can see these things directly from our apartment which overlooks the Lungotevere.  The rain can be a nuisance but we try to make the most of it; spontaneous singing has happened on occasion.

This semester at Cornell was not the first that required weeks of non-stop work. I have grown accustomed to the post-thanksgiving burden of papers, projects, and reviews, but I never expected the heavy workload of Ithaca to follow me here to Rome.

What happened to the study abroad experience that people talk about? Friends from Cornell have laughed about their “drinking-exchanges” around the world that amount to paid vacations. Even in Rome, American students from John Cabot, RISD, and U Chicago have admitted to the ease of their programs and their familiarity with the bars in Campo dei Fiori supports that claim.

Cornell in Rome did things differently this semester. The architecture studio required the devotion given to a newborn child–and caused many more sleepless nights. When the class fell behind in studio because of a major history assignment, our professor griped about our negligence. The bags under our eyes should have indicated that we were doing our best.

I hesitate to complain at great length because–for the most part–the Cornell program has been a great experience. I have enjoyed my classes and am proud to be part of an institution that values academics over alcohol. But I do wish that there had been more time over the past few months to discover Rome on my own. There is something to be gained by talking to Italians over a few drinks, and having the time to do so.