Sorry for the lag

Sorry for the lag in posts. School finished well and I was off with my sister Kate and her son , Chris, on a trip to Venice and to Florence - with a stop in Pisa, of course. Kate and Chris left this AM and Joanne P arrives tomorrow. Time to do laundry! More to follow.

I think I gained weight!

If I thought I ate a LOT when AMY was here I must say I have eaten the BEST here with Angel and Eric. Not only did they prepare two wonderful meals in my apartment but we also seemed to find some of the best (local) food in Rome. This includes a new place for the Jewish/Roman Artichokes I so love...

A & E were a lot of fun and they enjoyed exploring on their own; they get the award for mastering key elements of the transit systems (making up to Orvieto one day, then out to the Appia Antica another day (no Archeobus for them!), and finally out to Ostia (beach) and Ostia Antica.

They left his AM and I already miss them (although we had a little "issue" getting them a shuttle to the airport and ended up putting them in a cab) but I take comfort knowing that Kater and Chris arrive Monday AM and we're in for a whirlwind. Doing Laundry and sweeping up the inevitable dust balls which accumulate in the apartment because I have the windows open 24/7.

Classes are going very well; 14 very bright students, but they are different from each other and that has worked well in class discussions. They finish up this coming week (final quiz Monday and the final portion of their projects due Wednesday).

Also had lunch with the Dean and with Aldo at Aldo's home in San Lorenzo out near Station Tibertina last week (I need to go back and explore that neighborhood more) and enjoyed checking in with Aldo.

Three nephews have birthday's this wee: Happy 22nd Birthday to Nick Griffiths, Happy 21st (really?) Birthday to Bob Walter, and Happy 6th Birthday to hip-hip Harry Conran! Miss you all. Love

Half-way (that's sounds negative but it's not meant to be)

I was officially in Rome for 1/2 my time on the 18th (I arrive 5/18 and leave 7/18) but I do feel settled in and comfortable.

Angel and Eric arrived Thursday AM and we have had a lovely visit; they are a laid back set of travelers so not a whole lot of hustle (although we did do the Vatican Museum - by night - THE ONLY WAY TO GO - and the Basilica - even climbing the 320 steps to the top of the cupola!) but very enjoyable.

Angel and I made a couple visits to Campo Dei Fiori and then Angel and Eric made the BEST RISOTTO ever along with a Grouper (in honor of Eric's Dad) for dinner Sat Night. Eric does love his gelato and his favorite saying is "in an emergency I say 'due gelato per favore' - right?". Wonderful guests and great visitors.

Back to school and a lovely lunch with Dean Strommen and Prof Aldo Patania; a great way to catch up on things. Angel and Eric are in Orvieto to day so will head home to do laundry (blue Monday) and catch up on some grading.

A & E leave Friday AM and Kate and Chris arrive Monday so will be busy. Joanne Packer has booked a visit from the 8th till when I leave on the 18th so I may hike Cinque Terre yet (although I think she'd like to do a night or two on Capri too)!

People on the bus!

I consider myself pretty open-minded and flexible; up for an adventure. Amy and I had few on the buses (she commented that people smelled differently). My adventures are that I seem to get about the STINKIEST people sit next to me or some old man standing next to me while I sit (and he keeps bumping into me)! Queenie Folks knows all my stories about adventures on the philly trains and transit system...seems these have followed me here. She once offered to buy me a fake spilled McDonald's milkshake to put on the seat beside me...I should have taken her up on it. Oh well- part of the experience (at least that is what I told Amy). Angel and Eric arrive tomorrow!

A nice weekend

Did some work (finishing up a position paper for a Sept conference) and (finally) went up to Ravenna on Saturday- the trip was pricey but worth it. I believe the Roman children are getting ready to be out of school - they were jumping in all the fountains on Friday. Angel and Eric arrive this week.

Missing Amy

Amy left this AM and I already miss her terribly, I may have put on 5 pounds because that girl can EAT and loves to go out to eat. To her credit - she did quit smoking a few weeks ago and EVERYONE Here in Rome seems to smoke. Really, we had a wonderful visit and now I will prepare for Angel and Eric who arrive the 16th. All is well here.

Enjoying Rome with Amy

Well, I really don't see Amy after 930-10PM; her friends from San Diego are in town and she has enjoyed spending time with them but the big news is - we thought today (Monday) was her last full day in town - we kept saying she leaves Tuesday, June 8th but the 8th is Wednesday! We got in our tour of the Appian Way (Quo Vadis?) and had a great dinner (in the rain) up at the Colosseum - what a treat to see it at night.

