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Midautumn Night in Rome: A Holiday Away from Home

What an eventful week in Rome! I’ve been very busy getting used to my classes and new routines in Rome. Time flies when you’re abroad!

September 13 was a special day for me: it was Midautumn Festival. Called “中秋节” (zhōng qiū jié, “zhawng chee-you jyeh”) in Mandarin Chinese, it is a holiday I celebrate on the eighth full moon on the lunar calendar. The exact date of the Midautumn Festival varies every year, but it always happens between September and October. This year, it happened at the end of my first week of classes.

My family and I are Chinese immigrants who moved to Boston in 1999. We brought several traditions with us. Many of them involve all of us spending time together at home. I’ve almost always returned to my family home in Boston to celebrate Chinese holidays, but this year, I am outside of the United States. This is my first Midautumn Festival away from not only my family, but away from my homeland.

I called my family for the first time since I said goodbye to them at the airports back in Boston. I’m starting to miss them and am feeling a bit homesick. I miss my mother’s Chinese cooking the most. I also didn’t know how I’d feel about celebrating Midautumn Festival away from home.

On Wednesday, I decided to explore more of the city after my classes. I heard that the area around Termini station, where both lines of the Roma Metro (yes, there are only two routes on the subway, Linea A and Linea B – every time the government tries to dig a new subway path, they find ancient artifacts and have to stop to preserve the archaeological context!) intersect and people can catch buses and trains to other parts of Italy, is culturally diverse and houses a lot of international markets.

I was told that the area around the Vittorio Emanuele stop, directly after Termini, had a few Asian markets. I found a small but well-stocked place in the area and was thrilled to see my favorite Chinese products on the shelves! I spoke to the cashier in Chinese (I was juggling English, Italian, and Chinese in my head this week!) and found a key component of celebrating Midautumn Festival: mooncake (饼, yuè bǐng, pronounced “yoo-eh bingh”).

Found an Asian supermarket! Easily accessible from the Linea A of the Metro.
Found some mooncakes (月饼, yuè bǐng, pronounced “yoo-eh bingh”) at the Asian supermarket!

Mooncakes are made with different types of filling, usually red bean or lotus seed paste (I’m bigger fan of lotus seeds), and sometimes contain an egg yolk to represent the full moon. The reason my family and I celebrate the moon on this holiday is to respect the Moon Goddess, who, according to our folklore, was once a mortal woman who floated away to the moon. I heard that Americans see a “man in the moon” when they look at the sky. I think the craters in the moon look more like a rabbit. In the myth, the Moon Goddess has a pet rabbit to keep her company in the sky.

I messaged one of my housemates, who is also a Chinese-American studying in Rome, about the supermarket and bought some Asian spices and sauces for her. We’re both excited to be making our own Chinese food in the apartment soon! We also agreed to celebrate by going to a Chinese restaurant for dinner that night. Another one of our housemates came along as well. We had a great time together!

My housemates and I went to a local Chinese restaurant for dinner. How I miss my family’s homemade Chinese food! We walked around the city and enjoyed looking at the moon. I brought my camera and took some pictures of the full moon at different sites in Rome. It always makes me happy to look at the moon – my parents told me that whenever I miss them, I can look at the moon because that is where they are looking, too. This is especially true on Midautumn Festival: my family is celebrating in the States, enjoying their mooncakes as well.

Wonderful Midautumn night!
What a view of the moon on the bridge!
The Piazza del Popolo looks stunning tonight!
The moon shines bright in the night sky above the Piazza.
The moon above the buildings on top of the Spanish Steps, a short walk away from the Piazza.

We returned to the apartment later that night. I feel much better after celebrating an important cultural holiday in Rome. I’m glad I can celebrate my heritage, even when I’m so far away from my family in America. I can’t help but wonder how other immigrants feel when they celebrate traditions that are not commonly acknowledged in the places they live in.

I was too young to remember my family’s first Midautumn Festival when we moved to the United States. My mother, father, sister and I are the only ones from our family to leave China. The four of us are the only ones in America. I now know what it’s like to be away from close family that I’m used to seeing often and celebrating holidays like Midautumn Festival with every fall. I’m very thankful for my housemates for celebrating with me while I am away from my family – I feel inspired to help other students feel more at home by celebrating cultural holidays with them, as well.

My favorite kind of mooncake: lotus seed paste, with an egg yolk in the middle! Round and bright, like the moon.
No matter where I am, I know my family is looking at the moon, too.

