Cait in Rome

I landed in Rome a week ago. After hours of travel, from Boston to Dublin, Dublin to Italy, I found my way to the quiet neighborhood that I would now call home. It was surreal, unpacking my belongings in this little peach colored room that is walking distance from the Colossuem. I live there with five girls, one of whom is an Italian student at a local university who studies archaeology and is originally from India. Her English is very good, so she has been a huge help.

My first impressions of Rome have gone against everything I expected. I had visions of crowded streets, impossibly complicated bus lines, greasy men with open shirts and chains. In actuality, the streets tend to be quiet in many areas, the buses are no crazier than those in New York, and the men are all dressed to the nines, old and young. The whole orientation process was helpful in explaining how things work, but at the same, a little disconcerting. They drilled the girls with safety warnings and shocking stories about aggressive Italian men. It seems we’ve taken five steps backwards in the whole women’s lib movement considering the boys in the program were given the job of “defending our honor”, but if that’s what it takes, so be it. When in Rome, right? That said, I have generally felt really safe here. It is just a matter of common sense.

I find that I can understand a lot, but my speaking is still shaky. Many people know English, and I have been good about trying my Italian everywhere. Still, I have my moments. For example, in the supermarket today, I didn’t know how to ask for my ham to be sliced or how to ask for a certain weight, so I just gestured a little amount with my fingers. The man sliced off a whole chunk that width, rather than slices, so I end up with a 5 euro slab of meat that I didn’t want. I hid it behind the yogurt and milk around the corner. Next time, I’ll carry my pocket dictionary.

Rome is truly a beautiful city. All those touristy sites – the Pantheon, the Colusseum, the Trevi Fountain – are really impressive in person. I still find it hard to navigate the windy streets and piazze, and I can’t wait to be more independent. Orientation has been good, but at the same time, I am ready to stop traveling en masse with 180 other American kids. Even if I still feel like a bumbling tourist, I can at least pretend on my own. We spent this past weekend on a trip to Assissi and Perugia. Assissi is this beautiful little hill town with an amazing basilica, la Basilica di San Francesco. St. Francis seems like a great guy, and the basilica was really beautiful, full of frescoes by Giotto among others. The food has been good, but I would like to find the more authentic restaurants off the beaten track. And of course, the wine is super cheap.

This week, I begin intensive Italian courses, which will be really good. Everyone is on their a-game in class, because we all really want to learn the language. The following week actual classes begin. I hope to do an internship in addition to my classes, but I am note sure where just yet. Anyway, this is just a brief update. I will keep posting as more adventures ensue, qui nell’Italia. Check out the pictures as well.

Ciao for now!