Rome via Brooklyn

937 words, 5 minutes read time – DOUBLE POST
Today I woke up excited and ready to head out to Ostia. Much of my family had been telling me to go – especially for the beach – so I was eager to get there today. Our first stop before Ostia was at Piramide di Caio Cestio where Nico and I gave our presentation on Egyptomania in Rome. I won’t talk too much about it here (saving that for my presentation blog post 😉) but I was impressed with how much I seemed to already know. Meaning, I’m really glad that the things I’ve learned over the last year (my first year back in a classroom in over 7 years) has really stuck with me. It’s really easy for me to feel imposter syndrome at school because I’m at a later stage in my life. It takes so much extra time and effort for everything (readings, schoolwork, etc.) to sink in, especially when I compare myself now to my 22-year-old undergrad self. So it feels good when I’m able to pull information from my mind that I wasn’t sure would stick after reading it.

Ostia Antica was really a dream. It was beautiful being able to actually explore and walk through the ruins – something I’ve been dying to do each time we’ve seen any. Like yesterday, I felt this overwhelming sense of emotion because I quite literally was stepping through history. Unlike the Capitoline Hill, your everyday, average people lived here, had businesses here, passed their time here – they existed in these spaces and had real human connections with their friends and families and customers and whoever else. How can I not feel emotional stepping where people have stepped before me?

TW: Death and grieving. And that’s when the grief hit. My sister tragically died about three weeks ago. It’s been incredibly tough to deal with because it happened so suddenly and so unexpectedly, and frankly, I’ve barely had any time to cope with it. She was younger than me, and it’s crazy to think that she’s gone. Of course, I carry her with me wherever I go, but the sadness can be so overwhelming. Throughout this whole trip, I’ve been constantly texting and talking with my mother and other sisters back home, giving them updates on my trip and all the cool things I’ve seen so far. And then it hit me – I won’t get to share those things with her. I mean, I can talk to her as I’ve been doing since she passed, but she can’t share in this excitement with me. I don’t get to experience her energy anymore, just whatever I can remember of it – which I can’t believe how much I’m already forgetting. It’s just so incredibly hard. But I took a moment to myself before lunch and passed some time talking to her in this really beautiful spot at the park, catching her up on everything and wishing her well wherever she is. (END OF DEATH/GRIEF TALK)

I passed my lunch hour with Tina, sitting and chatting away where we got to know each other a little bit over some fruit and sandwiches (and mozzarella – shoutout Prof. Yarrow for that). As we carried on, a few little bugs would come and invite themselves to have some of our fruit, so instead of being disgusted (which I usually would be), we took this opportunity to share with them. I offered the ants a piece of melon, and Tina a slice of mandarin. It was fun to sit there and watch them flock to it, enjoying their sweet little treat with us. Giving back to nature was such a nice little way to wrap up my big feelings. I just felt this overwhelming sense of peace, like everything was going to be ok. And with that, we carried on.

I wish I’d taken more photos at the beach. This was literally the only shot I got, and that was because I thought this was an exceptionally pretty pigeon. When we arrived at the beach, everyone was eager to go to the free side. I, on the other hand, will never not pay for comforts. A chair and an umbrella for €18? Sign me right up. Once we were all settled in, drinks and cigarettes in hand, I was able to truly relax. The buzz of conversation around me, the sounds of laughter and excitement as we all splashed around in the water – it was such a gift. I don’t love the ocean, but I respect her. Or rather, I don’t dislike her, but I do fear her overwhelming power. So, being able to calmly float right near the shore and gather rocks and all kinds of treasures filled my cup right back up.

The hours passed so quickly as we all carried on. I was extra excited to nerd out with some the other horror fanatics (shout out Jessica and Joseph!), and overall the conversation and good times flowed so effortlessly. It was a beautiful way to wrap up our class week and begin our weekends!

This weekend, I and a few others will be visiting the Necropoli Vaticana sulla via Triumphalis. I’m very excited about entering the Vatican because I truly don’t know what to expect. Sure, I know about the Sistine Chapel and all that good stuff (which we’ll be seeing next week), but the city overall is a mystery to me. Then on Sunday, I’m attending my cousin’s wedding. I couldn’t be more excited! I’ll see so much more of my family that I haven’t seen in a really long time.

Anyway, have a great weekend, y’all! Enjoy wherever you go!