School is going well; I think most of the students are used to me by now and learning to work with me on an interactive learning model with a heavy reliance on discussion. They have the first part (and the most work) of their semester projects due tomorrow. They are building a country Notebook wherein they are profiling an EU country and providing all the vital statistics and relevant historical, geographic and economic background. In part II of the project the students choose a company operating in that country and profile their operations; in Part II they make a set of strategic recommendations to this company for enhancing/improving operations based on their critical analysis. I'm still getting some questions like "how long does it have to be?" and when I answer "as long as it needs to be to answer my critical questions but about 5-7 pages" they ask - "what if we're over/under?" Students are students all over.

Amy has kept me busy!

From her early arrival Monday AM (which went well despite the fear of the havoc caused by a daylong transit strike) to Saturday afternoon where we were finally able to nap - Amy has kept me busy.

We, of course, did the typical stops on Monday (Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Navonna, Campo-dei-fiori even dinner on the Via Veneto with, of course, gelato!). Tuesday AM, while I went to school, Amy explored Castle St Angelo and then went shopping - doing a good job of retracing our steps of the previous day to shop on the Corso. We then went to the Vatican Museum and the Colosseum and more sight-seeing - even a visit to the Colosseum at NIGHT.

Wed AM - she went out exploring and we came back and tried to go to the Cappuchin Crypt - but her shorts were too short! So we went to the museum of musical instruments instead - a delight. Thursday we went to Florence for the day - saw David as well as Michaelangelo's home! We toured around selections of the Pitti Palace and Boboli and also visited the pharmacy museum. Home again and then off to Sorrento and then Capri on Friday - hot, hot, hot but we survived and ate very well.

Today we started slowly, back to the Crypt (where the woman "guarding" the entrance invited "blondie" back in) and then a leisurely walk through the Borghese gardens then home for laundry and a nap - after a nice lunch of course.

So-she's kept me busy, likes to eat-n-shop - but doesn't like to wear old-lady shoes - as a result - her feet look so sore! I'm having a lot of fun with Amy and even finding new gems in Rome as a result of her curiosity and willingness to try something different.

Amy Arrived!

I was so worried about Amy (I keep forgetting she's not a little kid anymore and has been living in San Diego alone for 2 years) but I needn't have worried. The bus strike was mid-day and so I was able to catch an early bus to Termini - take the Leonardo Express to the Airport to wait for her. I made a little sign which said "AMY ROSE" and she was delighted. We then took a shuttle from the airport to about 3 blocks from campus - she got a bite to eat and I taught my class. Then back to the apartment to refresh and head out on a walking tour...dinner on the Via Veneto (under those little glass dining rooms - very posh) and then a trip to Trevi fountain and some gelato and an evening view of the Castle St Angelo.

Today - she's exploring the Castle and we will grab a light lunch and do the Vatican (museum and Basilica)! It's fun to have company.

Sunday wandering

Walked the river - east side today down a few bridges and crossed to pick up a bus to Porta Portense. I picked up a few duvet covers for the apartment (used but I washed!) and a screwdriver I had needed. Then up to the Knights of Malta for the secret view...charming. Then a nice walk through the park ( I saw three brides) and then down to the rose gardens which were blooming and lovely. Then a quick stop at the Cosmedian Church (it was being restored years ago when I stopped) this is where the Bocca de Veritas is located...the mouth of truth.

Then back to the apartment - stopping for a sage and raspberry gelato - to clean some more. I think the students who had the apartment before were quite messy and I have already been promised a free cleaning upon departure because it was so dirty! Now out enjoying my evening walk. Maybe one more gelato...

Amy arrives tomorrow AM - very excited.

Cleaning and walking

Spent the morning doing laundry and cleaning - the apartment is almost the way I would like it - but just not yet.


While cleaning I heard this loud noise - bikes honking and bells ringing - it was some type of demonstration and everyone was having fun. A nice break.

In between loads of laundry went to see a great exhibit at the Quirinal. Just checking email and calling around for Amy.

Off to check out via Veneto. M

Tivoli and Villa D Este

A great day to head out of Rome; students in a few of the Art History Classes needed to take a trip out to Hadrians Villa and Villa D Este (sorry - I am working from a commerical internet point - still no internet at home). It was sunny and hot and although I was there with Kate and Kyle a few years ago - it was great to hear a different take on the history - quite fascinating. Prepping for Amys visit Monday and (of course) there is a transit strike scheduled for then too! Will make it work - also got some good ideas for travels with Angel and Erik who visit on the 16th. Ciao.

Visitors!

Had a wonderful visit with friends of Angel's - the Armsby's! I met Priscilla, Lee and their daughter Ashlee who has spent her Spring Semester in Paris. They were only in Rome for a night so we did the GRAND tour of Rome - we met at the the Piazza del Popolo and then walked to the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon (a quick stop for Ice cream at Giotto's), the Piazza Navonna (a bathroom break and a chance to show off my apartment), then the Campo dei Fiori, Largo Argentina (they were charmed by the cats who live there) and we wrapped up with a quick tour of the Colosseum. I left them having dinner outside the Colosseum - what a view - and headed back to school to do some work.

