henry belden

At my layover in helsinki Finland. Everything is going swimmingly. Slept on the plane ride over, slept when i got here, said bye To Joy and Raymond who were on my flight but now have a layover in London. Found the BEST lounge inthe airport. Comfiest couches with pillows and nature shows playing on huge tvs. Free mac computers and free wifi. Free chocolates!!! I am so comfy and happy and have just been reminicising about this trip. Thinking about everythign that was said and done. I’ve beeen writing in my journal and looking at everyone’s photos on facebook. Just killing time. My flight is in 3 hours, but I need to get to the gate and board in like 2. So not long now! Don’t know what I’m gonna do on this 9 hour flight…. Sleep and eat and hopefully talk with my neighbor! I can always draw too or write or play sudoko. Can’t wait to see the family!!

Last day was just excellent. Slept in a little and then me and Sophia went for a walk and out to breakfast. We found this adorable cafe next to this little park. There were all these little kids playing and they were so sweet. We sat outside and told each other the most random stories. I wanted to go to the beach for just a few hours, but Bruni hadn’t finished her paper yet so we didn’t go :( Its OK because the day was still wonderful. We ate a little lunch at home then me Bruni and Sophia went out to some final shopping. Got the last presents I needed and them some! We happened to run into Meg and Alana while we were out and they were headed to the Villa Borgeous, Rome’s largest park. I wanted to see some grass and trees so I joined them spur of the moment. It was so peaceful walking around and seeing the fountains and the grounds. We didn’t stay very long, but it was still delightful.

For dinner, we all went out together! One big happy family at a long table at a nearby Italian restaurant. I got pesto gnocchi and it was just amazing. One of my best meals yet. I drew this really beautiful and elaborate drawing on my placemat and everyone admired it haha. Brandon and David said I’m a good artist!! Then we all went back to hang out in the apartments for a bit. Super fun just talking to everyone. Then we went out for our LAST NIGHT. Seriously thinking about how its over makes me want to cry. It will never happen again, it will never me the same! Like, we will hang out on campus but we wont all be living together. And ROME, I might never see it again! If I do go back to Italy, it wont be for a study abroad like this. I will never be 18 in Roma again. Ahhh this is hard for me. But I am looking forward to going home. I miss my family and my pool and everything about home. Its weird, it will probably feel like I never left to my family, but to me everything has changed and will never be the same. I am a whole new person, in the best way possible.

Today I woke up and Bruni was gone. My room was empty. Her flight was at 6am. Dont worry, we hugged for so long and said proper goodbyes the previous night. I didn’t get to say goodbye to everyone because some people went home early (meaning before 4:30am) but I said goodbye to most people and gave them all BIG hugs. We had to clean up and move out by 10, so I dumped my suitcases off at Connie and Mara’s bed and breakfast, then went to church. It was a beautiful little service held in the side chapel of a big church. I cant wait to hear mass in English back home and finally understand the homilies! Then me Sophia Alana Connie and Mara went out for our final meal in Italy. We walked around and got our final gelato. Now I am back in the cute AIR CONDITIONED bed and breakfast, waiting to take my train to my flight. Ray and Joy are on my plane for the first leg of my flight, which is super nice!! I am soo not looking forward to the flight and layovers, but I’m trying not to think about how long it will be. I’m just thinking about the beautiful faces of my family back home :)

It pains me to say it, but this will be my last FULL day in Roma. My last NIGHT here in Roma. I still have most of Saturday and then I will be on a plane and in Finland for all of Sunday, so I won’t actually be HOME until late Sunday night. But still…. My last real full day as an Italian student in Rome is here!

Its really sad, but I’ve started packing! Check out is at 10am so I want to be ready. But oh! Seeing my empty closet and my full suitcase is just so pathetic and sad.

OK enough of this pity party! Today will be awesome! Last night already was. We went to this super fancy restaurant for the farewell dinner, and my table had all my closest friends :) The best part was that a couple of the girls had made paper plate awards for everyone! Even teachers and staff. They were so funny and accurate, we were able to guess them all. I got “Most Likely to Start a New Fashion Trend called Caty Pants”. Hahaha its an inside joke because on one of the first few days, I wore my Princess Jasmine harem pants and everyone thought they were sooooo cool. And whenever they would see cool pants in a store or on someone on the street, they would call them “Caty Pants”. And some people came up to me and were like “We bought Caty Pants!!” and I was like “What is that?” and apparently they had been dubbed that for quite some time lol.

