Back in America..Culture shock.

Arriving in America was overwhelming. Everything felt different, even as if America had become foreign to me. Driving through the Philadelphia suburb where I reside I could not help but watch the way our culture differs just when walking around the streets. First of all, with my windows down, I smelled the scent of fresh cut grass, something I had not smelled in a good seven weeks. I noticed several runners with out their shirts on, also something I never saw in Italy. There were not cobble stone roads, much easier on my legs, but confusing to my familiarity with them. The street signs read, "Speed Limit, 25." It was in English, also something I had not seen for awhile. People dressed in summer attire, shorts and tank tops with sandles on their feet. Looking around there were no beautiful sculptures on the street corner and definitley no piazza's with a Trevi Fountain. I did notice an eroded statue which was beginning to turn green by the local University, and let me tell you, it did not even come close to comparing to the ones I looked at in Rome. Being back in America, I still find myself examining these same themes which I did in Rome and it has forever changed me.

Arrivederci Roma...

Looking back on the topics I chose during my time here in Rome makes me realize how much my appreciate and view on them has changed. The Trevi Fountain, one of my themes, was the most important out of all to me because it is the one place I looked forward to seeing to the most while in Rome due to its exposure in movies. I never would have imagined the area to have been so hectic and energized because I had only imagined it as an empty space I had seen in the movies. The culture of course, was the one that changed my appreciation the most. Watching the way the Italian culture lives and acts made me both open my eyes to the world, as well as appreciate America. My third theme, statues and sculptures, is one that I found to become an interest I never had before. I did not pay much attention to art work until I got to Rome and now it is something that truly affects me and makes me want to learn more about. Even some of the statues I have seen in both Rome and France I have copies of in my home and now I can put a name and story to the sculptures. I believe these three themes were the best I could have chosen for making my experience in Rome so much more meaningful and life changing, and with out the CAS program allowing me to do so I would not have experienced as much as I did.

Aren't you hot?

Something I have noticed and do not quite understand is how Romans dress in the extremely warm weather compared to Americans. I sweat just from looking at people who look remotely uncomfortably hot while walking down the cobblestone streets of Rome. I can not comprehend or understand why and physically hot when it is over eighty degrees out they continue to wear long pants and shirts of dark colors. I have come to accept them for it and realize it is a part of their culture, but I will never get what is going on in their heads because I could never dress the same in this kind of weather. In the United States we are so acclimated to wearing as minimal clothing as possible in intense heat, and flip flops are always a must. However, when we wear flip flops in Italy we are always looked at as a “tourist” and sometimes that is the sole factor of determining you as one. I do not think I could ever get used to the clothing worn in the heat.

European Style

The experience I had today was something I found to be a good test and also a bit funny to me. When in London I would buy an outfit that looked very “European” and wear it when I went back to Rome. I have to admit, I also wanted this outfit to wear on my flight home to the States to surprise my friends and family. I bought and wore black leggings under gray shorts with a black top and tall flat black boots that I have see woman wearing all over Rome. It was funny to see the way approached me differently, looking as I blended in, atleast by the way I was dressed. Arriving at the airport in Rome I can not tell you how many people would come up to me and start speaking Italian. Any other time this would never happen and never do I get approached. I just found it interesting that if you do not dress like a “tourist” or “American” you seem to appear as if you are embracing, accepting, and a part of the culture more so.

Italian's reactions to Tom Hanks

Friday night standing at Piazza Navona I was in my complete glory. We got to the set where Tom Hanks would be shooting Angels and Deamons early so that we could get a good spot to stand and watch the movie come to life. As the film crew was setting up I looked around to notice the abundance of American viewers surrounding the gates of the set. I wondered why there was not as much security as I thought for such a top of the line actor, but quickly realized it was because of the society and culture where the movie was being shot. While standing fascinated by every light, camera, crew member, actor, and action I was constantly being tapped on the shoulder. Every time I turned around to respond it was an Italian asking me what actor was on set and which film was being shot. Often I received a response with just a nod and a quick gander over the action, and shortly they would leave. Often I saw Italians simply walk by the set as if unaffected, granted I am sure movies are being filmed often in Rome. I came to the conclusion that maybe in Rome they are not as "Hollywood Obsessed" as we are in America. I am sure they know American actors such as Tom Hanks, but they do not study his every move in the way that we do. This is probably why security measures did not seem as high as if we were in the United States. Obviously, us American's could hardly breathe as we saw Tom Hanks forcefully walking toward the camera, finding satisfaction in knowing someone so famous was standing right in front of us. It seems that the Italian culture is not as near interested in this as we are, but this is just what I drew from my observations.

Things are slower in Italy

Extremely noticeable, is how much slower everything is in Rome compared to at home in many aspects. This is how Italian culture has grown to be. Sitting outside on my balcony shortly after dinner time I took some time to look around at my surroundings and those in it. Many sat in the garden below simply enjoying the atmosphere around them. Some sat motionless as if in deep concentration soaking up everything the world had to offer at the time. Others took strolls along the Tiber River, holding hands walking as if they were aimless. Even while eating dinner, us americans expect to be in and out within an hour and a half maximum, but here everything from taking your oder to receiving your check seems as if it were an eternity. Locals stop at bars to get their daily fix of coffee or espresso and they take the time to stand at the counter and drink it, not run back to our SUV's and drink it while on our cell phones on the way to work. When walking on the street, natives take the time to walk slowly and diligently read the recent newspaper, not scope the internet quickly at work. When walking on the way to class often we hear Romans telling us to "slow down" and I never understood why they were saying this to us until I observed this way of life. 

