From the moment the whole group waited anxiously to board the plane, I knew it was going to be a trip none of us could forget. Arriving at our new home for the next twelve weeks was a breath of fresh air even though we could barely keep our eyes peeled and our stomachs were growling like crazy. Throughout this week, the everyday people in the town of Ariccia embraced each of us even though we were suffering from jetlag and culture shock all at once. As we started class and the orientation process, we began to see what our summer would consist of. Even though a portion of it would consist of sitting in a classroom, it’s not like an Auburn classroom that’s for sure.
Our first big adventure was to the many towns within Castelli Romani. Most of them surrounding the beautiful Lake Albano and Lake Nemi. The little towns had such characters and personalities. My personal favorite was Nemi because of the mini strawberries that are formed out of the volcanic soil. Our first weekend has consisted of many hours of much needed sleep, a few long walks around town, the beginning of our journals, and a day trip to the black sanded Lake Albano to catch some rays.
As the first week comes to an end, our excitement for what is to come definitely is not. While we are still not completely over jetlag and fully acclimated, we await this next week with big expectations as we plan to visit Rome.
Ciao,
Caroline Brennan

On the tour of Ariccia near the square!