First week impressions

First impressions are incredibly important. Show up to a job interview with your zipper down, a mustard stain on a wrinkled shirt, and some sort of mullet-mohawk combo? Chances are you weren't going to get the job when you walked through the front door of the company. So how does that apply to my time here in Rome? Well, I figure first impressions could have a lasting impact on how I see this grand city for the next 4 months, and perhaps Italy in general. So I'm going to write down my impressions of Rome so far, and come back to them to see if I was correct. Without further ado...

1. Whether or not you believe in stereotypes, they are all founded in some truth. So the stereotype that all Italians do is eat pasta? TRUE. Good God is it true, and while I do enjoy spaghetti, and rigatoni, and those curly cue pastas, let's be real: Its all the same, just in a different shape. It's kind of like how all mexican food is essentially the same, with beans and rice and sour cream and a tortilla of some shape. But this isn't even a mix of ingredients. Its like if Mrs Fields cut their chocolate chip cookies into star shapes and square shapes and circles, but sold them as different things. Yeah, annoying.

2. Traffic is unbelievably dangerous here. No car will stop for you if you are standing on the side of the road waiting to cross. You have to step out, look the driver in the eye, and they will literally get within an inch of you and stop. I've gotten used to it, but it doesn't mean that I don't fear for my life every time I go to get some pizza.

3.For all of the great food that they make here, people don't eat. What? They don't? No, they don't, and I was just as shocked as you. Breakfast? Maybe a croissant or something light if they eat breakfast at all. Lunch is a big meal, so I'll give them that, but after they eat at like noon or 1, they dont eat again until at least 8. And that's at the earliest. I have been out and about and seen people in the middle of dinner as late as 1230 AM. No lie.

4. Time is just unimportant here. After being raised in a culture of "If you're on time, you're late, if your early you're on time", the idea that being late is too early baffles me. Tell someone to come over around 8 means, "If you come any earlier then 830 you are too early and I probably haven't showered." Takes some getting used to, but Italy is a very laid back place.

5. There is graffiti everywhere. We are staying in one of the most residential and wealthiest neighborhoods in Rome and there is graffiti on the walls of our building. It doesn't mean that its a "sketchy" neighborhood, it just has graffiti. In fact, I have not come across one sketchy neighborhood, even though I hear that Termini station is a handful after dark.

Thats about all I've got for right now. As for what's been going on in my life here in Rome? A lot of walking about, seeing some sights, and taking Italian for 2.5 hours everyday. It's gonna be a fun semester it looks like.

Also, I just booked a trip to Croatia (completely spontaneous, but I am so stoked for it) for the weekend after this one. I will definitely be posting pictures and telling tales all about it when it happens. Thanks for reading.