Just Like Cam Newton.

Cam Newton.  Just the first and last name (and if anywhere in the SEC, often just the first name), evokes strong emotions, especially in Auburn where he is revered as some type of football savior for our beloved Tigers.  Everyone knows who he is,a household name, and every time there is a "Cam sighting", people are talking and tweeting about it for weeks to come.  I have heard stories of girls (and guys actually) following him and waiting for him to come out of the bathroom in the student center, stalking him to Niffers, and following him to class when he went to Auburn.

As sacreligious as this may seem to any blue-blooded Auburn football fan, the first day of classes we were told that we were just like Cam Newton in this small, sleepy, ancient Italian town.  This simple fact has been proved true to me every day since I have been here, and the stories have ranged from funny to hilarious, and everywhere in between, including just really strange.

The first experience we had upon arriving in Ariccia was when 4 friends and I arrived in the town early and 3 of us went to try and find coffee on our own to beat the jet lag.  Well, we went into a cute little coffee shop and ordered a latte.  I am not sure who was confused more, barista or us at her reaction.  She kept looking at us confused and repeated "latte? hot or cold?" We were even more confused and said "hot", thinking who has ever heard of a cold latte?  For the record, a hot latte in Italy is just steamed milk, which was pretty good but we promptly slept for 2 and 1/2 hours after drinking it.  This hilarious news couldn't have spread around faster than if Cam Newton had showed up at Skybar on the last Wednesday of class.  One of our instructors (and one of the coolest people ever), Chinzia, was explaining to us how people were aware of what we were doing in the town, so to be on our best behavior, and then used us as an example, saying multiple people were wondering why the American girls just wanted hot milk as a midmorning drink.  Anyone who knows Leigh, Mollie, and I could guess that our reaction was none other than turning red and giggling hysterically.

It is so strange being treated like some sort of celebrity, but that really is the way they treat our little band of Auburn students.  I could give a hundred examples and I have only been here about a week.

I love everything about Ariccia, but one thing in particular would have to be how proud the people here are of their rich heritage.  We went into a inn that was used as a stopping point for European travelers staying in Ariccia for the famous ancient route through Europe called the "Grand Tour".  The inn, built in the 1700s, is restored and beautiful.  The more I learn about the town, the more I am showed around, the more I love it.