Jessica Xi – Page 6 – College Admission at Loyola

Rome is Home

By Jessica Xi | December 5, 2017

Well, it’s wild. I only have two more weeks here. Where in the world did the time go? I can’t believe it. I feel like just last week we landed, just yesterday I was in Greece for Fall Break, just an hour ago it was summer. And now the clock is ticking, everyone is preparing for finals and slowly saying goodbye to Rome as we take our sweet time walking down the streets.

So this week, I’m going to share with you some of my favorite places in Rome. I mean the city itself is a favorite, but inside it is a million gems that sparkle just as much. I wish I could take the time and say every single food place I love (which is quite a lot) but I’ll just tell you some, and why. Of the plenty of shops and fun places that don’t have to do with food, well. You can find those for yourself! From antique shops to tea stores to beautiful photography galleries, from tiny groceries to second-hand leather shops, Rome has it all. It’s a gold mine for each person to find on their own.

Bar (for Italians, this means coffee shop): Sciascia Café. Hands-down. Sciascia is nearly one hundred years old, decorates their cappuccinos with chocolate, and is decorated in such a cozy fashion, but it also has plenty of seating outside. It’s affordable, adorable, and just a short walk from the Ottaviano metro stop, the Vatican, and many local shops, since it’s in the hip but less touristy neighborhood of Prati. Check out their website here: http://sciasciacaffe1919.it/

Lunch Spot: My favorite thing to do, whether I’m out and about downtown or just in the Balduina neighborhood, is eat pizza al taglio. I can’t quite recall if I’ve mentioned it before, but pizza is pre-made and you purchase it depending on the size or amount you want, to which they charge by weight and heat it in special ovens. This way, the chefs can do any sort of pizza they want, and many, many types at the same time. If you like pizza like me, you’ll be sniffing at these places as often as possible. And one of them just opened up in Chicago! Plus, most pizza al taglio places also sell suppli, the classic Roman equivalent of a mozzarella stick – except it’s rice fried inside the ball alongside cheese, and variations on that include chicken broth, cacio e pepe, arrabbiata, and so much more! I don’t really have just one that’s a favorite, since they are hole-in-the-wall type spots, but if you take a stroll around the city you can’t miss them. My favorite is in the Trastevere area, right across from the cocktail lounge Freni & Frenitizione.

Dinner Restaurant: I’ve already spent a whole blog post on Osteria dell’Anima, so I’ll tell you instead about Taverna Antonina, a lovely restaurant right in the heart of Rome. For all it is a very nice restaurant, it isn’t horribly expensive for Rome, and every meal is worth its price! I had a delightful rabbit leg, for example, which was cooked to perfection. Plus, they have been open since 1939, and specialize in typical Roman dishes. The lovely patio may scare away some student diners, but if you’re looking for a good meal, Taverna Antonina has it. Their website is here: http://www.tavernaantonina.it/

Aperitivo place: My friends and I love foodoo, a local place within walking distance of campus! Truth be told, I have not been there for anything except aperitvo, so I can’t comment on their food or other delights, but I can say they offer affordable and delicious drinks for the Italian happy hour! Traditionally, aperitivo also comes with free food, too, ranging from potato chips to a small meat dish or bruschetta. Foodoo gives you two kinds of bruschetta and a sort of fried dough ball that is very good! They don’t have a website, but they do have a facebook page here: https://it-it.facebook.com/foodooUrbanBistro

Gelateria: I adore Alberto Pica, a tucked-away gelateria between the river and Largo Argentina, where a cat sanctuary rests inside Roman ruins. Their gelato is genuine, home made, handcrafted, and bursting with flavor! I’ll be very sad to leave it when I must. Even today I got a gelato from them because I was in the neighborhood, even though it is considered cold around here. If you like pistachios (like me), get their pistachio flavor. It’s pretty much perfect. https://www.facebook.com/bargelateriaalbertopica

Bakery: Another place in Prati, I love what’s called by the students “The Secret Bakery.” Its real name is Dolce Maniera, at least I believe so, but it has no outside advertising or label. You have to know where it is to find it, which the SLAs eagerly show students, and each sweet treat or breakfast bite – or really any sort of baked good – is there for two euros or less. It once cost me just two euros for a huge cronut and a pistachio-filled cornetto. So. dang. good. Even if you’re here for a short visit, go to this place. You won’t regret it. https://www.dolcemaniera.it/

And that’s my top places in Rome for eats, because #foodislife. Rome – and Italy – is so much more than food, but for understanding a culture and getting to know a city, food is the best place to start. There is no finish.

(But if you’re looking for a great museum/important landmark, go to Castel Sant’Angelo, in the first photo. I think I’ve spent like 24 hours in there total, I love it so much. And it has a great view of Rome!)

