magicbeans. nothing if not awkward.

the plane landed about eight o'clock local time. granted, this is two in the morning to my body, but it left the whole day ahead of me to start to feel like this might actually be real. off the plane and a long winding walk through the airport to the baggage claim. and right past customs. we didn't even have to show anyone a passport. then on a bus and into the heart of rome.

past aqueducts. ruins. ancient and medieval and modern buildings. the history of this place is staggering. it leaves you thinking: wow, i feel like i should be having some response but i can't help just staring blankly. and of course the jetlag doesn't help.

one stop and a short walk to a hilltop and a scenic look over rome. and important buildings and places were pointed out but it was too much to really take in any particulars.

and then along more narrow streets, deeper into the old city, to the palazetto cenci, home for the next eight months. the building is over four hundred years old. a small central courtyard. cold marble stairs. three or four tall stories.

my room's nothing special, long and narrow with one window at the end, flaking paint on the high-ish ceiling. but it will do. they paired me with justin. odd because of all the people on the trip he's the one i know the best, though still not a lot. he's nice, it should work. he arrived later, in the midst of our italian placement test. he missed the flight from newark and had to catch a later place, through zurich or something.

but before this, while people were still settling in, i was the first person in the library. at the internet-capable computers, writing email to stef. and later, putting one of my photos of her in a small frame i found up beside my bed. to say goodnights and good mornings.