Life at the Asylum

Ah, what a strange title for today's installment!  This week is more or less an orientation week.  Wednesday we were introduced to the North American College history, culture and basic day to day details along with a grand tour.  I will post a photo of the view from the roof of the seminary main building.  The Vice-Rector noted it is the second best view of the city, the first best view is from the Dome of St. Peter's however he noted you cannot see the dome from the dome!  In the view from roof of the main building you see both the city and the dome!  It is a breathtaking view.  For those of you traveling over here for a visit while I am a resident, good news!!  Guests are permitted to be brought to the roof, don't forget your cameras!!  It is the BEST view of the city and the dome.  You feel as if you can reach out and touch the dome.

So back to the title of the posting.  We learned the history of the North American College (NAC) which began near the Trevi Fountain at the Casa Santa Maria and after WWII moved to the Janiculum Hill from where I am writing. The seminary moved into this building, the Casa O'Toole, temporarily while the main building was under construction.  During the War the Bishop's were forced to abandon the property and the building was taken over by the government being converted into an insane asylum!  This little detail, told wryly, received a whooping amount of laughter from the 33 of us!  Many noted, rather amusingly, that somethings never change!  After the seminarians moved into the new building in the 1950's this building was converted into a convent and two years ago it was gut renovated and expanded for the Institute for Continuing Theological Education.  The Transitional Deacon, James of Boston, who did a fine job of giving us the grand tour informed us that the ICTE program was on the top floor of the NAC building prior it's move to Casa O'Toole.  He noted Casa O'Toole has both A/C and Heat, and private bathrooms which the seminarians do not have, which is evident by the many fans you can see in their windows.

The room I occupy on the "3rd floor" is only 2 years old, it is the addition added in 2010.  The floor designation is interesting.  The first level, partially underground and partially at ground level, is called "-1", then comes floor "0" (the main floor), then "1,2,3".  Because the Casa O'Toole is on the highest point of the hill the 3rd floor is higher than the NAC building, which you can see in the picture from yesterday's posting.  While the rooms on the lower levels have faux wood drop ceilings my room has a wonderful wood beamed ceiling that you might imagine seeing in an old villa but it is actually brand new.

A quick note, the meals are wonderful.  Those who know me have heard me say I could eat pasta everyday.  Good thing because so far we have had pasta at pranzo (lunch) and Cena (dinner) every day.  Yesterday was penne in light tomato sauce with eggplant and straccadella (similar to mozzarella), roasted pork and spinach.  Wednesday Pranzo was orecchiette (little ears, so called because they look like ears) with sausage, Roasted Rabbit, spinach and chocolate gelatin.  Cena was baked orecchiette, Chicken Filet in seasoned bread crumbs and artichoke hearts and fresh fruit.  The fresh pears have been heavenly.  Each meal also has a salad of bitter mixed Italian lettuces dressed with Tuscan Olive Oil, white wine, vinegar and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.The food is so good you have to be disciplined or you could gain quite a bit of weight!  Wednesday after the Rector's conference (9:30am) we had "Cornetti", this may be THE most dangerous practice since we had a hearty breakfast at 7am!  The Cornetti are hot freshly baked butter laden Croissants drizzled in rasberry sauce or chocolate sauce with powered sugar - AYE - Delicious! When in Rome do as the Romans do!!!  And we did!  YUM!