 
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A Day Trip to Umbria (Todi and Titignano)

Orientation flew by! It was very helpful in familiarizing myself with the city before classes started. I also had a lot of fun during our last orientation activity: a day trip to the towns of Todi and Titignano in Umbria, the province north of Rome!

Our trip to Umbria!

Our first stop was Todi, an ancient town on a hill. Todi was an hour away from the city and was at a lofty 1,350 feet above sea level; it was quite a journey! I climbed up the steps at our destination and enjoyed a wonderful view of Umbria!

Greetings from the hill town of Todi!
View of Umbria from Todi. Elevation: 410 m (1,350 ft) above sea level.

Todi has a long history in Italy. Local legend has it that millenia ago, an eagle had stolen a tablecloth from the ancient people in the region and flew to the hill; the local Italic tribes followed the eagle and built Todi on the hill. The eagle is still a symbol of Todi today. I saw the Todian eagle in the Piazza del Popolo (“People’s Square’) of the town.

The Todian eagle surveys the city from a lofty perch – legend has it that an eagle once stole a tablecloth from an ancient tribe in Umbria and flew to a hill that would later become Todi.
Got to see the Piazza del Populo (“People’s Square”) in Todi.

After its founding legend of the Todian eagle, Todi was an Etruscan town. The ancient Etruscans were from a region in central Italy that was around what is now Tuscany, which shares borders with Umbria and Lazio (the province Rome is in). They formed a major civilization in Italy that predates that of the ancient Romans. The hill was a strategic location for the Etruscans, who relied on the elevation and walls of Todi for protection against invasions.

The ancient Etruscans fought the ancient Romans in several conflicts in the 6th century B.C.E. and onward.  The ancient Romans, who were not yet an empire or republic, were heavily influenced by the culture and technology of the Etruscans, basing their alphabet on those of the ancient Etruscans and adopting the Etruscan sewage system. The Roman cisterns can be accessed from a passageway in the town. The last kings of Rome were also of Etruscan descent; there were also plenty of Roman family names that come from the Etruscans.

The Piazza del Popolo in Todi was once an ancient Roman forum after the ancient Romans absorbed the Etruscan civilization. The walls of Todi were important to the Romans and to the medieval people who lived there in the Middle Ages as well. They provided the people living there with protection from the repeated invasions during times of strife across the centuries. There is also Gothic influence in the architecture of the cathedral north of the Piazza and more Classical inspiration from the Corinthian columns inside.

The Todi Cathedral sits at the north side of the Piazza del Populo – this used to be an ancient Roman Forum!
Some Gothic architecture in the ancient Roman hill town.
Stunning arches over Corinthian columns lining the cathedral, which has a gorgeous stained-glass window and colorful mural.

After our short adventure in Todi, we took a long, winding road to another town: Titignano. There, we were treated to a gorgeous view of the vineyards, lake, and stunning landscape of the region.

Love this view from a terrace at Titignano!

We had a special lunch in the early afternoon that went for two hours. We started with appetizers outside of the restaurant that comprised of pizzete crustini, or small pizzas with various toppings. Once we were indoors, we ate several courses of meats such as ham, salami, prosciutto, wild boar, venison, chicken, and lamb. We also had cheese, pastries, risotto, salad, fruit, and a delicious homemade tiramisù as part of a 14-course meal.

I liked the wild boar pasta and tiramisù the most. Some of my classmates finished their meal with espresso and biscotti with their dessert. I was not used to eating so much so late in the day (I usually eat lunch at or before noon in the States), so I ended up sleeping off the meal on the bus ride home.

Some pizzete crustini (small pizzas with various toppings) as appetizers in our 14-course lunch at Titignano!
What a view of the vineyards and hills of Umbria! Taken from the restaurant in Titignano.

We arrived back in Rome around 7:00 that evening, and with that concluded our orientation at Temple Rome! It was a pleasure getting to meet the Temple Rome staff and my fellow study abroad students on this journey. I learned a lot about life in Rome and Italian culture. Onto classes I go!
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Rome-ientation

My first week at Temple Rome felt like my first week at Holy Cross. Move-in day abroad was a lot like my first move-in day in the United States. After I had unpacked my suitcases, I attended new student orientation, organized by Temple Rome staff. I followed the Alumni Assistants, staff who studied abroad at Temple Rome and were now graduates of the program, to the Temple University Rome campus. We walked for 25 minutes from the Residence to the school building.

