Day One

Today we checked into our apartments, did some orientation type stuff, familiarized ourselves with the immediate neighborhood and then all gathered at a large table in the UW Rome Center for a lasagna dinner. Everybody is so excited that jet lag is hardly evident in anyone. I have already had such a great experience and everywhere I turn there is something amazing and wonderful, and this is JUST THE FIRST DAY!!! I imagine that many of the blog entries I make over here will be mainly photographic, since that is the primary objective of our journey....so here are some pictures of my surroundings....

This is Campo de Fiori, as viewed from the fourth floor of the UWRC. It is an open air market during the day, a popular hangout at night and my front porch for the next month. The shaded yellow area on the right is our apartment. The next shot is of our studio, it is AMAZING, the facilities here are better than what we have in Washington, mostly because it's OURS! After that is a photo of my desk (the one on the left), the imposing brick wall that sits behind me is actually incorporated remains of a 13th century medieval tower. The final photograph shows my entire design group at our first group dinner, lasagna, salad and vino....Not even the best photos could do this place justice, but I will try...