Wherever you travel, whether it be a new town, a new state, or a new country, there are going to be everyday things that are quite different from where you’re from. Here are a few of the many differences between my home and Rome.
- Crossing the Street. While there are traffic signals at major intersections, they’re not everywhere. When they aren’t present in Rome, you don’t just stand on the corner waiting for a break in traffic. Instead, you stare down the oncoming cars while walking into the street and they stop for you. While intimidating at first, it helps that most vehicles are scooters or little Smart cars.
- Parking Rules (or the lack-thereof?). With a population of over two million, Rome is a busy city with a lot of cars. Finding a parking spot isn’t easy, and the Romans like to get creative. Some of my favorite parking jobs are made my Smart cars taking advantage of their small size.
- Clothing. While the temperatures are reaching into the 60s here in Rome, the Italians are still wearing their winter coats and scarves. I find it funny how that’s the case here while at Hope the Pine Grove would be filled with students, hammocks, and Spike Ball games. They also don’t wear a lot of color here, mostly just black, grey, and darker tones.
- Visiting Churches. While there are certainly exceptions, most churches in the U.S have visitors on the weekends or Wednesdays for services. In Rome, they seem to embrace the fact that their churches really are museums within themselves. For the most part, when there isn’t a service, you can walk in anytime during the week to marvel at the church or sit and pray.
- History. Any place in the U.S is new compared to Europe, and especially compared to some of the ancient ruins in and around Rome. From the Colosseum and the Roman forum, to Ostia Antica and Villa Adriana, the list of historical sites is impressive.
Thanks for reading,
Erin