I took in all the sights on my walk to campus. Before I arrived in Italy, I had only seen Rome through photographs. Now, I was walking on the same streets as the locals and experiencing the city in person. My favorite part of my first walk was the view across the bridge. I got to see Temple Rome in the evening light. What a first sight of campus!

Greetings from Temple Rome! Excited to be taking classes here for the semester!
What a view of campus across the Tiber river! Taken on my first walk to campus during orientation.

We checked in with the staff and began orientation with a welcome meeting and a huge pizza party. I tried Italian pizza for the first time. It tastes different from the pizza I’ve tried in the United States. Food should be no problem – I like it! I’m looking forward to not only trying the Italian food at local restaurants, but also to trying new recipes from scratch in the apartment kitchen!

I got to meet other students in the program at orientation. A lot of them live in the Residence; some are only a few doors away from where I’m staying. Others are part of the homestay program and live with local families in the area. I also met some classmates who are staying in independent housing with other students. I explored the area with a few new friends and helped one of them get a monthly pass for the metro. We went shopping and got pizza together afterward.

The Flaminio Metro station; I’ll be seeing a lot of this on my commute to and from class! 15 minutes from the Cipro station (a 5 minute walk from the residence).
Got some pizza at a local restaurant! You bet I ate the whole thing! So stuffed…

The other students and I had fun at social events such as a “speed friending” exercise, where we chatted with each other for five minutes before moving onto the next person, and a team scavenger hunt around the area that helped us find convenient places around campus. We named our team “Primo Posto,” which is Italian for “first place.” We got to see sights such as the gorgeous Piazza del Popolo, right outside of the Flaminio metro station, the closest subway stop around campus. We found all the places on our list but did not return to campus in time to be first place. We came in third place.

My first time entering the Piazza del Populo (short walk away from campus). We were sorted into groups for a scavenger hunt. Our team was “Primo Posto,” which mean “first place” in Italian. How fitting: we came in third place!

Part of orientation week involved getting set up with useful tools such Italian SIM cards, textbooks, and even portable Wifi devices! I got all three. I feel much better after getting a good data plan – I can use Google Maps without worrying about my data roaming speeds! We have a lot of data and minutes every month. If we run out of euros for the plan or need to pay for the next month, we can go to Tabacchi or phone stores to refill our plans. We can use a lot of social media apps without tapping into our data, so I got to add a lot of my new friends on social media.

I learned a lot about living in the city during orientation. We listened to talks about the local culture and safety rules from Temple Rome staff and from a representative from the US embassy in Rome. We filled out a few forms for our stay. I’m glad we got help completing our applications for the Permesso di Soggiorno (“Permit of Stay,”) which is a legal document that allows us to stay in Rome. We got our forms done and made appointments to continue the process at the local post office. Glad that’s out of the way!

I am much more prepared for my life in Rome. The jetlag is gone, and I know the city a little better. Can’t wait to see what else I’ll learn during my time here!
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“Ciao, Roma!” Settling In for the Semester

Greetings from Rome!

I arrived in Italy before noon on Monday, September 3 (around 6 a.m. in my hometown of Boston – six hour jetlag!) and moved into the Residence Candia, where many Temple Rome students will call home for the semester. We will be living right outside the Vatican! I am staying in an apartment with five other girls. I share a bedroom with two of them. It feels like I’m living in a triple with a bathroom and a kitchen/dining area shared with our other three housemates.

Staying in an apartment at the Residence Candia, just outside of the Vatican. Convenient location in the city!

I made steady progress unpacking my suitcases and setting up my part of the room. I sorted my clothes into drawers and put my books, glasses, and alarm clock on top of the dresser next to my bed (bottom bunk). I used one of my adapters to install a set of US outlets for my electronics.  My housemates and I bought other things for our apartment at local supermarkets and outdoor shops. We helped each other set up our shared spaces and got to know each other. We also learned about the amenities both at and around the Residence, such as weekly linen-changing services (with all towels and sheets are provided by staff) and local shops and cafés a short walk away.

Via Candia, the street in downtown Rome where the residence is. Lots of local stores and cafés, alongside convenient Tabacchi (which are everywhere in the city; you can get monthly passes and add money to your phone account there, too!).

I’m glad I’ve been able to get a lot of help moving in from both the Residence Candia and from Temple Rome. They have been very kind to help us all get settled in the city for the semester.