What to Pack: Rome, part 2

By Jessica Xi | November 29, 2017

I am not sure how useful this will be, given that there are a lot of other packing lists out there and really packing is an activity of individual choice (or art form), but I thought I should tell you what I think you should do. Of course, again, this list won’t cover everything – I’m not going to tell you to bring this or that or you MUST bring whatever, just some pieces and explain why.

Before I start, I have to tell you a little about Italian – and Roman – fashion. They are big on this idea of ‘bella figura’, which literally means ‘beautiful face’ but really refers to this whole sense of presentability. Italians wouldn’t go outside with wet hair from their shower, or wear flip flops in public, or even let themselves cry where strangers can see them. This helps the Roman public transportation system be less full of strange people and odd encounters like you might find on Chicago’s L system, but Americans are used to people’s eyes sliding over them like oil on water. Not so here. Italians love to stare, and aren’t shy about it at all. So if you leave campus in a Hawaiian shirt, flip flops, and sport shorts, you are going to get some weird looks. And you might get that on campus too, since plenty of Italians work on campus, and even more students pick up on Italian fashion propriety during their time here.

Also, they love dressing for the season, not the weather. Romans broke out their fall jackets and stylish leather boots as soon as October hit, despite that it was still quite warm and sunny like summer. They just dealt with it. Meanwhile the JFRC students were still walking around in shorts and tank tops. So if you want to not blend in with a crowd of tourists, don’t only pack warm weather things.

So, let’s also be real. You’re probably going to travel on the weekends. You might just stay in Italy. You might be jetsetting off to every Scandinavian country every weekend. Either way, it will be cold. You will be cold. Bring warm jackets or sweaters. Bring long pants. Italy has part of the Alps, you know. And the longer you put off that Berlin trip, the more you forget that Berlin is more or less at the same latitude as Minnesota. It will probably snow.

My advice for you, in list form. Mind, I have friends here with only two pairs of shoes and friends with eleven. It’s up to you.

First, shoes. Don’t bother bringing heels, unless they are wedges. Cobblestones, my dudes. Bring autumn boots that are warm, and sandals that don’t take up a lot of space. Make sure every pair of shoes you own are very comfortable to walk in.

I also suggest flip flops or slip-on comfortable shoes for the hallways and the IC late at night. Bring a pair of shoes that go with everything and look just a little bit nicer for those fancier dinners or when you want to feel good.

Second, pants. This was a really big dilemma for me, okay? In the end, I just brought one of everything. One pair of dark jeans, one pair of light jeans, one pair of capris, one pair of black pants, one pair of shorts. One maxi skirt, for people who wear skirts, one set of leggings, for people who wear leggings, and one pair of khakis. That way, I am ready for anything but also must shake up my wardrobe more than I’m used to. Usually I just wear jeans all the time, but a pair of black pants instantly make an outfit a little nicer for those judging Italian nonnas on the bus! I also brought two pairs of workout pants, one pair of workout shorts, and one pair of warm pajama pants. The shorts doubled as my pajamas during the really hot nights. They still do when I can’t be bothered to do my laundry promptly. It’s two euros for a load!

Third, tops. I’m afraid my experience as a woman will shine through here because I don’t really have any advice for guys or people who dress however they want (although if you dress not according to fashion or gender norms, I’m assuming you probably have a better sense of your own fashion than anything I can help you with here, except maybe temperature advice). For guys, most people here at the JFRC dress a little nicer than they might at home – I’m talking button-downs, sweater vests, sports jackets sometimes, sweaters, polos. T-shirts of course, but less frequent. For ladies, I’m going to say: bring what looks nice and what you like, but bring pieces that can be layered with jackets or cardigans and that can go with two or more pants. Patterns are nice but generally serve as accents here rather than complete looks. If every top – or most of them – can be worn in chillier weather and in warmer, and is not very summer or very winter, you should be good. Keep in mind that colors get darker as the days do too. By now, everyone is in dark shades of what they were wearing light and bright just three months ago, if that affects your choice of jacket or shell.

This same sort of ‘can go with multiple things’ applies to jewelry or accessories. They take up a lot of room for being things you can find here or on your travels as precious and valuable souvenirs. I know I came with two scarves, but here I am having bought three more, and I only wear my new ones. What did I need the first two for, then?

Well, I hope this helps. As always, if you have any questions, just let me know!

On-Campus JFRC Activities

By Jessica Xi | November 20, 2017

Living in Rome is so much fun, and living in JFRC certainly helps make it so! Whether you go meet a Swiss Guard with Father Al, see St. Ignatius’ rooms where he stayed when he was in Rome, or go on a gelato crawl with the SLA’s, there is always stuff to do if you’re on campus!

Of course, you’re always welcome to do things with your friends, such as movie nights, going out for aperitivo, or just hanging out, but here are some of my favorite things that I’ve done that were organized with the whole of campus! It’s not a full list by any means, and it’s just the things that I’ve done – who knows, when you get here, they may do the same things, and there may also be new and more exciting things to do!