Anyways, all the awards were good and funny and nice and silly. After dinner we said goodbye and shook hands with our professors and stuff. Then we parted ways, so sad! I might not see them again! Unless we have a study abroad reunion or something or I take a class with them in ann arbor. So all the students went out together afterwards for a super fun time. Rome at night is where its at!! Had lots of good conversations and funny jokes. Hopefully today will be just as wonderful. Pray for a safe and easy flight home! I’m a little nervous about flying home. Not because I dont like planes or am actually scared, its just SOOO LONG. With the actual flying and the layovers, I will be tired and bored all day probably. Oh well, these 6 weeks were definitely worth it :D

Today was our OFFICIAL last day of school. We didnt have class, but we had an excursion to the beautiful perfect lovely church of San Clemente (Saint and Pope Clement). The inside of the church was so pretty, as well as the courtyard, and the catacombs beneath!! It was really fun because instead of Paolo (history teacher) lecturing, he had each of us do a 5 minute presentation. It was way more fun hearing my friends talk about the church haha. My particular assignment was the mosaic arch over the altar. It was so fun because I already knew who the saints were. I still researched it and told their stories.  The arch featured Matthew Mark Luke and John surrounding Jesus, and then St. Lawrence (who was grilled alive) and of course Saint Clement. It was such a pretty mosaic. I really learned alot today. And now that the presentation is over, school is FINISHED. No more essays or tests or class or anything! Just 3 days of freedom until I leave Roma. We have the “farewell dinner” tonight, with all the students both teachers, Wendy the program coordinator and the people who work at ACCENT. Its bound to be a great time.

Since I got back from the church, I took a little nappers. Then I went to Simply. I’m actually really bored because EVERYONE is working on their final essay and I already finished mine! I mean, I’m glad I’m done… I just wish someone else was too. Cant wait for the dinner. I’m going to shower now and get super fancy, because the restaurant is very nice!

Been slacking a teeny bit, oopsy!!

Monday: Ahhhh it was hard knowing it was our last Monday! We had two classes, same as usual. It was nice seeing everyone again because I had a bit of a cold over the weekend and didn’t really leave the apartment. Also, I was busy doing homework. But yeah, class was nice because I got enough sleep the previous night and could really focus. Before class, me bruni and sophia went to the CUTEST bakery/cafe for coffee and pastries. I also got a really nice postcard there! Later that night, some people wanted to go out but we were kind of tired and said no. Then spur of the moment, we decided yes! And it was soooo fun! We walked around the piazzas and admired Rome at night. Then we stopped by the Trevi Fountain, one of my favorite places in Roma!! It was actually almost EMPTY which was like a miracle, cause the 2 times I’ve been there before it was so packed you could barely stand or see. It was perfect and lovely.

Tuesday: we had to watch TWO movies in class! It was long and difficult to pay attention, but our teacher Josh was so sweet and brought TONS of snacks. We had an endless supply of cookies crackers chips candy and popcorn to go around, which made it a lot better. The films were actually pretty interesting as well. We got home and showered and got ready, because that night some of us were attending the opera! A real, legit, amazing, authentic, italian opera. It was called Attila and it was about the captain of the huns. It was beyond epic. So first of all, it was held outside and not at a theater. It was held at the ancient Bath Ruins of Caracalla. So the background behind the stage, was the gorgeous crumbling arches of the baths. The opera itself was so exciting and such a unique experience. Their voices were like angels. I couldn’t believe the notes they hit. They sang every word instead of talking and singing like in musicals. Wow, it was so exciting! I was confused for some parts because I dont speak Italian, but I still could follow along. And there was beautiful dance scene! It was like contemporary ballet and the dancers wore these beautiful purple dresses that had folds of material like wings gathering at their arms. The costumes were like a part of the choreography. I loved the whole night. Me Sophia and Mallika dressed up SUPER fancy and went to this SUPER fancy restaurant. It was the best meal I had here I think. Delish pasta in spicy sauce with shrimp and zucchini.

