Ciao! To start, I'd like to complain to my parents for not raising me in Italy. This place is absolutely stunning - the people are stylish, the architecture beautiful, and the food sent down from the gods. Everybody here seems to really take their time, no matter what the activity they're doing. Lunch seems to take hours upon end, but hey, I'm definitely not complaining. It's comforting to see that the native way of life is just living in each moment, especially because I frequently have minor freak-outs from culture shock and not being able to speak the language here. Speaking of language (ha!), Italian sounds so suave talking to each other that I often find myself staring at two people conversing, not understanding a single word, but listening to the inflections in voices while watching hands fly left and right and up in the air. Today, we (my roommates and I) asked a couple walking for help with reading a map. The two began talking to each other, when out of nowhere the man yelled, "AH!" and threw his hands up then just stormed off. Meanwhile, the woman just kept repeating something in Italian speaking slowly as if her partner were a child...reminds me a bit of when I have to explain technological things to my mom (HEY MOM!)
The language barrier is the hardest part of living here, although most people speak english, I think. Whenever I'm in a cafe or shop, I see the Americans say English words slowly and loudly...as if this is going to help the Italians understand us. I'm pretty sure it just makes the Italian feel like the American is treating them like a foreigner in their own country. It's because of this that I really look forward to learning the language. Not only will help in understanding the culture, but it would be really nice to be able to get along in the city for a day without a giant target on my forehead saying, "AMERICAN".
Anyhow, I've got to get some food so this blog entry will have to wait. We all know how much food takes precedence in my life. And don't worry, mom, I'll chill out on the gelato. Oh and Steve, THE SALAMI IS AMAZING HERE!
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