Wrapping Up

     Five weeks ago, I set out to explore a new country and learn more about the infamous city of Rome.  Today, as our project comes to completion, I thought it would be good to look back between now and then. 
     When I first started this trip, I didn’t really know any of my fellow students and had no real concept of Italian culture.  But in the span of about a month, that has all changed.  I now consider these once complete strangers to be friends and I have gained an even greater appreciation for the rich history of our host city.
     While I look forward to seeing my family and friends back home, there are still things that I know I will miss upon my return.  For one, it seems that our departure comes around the same time that I really feel like I have a lay of the land, at least enough to go between home, class, and a few major sites. 
     Transitioning back from Rome to Boston will be an interesting experience.  As I have already noted, the overall pace and mood of Rome can be a little hectic.  On top of that, it will be nice to no longer have to worry about not being fluent in the native language.  At the same time, I will still miss many of the people, the food, and the “living history” I have become so accustomed to in the past month.

Crunch Time

     At this moment, deadline day seems fast approaching with some work still to be done on our project.  In other words:  the pressure’s on, but in a good way.  Over the past few days, we’ve all been chipping away at the editing process.  Filming has wrapped up and we have what we need to make our video, but still need to put some of it together.
     Until now, the longest project I’d ever worked on was only a few minutes long and was shot in one central area.  That’s compared to our work here, which is about 10 minutes long shot at every corner of the city.  With time winding down, it will be good to complete our finished product.  At the same time, while this is one of the more difficult projects I’ve taken part in, it’s also one that I am proud to have worked on. 

Modern Perspective

     Much like the genre itself, the National Museum of Modern Art provided a varied experience in terms of content and interest.  Walking into the museum, I thought the mirror floor was pretty cool.  I didn’t realize it at the time, but it gave a glance into the importance of perspective in the art. 
     Journeying into the next room, I was a little disappointed.  Already, I was well aware of the stereotype of modern art, having been exposed to it at different times.  As I walked through that wing, my expectations sank a bit, not being very impressed by paper that looked like someone was trying to slice into columns and a bicycle wheel standing on a kitchen stool.
     Expecting more of the same, I was pleasantly surprised by much of the rest of the museum.  There were several pictures focusing on different perspectives, including one highlighting how sunlight touched a field and another of the motion of a wheel (though not the wheel itself).  On top of that, the massive paintings depicting different war scenes were very impressive and another display combining glass and mirror was really cool. 
     Overall, I thought the museum had a few hits and a few misses.  While there were some pieces that seemed incredible, other, more “modern” selections seem to have no message or meaning and did not seem to portray anything (looking at you, blue cardboard paper with a knife slice through it).  Then again, I guess it’s all a matter of perspective.

Biking at Borghese

     After an early morning exploring the Borghese Gallery, a few of us decided to rent bikes and check out the massive park outside the museum.  Having not been on a bike in the past three years or so, I was a little nervous at the beginning.  But as it turns out, ride a bike is like...well, riding a bike. 
     That morning, it seemed like I had almost no energy.  The gallery itself was really cool, especially the ridiculously detailed statues.  But as interesting as everything was, I found myself exhausted as we were walking out.  When everyone was deciding whether or not to go biking, I was on the fence.  Figuring I should “seize the day”, I made the right decision and went. 
     The park was beautiful and very accessible for bike riders.  Different trees and fountains lined the paths and the entire hour was a massive breath of fresh air for me.  If I get the chance, I’d go back again.  But with time seemingly running short, I’m not sure if I can fit everything in that I want to.  I also apologize for the lack of a photo, the gallery doesn't allow photography and I didn't want to risk anything while I was riding.

Foro Italico

     Up until this point, group filming has been a little hectic, with each of us having different ideas and generally taking more time to take fewer shots.  Considering our workload, we decided it would be best to split up.  Needing a little time to myself, I decided to head over to Foro Italico to due some solo filming.
    Strangely enough, I think it took more time to go back and forth on public transportation than it took to film.  Nonetheless, the trip was totally worth it.  Once I got over to Piazza Mancini, it took me almost 10 minutes just to find the bridge over to the forum.  As soon as I reached the bridge, I could see an obelisk sticking out on the other side leading up to the impressive stadium.
     Walking down the pathway leading into the forum, there were impressive mosaics depicting Italian labor and history.  Surrounding the track, there were also tons of statues meant to show strength and athleticism.  The whole place was really cool to see and it was nice to get some time to myself.  Filming seemed a lot more laid-back, I was able to work at my own pace, and I think I got some solid footage.

Busy Week

     Less than two weeks to go now and the pressure is definitely on.  Weather on Monday prevented us from getting the last of our B-Roll, but we were able to find some archived media that we can use.  On top of that, our script is starting to come together, so once we get those last few shots we should be in good shape.   
     Although we still have almost 40% of our trip left, it seems like the end is almost here.  These last dozen days are going to be the busiest of all with editing now underway.  With any luck though, we will be able to finish a little early and get to enjoy the last days here away from the work.  All in all, while it seems like there isn’t that much time left, there’s still plenty to see and do for me. 

Change of Pace

     After a busy week, it was nice to get away for the weekend.  Even though I had never been to Florence, I’d already heard from plenty of people how amazing it was.  They definitely weren’t wrong.  While Florence is still fairly large, it was far more laid-back than Rome.  The streets seemed newer, walkways weren’t as densely packed, and the overall mood was way more relaxed compared to the capital. 
     Of course, being in Florence, I had to see the David.  While the detail in the statue was impressive, I think I spent more time checking out the rest of the small museum where it was located.  The musical instrument section had a few interactive displays and the wing with the statue had other works by Michelangelo, though these were far less impressive. 
     On top of all this, we all got a chance to do some exploring.  I ventured through a huge outdoor market that spanned a few streets.  Later on, I got to see the Duomo, which was really cool from the outside.  If the line wasn’t so long, I would have gone in.  All in all the trip was a nice change of pace for a couple days that I definitely needed.