Wednesday, January 5, 2011: First official day of program

Today was our first official day of the program. In the morning, Sheryl Brandalik, provided an orientation to the UWRC. Immediately after that, Stephanie Love, intern at the Rome Center and our assistant for the program, and I took everyone for a short tour of the Campo dei Fiori and environs, mainly to introduce everyone to the major facilities, such as the supermarket, eating places, where to get the phones charged, where to buy stamps. We also stopped at Camerini in Largo Argentina, a famous "bar". All the students got sandwiches, coffees and soft drinks. The waiter was extremely gracious about taking our 18 person order of food and drinks! The students had the afternoon to relax and recover (Brenda had just got in that morning from the States!). Tomorrow we have our first class, and we will go over our schedule and readings. Ciao! Manka