Also, this is not including various so-called ‘Study Trips’ that you can sign up for at the beginning of the semester. These opportunities pop up every week!

First off, I have to tell you about my time at a cooking class here in Rome! We went a specialty location run by the people at http://www.cookingclassesinrome.com/ , where in just three hours we 25 students made food enough for forty with our own hands, and ate it too! From the Roman specialty pasta alla carbonara to home-made tiramisu, it was all delicious! And, it was only twenty-five euros, which is cheaper than what I would pay for a five-course meal like we had! We also made meatballs, and an artichoke contorno.

Second, I loved getting a meal with Father Al – I know I mentioned him before in meeting a Swiss Guard, but he also enjoys taking students out for pizza at a local neighborhood restaurant – on the Campus Ministry’s budget! And Father Al is a kind and generous – and interesting person. An Italian meal typically lasts hours, but with him and the other students as company, it just flew by!

Third, Dr. Andrews who is the Director of the JFRC, has an adorable dog named Bacio who is here every Tuesday and Wednesday for about four hours for students to visit as they please. He’s not really an organized event, per se, but he sure is cute. And more dependable to find than the JFRC cats!

Fourth, I love everything that the Student Activities Committee does! You can get involved too. SAC does a couple of annual events per semester, such as organizing a town hall meeting for people to suggest ways to better the community and the campus, a talent show (where yours truly aided a rendition of The Devil Went Down to Georgia by playing the air-fiddle, another girl juggled mozzarella balls, and the SLAs and Dr. Beazley, Dean of Students, performed a cheer routine), a silent auction wherein all proceeds go to charity, and more! SAC provides fun and free ways to be involved on campus.

And fifth, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Calcio! Calcio is the Italian word for soccer, or football as it’s known to the rest of the world, and Calcio unites us like no other. There’s a myriad of teams, usually six, that play against each other every week and then go out for pizza and beer together after! Of course, there’s no obligation to show up every week, but a little friendly competition lets you meet people and get to know them while working off the steam of academics! And if you’re not athletic, that’s okay too. The spectators have a lot of fun as well – this semester, each team has an unofficial ‘team mom’ who leads cheers, brings snacks, and is all-around the dependable fan. And if you’ve got a wide social circle, odds are your friends will be on different teams, making the nights when they go head-to-head ones to remember!

These are just a small sample of what’s to-do and what’s been done here at JFRC. What will you do?

What NOT to Bring to Rome!

By Jessica Xi | November 13, 2017

There are packing lists for ever and ever out there on the Internet, but I wanted to give a brief post as to what not to bring. I’ve seen some people make these mistakes, and boy are they regretting it now.

First off, yes, no matter which semester you come here, it will get very, very hot. That’s climate change for you. Don’t bring a fan, duh. Some people knew what was coming and brought little ones, but they just take up space. You can tough it out here or buy some here. Heck, some of them didn’t even work because of the voltage differences! On that note too, don’t bring your straighteners, curlers, hair dryers, or other large appliances like that. They just won’t work! Sure, you can bring endless amounts of bulky converters, but even then there’s no guarantee. And why waste space?

Second, don’t even think about the heavy down-feather winter coat. Bring layers of jackets, and jackets that layer. Even if you’re going to go up north to say, Norway or Iceland, the more jackets the better for the fall/spring weather, but a winter jacket just isn’t worth all of the space and hauling for a short weekend. Trust me, you don’t have room!

Third, pepper spray and other self-defense weaponry is a no-no. Here in Rome, the use of pepper spray, even in self-defense, is a crime. I don’t know about knives, but they probably wouldn’t fly in just the same way. Best not to risk it.

Fourth, books to read for fun? Don’t bother! The library here has plenty of fiction novels, and interesting non-fiction too. If you’re an avid reader enough to bring your own books, then you’ll be an avid reader enough to enjoy our collection.

Fifth, school supplies! The local grocery store sells things in their dollar bins. Notebooks, folders, and the other stuff? They just take up space! If you get them here, you can throw them out here, no luggage space occupied. Easy as that!

Sixth, hangers. Towels. Sheets. The school supplies them all. Toiletries like makeup wipes, razors, shower gel, and laundry detergent? Can get them all here. Since detergent likes to come in big jugs, I split mine with three other friends, and we haven’t yet run out.

Seventh, don’t only bring summer clothes! Italy will feel like eternal summer, or at least it seems like it should, but it doesn’t! It can get chilly at night, and besides, the locals dress for the season, not the weather. You don’t want to be THAT telltale American wearing flipflops and shorts at the end of October. And for that matter, if you’re bringing flipflops… they’re probably going to be shower shoes. Some people (like me) bring ten pairs of shoes, and some bring just one or two, but make sure they are versatile for the seasons, and comfortable to walk in. That’s key!

