Beaches and Ghana

Shannon and Rebecca make breakfast and lunch.

Today would have been an ordinary day if it wasn't for the ruined city and Ghanese immigrant. And if we weren't in Rome. But we were in Rome, and it really did happen. Let me tell you a little about our adventures today, from my point of view.

First, there was breakfast. Usually, most Honors in Rome students go to the nearest cafe for a quick espresso and a croissant. But today my roommates and I decided to go down to the Campo de Fiori, buy some bread, and make breakfast. A cappucino and omlette later we were ready to make our bag lunches in preperation for Ostia. The train we took looked frightening, but was actually comfortable and clean.

Ominous clouds loom over the ruins in Ostia

Ostia is a ruined city. It used to be a huge port for grain and salt with a giant artificial harbor, but the decline of Rome as well as the silting up of its harbor slowed the city down until finally it was home to a handful or criminals. It eventually turned into a ruin, and a great place for examining how people lived in Ancient Rome. And that's exactly what we were doing.

5 balls in Ostia

The guys visit the bathrooms Ostia's largest batthouse

Lisa told us all about ancient Roman homes. Apparently, every upper class Roman home had an atrium, a huge public area that was open to the street and the social center of the house. But later on, the houses of equally wealthy Romans didn't have atria, and were much less public in nature. I guess upper class no longer needed to show off their wealth so openly with the people. We also got to see our very first ancient Roman toilet. Apparently one was enough because all the other toilets were exactly the same.


Amy gives her presentation as Shannon watches on.

Then it was time to learn about the bathhouses. Amy gave a very good, clear and informative presentation about the baths and how they were used. Bathing was very important to Romans and they bathed every day. It was a class equalizer, as everyone wore the same clothes, and was a place where Romans could play games, go into a sauna, suntan, or take a bath. Our particular bathhouse was huge. We spent quite a while walking around the batthouse as we learned about the entire process of bathing in ancient Rome. Even back then it seemed like most Romans led pretty relaxed, slow-paced lives.

Steve and John play soccer at the train station.

Volleyball in Ostia.


It was time for us to relax, too. And relax we did. A group of about 20 students went to one of Ostia's many beaches to splash in the Mediterranean and bask in the sun. I found the water remarkably salty. Of course, most seawater generally is. Some of us swam, some floated on our backs, some sat on shoulders, a few even sank. But not for long. When we were satisfied, we dragged our pickled bodies out of the water and onto the volleyball court, where the guys (and a few girls) played some rounds of volleyball.

Elizabeth poses in front of a statue.

Volleyball wasn't that much fun to watch, so I went back with a smaller group. We had time, so instead of taking the bus went for a walk. There we found pastries and an elegant court with a beautiful statue. We got back just in time for the talk with Fortuna, a Ghanese immigrant. Fortuna and Jessica at dinner
Fortuna's talk was very interesting and incredibly informative. Dinner was the best part, though. I was lucky enough to sit by Fortuna during dinner. Hers is an excellent story. Fortuna was lucky enough to live with a lawyer named Jessica when Jessica was in Ghana. When Jessica had a child, she called Fortuna up and sponsored her to come to Rome and take care of Jessica's child. It took Fortuna 3 tries to get a visa. Each time she'd wake up at 5 am and head over to the embassy, a 2 hour ride. Finally, Fortuna got in. She's been living here for 15 months now. Fortuna is lucky. She has a very nice employer who takes her all around the world (she's going to Belize in a few weeks), and is a domestic worker, and not a sex slave or prostitute (many people are forced into these jobs because they don't get enough money). She is, as her name suggests, quite fortunate.
Sexy poses and smiles.

Anyway, dinner was delicious, and a bit goofy. I decided to juggle off my goofiness. So I went over to the Four Rivers fountain, and then the Campo de Fiori, and juggled.

I collapsed along with everyone else at around 2 the next morning. Another ordinarily extraordinary day in Rome.

Julia