Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome,
Focus looking forward the Colosseum
Oh no, what did I say? What can I say?
Rome, Rome, many tears have fallen here
I’ll be driving, you look the other way
- Phoenix, Rome
It’s unfortunate, but typical, that I haven’t reflected on the past month in Italy until today – my final day in this beautiful and complex country. I walked through the archeological site of ancient Rome between the Modern Capitol and the Ancient Colosseum and came to the Arcade at its Western edge – with its panoramic view of the city and the ever present St. Peter’s Cathedral. The view provided a reference point for past month; an exciting, educational and unique experience in a country I have always dreamt of visiting.
It rained, of course. Which is fine. Some of my better final days have been marked by rain. It’s good. It makes one considerate. Every step counts; every action has implications. The rain adds a touch of melancholy that increases nostalgia and serves reflection well.
The sight of the Roman hillside, rolling and populated, is awash with the legacy of the Mediterranean. The topography perfectly encapsulates my vision of this area of the world, from that which I’ve seen (Tangiers; Malaga) to that which I hope to one day see (Athens; Istanbul; Jerusalem).
And it’s just now that I realize this trip is more than just a check in the box of world sites. It was an opportunity to learn, grow and advance – experientially, romantically, educationally – as a person on the whole.
While it appears I’ll be heading back to Europe in just one month, I still acknowledge and appreciate what this trip has meant. It marks a new chapter in my life (many new pictures, really). My first big adventure since leaving the security of my job (as well as the first big adventure with a new person in my life). But as the final class of my graduate studies, it is also the end of a chapter.
And so I sit on a bench, overlooking both Rome’s past and present, and see the cranes of construction that mark its future. And I can’t help but to see the parallels. Italy is my present; it marks just how far I’ve come, but also just how far I have left to go.
