Brazil

So what does me studying building conservation in Italy have to do with Brazil............well more than you can imagine. Actually I made a stop in Brazil on March 15th. How would this be possible you say, well that is easy. Rosilene the class representative from Brazil was asked to be a guest of the Brazilain Ambassador. How then does this affect me and the rest of the class? Well we were all asked to be guests of the Ambassador to attend a piano concert at the Brazilian Embassy and the pianist was a Brazilian woman. So after class we head out to Piazza Novona where the Brazilian Embassy is located. This is also the location of Bernini's fountain of the four rivers just as a reference point. Anyway, I was digressing from the story. Since the concert was not until 8 pm, we the class decided to have our supper in Trastevere near the church of St. Maria in Trastevere. It was an all you can eat buffet for 2 euro as long as you purchased an alcohlic beverage for 5 euro. You don't have to twist this girls arm twice. So this was the beginning of what was to be a very memorable night.

St Maria in Trastevere on our way to supper

After supper we hiked it across the river to Piazza Navona. The Embassy takes almost one complete side of the square. There was a cocktail party preceding the concert. We enter the courtyard it is a warm night. There are statutess and a stairway leading up into the building.



My classmates



We climb the stairs and then circulate in the anti-chambers waiting to be admited to the reception hall where the cocktails will be served. The painting on the coffered ceiling leaves me speachless. There are statues and crests and beautiful millwork everywhere I look. One crest in particular catches my eye and I realize that this building at one point in time was a Pope's palace. How do I know this, well if you see crossed keys and a pointy hat that is the crest of a Pope. Thank you Barbara the representive from Vatican City and fellow classmate. The symbols in the coat of arms indicates which Pope it was.



The Pope's crest over the door

I know that you are distracted by the ceiling, but if you look over the door you will see the crest I was refering too. At this moment I can't remember which Pope this palace once belonged too. Anyway at some point in history the Vatican sold the property to Italy and Italy sold it to Brazil and now it is the Embassy. Not bad digs if I do say so myself.



 At around 9 pm all of the guests of the Ambassador were asked to move to the concert hall. Everyone slowly moved out of this magnificant space to head to the concert hall where a grand piano was waiting on a slightly raised stage for the Pianist who was going to entertain the audience. Just being in some of these rooms was amazing and yet the night was going to get even better.

The Brazilian Ambassador introducing the Pianist



The Pianist - Linda Bustani

To say the concert was unbelieveable would be such an understatement. I don't really know how to put into words the experience of being in such a magical place with the most gifted and skilled pianist to entertain and mesmerize us would not do this experience justice. Being accepted to this program was more than I could have hoped for, to be in the company of such amazing, gifted and warm people who were and are my classmates, but are now so much more than that and then to be able to attend a concert such as this is so hard to describe and put into words. The concert lasted approximately 1 hour. We heard Brazilain music and then we were entertained with Chopin.

At the end of the concert we headed back out into the night and back onto Italian soil. It was almost 11 and the Piazza was busy. The group spent the rest of the time taking fun pictures around one of the fountains and debating on where to head for a drink before catching the tram and heading home to Ponte Bianco.

Yes I did join my collegues for a beer and a visit. The friendships that are being formed on this night and many that have followed I am sure will last a lifetime.

School tomorrow so home by 12:30. I have been moved beyond words with the unbelieveable night that I have just experienced and shared with my new friends. I know that tomorrow will bring hard work and more learning, but really tonight is one of those times that will forever be etched on my heart.





The Class

School began on the morning of March 5th with everyone staying at the Ponte Bionco heading to school together. This time there were no mishaps on the way and we successfully arrived at school ready to rock and roll. Today is the day that we all have to do a presentation, introducing ourselves, what we do and some of the types of projects we are presently working on. There are the usual lectures then coffee break. So far so good the class seems to have a connection. Little did I know how very strong that connection would be!!!!

Participants locations with corresponding photo.
Note the lone individual on the North American continent, that would be me.

This weeks topics of discussion are Defining Heritage and Conservation Concepts.  The presentations are absolutely amazing with most of my classmates working on antiquities dating back over a 1000 years. Some are World Heritage Sites and the depth of issues and problems that they have to work through makes my issues with government burocracy seem like childs play. To say the least I am very impressed and very intimidated by this group of people. I make it through to the end of the day which is after 6 pm and head home with the group stopping at the Simply for more food to stock my still not quite empty shelves. Wow what a day!

Where have I been

March 18th, 2012

I know that many of you at home are wondering where have I been and I must apologize for my long absebce! The reason I have not been able to share anything is that the internet here is rather arcaic. When I first arrived I purchased an internet card through the hotel residence and paid 20 euro for 15 hours of airtime which is bloody expensive. I neively thought that I would be able to quickly and easily purchase a stick and all would be right with the world and the posts would start flowing...........WRONG! If only things like this were that easy. Long story short 2 internet cards and i stick and 100 euros later I finally have unlimited Wi-Fi through TIM for 3 months. I just recieved the stick on Thursday night and now have just had the time to sit and begin sharing some of my adventures.

