First week: Colosseum, Vatican, and more!

So I have been in Italy for exactly two weeks TODAY! Probably the longest two weeks of my life haha. The adjustment of moving to Italy has definitely been interesting, as well as very exciting. I live in a beautiful apartment with seven amazing girls from all over the United States.

These are my roommates. (Right to left)Lindsay, Shoshanna, Shea, Molly, and Tia

I live and go to school in a very residential part of Rome. The area wasn’t what I expected at all. It's better. Our cobble stone street is filled with apartment buildings, restaurants, “coffee bars”, and many shops. Trastevere is described as one of the most charming areas of the city. The walk from the apartment to campus is about 30 minutes and I love it. I pass so many shops and “bars” on the way to class I actually love starting my day this way even though it can be crazy at times. For an example, I feel like I’m playing frogger across the sidewalk sometimes because Romans apparently aren’t required to clean up after their animals. Also I get hit by a car almost every day because Italians drive like crazy people. Stop signs, lights, and speed signs seem to just be a suggestion. haha Cars squeeze down cobble side streets and go as fast as they want into tight intersections. I guess when you drive such a little car you can get away with more things than a American Suburban can. haha

This is the view from my balcony. I can usually smell what my neighbors are making for breakfast and hear ambulance sirens all night long. The sirens are very different in Europe, I knew this from when I went to Spain in 2005 but I guess it didn't really faze me. In conclusion I will forever cringe at the sound of European sirens at night... haha

This is my room and bed area. It's very white and we can't put anything on the walls.. but it's not bad. It's kind of refreshing and simple : )

These are just some pictures I took from walking around the first week : )
The first one is on the way to school, the second is the Sant'Angelo Castle, the third is ruins near the Colosseum. My roommate has the "classic colosseum" picture with me and all my roommates standing in front of it but hasn't been able to upload it. So i'll post it soon!


Also I went to the Amalfi Coast weekend! I'll post about that later tonight hopefully.