Reflections of Rome

The guys with Paolo, our Art History professor, infront of the Duomo in Florence

It's now Monday on my last week abroad, so I thought I'd set aside a page in here to reflect on my time. Of course, 5 weeks is a long time to summarize in one post... but I am just going to go ahead and brain dump whatever comes to mind until I feel like I've said enough. Here it goes:

I'll start with one of my first worries upon arriving in Rome. Where am I going to work out? As I realized that gyms aren't a big thing in Europe, the need to exercise subsided. As I have blogged here, I've kept active for the past several weeks by running and doing body-weight excessive. This has been fine, and I have stayed in shape, but I often wonder how these Italians keep their physiques -- Italians are much better looking than Americans.

Michelangelo Piazza, Florence

What is interesting is that everyone in Rome, whether the professors at my university, neighbors, or shopkeepers, smoke cigarettes. It is not that way in the U.S. yet Americans are much fatter and seemingly less healthy than Italians.

Wine bar, Downtown Rome

I'll offer my hypothesis: they smoke when we eat. No, really. I have read that nicotine has an interesting relationship with blood glucose levels and satiety, and I believe smoking keeps their appetites at bay. Their daily routine consists of a small cafe (espresso) in the morning, with a single cornetto (sweet bread, sort of like a crescent but airy instead of doughy). Lunch is later in the day, usually around 2pm which consists of multiple courses. I have heard that in the farming areas, the wives will have contests to see who can cook the best meals.

Usually pasta/bread followed by a meat of some sort and vegetables. It is a sizable meal. The last meal of the day usually isn't a meal. It's cheese, round crackers, and wine. Only a few glasses though; Italians don't get drunk. It is clear that their daily routines are centered around a single daily meal. I like it -- a lot. Americans don't focus -- we have three meals, and earlier, and more snacking. It would be a small start, because there are clearly more problems than this, but I think our routine needs a drastic change towards something more like the Italians (minus the smoking).

Next I'll cover the classes I have been taking. I took 5 classes while in Rome: Literature in translation, History of Rome, History of the Eastern Church, Art History, and Symposium. It is very interesting to me that Literature, History, Theo, and Art History all tie into similar philosophies of the Renaissance.

In fact, the philosophy that we covered had quite a significant impact on the way I look at life. It has been said that when walking out of a well-made movie, one doesn't look at people on the streets the same way. That is how I feel now. I had very different views of what religion really is, and it's significance. I wont bore with my epiphany, but a personal relationship with the divine is a powerful tool for civilization.

Religion has a new meaning to me. This ties to my training as well, actually. My theology professor, in one of his lectures, spoke about how our generation is always finding ways out of suffering. I quote I will remember: "One who keeps suffering at bay keeps greatness at bay."

Weekly report

• Body: Fine.
• Nutrition: It is cold here, now. It is difficult to keep munchies at bay. Lots of wine too. Can be better.
• Sleep: Good.
• Notes: Running most days, lots of push ups. Going to find a Crossfit gym in Munich, Prague, and Vienna for post-travel. I am very excited for that.