Rome via Brooklyn

I woke up at 6.45 am. I left the house at 8.45 am. Walked in the door a little after 8 pm.

It was a very good day. Two sets of phenomenal paired presentations.

Ostia was hot and confusing. I realize of the sites on the itinerary, it is one I’m less familiar with. I have no real mental map. I had strong talking points but moving through the site to hit the notes I wanted was challenging. I had a TA along and that definitely helped, but that was a new relationship which makes it harder to riff on each other. I want to mark out a walking route on a site map and give students site maps next year. I also think I may need to do this for Herculaneum. I love it, but I don’t know it as well as Pompeii.

Similar the picnic lunch worked but I could do it better. Two types of cheeses next time. Maybe some sliced packaged fruit. Just a little more variety and planning about how and where it is to be eaten.

Personally I really enjoyed the Ostia museum which wasn’t there (or at least I don’t recall it in this form) my last visit. It was one of the first places on this trip I took pictures of antiquities for their own sake. I will have to write a blog post on those for my personal website. Perhaps tomorrow.

Mostly I have a deep sense of relief that week one went so well. This group is so good. Everyone takes care of everyone and is respectful of those who need to do their own thing. I’m particularly delighted to learn that at least some of my students are connecting with the local faith communities associated with their own beliefs. There are the rich interfaith friendships forming. It gives me hope for the world. I know that not everyone has positive experiences with organized religion, but it has been a thing of great joy and curiosity in my own life. I so enjoy seeing those who want it lean in to faith do so, regardless of the traditions that speaks most to them.

Part of me is scared that if I come again next year with other students, I’ll forever be comparing them to these ones. How could I ever get so lucky again? I know you can never step in the same river twice, so I’ll savor every moment.

Their all off on weekend adventures or planning extended sleep. I have writing goals and my own sleeping goals. I cannot wait to hear what they think of their own intrepid choices be it Pisa, Florence, Venice, the Vatican Necropolis, an invitation to an Italian wedding or something entirely different.

After Ostia we went to the beach, or most did. Can you believe that I’ve been coming to Rome regularly since 1996 and have never once been to the beach? It was lovely. The water was cold enough to be bracing and wonderful after the heat of day. I locked my phone away and took not a single picture just to be in the moment. It made the day much longer but was worth it. I wonder about an official beach excursion on the syllabus in future years? Could I give it a day, rather than the tail end of an already exhausting day? Many students might welcome that, but not all… to be considered further. I definitely am realizing how much the students are excited about ITALY even more, or in addition to, my little niche obsession with ancient Rome. They love the layers and because they do, I do.

Enough. Time to weekend. Or rather sleep.