Back to blogging

Okay, I'm back to blogging. I'm going to be spending 4 weeks in November in an apartment in Rome. After researching online and "seeing" many, many apartments, I've chosen a lovely place in the Trastevere section of Rome. It's near the Tiber river not far from the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica. I've been corresponding with the owner and she seems to be very nice and is willing to arrange some times to meet her italian friends. Yes, I am taking italian language courses online via a site called, "Livemocha". It's a free, interactive site. I do the lessons and submit them to my new native italian "friends". They critique my work, correct my mistakes (by written and spoken word), and I learn. Actually, I hope I learn. It seems to be going well and I'm looking forward to practicing while in Rome. When I was in Italy last year, I found the language barrier to be more frustrating than I thought it would be. I hope to be able to comfortably carry on basic conversations by the time I arrive there. Here's hoping that four months is enough to get a running start at a new language.

I've gotten a Rick Steves' travel book for Rome and am reading up on history to be able to fully appreciate all that I will be surrounded by on a day to day basis. There is so much to see that I want to use my time there wisely. Last year, thanks to my brother Michael, I became quite comfortable using the bus system in the city and this year I hope to become just as comfortable using the train as well. For 30 euro (about $37) I can get a pass good for all public transportation in the city of Rome for the entire month of November. I will have the freedom to use the trains, trams, and busses as often as I want.

So, check in regularly to see how the preparations are coming along. I will check back here whenever I discover something interesting. I have already gotten the time off work, purchased my plane ticket and secured the apartment. While in Rome, I hope to blog a couple of times per week. The apartment I've chosen has a laptop computer there, so I won't have to lug mine on the plane. That's a big plus in my opinion. The next 4 months will be mostly learning italian and studying Roman history and art. Wish me fortuna! (good fortune)