If you’re packing in the future and thinking, should I bring this? I might need it, I might not! The answer is no! If you really need it, you can get it here! If you can’t get it here for cheap, it’s a lifelong useful souvenir!

If you’re really unsure, drop a comment here and I’ll see if I can help. Until next time!

What To Pack: Rome pt 1

By Jessica Xi | November 6, 2017

I’ll dedicate another post to the clothing of what to bring, but I wanted to take some time and talk about non-clothing related things I wish I had brought along with me, or that I brought and have not found much use for. I hope this list is useful to you who will come to JFRC, whether you are an incoming student just browsing about, or a student getting ready for your journey here next semester and you happened to stumble upon this page.

Also, just as a side note, I wanted to add that our President Rooney is visiting J-Force today! It’s very exciting for us LUC student, while my friends from other Jesuit universities like SLU and Santa Clara are less so.

So without further ado, the list. It’s not complete, since I haven’t completed the semester, and it’s individual, so if you think you’ll need something, don’t just take my advice – follow your heart!

First off, we do not have access to a kitchen here, unless you stay over winter break, so if you like to eat outside hours that the mensa or rinaldo’s is open, bring or buy some cheap Tupperware you can throw away at the end of the semester. It’s not encouraged, but if you’re of the rule-flouting sort, you can temporarily borrow utensils from the mensa without the knowledge of the staff. But there are microwaves, so if you have leftovers, eat just half a panini, or want a bowl to mix the groceries you buy in, bring a Tupperware.

Second, a shower caddy. All restrooms on the residential floors are communal, so you’ll want to bring a shower caddy for ease of transporting things to and from your room. And bring a bathrobe, if you are not a fan of walking down hallways in just a towel. If you’re like me with thick, long hair, a hair towel wouldn’t go amiss either, since they only provide you with one large towel.

Third, a money belt and padlock, either with key or combination. A majority of the students here travel on the weekends, and even if you’re staying in the safest of hotels or only flying to places far-off, neither of these things will hurt. I often put all my money except one 20 euro bill in there, so that I do not spend too much and also so that when I am bargaining the price of something with a vendor, I can show them my wallet and honestly say I don’t have anything more and can’t pay their price. That’s gotten me quite a few bargains in my time. Padlocks on your luggage is just good sense, for flights, buses, or hostels. Can’t go wrong – but don’t lose the key!

Fourth, extra things you can’t live without. By that I mean adaptors, headphones, portable chargers, and charging cords for your electronics. I have lots of friends whose electronics that have been lost or broken by use, and they bemoan paying the price when they could have spared a square inch or two and packed their extras they have back in the States. I don’t mean bring five or six pairs of headphones, but I brought three and one broke, so now I’m glad I have two. Especially since one is plugin and the other wireless.

And fifth, bring your hobbies. You might think you’ll be having fun every second and studying the rest of them, but believe me, there is plenty of downtime. Plus, everyone needs to relax some times. If you like knitting, bring your needles, but there’s a yarn shop here so you don’t need to bring that. If you like video games and you have them on your computer, bring a controller or your good gaming mouse (not the whole Xbox 360 though, goodness). If you like watercolor, bring a palette that’s halfway used but not emptied so by the time you leave, you can toss it and it won’t take up the room. Bring your GameBoy or your Kindle. I’m not talking large things, mind, and many things you can acquire here, but I wish I had brought a few more things to occupy my time.

Sixth, a VPN. Loyola’s wifi here is terribly annoying and blocks you from downloading any here, and if you want to break free of the Italian Netflix or anything like that, there are free VPNs and paid ones that do the job.

That’s all for now! I’ll make another post soon about what NOT to bring, and probably update this when I think of more things, but just let me know if you have any questions.

8 Movies to Get You Hyped for Rome

By Jessica Xi | November 1, 2017

I love movies. I love watching movies, thinking about movies, discussing movies – love love love movies. I’m watching a movie as I write this (it’s The Two Towers, jsyk). I was walking through Rome today, thinking about movies, so I decided to share with you all eight movies I watched before I came to Rome, each of which got me excited to arrive in all sorts of different genres. Here they are, in no particular order.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) directed by Guy Ritchie.

This movie is endless fun. I love this movie so much. Although it is not entirely in Rome, the majority of it is – combined with jazzy ’60s aesthetic, spy movie stereotypes, and the combined chemistry of Henry Cavill, Alicia Vikander, and Armie Hammer. All of that plus the clever genius of the director means that every time I watch this I see something new and smile a little bit wider. Prominent Rome locations include the Tiber river, the Colosseum, and the Spanish Steps.