The Residence staff have been wonderful at answering our questions about the place and listening to our requests for additional supplies for our apartment. I appreciate their patience with my limited Italian during my first week; I was looking for an extension cord and asked for “una prolunga” (Italian for “extension cord”) for our room. This was before classes started (I’m starting Italian this semester and had only a basic grasp of “survival Italian”), so I didn’t know how to pronounce the term I found in my English-Italian dictionary. I was happy to see the receptionist smile and praise my attempt at speaking Italain. I borrowed an extension cord from the Residence until I bought a US-friendly power strip for my roommates and me. The friendly interactions with the staff made moving in much easier.

Asked for “una prolunga” (extension cord in Italian) from the front desk at the residence. I’m glad the receptionist was amused by my attempt at asking for something in Italian! I was relieved to see that I had found some outlets for my adapters: we all have power now!

Temple Rome staff helped me get useful resources for the semester as well. I learned where to buy my monthly pass for the public transportation in Rome, which consists of buses, trams, and the Metro. This is crucial to my stay in Rome; as a Bostonian who takes the buses and trains on the MBTA very often, I see myself taking the Metro and (occasionally the bus) to campus. I also had some help getting an Italian SIM card and phone plan with a special discount for Temple Rome students. I also got to rent a portable Wifi device through a university deal online. I’m glad I have all of these things now – I feel prepared and supported for my semester in Rome.

My part of the room. I share a bedroom with two other girls in the apartment. All set up with my backpack, books, alarm clock, US outlets, and cards (Temple University Rome ID, eRoma monthly transportation pass, Residence Candia gate key, and phone SIM card)!

All of these thorough preparations, along with the reassurance from and positive interactions with the local staff, have made my adjustment to a new city in a new country much more comfortable. I feel confident and ready for my adventure!
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Rome, Here I Come!

Hello! My name is Hui. I’m a Classics and Psychology double major from Boston, MA. When I’m not in class, I take pictures of events and scenic views on campus. I will be studying in Rome this fall as part of Temple University’s Education Abroad program, which is one of the many study abroad opportunities offered at Holy Cross.

I can’t believe that I’ll be going on my adventure overseas already! It feels like I learned about the study abroad experience from returning students at the Study Abroad Fair, during program-specific information sessions, and through one-on-one appointments with the Office of Study Abroad just yesterday!

I am grateful for the guidance I received at Holy Cross throughout the study abroad process. I’m thankful to my professors and advisors for helping me with my application last year and with my class planning for my semester abroad. Over the summer, the Office of Study Abroad made sure that all my travel documents were ready before I leave the States while the staff at Temple Rome helped me enroll in my courses for the fall and gave me a pre-departure checklist to prepare for my time in Rome.

I’ve put the finishing touches on my preparations this weekend: exchanged some dollars for euros, bought some EU-to-US outlet adapters, sorted all my travel documents, and unlocked my phone so I can use a local SIM card in Italy. All ready to go!

Suitcases, documents, and money ready to go!
Packed my suitcases, got my documents (passport and student visa, as well as consulate letters for my stay), exchanged some dollars for euros…Rome, here I come!

I’ve learned some useful tips in preparing for my time abroad. I had a lot of questions about getting ready for my semester in Rome, and I’m glad I had access to a lot of helpful resources. I met other students studying at Temple Rome this fall on social media and have been in touch with Temple Rome staff to take care of miscellaneous questions and forms. Here’s what I picked up from my experience:

1.) Reach out – don’t be afraid to ask your study abroad advisors and/or reach out to your host institution if you have any questions or concerns about preparing for your study abroad experience. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you’ll get answers!

2.) Plan ahead –  you’ll be notified of anything you’ll need to do for your applications or preparations far in advance. This applies for both the study abroad application during the year and for forms in the summer.  Make sure to do things that might take longer to complete first.

3.) Stay up to date – check your email to make sure you haven’t missed anything from the Office of Study Abroad or from your host institution. Any issues that might come up in your progress can be resolved easily if you’re aware of them! People are here to help.

4.) Get to know other students and administrators online – there might be social media groups where you can meet others in the program. You never know when someone else may have already asked or answered a question you have. You may even get learn new things from what other people have already discussed. I had a lot of “Wow, I haven’t even thought of that!” moments after seeing what other Temple Rome students mentioned online.

I’m looking forward to meeting everyone at Temple Rome and to exploring the campus and city at orientation! I’m ready to embark on this adventure: this road leads to Rome! Here I come!