I then realized they might want to meet today too so I arranged to meet them at Rome Termini (left luggage - a marvelous feature of travel on the continent - so you don't have to haul you baggage around all day you leave it a Termini - for a fee). Then we took the Metro to the Vatican (we cut the line) and toured the Vatican Museum as well as the Basilica; then a quick view of the Castel St Angelo and now there on their way to Florence for a few days.

It was nice to have visitors and to show them around - Amy visits next week (arriving just in time for a one-day schedule bus strike!) and Angel and Eric arrive on the 16th. Then Kate and Chris for a few days at the end of June into July.

Tech troubles continue

Still can't connect to the wi-fi at the apartment, but I did get a phone (which, of course, I can't use well)...poor Kate - I called her three times and the connection didn't hold. Oh well.

There have been some fun moments:

I went out walking before dinner last night - my neighborhood is full of small streets and byways; I was walking up behind a cute old man out walking with a cane...slowly maneuvering over the cobblestones; he stopped a moment as I approached - I thought he heard me coming up - and then let out the largest gasser I've heard in a while - just as I was saying Buona Sera! Hmmm-not the greeting I was expecting.

Then this AM I got on the trolley to school (not the old 23...but like it - this is the 19) and was promptly joined by a young mother with her three toddlers (probably aged 4, 3 and 2) and they had a blast screaming on the trolley like it was a roller coaster. Of course, in Italy, children are revered - no one seemed to mind their antics and I actually enjoyed it - thought of mom getting Angel, Billy and Liz on a trolley...

Off to try (again) to fix the internet connection.

First day of Classes

It is the first day of classes and I'm down to 13 students (10 females and only 3 males)...I know one took an internship but I don't know where the other one ended up. No worries - it's a good group of students and they seem ready for the challenge of studying International Business in Rome! Each student profiled one of the EU countries as a way to introduce themselves and this helped break the ice a little.

I also got an Italian PHONE so I'm feeling less detached (although I rarely use a phone). School has undergone some enhancements so I'm sitting in the FACULTY lounge with all new pcs and listening to all the traffic on the road...Will try my internet at the apartment again - hopefully this will work as it has been quite inconvenient to be without the internet (as well as NO TV)!

A day in Todi and Titignano

A fun day with the students; off to Todi, a lovely hill town about 2 hours north of Rome. There was an interesting Techno exhibit of Raffello (Raphael) paintings - these were no the painting themselves but reproductions projected in the exhibit - which was billed as the Impossible Exhibit (as it would be impossible to collect all of these in one location). It was fun to visit and to see the beautiful countryside.

We then went to Titignano for a long (long) lunch and quiet afternoon - the event is designed to get students into the rhythm of Italy - that it is not about "feeding" but savoring. Lots of fun (one of the professors brought a Frisbee and students even went swimming).

Today, catch up on work and notes for class. Pirates is playing here, but I can't find a theater!

Getting to know Rome - Again

Spent yesterday getting re-aquainted with the city; took a few different buses - walked around and did some shopping (guest sheets, towels, sugar, tea...just the essentials). The internet isn't working (yet) at the apartment so I'm visiting school again to do work. Hopefully, the connection will be fixed this weekend. There's NO TV at the apartment, there is a media player, but I forgot my DVD collection! Angel and Eric have booked their flight (6/16) but Amy will be my first visitor. Students arrive tonight and then a weekend of orientation and some side trips to the hill town of Todi. Off to check out some more of Rome.

Arrived and trying to settle in!

Arrived safely and took and adventurous ride from the airport with my new friend Riccardo - he "fishes" for clients heading down the escalator for the train - he had already snared a few tourists and offered to get me from FCO to my door - with that damn suitcase for a reasonable fee so I went for it. He was quite amusing and sweet and I think it was worth it not having to lug that suitcase up and down. The apartment is located RIGHT in the middle of Centro Storico (historic center of Rome) - is a few blocks from Piazza Navonna, the Pantheon, Torre Argentina, Castle St Angelo, etc. I walked around my neighborhood and then unpacked - again, I can't help but exclaim "what was I thinking" when I realized I brought so many clothes and shoes!

Visited school this AM to say hello and check in on my email (the internet at the apartment isn't working). Off to shop for bath towels and pillows!

At PHL Tuesday 5-17-2011

OK - so I'm not as "seasoned" as I would like to think; I packed TOO much (even though I'm heading out for two months). I realized this as I tried to cram stuff into my smaller bag and then realized I needed the larger one (I clearly thought I wouldn't even fill that one!). Anyway - there I was trekking down Gravers Lane to the Train Station - grunting and groaning - in a few hours I'll be doing the same - but this time down around Piazza Navona. I packed lots of books and class notes but too many tops and shoes - Oh well - maybe I can ship some back. Cleared and sitting at the airport waiting for boarding. Buona Fortuna!