2. Roman Holiday (1953), dir. William Wyler

The classic Roman movie with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. How could you go wrong? The spirit of exploration fills this movie, and makes you want to wander the city streets endlessly – and you can, when you’re here! It has all you could want in a Roman movie – Italians who talk with their hands, café and food culture, and beautiful fashion. Prominent Rome locations include the Mouth of Truth, the Trevi Fountain, and the Spanish Steps.

3. Gladiator (2000), dir. Ridley Scott

Okay, okay. This movie is barely set in Rome. But you can’t walk five feet downtown without being hit in the face by a tourist-junk shop, and all of those stands and stores sell Colosseum and gladiator-related trinkets. Did you know there was a Colosseum here? Does Rome have a Colosseum? I had no idea. Still, Gladiator is a beautiful movie that gives you a look inside Ancient Rome, one of many you’re bound to get anyway. Prominent Rome location: Uh, the Colosseum. And they mention Ostia Antica, which you may or may not see during your time here.

4. The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003), dir. Jim Fall

Of course this movie is included in the list. It’s teen bop, 90’s kids childhoods, and good clean Disney channel fun all in one. Plus, you’ll be hearing everyone and their sister reference this movie at least three separate times, so if you haven’t seen it yet you’ll miss all of the lines! I mean, Rome is what dreams are made of… Prominent Rome locations: Trevi fountain, of course. No need to look elsewhere.

5. La Dolce Vita (1960), dir. Federico Fellini

If you’re looking for a classic Italian film, look no further. La Dolce Vita gives a lot of Americans the only perspective they have on modern Italy, and it sure is a shiny one, but so much fun. And jewels. And high society. Romance, cinematography, fame and fortune, blitz and glam and drama drama drama. But also the beauty of life, and of this eternal city. Watch this movie. It’s wonderful. Prominent Rome locations: Everywhere. The Tiber river, the Vatican, the Baths of Caracalla, and on and on.

6. To Rome with Love (2012), dir. Woody Allen

As you’ll soon learn, Rome is a city of stories. Your own mingles with mine, history with the modern day, people from around the world and even just the story of how one brick got to another place, and why. Woody Allen’s slightly-magical slightly- romantic stories in this movie mix together to highlight some different paths that can be taken, and have been taken, in Rome. It’s exactly what a movie called ‘To Rome With Love’ should be like – equal parts praise and postcard and red lipstick kisses. Prominent Rome locations: Everywhere. Italian culture. Not so much the tourist spots but the life of the city where people live and work.

7. Angels and Demons (2009), dir. Ron Howard

As a history student, I’m not Dan Brown (the original author)’s biggest fan. But, as someone who loves Rome, I can at least say his work and the subsequent movie have brought more interest and tourism. My father really likes Dan Brown, so I brought him to all the places where priests were murdered in this movie. A pleasant family outing – but we sure saw a lot! Watch this movie if the lightheartedness of the Lizzie MccGuire movie or La Dolce Vita is getting you down. It’s dark. It’s edgy. It’s fictional (but still real) Rome. Prominent Rome locations: The Vatican, Piazza Navona, Piazza del Popolo, and more.

8. Elsa and Fred (2014), dir. Michael Redford.

Whether you choose to watch this version or the original Argentinian version, it’s like gelato on a summer day. Sweet, delightful, but a little sad towards the end when everything starts melting. This movie is not exactly set in Rome, but the main character loves La Dolce Vita, so if you love it, you’ll love this. It’s very charming, two old people falling in love and following their hearts. I relate to Fred, one of the main characters, who is described as ‘spends most of his time lying down.’ At least, in Chicago. Here, there’s so much to do and see, I barely lay down to sleep!

That’s all I have for today. Until next time!

Restaurant Recommendations Rome: Osteria dell’Anima

By Jessica Xi | October 29, 2017

My life pretty much revolves around food, so I can’t not take this opportunity to tell you about one of my favorite restaurants in the entire city of Rome, and even the country of Italy: Osteria dell’Anima.

Located literally just off of the Piazza Navona at Via Santa Maria dell’Anima, 08, Piazza Navona – 00186 Rome, you can get to it easily by exiting the Piazza on west side, and turning north. If you’ve walked past the length of the Piazza, you’ve gone too far and walked right past it! Sitting outside won’t get you a view of the Piazza, but you do get to see a lovely Roman church, Santa Maria dell’Anima, and delightful slices of Italian life as the locals avoid the tourist hub of the Piazza Navona. Although do be warned, you’re still in reach of the peddlers, and quite close to any taxis that may prowl by, so keep your things underneath the table.

Whether you are in Rome as a JFRC student like me, or only visiting, you can’t miss this restaurant. As a Loyola student, we have a discount here, which makes everything all the sweeter. Every semester, Loyola hosts a special, but optional, mass to kick off the semester in one of the many historical Jesuit churches in Rome, followed by a dinner here that most students attend, if not all, for a very reduced price. For just 20 euros, we received antipasti, two bottles of wine, primi, and dessert. Beyond worth the price.

