The Language Barrier and Blending In

What I have found most difficult about being in a foreign country, if not the only thing I have found difficult while here, is the language barrier. Yes, many, if not most, Italians understand english, and a majority of that population can speak it to some extent as well. But this doesn't mean using only english works in Rome...

Take ordering at Pascucci's (the cafe we get to eat lunch at every day though our program) for example. They are used to English speaking customers, and have been serving St. Mary's students for years. Yet none of staff understand or speak english. Ordering the first time was a mystery, I mumbled something in what I considered Italian, they questioned me, and I just agreed, si si, and whatever I had agreed to was what I was getting for lunch that day (fortunately I got something close to what I wanted to order). From then on I began to push myself to use Italian and understand what I was ordering. Their menu has italian and english on it, so picking isn't hard, but communicating after the initial ordering can be tricky. I can now confidently order a ham sandwich (toast al prosciutto) successfully. Other restaurants cater more towards an english speaking crowd, which makes it nice to eat there. Other times though, you would much rather blend in with the locals, which leads me to my next topic.

Blending in...we all think we can blend in, but truth be told we stick out like a sore thumb in a foreign country. Maybe its the camera around my neck, or my red headed roommate, or something else I don't even pick up on, but whenever we pass a restaurant or touristy place with a person standing outside trying to get us to come in, they are quick to speak to us in english, not italian. I have only successfully blended into the Italian society once since I have been here. I was walking the Via del Corso taking pictures the other day, and I stopped in a sports clothing store to look at soccer jerseys. An employee of the store came up to me with a friendly, "ciao" and cleverly I responded with a "ciao" as well. Normally Italians can tell when a person isn't an Italian speaker just by how they speak Italian. Many times I have greeted someone in Italian only for them to respond to me in english, a real let down when trying to learn Italian and blend in. For some reason this time though, I was able, through some sort of master disguise (a long coat, scarf and hat) convince the sales clerk I was Italian. Big mistake. Instantaneously she went into a quick spurt of Italian, leaving me speechless and staring at her blankly. The question was simple, it is what every sales person asks a customer after they greet them, "can I help you find something?" I stood there silent for a long amount of time, only being able to stutter "English?" after being caught in the embarrassing moment. She too seemed embarrassed, and quickly asked in perfect english, "can I help you find something?" I quickly responded I was just looking and found myself gravitating towards the door, both shocked and confused at what had just happened. It is a story though I share with all of my fellow American students though, because few of us have been able to pull off being mistaken for an Italian.

Via del Corso

Had a day off today, and since it was so nice out I decided to go for a little walk down the Via del Corso, the Time Square of Rome, give or take. The streets were packed with people off for the holiday, but I still managed to get some good shots, hopefully while not sticking out as too much of an American. Check them out: http://picasaweb.google.com/ramlax13/ViaDelCorso?feat=directlink

Christmas done right?

Arriving in Rome a couple days ago, it became pretty apparent that they are still very much in the Christmas season. The first sign of this came while boarding the plane in Newark. As I sat down in my seat, I heard coming through the speakers, what sounded like one of Kenny G's Christmas albums. For about a half hour in between announcements and interruptions the Christmas music continued. I thought to myself that they must have forgotten to switch the CD's in the music system onboard.

Arriving in Rome I realized the Christmas music on the plane was no slip up. Rome, or Italy I suppose for that matter, is still celebrating Christmas. Christmas lights are still up everywhere, which brings me to one of my first points. Americans decorate all wrong. I began noticing that sidestreets and shops were all decorated for christmas, very simply. Across streets there are strands of lights hanging from one side to the other, which blink, more like twinkle (shown in the photo from my last post).

Above shops and restaurants, a single strand of lights, or some greenery with lights in it. Nothing overdone, fancy, its simple and it works (I've watched too many design shows with Becky it seems). No blow up snowman, no extravagant light displays. If a tree is lit, it's done right. Every branch and level of the tree is equally lit, and it looks like someone actually put in time to do it right.

Walking through the streets at night, the street musicians are still playing Christmas songs. The Christmas sales are taking place now, the first week in January. Christmas decorations not only come down on the Feast of the Epiphany in Churches, but throughout the streets of Rome as well, which marks the end of the Christmas season in the Church.

Okay so this may have not been incredibly thought provoking as I had promised, but I'll leave you with this: After having experienced both the American and Italian "Christmas Season" myself I'm torn in my answer to the question "Which one feels right?" The American way because I've grown up with it? or the Italian way, a refreshing reminder that a little Chirstmas spirit can exist after December 25th.

First Two Days

So It's been just over 40 hours or so since I landed in Rome, and I'm just about acclimated to the city and to the time change. Being up for over 30 hours or so took its toll on me by the end of the night, but was well worth staying up. I got to the hotel around 1pm rome time, and we were assigned our rooms. I am in a small double room with the computer science major, Nathan, from villanova. The room is small but considering I don't plan on being here much other than sleeping, very manageable. We had a meeting at 4:30 at the "classroom building" which is on the road literally across the street. From there all four of us Villanova students went to the campo de fiori, a square which was originally known for being a flower market(fiori in italian) but is now full with restaurants and other shops. We chose a small restaurant in the square for dinner, which had some pretty good pasta.

Day two brought about a lot of sleep(15 hours) and some exploring. Woke up in time for lunch at the hotel, where I had, contrary to popular belief of this existing in Italy, Spaghetti and meatballs. the catch is that they were served separate, the pasta on one plate and the meatballs were served with peas in their own broth type sauce on another plate, but regardless I consider it spaghetti and meatballs. Food was excellent, I could get used to this being my meal plan at villanova. Afterward I went exploring for cell phones, but couldn't find the carrier I was looking for so returned empty handed to get ready to go to class, only to find out that my only class for the day had been canceled. Off to the pantheon which is down the same road the classroom building is on, the first real italian tourist attraction I've seen while being here. We got to see mass going on inside, and when it ended we were able to go inside, all lit up. From there to the Trevi fountain, where I threw my coin in, over my left shoulder, which as legend has it will guarantee you will return to Rome someday.

Dinner tonight was at a place called Mickeys, another big college student spot. Prosciutto sandwich, cheap and one of the best sandwiches I've had.

You can check out some pictures I took today, and for the rest of the trip here: http://picasaweb.google.com/ramlax13/Rome#

Or just look at the slideshow to the right!


That's all for now! Tomorrow, a more meaningful/thought provoking post, other than a summary of my day. Buona sera!

And it begins...

Standing in line to board my flight from Newark to Rome. I tried to call from a payphone to tell my family I had successfully made it through security with all of my electronics, cameras and overweight carry on baggage ( don't tell) and it turns out payphones are no longer operational in the gate 40-47 area of Newark airport. While everyone was on their laptops, iPhones and blackberrs I stood trying several payphones. The reason for this being I refused to pay 4 dollars for one hour of Internet service... But when the payphones didn't work I gave in, so I am able to post this! currently I am trying to get used to hearing all Italian being spoken around me. It seems my flight Is full of Italian natives visiting the US for the holidays, like the guys we met in the terminal who had gone to time square to see the ball drop. Their English was impressive, they asked us to slow down talking, but understood and responded pretty easily it seemed. I can only hope I can pick the language up fast enough. Line is starting to move, that's all for now!