It’s the first week of school and you’re struck with the reality of hard teachers, lots of homework, and the looming Chicago winter. Some of your friends have just landed in Rome and you’re watching your Instagram and Facebook feeds fill up again with pictures of Rome and the John Felice Rome Center. While there’s no place quite like Rome (or like the classes and homework load in Rome,) you can still enjoy some of your favorite Italian foods and pastimes back here in Chicago. Here are our top 17 ways to beat JFRC fomo. Sorry, but we’re still looking for a Shari Vari replacement.
Photo courtesy of Lily Karges
1. Visit Amorino at the Water Tower campus, so you can still eat gelato everyday.
Photo by Jordan Helms
Gelato was a staple in everyone’s diet in Italy. Luckily, Amorino’s close downtown location makes it easy to once again consume gelato on a regular basis.
2. Remind yourself that in the States, it’s actually easier and cheaper to buy peanut butter.
Photo by Jordan Helms
Peanut butter does actually exist in Rome, however it was hard to find and overpriced. Appreciate the small things back home where peanut butter can be found in all types of foods and stores.
3. Visit Little Italy on Taylor St.
Photo by Meg Cleary
We recommend Davanti, Rosebud, and Francesca’s. However, you really can’t go wrong anywhere in Little Italy.
4. Join an Intermural soccer team.
Photo by Jaclyn Puccini
There’s no soccer league quite like JFRC’s calico, but you can round up your favorite (or best) calcio teammates for a new team in an American league. Show off your Italian football talent.
5. Be a tourist for a day and visit all of Chicago’s top attractions.
Photo courtesy of Vincenzo Vitale
Rediscover the beauty of Chicago by taking a day to visit some of Chicago’s top attractions such as Millennium Park, Navy Pier, and the Sears Tower.
6. Study in the quad with friends.
Photo courtesy of Lily Karges
Take advantage of the good weather while we can still compete with the Italian warmth and sun. Just like at JFRC though, we’d suggest not laying in your bathing suit and tanning on either of the quads.
7. Search for good, homemade pasta.
Photo by Jordan Helms
There are lots of great Italian restaurants to choose from in Chicago. We recommend trying the new West Loop hot spot, Monteverde.
8. Go to mass on Sundays at Madonna Della Strada.
Photo courtesy of Mary Ennis
Every church in Italy seemed beautiful and grand making masses more inviting. Lucky for you, Loyola has its very own church with a view on campus. Everyone should try and visit it at least once before they graduate.
9. Catch a Chicago Fire game.
Photo courtesy of Claudia Testa
An American soccer game will probably never be able to compare to an Italian soccer game, but you can give the U.S. soccer league a try by attending one of the Chicago Fire games.
10. Enjoy “La dolce far niente” by going to a restaurant for several hours.
Photo by Jaclyn Puccini
In other words, go to a restaurant and ask to share all your food and have it come out in increments of 15 minutes. This can only be accomplished if you, also, enjoy a lot of wine and bring great friends.
11. Find authentic Italian pizza.
Photo by Jaclyn Puccini
Chicago may be known for deep-dish, but as the home of the best pizza in the country, (sorry New York,) there are many options for real, Italian style pizza. We suggest Spacca Napoli for a more authentic taste.
12. Watch the sunrise over Lake Michigan.
Photo courtesy of Lily Karges
While nothing can compare to watching the sunrise over Rome, there’s no Chicago sunrise quite like one over the lake.
13. Eat Italian meat while walking on the street.
Photo by Jaclyn Puccini
In Italy, this is a common and accepted occurrence. Don’t care about what anyone thinks. Let your Italian ways shine (except don’t run on Italian time.)
14. Embrace the Italian culture and the language you learned by participating in Italian-American Columbus Day pageants.
Photo by Jaclyn Puccini
Pageants might not be everyone’s activity of choice, but congratulations to Jaclyn, our chapter’s very own pageant queen! There are lots of other cultural, Italian activities that can be found in the city. Attend one and get a chance to practice your (rusty) Italian and share some of your favorite memories.
15. Kayak on the Chicago river or go on one of the river boat tours.
Photo courtesy of Meg Cleary
Sorry, but you can’t go on a row boat in Villa Borghese or take a boat tour around Sicily or Capri. However, you can kayak down the Chicago River or take a boat tour with a great view of the skyline and that’s kind of a close second.
16. Go to Eataly for dinner or to purchase some of your favorite Italian groceries.
Photo by Jordan Helms
If you want to continue buying some of your favorite Italian products, they can most likely be found at the Chicago Eataly. Stop for a bite to eat or grab some groceries. Eataly is a little slice of Rome in the heart of Chicago.
17. Always remember your abroad friends. Do anything on this list with them. They will always be a part of some of your best memories.
Photo by Jordan Helms
There’s never going to be a bond like the one you share with your JFRC classmates. Our time together in Rome was, as Lizzie McGuire would say, “what dreams are made of.”
Photo courtesy of Claudia Testa