But if you go again without the school as I do, and mention you’re a Loyola student, you still receive a discount – around 20%! Make no mistake: I love food, and I love discounts, so this is already pretty good. But the food, oh my lord, the food. Osteria dell’Anima knows what it’s about!

Their famous specialty is pear pasta. Officially, it’s listed on the menu as ‘Fiochetti di formaggio e pera su crema di carote’ – Pasta stuffed with cheese and pears, covered in a carrot sauce. Ask any JFRC student, past or present, and we will swoon at your feet at the mere thought of it. Hand over heart, I’ve dreamt about it. The absolutely divine combination of sweet and savory, smooth and textured, heavy and light, flavor and weight, pear pasta is mindblowing. It’s neither too think nor too watery, not too sweet or too salty, not too – well, you get the point. It’s pear and cheese in a delightful pasta packet with a gentle covering of white cream and carrot cream, which I only found out later. I could go on and on. Get this, when you go.

Other dishes that are tried and true verifiably delicious? Well, every other dish I’ve nibbled off people’s plates. I don’t go and not order pear pasta, but I can say that their linguine all’astice fresco, linguine with fresh lobster, had my brother’s jaw dropping and proclaimed the best meal he’d ever had in his life. The saltimbocca alla romana, sliced veal with ham in a wine sauce, and the melanzana alla parmigiana – eggplant and parimigiana – were also excellent.

For those interested, the wine selection includes wines to try from all over Italy, and the service is phenomenal as well. The staff are all highly enthusiastic about the dishes as well, and very educated on all the foods and wines they offer, and are happy to make recommendations. There is outdoor and indoor seating, but the outdoor seating doesn’t have heat lamps like many other restaurants in the city.

If you’re reading this and you’ll be in Rome ever in your life, trust me and go to this restaurant. I’ll be saying this about every other place I recommend, as I do recommend it, but I mean… I haven’t had dreams about eating from any other restaurant here yet, so it’s a very good sign. Check out the place for yourself at their website, http://www.osteriadellanima.com !

Fall Break with JFRC!

By Jessica Xi | October 23, 2017

For students at our Chicago campuses, Fall Break is a too-short four-day weekend made for sleeping in, taking time to explore the beautiful city, and, if you’re an out-of-state student like me, hanging out with all of the other students who live just a little too far to go home for a break.

But in Rome, it’s a full ten days of absolute freedom! Want to go to the Scottish Highlands for a week with no troubles or worries on the mind? You have that time! Want to just stay at a nearly-empty campus and relish all Rome has to offer? You can! Or you can city hop every day, crossing the borders of Europe at your choice and pleasure.

Or, you can go on a Study Trip, as we call them here at JFRC. There are typically two options, Greece and Poland, and for a set cost, all of your flights, hotels, and at least one meal a day is arranged for you. Plus, you travel with friends and can make new ones, as well as being led by faculty members that are so incredibly passionate about their countries.

Last week I went on the Greece trip, with 44 other students for a trip we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. Although my trip was covered by my Ricci scholarship, I believe the cost for it all was about 1300 euros to Loyola. Like I said, that amount covers hotel, flights, and meals, but also museum admissions, a ferry to Mykonos, and bus transport to places I just wouldn’t have been able to reach if I had gone on my own. Greece has so much to offer, but is also quite costly, and if I had gone on my own I would have probably just stayed in Athens, or on just one island, when there is so much more to see. The Poland trip is about half the cost, if I recall correctly, but it is only for about half of fall break, instead of the full time. However, this year they did get to participate in a Human Rights conference and meet Lech Walesa, an incredibly important person in history, not just for Poland but for the world.

Let me tell you a little about my trip!

We started out in Athens, and then visited some incredibly important sites for Greek history and mythology, and ended up on the beautiful island of Mykonos, famous for its beaches and clubs. Our guide was Dr. Ioanna Kopsiafti, a Greek historian, food critic, journalist, world-changer, sometimes-professor at JFRC, and all-around amazing person. She is a font of knowledge and stories, the sort of person who may tell you about the time she gave Bill Clinton a private tour of the Parthenon museum because she thought his current guide just wasn’t doing it justice, or the time she just walked to Istanbul from Athens. Dr. Sander Evers, JFRC’s Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and resident ancient Roman historian, accompanied her, as well as JC Cisneros, one of our Student Life Assistants, and between the three of them, the whole crowd was laughing until we split every night. I’d advise people thinking about taking this trip to do it for these people at the very least.

