Ten Quirks of Living Here

Every day here is an adventure, some days more than others. I've learned a few things along the way that have helped me deal with the "oddities" of living in Rome.

1. If you are lost and don't know which direction you're facing according to a map, panicking does absolutely nothing. It's easier to just go one block in a direction and see what the next street is in order to figure out which way to go. 

2. Trying to find a building (like an inconspicuous grocery store) solely by recognizing buildings/restaurants/streets is NEVER a good idea. 

3. You're at less of a risk to get water in the entire bathroom if you turn sideways to use the weird shower-handle (I think this may just be in our apartment) 

4. The bidet is an excellent place to wash your feet after walking around all day ( A girl who is half Italian/ half American told me this little tip- it works wonderfully!) You could call it a piede  for foot instead of a bidet 

5. Opening the windows during the day is great but you can hear the entire city partying if you leave it open at night.  ( the solid wooden shutters are also a great way to get an extra hour or two of sleep)  

6. Doing laundry in the states is fun in comparison to how it is here. It took me three hours to do a small load of whites and two days for everything to dry. Dryers are not common exist here, and if they do exist they are super expensive

7. Buying fresh fruits and veggies locally is much better than from the grocery store. For 3 zucchini, carrots, a handful of snap peas, 3 bulbs of garlic, and 3 peppers it only cost me 6 euro! 

8. Staying extremely busy during the day is perfect because it allows for relaxation at night (and feeling less guilty when you're falling asleep and everyone is just getting ready to go out) 

9. Attempting to order or ask in Italian is much better than just talking to someone in English. Even though my pronunciation is horrendous (multiple times I have asked something in Italian and I have gotten English in response), I think the Italians here appreciate that I try. When I really cannot communicate,  I say my best Mi dispiace, Io non parlo Italiano. Parla inglese? (I'm sorry, I do not speak Italian. Do you speak English? By the time I reach the fourth word they usually nod or roll their eyes a little for my terrible lack of Italian accent. I try to roll my r's and sound Italian but to no avail. 

10.  I will never be able to master the whole I'm dying-of-heat-but-I-still-look-wonderful look. I feel like I am being baked by the sun every day, yet there are so many Italians who are wearing jeans or teetering along the cobblestone streets in six inch heels. I don't know how they do it. I am also amazed by the lack of exercise that goes on here. (no one goes running here except for the American students that I've seen) There is pizza and pasta and gelato galore, yet these people are stick thin! I think it's the cigarettes and miles of walking. Either that or it's Rome's best kept secret. 

I'm off to tour The Vatican and see the Sistine Chapel! So exciting! More to post later.