My new home

Apartments shown on the web site are not what they are in reality.

As I have blogged before I got settled into my new home, but I have not said much about my living accommodations. I had checked the website out and expected to have a place with a small livingroom, kitchen off on its own, bathroom and bedroom. Well this in not what I actually got.  My new home is maybe 15 x 10 with the kitchen table about 2 feet from the end of the bed. My kitchen is directly behind the door. It consists of a small 2 burner stove, basically no counter top and a small round sink. Oh and the first time washed dishes the water ran down the back of the wall and pooled at my feet. It was fixed the next day, but this is not a good way to start a relationship with ones new home. Anyway, my accommodations are comfortable and the front desk staff are really helpful and very nice. Oh and I do have a small balcony that looks out at a green tree and the mechanical systems and steel exit stairs for the hospital next door. Here are some pictures of my new home. I guess in this case size does matter! Enjoy.

Bedroom

Balcony



Kitchen















March 2^nd, 2012

OMG it is 7 am and I am up and trying to get ready for the day. I really thought I was ready for this, but now I am having second thoughts. My classmates have such amazing CV’s and are doing incredible work what was I thinking that a little carpenter could come to Rome and contribute at such a prestigious course. Oh well I am here so I have to do the best that I can and see what happens.

We had a message in our packages to meet in the lobby at 8:30 so that everyone can head to ICCROM together and we would all get there before the 9:30 start time. I am down early and there are a couple of ladies from Africa sitting on one of the couches obviously waiting for the same thing I am and looking as nervous as I am feeling. More people start to arrive, we are all chatting and I am trying desperately to keep track of everyone’s name…..to late I am in trouble as nerves have overtaken me and I just know the face. We all sit and wait for the rest of the participants staying at Ponte Bianco to come down to the lobby. I am sitting quietly waiting and I turn my head to the stairs as this familiar face comes down the stairs. OMG it is the lady from the grocery who helped me find the sugar last night. We laugh and she introduces herself. Her name is Emilia and she is from Bulgaria. We laugh and the mood immediately lightens. Finally at 8:45 the last straggler arrives and it is Anthony we can now head to the Tram and school. Oh how I wish it was that easy. Pretty well everyone did not know the way and had not purchased Tram passes. I am now a pro at this so I take the group under my Canadian wing and off we go. We are back on track and once again it is a bright sunny day. Wrong! All 13 of us get to the Tram, but it is packed and I mean tighter than sardines. What to do? Some of us push our way onto the tram, but the rest are left standing on the platform, me included, why, because I could not leave the 6 woman alone when they did not know how to get where we needed to be. Two Trams later we finally make it to school and of course we are 10 minutes late. We are excused as it appears that there was some type of problem with the Trams and there were not nearly as many running this morning and everyone was running late. I guess Murphy’s Law does apply even in Rome.

The day starts with general introductions of staff, procedures, Q & A’s, etc. The ICCROM staff put on a wonderful coffee break for everyone and we get to mingle and chat. What an interesting group of people this is going to be more than I could have ever dreamed of. The brain power and wealth of experiences is exciting and it will be a wonderful opportunity to share ideas. The day continues on with each of us introducing ourselves, more presentations and then lunch also hosted by ICCROM. The Director- General has spent the morning with us and is very excited to be with us as he has just filled the position and this is his very first class. The meal is made up of bunwiches, small panni’s, fruit drinks, and delicious desserts.

At the end of today’s introductions and lectures about ICCROM there is a cocktail party with Ambassadors from each of the participant’s countries. I was disappointed to note that the Canadian Embassy did not even respond to the invitation. It now almost 7 pm and I am exhausted and ready to head back to my home. Anthony is waiting to go with me. Magyda from Morocco and Rosilene from Brazil are also going to head back with us. It has been an incredible day. I have the weekend off to finish my first presentation and maybe even explore the city. I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

