---
title: "Judgement Day Approaches"
date: "2008-02-02"
summary: "Packed and ready the day before I leave for Rome, with what I hope to learn there."
topics: "aromanspring, travel"
url: "https://stitcom.be/writing/2008-02-02-judgement-day-approaches"
author: "Stephen Titcombe"
---

# Judgement Day Approaches

Packed and ready the day before I leave for Rome, with what I hope to learn there.

*Originally posted on my Tumblr travel blog, A Roman Spring with IES, in 2008.*

That’s right, tomorrow is the day I leave for the Eternal City. I have been packing for what seems like forever (in actuality, more like three days) and I am finally done! I have two large suitcases that will be checked, and one backpack for stuff I want on the plane. In other words, I have a lot of stuff. But, on the other hand, I feel pretty good about what I have packed and I don’t think I could have done much better if I were forced to pack again (which I hopefully won’t be doing for quite sometime now).

While packing these last few days, I have been collecting as much information about the Roman culture as possible. I have been trying to learn little Italian phrases, like “buon giorno” and “piacere”, that will hopefully help with greeting people when I get over there.

I have also been sent my final housing arrangements. I am living with three other IES students, that are coming from the east coast, and one Italian in an apartment. After looking up the address, it appears that I am within walking distance to the Coliseum!

We have been told that the IES center we will be studying in is also new. It is located about 1 km from Vatican City. I am super excited about all of the sites I will get to enjoy on a daily basis.

Now, I know that some people (or one person in particular) has been asking me for a mailing address. All mail will need to be mailed to the IES Center. Therefore, my mailing address will be:

*Stephen Titcombe
c/o IES Rome
Lungotevere Tor di Nona, 7
00186 Rome, Italy*

When I reach Rome during the day on Monday, I will be filled in with what will be happening during that week for orientation. I have been told there will be two off-site orientation days in Perugia and Assisi. Therefore I am not sure when I will get around to writing again, but I assure you that it will be good.

A presto,

Stephen