Rome through the Eyes of a "Straniero"

    

Every time that I travel, be it domestically or internationally, I always attempt to adopt the local customs of the people around me; therefore, I try to the best of my ability to not follow the stereotypes of a “straniero” – foreigner.  In my opinion, observing the traditions and daily activities of the people one encounters during various trips can greatly heighten the overall traveling experience.  After living in Rome for a month last summer, I learned that by opening myself up to a new culture and by adapting myself to a new way of life, I was able to conquer the city while learning more than I ever could from a classroom setting about Italian language and culture.

My name is Michael Brown and I am currently a junior at Seton Hall University in New Jersey.  Last summer, I participated in my school’s study abroad program to Rome, where I took two Italian language courses and had the unique opportunity to live with a host family right in the center of the city.  Though I was very fortunate to have traveled to Italy prior to this trip, I must say my experience in Rome was unlike any other and definitely the most rewarding.  I still remember when I first arrived at the Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci di Fiumicino in Rome and was greeted by my Italian teacher who gave my classmates and I all kisses on the cheeks and said, “You’re now in Italy, you have to do things the Italian way!”  Although I was ecstatic to finally be in Rome, I was still very nervous for the following day when we would meet the families with whom we would be living for the next month.  Upon first meeting my “new mother” and her son, I felt like I was part of the family – I was given a key to the apartment and all my independence as well.   The host family provided me with everything I needed, home cooked meals being my favorite.  They wanted me to get a real taste of Italian cuisine and cooked for me almost every night.  “Gnocchi alla Romana” among other local dishes were all delicious!  My host mother would always say to me, “Qui, si mangia bene!”  And she was right; I ate well in Rome every day.

But, let’s be honest, this trip was not all fun and games.  Having my freedom in a foreign country and in an unfamiliar city also came with a price.  During my other trips abroad, I was always part of a tour where every aspect of my day was completely planned out and everything was provided for me.  In Rome, this was not the case, but there was something beautiful about it.  Although I felt like I was dropped in this huge city and forced to fend for myself, it was exactly what I needed.  Every morning I had to commute to school using all different kinds of public transportation.  No charter bus came to my apartment building; there was no preferential treatment this time.  I became a true Roman.  Since I grew accustomed to commuting around the city, I no longer stuck out as the token American.  It was a great feeling to have both Italians and foreigners asking me for directions.    

My classmates and I went out a few times together to get a taste of the nightlife of Rome.  Testaccio, Trastevere and Campo de’ Fiori are among some of the neighborhoods in the city that are well-known for their lounges and bars that remain open all hours of the night.  Being the risk taker of the group, I decided to stray away from the typical places frequented by American students.  Campo de’ Fiori is the zone of the city that Americans have basically made their own and it was the only place that my classmates and I would venture to for the first week of our trip.  I knew that if I wanted to have a truly enriching experience abroad, I would have to seek out places where only the locals go, even if it meant going alone.  This is exactly what I did.  I made many new friendships with Italians from all over the country, some who did not speak a word of English.  Before I knew it, I realized there were some nights where I spoke nothing but Italian, because even if I tried speaking English, no one would understand me.  Talk about complete immersion!  In my opinion, the only way to truly master a foreign language is to live in a country where the language is spoken.  It also requires stepping out of one’s comfort zone.   

They say that Rome is like one big outside museum.  During my daily commutes to and from school, I had the pleasure of exploring all that Rome had to offer.  The apartment where I lived was right near the picturesque Piazzale Flaminio, so every day I would walk down streets, such as the Via del Corso, with their churches and chic stores.  It was truly an amazing sight for me to see such ancient structures adjacent to modern buildings.  In my eyes, this combination of past and present really made Rome “una citta’ bellissima!”  I could sit here and list all of the historical sites and other hot spots that I saw, but as we both can imagine, that would take quite awhile.  Therefore, I make one suggestion, buy a plane ticket and explore for yourself!  If you want culture, history, delicious cuisine or maybe just some fun and relaxation, Rome has it all.