After Athens, we saw a whole host of places that had my jaw dropping. Greece is a beautiful country, and we went to Delphi, where the ancient oracle offered kings advise, and to Sparta, Corinth, Mycenae, Delos, where allegedly Artemis and Apollo were born, and climbed up and down a magnificent mountain with well-preserved ruins from the Byzantine Empire. We also had the wonderful privilege of spending half a day in Ioanna’s hometown, Karyas, where the famous Karyatids in the Acropolis came from. We were welcomed into that village of 300 people with open arms, even though we may have been the loudest thing to happen to that place every year. We had the opportunity to swim in the Aegean with a backdrop of mountains, to taste sea urchins and baklava, to watch the sun set from a hotel that doubled as a ski resort in the winter, to run races in arenas that used to crown legendary athletes, and to gaze at the stars from the prow of a ferry taking us from the mainland to Mykonos.

(Some foods I ate, with joy.)

It was truly magical. Sander and Ioanna have been doing this for ten years now, so they were well aware of our needs to just wander and have free time, what bars or restaurants to recommend, and have all in all just crafted the ideal student trip. It’s neither stuffy nor boring, and although it’s called a Study Trip overall the feeling was that we learned more about ourselves and Greek culture than any old dates or historical things that others (who are not history majors like me) may find absolutely dull.

If you want to experience Greece, not just visit Greece, you must take this trip over Fall Break if you get the opportunity to be here for the Fall semester. I couldn’t gush about it more. If you have questions, or even just want to see more pictures, ask me. I would be more than happy to tell you about this fantastic time.

Costs of Study Abroad? Not as much as you imagine

By Jessica Xi | October 6, 2017

I’m studying abroad for two semesters. The thought of that alone might make people (including me, to be quite honest) shudder for their wallets. I know, I know – “if you’re clasping your wallet so tight, why are you doing it, then?”

Well, for a variety of reasons. First, I believe in the power of experiences. I would be spending a lot of money back in Chicago, too, but here I have the unique ability to be surrounded by so much incredible art and history and culture, that even if I never left Rome for trips every weekend (which I don’t), I’d still have the adventure of a lifetime. Second, through Loyola, since it is our campus – tuition-wise, it costs the same as Chicago. Why not study within walking distance of the Vatican? And third… scholarships.

Loyola offers a lot of scholarships, merit-based, need-based, for research and for involvement. I was able to get my flights here and back included in my Ricci research scholarship, which helped a lot since those can get pretty pricey. The Rome Center itself offers scholarships for current students – called the Forza Roma scholarship, they have a fund set aside to give money to students who require it, and all you have to do is present them with a plan of how you will spend that money, and they decide whether or not to give it to you. For students with less spending ability than others, this scholarship has often meant a thrilling out-of-country weekend that they wouldn’t have been able to do without it. Plus, there are a lot more scholarships through Loyola and third party organizations.

But Jessi, you might ask. Is not living in Rome inherently expensive? The restaurants with raised prices that prey on tourists? The museum entrance fees? Transportation?

No. Firmly and solidly.

In Chicago, students are given an unlimited U-Pass for transportation, the cost of which is included in tuition. Here, you can choose to buy one-time use bus tickets, or a monthly pass for just 35 euro (that’s 24 rides on the bus, the metro, or the regional train to make it worth it, and I assure you I finish 24 rides within two weeks or less. Plus, far better to pay that than the 200 euro fine if you’re caught without a ticket. But 35 euros adds up to about 40 usd, which is about two weeks’ worth of groceries in Chicago. And I’m not buying groceries here, since we have a cafeteria and cafe available to us (and no kitchen). And if you don’t want to take public transportation, it’s not a necessity like it is in Chicago. There have been days I have walked to the Pantheon and back, without problems. Rome is a safe city, and most everything is in walking distance. If it’s called ‘not in walking distance’, that just means that it takes a while to get there on foot, not that you can’t do it at all. It’s not advisable to walk the nine or so miles from the Lake Shore Campus to the Water Tower Campus.

As for food, like I said: we have a cafeteria and cafe on campus. But we also live in a residential neighborhood, where you can get good Chinese food for 3 euros, or about 3.5 usd. You can find cacio e pepe or carbonara for 5 euros, two traditionally Roman dishes. And museums, even the most costly ones, are free the first Sunday of every month!

There are multitudes of ways to save money, at home or abroad. I particularly save money on water by carrying a reusable water bottle around – restaurants charge for water, but there are hundreds of free water fountains around the city with safe-to-drink water. The university provides sack lunches for free on the weekend, whether or not you’re travelling, so you can take that to go and save a meal, and they always offer fresh fruits that can be kept for a snack later, instead of purchasing sweets or fruit from a fruit vendor. And, like I said, walking places.

There are students here who spend their money freely, without an eye on a budget, and there are students who live with tightly-controlled wallets, out of desire to and out of necessity. It’s up to you to how you will be, but it’s absolutely possible to be here and not burn holes through your pockets. Italy is mostly a cash culture, too, so that is certainly helping me save – I can’t buy anything over 5 euros if I only have 5 euros!

