So this week has become somewhat easier. Let me begin by continuing some differences that I am discovering in my second week of life in Rome:
Maybe this is because the only city I’m used to is New York, but there aren’t necessarily rigid rules on which side of the street to walk on. Ya know, like everyone walks on the right side of the road no matter which direction you’re headed. Well here older citizens meander wherever they please. I experienced a (younger) woman who insisted on walking into me to avoid the rain, and waiting until I moved out of her way to continue (which I feel like in NY would have absolutely not been a thing because I would’ve also stood there until she moved because obviously, get out of my way and stay on your side), but alas I moved because she was very tall and looked very angry after vespa-ing around in the rain.
Speaking of walking around the city, people walk relatively slowly here. Again, not sure if this is because I walk at a quick pace by nature and am conditioned to northern American life or what but regardless, I feel like people aren’t in too much of a hurry around here. I was told by one of our Italian program leaders that if you are late to a meeting/work but were talking to someone, that conversation is FAR more important than being on time. If you run into a friend on your morning commute, both you and that other person fully understand that the conversation you are having presently is more important than anything else; rushing through that conversation or simply dismissing yourself is considered VERY rude. This is something I am totally not used to seeing, and I remain undecided if I like this or not.
Pizza here is made in these long oval shapes, and you'd think it would be really weird (cause you can't fold it like a triangular slice) but they cut it in half and wrap it like a to-go sandwich (picture of pizza sandwich to come).
Girls/younger women wear really chunky black grungy boots, which I don’t understand because I can barely walk ten feet without my feet hurting in regular shoes. Also, everyone’s obsessed with Doc Martens so there’s that.
My Art History professor is this petite little artsy looking woman who wears these massive hoops and I can’t wear hoops. That’s a random thought, but I really can’t and I want to.
Supermarkets do not refrigerate eggs here (weird/gross), so I stuck mine in the fridge when I got home. P.S. eggs plain/egg based meals (LIKE OMELETES) are completely not a thing here. *cries*
A little about my week:
I started classes (sarcastic smile) and since this is an American university, it is generally similar to school back in the states. However, the one class that has proven to be difficult (already) is my Italian class. I am currently at the 4th level but am not used to hearing an Italian speak to me (at a normal speed)! My professor at Susquehanna is Scottish, and I’ve also had a Venetian professor as well as one from Brescia, so having a Roman speak to me is totally new and rather intimidating. We started review this week and I’m actually discovering things that I didn’t pick up in the first few courses of Italian that I had taken.
I go to school with a lot of art students on a quest to get their MFA’s, which is really new for me and super exciting. Don’t get me wrong; Susquehanna isn’t lacking in Art/Music majors, but here it’s different. They’re very open about their work, what it means to them, and what they’re seeking to do with their work in terms of making statements. We also have MUCH smaller classes than we do at SU (which sounds shocking, I know) but my biggest class has like ten kids in it, so it’s very vocal and involved. The flow of ideas is coming from both academics and artists, so this is a really nice change.
Wednesdays are my long days and have proven absolutely brutal. I have class from 1-8 straight through, without time to get food (or take a nap). To avoid buying individual bus/metro tickets (because you can’t buy a monthly pass until February) I have been walking to and from school everyday (40 min walk) which, initially was my plan to drop a few pounds because walking to school (one way) is more walking than I do at SU in an entire day. However, all we’ve been eating is pasta and pizza so losing weight is looking a bit bleak right about now.
My roommates and I have planned a trip to Venice in a few weekends to experience Carnival (Carnivale di Venezia)!! This is super exciting. I remember my professor (the one from Venice) explaining the experience of Carnival and I figured if I’m in Italy, and can get to Venice during Carnivale, why not?
To conclude: Italian men are beautiful, have nice butts, and aren’t nearly as forward as I was warned they’d be.
Maybe this is because the only city I’m used to is New York, but there aren’t necessarily rigid rules on which side of the street to walk on. Ya know, like everyone walks on the right side of the road no matter which direction you’re headed. Well here older citizens meander wherever they please. I experienced a (younger) woman who insisted on walking into me to avoid the rain, and waiting until I moved out of her way to continue (which I feel like in NY would have absolutely not been a thing because I would’ve also stood there until she moved because obviously, get out of my way and stay on your side), but alas I moved because she was very tall and looked very angry after vespa-ing around in the rain.
Speaking of walking around the city, people walk relatively slowly here. Again, not sure if this is because I walk at a quick pace by nature and am conditioned to northern American life or what but regardless, I feel like people aren’t in too much of a hurry around here. I was told by one of our Italian program leaders that if you are late to a meeting/work but were talking to someone, that conversation is FAR more important than being on time. If you run into a friend on your morning commute, both you and that other person fully understand that the conversation you are having presently is more important than anything else; rushing through that conversation or simply dismissing yourself is considered VERY rude. This is something I am totally not used to seeing, and I remain undecided if I like this or not.
Pizza here is made in these long oval shapes, and you'd think it would be really weird (cause you can't fold it like a triangular slice) but they cut it in half and wrap it like a to-go sandwich (picture of pizza sandwich to come).
Girls/younger women wear really chunky black grungy boots, which I don’t understand because I can barely walk ten feet without my feet hurting in regular shoes. Also, everyone’s obsessed with Doc Martens so there’s that.
My Art History professor is this petite little artsy looking woman who wears these massive hoops and I can’t wear hoops. That’s a random thought, but I really can’t and I want to.
Supermarkets do not refrigerate eggs here (weird/gross), so I stuck mine in the fridge when I got home. P.S. eggs plain/egg based meals (LIKE OMELETES) are completely not a thing here. *cries*
A little about my week:
I started classes (sarcastic smile) and since this is an American university, it is generally similar to school back in the states. However, the one class that has proven to be difficult (already) is my Italian class. I am currently at the 4th level but am not used to hearing an Italian speak to me (at a normal speed)! My professor at Susquehanna is Scottish, and I’ve also had a Venetian professor as well as one from Brescia, so having a Roman speak to me is totally new and rather intimidating. We started review this week and I’m actually discovering things that I didn’t pick up in the first few courses of Italian that I had taken.
I go to school with a lot of art students on a quest to get their MFA’s, which is really new for me and super exciting. Don’t get me wrong; Susquehanna isn’t lacking in Art/Music majors, but here it’s different. They’re very open about their work, what it means to them, and what they’re seeking to do with their work in terms of making statements. We also have MUCH smaller classes than we do at SU (which sounds shocking, I know) but my biggest class has like ten kids in it, so it’s very vocal and involved. The flow of ideas is coming from both academics and artists, so this is a really nice change.
Wednesdays are my long days and have proven absolutely brutal. I have class from 1-8 straight through, without time to get food (or take a nap). To avoid buying individual bus/metro tickets (because you can’t buy a monthly pass until February) I have been walking to and from school everyday (40 min walk) which, initially was my plan to drop a few pounds because walking to school (one way) is more walking than I do at SU in an entire day. However, all we’ve been eating is pasta and pizza so losing weight is looking a bit bleak right about now.
My roommates and I have planned a trip to Venice in a few weekends to experience Carnival (Carnivale di Venezia)!! This is super exciting. I remember my professor (the one from Venice) explaining the experience of Carnival and I figured if I’m in Italy, and can get to Venice during Carnivale, why not?
To conclude: Italian men are beautiful, have nice butts, and aren’t nearly as forward as I was warned they’d be.