Italian Pinterest Find: Believe in Your Dreams

I recently found this photo on Pinterest and I adore it.  It perfectly describes my attitude about many things, including my decision to study in Rome last summer. Believing in your dreams and being proactive about attaining them are essential to la bella vita. 

A Look at Summer's Italian Findings

Now that I am halfway through Fall Quarter of my senior year, I finally found time to sit down and write.  Summer was crazy - my dream internship was a fantastic experience, and it definitely prepared me for the professional world.  Fall at DePaul has been hectic as well. As a Panhellenic officer, sorority recruitment was busy but so exciting - a record number of women joined our chapters this year! In the midst of it all, I still found time to reminisce about Italy and keep a little bit of it alive in Chicago.

AC Roma Football (Soccer) at Wrigley Field

My family and I attended AC Roma's soccer game at Wrigley Field in July. It was so great to see Italy fans out and about on the North Side, and Roma won!

Festa Italiana on Taylor Street

Complete with a model Trevi Fountain, Festa Italiana is an Italy-lover's dream come true.  Taylor Street vendors set up booths with food, drinks, and dessert, and fest attendees stayed entertained with old fashioned Italian music, a Bocce tournament, and a meatball eating contest.  Magnifico! 

I cannot wait to feature more fabulous Italian findings on La Bella Vita!

Wanderlust: Rome

"Wanderlust is a German word that means 'a strong desire to travel'"

YouTube video series Wanderlust makes a stop in Italy with a series about Rome.  The sights and streets make me feel as though I just returned, and the travelers' excitement reminds me of how I felt a year ago, and how I still feel today.

My favorite part is when they head to the Metro - SO FUNNY!

Euro Cup

FORZA AZZURRI

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2012/matches/round=15173/match=2003346/index.html

Rome Metro Map

#studyabroadwithdrawls - I was in Italy one year ago

Exactly one year ago I finished my first week of class in Rome and was spending the weekend in Sorrento. This year, I am about to finish week three of my dream internship, but pictures from this year's Rome class are in my Facebook newsfeed since I have a sorority sister in the program this year. Memories are starting to flood back.

I still cannot believe that it has already been one year since I walked the cobblestone streets of la citta eterna, ate gnocchi and gelato almost every day, frolicked in piazzas and on the Tiber River, and longed for free bread, water, and ice at restaurants.

Luckily, Chicago has a lot of Italian influence! Although it is not truly Rome, a trip to Davanti Enoteca, Mario's Italian Ice, and the AS Roma soccer game at Wrigley Field are in order! Chicago has a riverwalk too, but unfortunately that will definitely not measure up to the Tiber River's bean bag filled restaurant/bar.

I know I will return to Italy someday, I just don't know when. But, as the random quote I found on Polyvore says: "Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your life." 

Also, I threw TWO coins into the Trevi Fountain, so I will be going back!

Video Tribute to Rome

For my Video Editing final, I had to make a Stealomatic of anything I wanted. Obviously, I had to make it Italy themed! Set to the Rome Remix by Phoenix, it is a combination of my photos and shots from Federico Fellini's film, Roma. Enjoy!