Meals here typically range from 5-8 euros, if you’re smart and seeking a cheaper – but nonetheless still delicious meal. I promise you, no matter the cost, I have not yet had a bad food experience here. You can find somewhere with plates that are 20 euros, and it will be just as good as something you can find for 9. (Maybe better, but seriously. The cheaper does not mean the worse here. It’s Italy!)

I don’t know yet about China, but from what I hear, most meals range between 1-5 usd. The food is cheaper there, as you may or may not expect. Italy also doesn’t really do ‘street food’ like in China or America, but that’s just as well. The culture here is sitting down, enjoying a meal, and with the full awareness it could last for hours.

If you have any questions about the finances of studying abroad, just ask! I’d be happy to talk more about it. It’s totally doable, and I encourage everyone who is even thinking about studying abroad to do it. Take the leap! It’s an experience of a lifetime.

John Felice Rome Center Campus – curious?

By Jessica Xi | October 3, 2017

Many people, when talking about the study abroad experience, like to focus on the dream world of travel that you can do. Places to see, people to meet, things to eat, and on and on. It was interesting for me, then, when I was doing research and preparations to come here, that I did not hear or read much about the Rome Center Campus itself. Our Office of International Programming sells study abroad just fine, and it is wonderful. But there’s a lot of mention about the community and opportunity here, not much about the buildings.

Or rather, building. JFRC, or J-Force, as we call it, is one massive structure with lots of shooting-off wings and many floors that show just how old of a past it has. The cafeteria is right next to the gym, the library is just above the cafe, and from some classrooms you can look out and see the staff parking lot. I live in a residential wing that used to be the infirmary ward, right above the refurbished administrative wing. The doctor’s office is still connected to it, so I wouldn’t have to go far if I ever needed anything. And across from my room is a new wing taking shape, apparently going to be the space of new student lounges and more office space for professors. It seems a little confusing, and goodness knows it took me a couple days to get the hang of it! Luckily, every floor is connected by a central staircase.

The lowest floor has only the gym, the cafe, and the cafeteria. The cafeteria, or mensa as we call it, is wide, spacious, can fit most if not all of the JFRC students and staff, and has a patio – as does the cafe, Rinaldo’s Bar. I haven’t yet asked who Rinaldo was, or is. The gym is nothing like our Halas at Lake Shore Campus, but it does the job. It has two treadmills, two ellipticals, a bike, weights and some weight machines, and floor-length mirrors, as well as yoga mats. And, just like on Lake Shore Campus, there are weekly exercise classes!

The second floor is one of the newest, at least from what I am guessing due to the interior. It has the IC/library, which used to be the chapel (the initial building was a convent), six standard classrooms and some other large multi-purpose rooms. The campus seems big, but you can walk end-to-end on the second floor in about two minutes if you are a very, very slow walker. The third floor has the porter’s desk, where our campus security works. But you can also buy bus tickets, hail taxis, and chat with the porters there as well. It’s also where the only entrance to the campus is, and it links the mailroom, the business office, the bookstore, the professor’s offices, older classrooms, and the administrative wing like spokes on a wheel. And above that is four stories of residential area! Some lounges too, of course.

The rooms themselves are a bit older, but they could be so much worse. Students who lived in some Lake Shore Campus dorms like San Francisco or de Nobili may find them more lacking that students with experience in say, Mertz or Campion, but by no means are these rooms shipping crates. All the beds are bunkbeds, built into the walls so you don’t have a choice, and the bathrooms are either suite-style or communal, but all rooms have a sink inside them. Plus, everyone has a closet, drying rack, bookshelf, mini-fridge, and desk (and chair, of course). It’s plenty of room – but there’s no need to worry about bringing extra furniture or anything. After all, who has room in their luggage? Just like many a college dorm, the walls are quite thin. That’s the universal college experience.

(Pardon the mess – this is about 1/4 the room. The other 3/4 is a ‘little’ cluttered.)

Aside from the building, JFRC has grounds, too. There’s an olive grove that my Food and Wine class may harvest sometime soon, and cats roam beneath the branches. Some of them are Dr. Nicholson’s cats, one of the professors here who has been with the Rome Center since the very beginning. Others just kind of appear. We have a running joke that all of them are in fact the same cat, Sparky, who just takes the forms of many and moves so fast it looks like two or more cats laying about. The campus is down the end of a driveway that leads only to us and a nearby monastery, so at the end of it at night there is a gate locked to outsiders and a security guard stationed there. There’s also some winding paths with benches and sculptures to admire.

Some people say that living at JFRC is living in a bubble – it’s very easy to never leave except on the weekends of adventure! It’s certainly something the magic of Rome itself works against, luckily for me.