But, as Im sitting here in the middle of the night, trying to rewrite old papers (ill explain) and write new ones, theres this feeling of uneasiness that Im not ashamed to talk about. A week ago, someone climbed through our apartment window and into my room, creeping all over the place I am living. They came in and spray drugged us (a common thing in Italy I was told by the polizia), and took every valuable thing I own. Dont get me wrong, thank GOD my apartment mates and I are safe.

Seriously. Someone sneaking around in the place where I live and sleep. It just gives me the shivers.

So they came in and stole all of my belongings. My cool volcom backpack, with all of my school books, notes, and notebooks in it; my laptop with all three essays I had finished, that I now have to rewrite, all the music and pictures Ive had for the past 3 years, with a few of them backed up but practically gone; my ipod, that i conveniently put in my backpack pocket the day before; my razr phone with an american number on it that I fell asleep with In My Hand!; my wallet.....basically everything.

So waking up the next morning to find the window open and our stuff gone, was unsettling to say the least. At first it seemed so utterly ridiculous that anyone would have stolen our stuff in the few hours we had been asleep..but, nope..I guess I can say Ive gotten the total Italian experience now hahaha...

The police station took hours, and they sent us away and we had to come back. Then when we got back everything had to be interpreted and for some reason the police man didnt ask Rhianon or I any questions about the theft except what was stolen, when most of it happened to us, and he asked Karla everything when she was in the other room. I dont know, I mentioned something about it but I think he just wanted to get home.

After that I had to find a way to get money, because I had absolutely no cash and no card. So Accent lent me a mean 100 euro to get me through the next week until I could get a new card and PIN number. Also, I had to fill out all this paper work and try to get it in to LoJack for my computer, on the slight chance that it can be recovered...but who knows. I doubt it. Its time to budget even more to replace all the electronics that were stolen. And the sad thing is all the memories that are now gone. All of my Rome pictures, and there were over 500--some of them really good too!! All of my pictures from the last few years and the music that Ive had since forever! Gah!

Also theres this huge insecurity in our apartment. Its like at all times you just know its not safe. Living a floor above the main street is just unsettling, especially when you know someone has been inside the apartment already, and there really was nothing that could have been done to prevent it. Its really hard to get any work done either, since our apartment is basically a toilet, two rooms with four beds, and a tiny kitchen...its difficult to get stuff done when you're surrounded. But nevertheless I continue, theres only two weeks left, and I have three papers to write in the next few days, and one after that for Monday, and then its finals. I still want to have an enjoyable time, but with the stress, insecurity, and worry..we all feel thats its very difficult to concentrate. Its not that Im not learning, and its not that Im not absorbing the information and culture and everything I came here to do. Its just at a point where its very...difficult

written by  Amanda on July 21, 2008 from Rome, Italy
from the travel blog: Revelle in Rome
tagged StupidStealers and BadTimes
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Hi there,
I'm entering UCSD in the fall, and I've heard a lot of wonderful things about the Revelle in Rome program. I had many doubts about security and living arrangements however; after reading your Story, they've only increased.

It'd be great to talk to someone who not only had the experience of being in the program, but being in what you mentioned "the true italy experience".

Was the program still worth going, or do you wish you had traveled to Rome in a different way? Or taken HUM 3 at UCSD?
And was the course load and studying difficult because of the time limit and cramped arrangements?

I hope you don't feel that I am smothering you with questions. But if you find the time to answer my questions, I would be thrilled. I rather enjoyed your Story! I'm sorry to hear about the theft though.

Thanks,
Susie (Revelle: class of '13)

written by  susie rae on September 8, 2009

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