Rome via Brooklyn

673 words, 4 minute read

The prompt for today is:

What did you see on your journey from the airport to your accommodation? Keep your eyes open and reflect on ways modern and ancient intertwine.  Did anything you learned in CultureSmart! come true for you in your logistical interactions along the way? What is your strongest taste or scent memory of today? Why? Did anything today remind you of life in NYC what was the most familiar part of the day?

We met at 2.30 pm behind Castel S’Angelo. I emphasized some basics, like the need for promptness and that it is just fine for people to move through the city in pairs and threes or even solo. I tried to emphasize the continuous use and change of the functions of the buildings. My main meta-goal was just to ensure everyone was moving long enough to ensure the worst of the jetlag will pass in the night. I felt fairly guilty about the fatigue levels. It also seemed hard for the students to prioritize asking for food and water or even taking opportunities when offered. I think next year I will follow the same walking itinerary but ensure each apartment has a large bottle of water for each student and some basic lunch foods/snacks.

The bridge was so different than I remember. All the love locks have been removed and Bernini’s angels are so clean they gleam. Once we crossed over, I had two students navigate us towards the Pantheon. That worked really well and helped emphasize that they need to be able to navigate rather than just follow along. We went to the back and talked about the Baths of Agrippa and the Aqua Virgo and Neptune. This was the set up for the Trevi Fountain. Another two students led the way there. I picked a point for meeting up and encouraged the students to experience the fountain and the mass of crowds there on their own and come back to me. As they returned they waited in the cool darkness of the Vicolo di Forno (sp?). At this point I relented. No Spanish Steps, not Piazza del Popolo. They were such troopers but I could see the fatigue.

I gave two options, Metro or walk to the supermarket. According to our pocket robots the time was equal either way. They decided to split the group almost equally. The Metro group requested my presence. It was so fun to hear the compare/contrast with the NYC subway. We beat the walking group by only minutes, BUT I heard they made a little stop for Aperol Spritz! So they would have totally won without a stop. Go team walking! Loved hearing all the things they saw and would have asked me about had I been with them.

The grocery store was fun. I just hung out and answered questions. I explained how to cook pasta. I think maybe next year I need to make some videos on simple cooking. May this year. I learned more about what students thought essential. Where’s the garlic?! And their willingness to be food adventurous. All beautiful.

Less is more. I learned a great deal about structuring activities for the group. I’m thinking about how I can have students over for dinner. Maybe a sign up roster of some kind based on dietary preferences.

I got home 4 hours after we all met up. I wish I knew how many steps. Silly, the desire to quantify. My apple watch was left behind on the charger because of the whole plane delay.

Tomorrow we meet at 9.45 to visit Montemartini!