SICK… AGAIN…
Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris

SICK… AGAIN…

I can’t believe it! I’m sick, again!! Thankfully it’s just a cold but man I miss those three years of not being sick. The most annoying part is that my ears are all stuffed which makes my balance questionable.

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TANTI AUGURI
Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris

TANTI AUGURI

In my 31 years I have never had a birthday that wasn’t in Toronto, or at home with family. I figured it would be a little lonely, maybe anti climactic, but actually it was lovely. No I did not have the big birthday dinner I normally have with family, but my friend Ruth took me out for a gelato before class. Then during class school staff came in singing with a little cupcake with a candle. It was so nice!

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CASTEL SANT’ANGELO
Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris

CASTEL SANT’ANGELO

I’m so excited! Today I’m hanging out with my friend!!! The English woman, her name is Catherine and we went to Castel San Angelo. She’s a bit of an early riser, and we made plans to meet at 10am. I woke up already waited for the bus…. But it never came.

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LEVEL UP!
Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris

LEVEL UP!

Every Monday we get a whole new set of students, which is very exciting, more opportunities to meet new people. This cohort again was many short stay students, most of which seemed to have joined my A2 class. We had a Belgian girl, an American woman, two Dutch girls and a woman who is English but lives in France. No new Canadians. I have actually only met one other Canadian and she left weeks ago.

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I WON!
Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris

I WON!

It’s been a weird week without Mamie. A little lonely if I’m being honest. You don’t realize how important something is till it’s gone, and with Mamie here I had a companion. Making friends in Rome is a bit harder than in Berlin because the students are mostly short term, and the long term students were smart and came in the cooler months.

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FESTA DELLA MAMMA
Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris

FESTA DELLA MAMMA

After Napoli, Mamie and I decided that with the unpredictable weather it was best to cancel our trip to Venice and take today easy. It is Mother’s Day after all. We started with brunch at Mamie’s favourite cafe near her B&B. She become kind of a celebrity there. Mamie’s time in Rome is coming to an end and there were still a couple things she wanted to do.

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NAPOLI
Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris

NAPOLI

Day trip number 2. Today feels different, I’m a bit rundown, Mamie is a bit rundown, the weather is grey and dark. I’m just not feeling it today, but we get to the train station and make our way to Napoli. It’s super close just an hour away. Mamie and I are excited to go to Napoli because this is where everyone told us to get our fill of seafood.

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CARBONARA TAKE TWO
Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris

CARBONARA TAKE TWO

I felt like a true tour guide today, I spent all of last night trying to remember everything Mani, your parents’ tour-guide said about this Vatican property. When I arrived everything just came back to me.

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SKIP THE LINE!
Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris

SKIP THE LINE!

One thing Mamie had on her list was the Sistine Chapel. Having experienced the insanity of the Vatican with your parents I wasn’t exactly keen to relive it so instead I brought Mamie to St. Peter’s square and basilica.

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FIRENZE
Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris

FIRENZE

First day trip in Italy! Mamie took a cab to my place and we got to the train station with time to spare. Train travel in Europe Is next level. We went in a bullet train, which went up to 250km/h (you’ll have to ask you dad for the conversion into miles). What would normally take 4 hours in a car took us under 2 hours by train!

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THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS IN ROME
Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris

THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS IN ROME

For Mamie’s first day in Rome we took it “easy”. No day trips just city walking, but it was a full day. Last time Mamie was in Rome it was with the Disney cruise and after that she vowed to never return to Rome again. I had a lot of work to do if I was going to change her mind about Rome, I’ve only been here a few weeks but I haven’t seen any of the “horrible” things Mamie was describing.

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PASTA E TIRAMISÙ
Dear Caroline, Rome, Food Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome, Food Mediterranee Van Maris

PASTA E TIRAMISÙ

Mamie arrives today! But I’ve got a full day before she lands. Today is my first cooking class in Italy. I am so excited! I have my outfit picked out and I’m going to get to use my knives! Everyone told me I was crazy to bring them with me, but look who’s laughing now!

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MUSEI VATICANI
Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris

MUSEI VATICANI

We had an early morning your parents and I. We had a call time of 8:30 am at the Vatican for a bus tour of the gardens and a tour of the Vatican museums. Since I was a last minute addition I didn’t get to do the gardens but I joined the group for the museum, which is what I really wanted to see.

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MY FIRST VISIT
Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris

MY FIRST VISIT

I’ve been I Rome a couple weeks now, and to be honest it started a little low. Compared to Berlin, I’m not socializing as much and I haven’t made any true friends like in Berlin. It is very much because I’ve been staying home and cocooning, I do that when I’m overwhelmed. The classes I have been to felt a little too difficult but when I did the homework it felt too easy. Luckily the school has great support staff and they assure me that I’m doing great. Though I still felt rather low. Which is why a visit from your parents was such a welcoming grace.

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BENVENUTI A ROMA!
Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Rome Mediterranee Van Maris

BENVENUTI A ROMA!

I’ve made it to Rome! My arrival was much more civilized than my arrival in Berlin. No delays, my luggage arrived on my flight, my transfer car was ready to go. What a wonderful start to this leg of my adventure.

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AUF WIEDERSEHEN BERLIN!
Dear Caroline, Berlin Mediterranee Van Maris Dear Caroline, Berlin Mediterranee Van Maris

AUF WIEDERSEHEN BERLIN!

This is it! My last moments in Berlin. Though it started a little rough, all in all it was a good time. I made some great friends, learned a bit of a new language, tried some new food, and much more! It was a great test run for the months to come.

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