March 1^st, 2012

So I have now been in Rome 1 full day which was spent grocery shopping and just generally trying to get settled in my new home. I received a map from the ICCROM staff in my package that I picked up at the front desk when I checked in. So now what??? I am in the Eternal City, it is time to step out into the world, hoping not to be hit by a car as I try and figure out the rules for crossing the road and figure out how to get to the ICCROM offices. I load up my back pack with 3 maps; you can never be to prepared, camera, dictionary and a whole lot of courage. I stop at the front desk to get a general idea of which way I should be heading in and off I go. It is a beautiful warm day. I am trying to fit in and have a jacket on. I get to the a few blocks down the road and the jacket really must go. I get to the corner where I am supposed to take the Tram, but haven’t figured that out yet, now what. So since I really have no idea which way to go so I head up the street to the right. I have my map out looking like all of the lost soul that I am. I am reading the street signs on the side of buildings trying to determine where I am. Finally I stop and nice lady on the street, succie how do I get here as I point to the location I am supposed to be heading. Guess what wrong way, so I turn around and head back to way I just came from. Oh well it is about 10 am the sun is shining and it truly is a great day to be alive. I navigate through the streets of Rome past roadside shrines and finally find my way into ICCROM. I go through a security check point in the entrance to the building and ask for Anna Stewart the wonderful lady who has had the task of arranging accommodation for all of the participants and so many other things that I can’t even begin to list them all. We head up stairs to have a cappuccino and get a bit aquainted. While there a young man from Nigeria arrives this is Anthony. He has just arrived in the country and needs a guide to get home to the Ponte Bianco. I am feeling rather courageous so I volunteer to get him back to what will become our home for the next 2 months. I have to stop at a tobaccui for Tram tickets or a bar will do. I buy a 1 month pass and get Anthony a 1 trip pass and off we go. Now please keep in mind this is the first time I am riding the Tram and Anthony has just tried to drag his luggage across cobble stone streets to get to the Tram stop. We are both sweating and I am hoping that this will all work out. Long story short we get off at the correct stop and I get him home to the Ponte Bianco. All is right with the world. I head to my room to take another inventory of my grocery shopping excursion yesterday and determine I still need some general staples, sugar, tea, etc. Again I head out to the grocery, but I am feeling pretty confident now. There are no mishaps in the store an very nice lady helps me find the sugar and back to my room I head to now try cooking in my tiny kitchen. It has been an amazing day and tomorrow I get to meet all of the participants. I am incredibly nervous, but also feeling very exhilarated.

Shopping for Groceries

I am trying to catch up on what is happening hence 2 posts in one night for me. A couple of things that are going on as I am trying to write these blog posts, everything is coming up on my end in Italian, not sure how that is happening, and I had computer problems getting my computer hooked up to the power and recharged. I have things well in hand now or letting for fun sake just think that way!

So it was slow day for me, trying to figure out my power problems with my computer and trying to make sure that I don't blow it up. I got this sorted out as best as I could and decided that I was hungry and the empty cupboards were not going to miraculously start producing some coffee or food for that matter. It was time to get my maps out and find a supermarket, have some lunch and at the very least figure out the piazza in this neighbourhood. I stopped at the front desk and the desk clerk was very helpful on where I should shop which store was expensive and which was cheaper. I have my backpack on and so off I go. Stay on the right side of the street where one of my instructions so this is what I do. It is a gorgeous day. I wore a litle jacket and could have easily just gone out in short sleeves, anyway I digress. So what happens when you stike to the right side of the street and then come to the piazza with another street you have to cross with no cross walk and a round about that has cars coming at you from every direction, well you run across the street with the other Italians and pray that you will make it to the other side. Obviously I made it both ways or you would not be seeing this enlightening blog post! So I walk along the street looking for the market, I end up in a ladys clothing store which just won't do and have to back track. I find the sign for the market, but it is  nowhere in sight, this is rather perplexing, then I see people coming out of the basement of this building. I decide to investigate and voula there it is. We are off to a good start, now to start shopping. I make a grand entrance and while getting my little pull cart thingy, i knock over a stack of 3, now everyone knows there is a foreigner in their midst! I start with the fruits and vegetables as this is fairly easy, right, wrong. You are supposed to have a clerk weigh and bag this item before getting to the cashier, found out the hard way. Ok things are going good I can do thing, I decide to pick up some cheese how hard can this be, well when everything is in Italian it is rather difficult. Other than recognizing some cheeses like Assiago that was a far a I got. I did buy some cheese just not quite sure what it is. Now to get some other basic staples for my little kitchen most items I was not sure what they were, but pasta and sauce and rice were easy. Oh and i bought some really delicious buns, that the lady cut in half for me. I guess that is one of the options that you get as you have to ask for your bread. I even picked up some type of milk and something that is supposed to be soy milk. Will share the story once I actually try these items. I also bought a precooked chicken with this wonderful spices. It was good and consisted of my supper. So I did make it through my first grocery shopping experience and forgot to pick up tea. I will just have to go back and have another go.

On the way back to my little room I stopped to have some lunch. It was a little sidewalk cafe sort of place where people stop by for 5 minutes have this tiny cuppa coffee and then continue on with their day. You stand at this bar counter and are served. There are not very many tables but since I am having a panni and a pot of tea I decide to watch the comings and goings of the place. It is really busseling and people even bring in their dogs. There was this very nice man with 2 jack russel terriors that were just adorable. After taking in the comings and going I decide I still have a bit of a walk back to my new home. Paying then turns out to be an experience as the cashier and I are not understanding each other and the next thing I know this very kind lady with perfect English and Italian for that matter is translating for me. It seems that everytime I require help there appears someone who is more than willing to provide assistance. The rest of my day was uneventful as I struggled to sort out my computer problems and try and get my first assignment completed. It is time for me to say goodnignt. Tomorrow I am intending on heading over to the ICCROM offices to see if I can follow directions and not get lost. More of the delegates are arriving tomorrow and then the opening ceremonies takes place on Friday. I will try and share more adventure stories tomorrow.