A dinner to remember

Eating dinner at a local outdoor restaurant in Trastevere, I experienced the authenticity of an Italian dinner experience I always had pictured in my mind. By authenticity, I mean not only the food but the surrounding atmosphere. Sitting at a table in a small piazza area, I felt the sun setting as it peered through the umbrella I was sitting under. The streets surrounding began to fill as a waiter lit the lanterns next to me. Sipping on my white wine my eyes wandered to the families sitting joyfully eating dinner, as the smell of fresh tomatoes and mozerella passed by my table. Then came the part of dinner you see in the movies. The sound of violins, achordians, and authentic italian voices filled the air. The voices soon there after trickled over to behind my table as the Italian men serenaded me with their own rendition of what I believe were popular tunes. This was so authentic to what I believed Italian culture of dining at a restaurant would be like and is something I will always remember. The appreciation for such music and entertainment by the culture has become their way of life.

Plane Ride

On a recent plane ride from Rome to Barcelona the interactions of adult Italians completely took me back. Getting on the plane was a process in itself with people pushing and shoving to make sure they got their luggage stored in the appropriate over head. When seated we noticed both Italian men and women staring and snickering, and I even checked my shirt and face to make sure I did not have something on it that I missed. Men and women were standing up in their seats like little children when the plane was in flight, hollering at each other in words I could not explain. We wondered why they did not sit next to one another on board, but I guess this was more exciting. Several people walked down the aisles of the plane, stopping to talk to everyone they knew along the way, as if they were gathering in a local piazza. When the plane came in for a landing the passengers began to put their arms up in the arm and scream "woo," as if we were on a roller coaster ride. This was proceeded by the continuous clicking of metal seat belts to signify it was almost time to release them. Getting off the plane I was completely exhausted from the process of flying during this flight, but it just made me realize even more how much these Italians culture is defined. They are such socially active human beings, and whether they are enjoying a glass of wine by the spanish steps, on the metro, or on a plane there is always a sense of friendliness towards one another and a "family" like way of doing things.

From Italian Teens to Italian Culture

Something struck me as I viewed the way the Italian culture dresses, interacts, makes use of areas, etc. and I began to realize that this way of life is something I find completely interesting. Not only is it fascinating to gander at the teenage native Romans, as well as all natives as a whole. This will become a new topic for me.

Tourists VS Natives

Walking in the confined area of the Trevi Fountain you can not help but notice how the space is utilized and evaluated by those occupying it. The tourists stand and gander at the fountain in complete fascination, taking pictures with broad smiles on their faces. Tour groups of children with yellow hats on following a waving flag pose for a picture in front of the water, as couples holding cameras document their presence. The so called "tourist" attitude differs greatly from those who may see the Trevi Fountain on a weekly basis. Italians native of the area use the space as a place of gathering to relax or socialize. Often these locals watch the way tourists react to the fountain, often chuckling or making bizarre faces at them. Several groups of Italians stood at the top of the steps eating gilatto and chatting, on what probably was their lunch break. This fountain has become a normal place of gathering such as we would at a bar or social atmosphere in the United States. Although I am sure they appreciate the history which subsides in the area, they are not as flabbergasted as the tourists appear to be while there.

teen fashion

While exploring Rome I noticed one particular style of clothing worn by several groups of teens that caught my eye. They were seen wearing all black with baggy pants, wristbands, and chains hanging from their pockets. Often they had funky hairstyles and the girls wore dark lipstick and large studded black earrings. Back home we often refer to this group as having a "gothic" style. When observing the type of clothing and accessories they chose to wear it got me thinking about where they purchase these clothes because walking by several clothes stores, nothing resembled this style. Although not all teens here dress in this way, when you see them they tend to stick out compared to the fashion style of most other native Romans.

Roman teens have it made!

Beginning my studies in Rome, something I have noticed considerably often is the lifestyles of teens native of the area. Everything from their clothes, actions, daily activities, places to gather, etc. all vary from what we are used to viewing in America. It struck me the most when I was walking by the Pantheon the other day and watched a group of what appeared to be young high school aged students hanging out, socializing, and eating mcdonalds on the ledge of an ancient wall infront of a huge monumental part of history.  Standing for 1600-1800 years now, the Pantheon was built as a temple to all gods, which now holds several of the dead. This is the best preserved of all Roman buildings, and maybe even the best preserved of its age in the world. Roman teenagers use these places as a social gathering, rather than a place to view and appreciate. In the same area are tourists from all over the world, vendors, and men dressed in ancient Roman attire, yet these teenagers have their own use of the area. Being that we do not have such treasures in America, it strikes me when I see this and imagine what it would be like growing up in Rome in such a way.