Today: was class again! We’ve been doing a ton of school lately instead of excursions so we can finish all the necessary work before the semester ends. It was sad though, because it was our LAST day of class. No more breaks between class and going to the snack bar to get paninis. That makes me sooo sad. We got back and napped then made dinner with Kyle, like usual!! The boys kitchen is so much nicer than ours. Everyone is doing homework, but I already finished so I dont know what to do with myself! Guess I’ll just chill on my computer for a little bit :)

Yesterday we spent literally all day at the beach. Same as before, in Ostia Italy. We brought snacks for lunch at this little cafe. Definitely got a tan there! When we got back, we were starving!! So me Mallika Sophia and Bruni went out to dinner. We love Italian food, but it was time to change things up a bit. We went out to chinese food!! It was so amazing, I hadn’t had anything like it in so long. I got cashew chicken, veggie fried rice, and two egg rolls! So heavenly, I haven’t even had chinese food in the states in AGES. Everyone wanted to go out, but the beach goers were too tired, so we just had a cozy night in and I got a lot of sleep yay!!

This morning, I woke up motivated, so I wrote my 6 page long final essay for english class. I am so proud I finished! Then I went to Mass with Sophia at St. Cecilias. It was in latin, so I could follow along for most of it. Afterwards, we got the best donuts I ever tried in my life. We are soooo hitting up that cafe again before class tomorrow morning. Its our LAST SUNDAY here, which means the last market! I did QUITE a bit of shopping. I finished my souvenirs, and I got some great clothes for fall. They have these great harem pants and crop tops here for cheap, and I will totalyl wear them to dance classes this fall. Can’t wait. Except for, yes I can wait! I don’t want to go home yet. I know this week is going to fly by. We have 4 days of class, then friday is the “farewell dinner”. I swear I’m going to cry. I will miss Rome so much! Thank God all these kids go to my school back home, otherwise I could NEVER bear the thought of leaving them. On Saturday everyone is leaving in the morning except for me and a few others. I don’t leave until 7:45, so I will have to get to the airport at like 5:45. So I will probably leave the city at 5 to be safe. That gives me basically all day! I will likely go to Mass with Sophia, since I won’t be able to go Sunday cause I’ll be flying. Then I’ll hang with Sophia Alana and Kyle because we are all here until late. Ahh I don’t want to think about it, but I have to start planning. It will be nice to see my family of course, and be able to chill at my pool. And then in September SCHOOL STARTS!!!! I LOVE SCHOOL :)

We went to this little Irish Pub restaurant called Abbey Theater and had the absolute BEST burger and fries ever. The opening ceremonies of the Olympics were so amazing! I had never seen one before, there is singing and dancing and stuff the country is famous for. So england had like Harry Potter, Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, the Beatles and all sorts of cool stuff.

Then all the teams for each country came out. We cheered super loud for Albania because thats where Bruni is from. We cheered even louder for Italy, cause thats where we live currently, and we literally went WILD for United States of America. The whole place was laughing at us because we were screaming and cheering and clapping. Then we all dang the national anthem. It was so amaze. After we got gelato and then went home! Off to the beach, in one of my new bikinis.

Today we went back to the Vatican, I’ve been there so much now! On day two I visited the outside, on the first Sunday I visited the inside, and then we went to the Vatican Museums last week. Today was an optional excursion to take a tour of the inside of the church. Even though I had already been there for Mass, of course I want to go again and learn about it!!

It was so amazing! Wendy told us things about the statues and altars they I had no idea about. After the tour we decided to go up into the Dome!! It cost 5 euro, but it was so worth it. Get this: 551 steps to get to the top. Omg, we were so sweaty when we got up there. It was 96 degrees today by the way. So the view was INSANE. Firstly, you had view the whole inside of the church and look down at all the little people! You can see the ceiling so well up there. Next stop was the actual top where you are outside and you get a perfect view of Rome. You can circle the dome and get a 360 experience. The best was looking out onto the Vatican square. It was like living in postcard.

Afterward, me and Mallika had a little adventure. We wanted to buy ballet tickets for this Italian opera/ballet called Attila for this Thursday. It was a little crazy trying to get there and back using the busy busy buses, but we made it!! And we bought tickets for us and 3 other girls. I cannot wait to see the dancers! I am sooooooooooooo excited. Not only do I miss dance so much, but these are professional italian ballerinas! And get this: the theater is outdoors, it is old bath ruins! This is so crazy, I am pumped! We will get all fancy and dressed up too.

Tonight is the opening games for the Olympics, so we are all going to this Ameircan restaurant to watch them while eating burgers and fries. Time to go get dressed and ready. Write more later :) Beach tomorrow CHYEAHHHH