Walk with me through Rome…
As I sat in the taxi on the way to my accommodation I began to realize just how beautiful Rome and the Italian language really were, and I was very excited for my Italian course to begin. The remarkable ancient buildings surrounded me as we drove through the Roman streets, and I couldn’t help but stare out the window the whole time! I asked my driver a 1000 questions abo de the whole way there! He pointed out famous buildings, cathedrals, and the river, and he made sure to tell me over and over again how much he loved Rome.
My host family was very comforting, and showed me their cozy European apartment. It had beautiful marble and stone floors and paintings in almost every room! Of course the kitchen always smelled of fresh garlic and herbs, I never went hungry!! The whole family seemed to have a much better fashion sense that anyone I knew back home, even the little children! They dressed with casual elegance, and always seemed to have a beautiful scarf and shoes to go with every outfit. How do they make jeans and a shirt look so stylish?
The next day I headed to the school, which is in a great area right in the center near tons of little shops and cafes. My beginner class in Italian was so much fun! My teacher liked to laugh more than I did- she played fun games with us in Italian and wrote down amusing explanations on the blackboard to help us remember Italian vocabulary and phrases. After class she liked to have conversation with us, and we always felt comfortable around her because of the clear and slow way she spoke to us. The atmosphere was always relaxed, and we learned a lot in class.
After class ended I enjoyed walking through the little streets, investigating the area around the school. Termini station was just a few minutes walk from the school so it was really easy to travel around all of Rome. I loved testing out new cafes and restaurants to try local Italian delicacies. I love how easy it was to also walk around Rome! I have a horrible sense of direction, but I enjoyed venturing out and about – and I didn’t even get lost!
I can’t talk about Rome without mentioning the food. I tried to eat a small lunch, because in Italy, the dinner is a long and wonderful meal! The appetizer, the first course, second course, side dish, bread, desert, and coffee are all part of the traditional Italian eating style! I am used to eating on the go, so this was a real change for me to sit down and enjoy a long Italian dinner with my friends and “family”. Some of my favorites were veal, octopus, egg noodle pasta, fried artichoke, and of course, gelato!
I went to Rome expecting to learn Italian and meet new people, but I never expected to love the city so much and not want to leave! My hosts made me feel like a true Italian! I did not want to say goodbye to them, I knew I would miss them so much. As a final goodbye we went to the Trevi fountain together so that I could throw a coin into the water. Supposedly after you throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain you will return to Rome, as the saying goes. I sure hope so!
Jo (USA)
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