La Lingua Italiana e' bellissima!

One of my favorite things about being in Italy is learning a new language. I'm rapidly learning Italian because a) I'm taking a very intensive course for 3 weeks which lasts about 20 hours a week and b)I'm hardly around people that speak english. So it forces me to speak really fast. It is very gratifying to see progress in oneself whether it be being able introduce yourself or just simply being able to buy food completely in Italian.

Being an "international" student in a new country allows me to really connect with how my parents experienced coming to the United States. Both my dad and mom came to the States at about the same age as I am now. They of course had to deal with having limitations with a new language as well. Being here just over 3 weeks has made me come to grips with how badly Americans in American Universities treat international students. I mean there is a freakin Facebook Group at UF called "People Who Think Professors and TA's Should Speak English Fluently" that has over 2,000 people in it. If you are one of my friends who happen to read this and are in that group, I say "shame on you". Don't you think they are trying their best to learn the language? And trust me...those professors and t.a.'s are probably not fond of teaching students like you. Here in Italy the Italians have the biggest smile on their face when I even attempt to speak italian. When I mess up, they help me through it. Instead of biotchin about how International Students speak, maybe you should sign up to become an ELI partner with one of them and help them out with their English. If they are anything like me, they would love it. I for sure will make a point to do that when I go back to the states. Mad props to those who already do that (right Liz, Jess, and Andrew Lisi?...you guys rock my socks off).

One of my favorite questions other international students here ask me is "why in the world as an american would you come here to do graduate work?" My response: "Why not?! I'm in Rome for a year for cryin out loud". One of my friends in my Italian class is from Sri Lanka and said he had to choose from going to school here in Rome or in Mississippi State. I was like "Good Choice!". I love my Italian class. I'm the only American and only native English speaker. There are people from China, Argentina, Russia, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Spain, Germany, Indonesia, and even the Philippines in my class. We've all bonded really quick. My class today was given entirely in Italian and I actually understood stuff! I'm hoping by the end of the year I'll be able to consider myself fluent!

2 weeks in Rome...and my life is already different

I think the biggest adjustment in living in Italy is being apart from so much. And by that I mean being away from American Culture almost completely. It has its goods and bads. I've known of a lot of people who have done the cross culture jump by either doing study abroad semester(s), missions trips, etc. but I've only known a few people who have gone somewhere to a new culture with hardly any exposure to their own. I think life would be so much different for me here if I just had one person to consistenly speak english to or relate some American culture with.

I have already discovered that I'm living in one of the best learning experiences of my life just by being somewhat isolated from everything I'm used to (including Americans). So if you truly want to learn about yourself, I suggest going to a foreign place on your own for an extended amount of time. Learning how to do things on my own has been quite fun.

So here's a bit of a summary of what's been going on around here in Rome and what I'm learning.

RESPECT-Italians are very respectful people and to me have such a high level of integrity. There is somewhat of a negative stereotype towards Americans and to be honest I'm not so surprised. Italians are so full of care. For example, when I first moved in my roommate made me dinner and even brewed me some espresso the next day. Or another great example is how when I went to the grocery store to just by gelato the person ahead of me who had many items insisted on me skipping him since he had a lot of items. When was the last time you saw that happen in the United States? One of my favorite things is how elders are treated. Whenever someone older comes in on the metro or the bus, people don't hesitate to offer their seat to them. In the two weeks I've been here, my roommate has refused to ever go first through a door. He always opens the door and insist I go first.

I see a huge difference in the way language is handled. Sometimes I feel Americans expect everyone to speak english. For me, I don't get frustrated if someone doesn't speak english because I'm a guest in someone else's country. If you're in the United States and someone falters in english, the American usually gets frustrated. It's no different here where usually the American gets frustrated again. For me I think it's such a sign of respect just to attempt to speak in Italian. Most people appreciate it and then even help you more. If anything, I wish American tourist would at least learn how to say "I'm sorry I don't speak italian, do you speak english" in Italian.

PEOPLE-In a week alone I've met some great people. It started from the beginning...just with my roommate Eugenio. Eugenio is really cool. He is 36 and has a Ph.D in International Law. In fact he was a fulbright scholar. He is a really easy going guy who likes to show me stuff around Rome. He even took me on a scooter ride around the city. That kicked butt. I've met a bunch of cool people at work as well. They've all been really helpful whether it be making sure I know what I'm eating or figuring out the dumb immigration office at the police stations (more on that later). I've also met two Americans: Catherine and Susan, two students studying abroad with IES. They been really my only American friends here and they totally rock. We work together well as a group and they are fun to go sight seeing and yes...shopping with two.

SMALL TOWN BOY IN A BIG CITY...one of my transitions, whether or not it's in a different country, is getting used to living in a big city. Learning how to take buses and metros everywhere is definitely something new. I kind of miss having my own car but I don't miss paying for gas. I definitely do a lot more walking around here!

Well that's it for now. I rambled enough. I'll try to do a better job of keeping more up to date on this. It's a lot easier now that I have internet in my flat.

Pictures Here in Rome

Many of you have been wondering where the pictures of Rome are? So I started a flickr account where you can see all my pictures that I've been taking. Here's the link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/airicmac

Here is a preview of some of those. These happen to be some of my favorite pictures:



This is a picture of the park right outside of my flat. Here you find people of all ages everyday just haning out. Many kids play soccer, the old people sit and chill or play cards, and teenagers come to hang out with each other.


This is a picture with two of my research colleagues, Francesco (standing) and Corrado. This was taken when most of my research went out for dinner at one of our former colleague's husbands new restaurant. It was very good and a lot of food and wine!

My first post from Italia

So after a nice 9 hour flight from Atlanta I made it safely to Rome. I was picked up by my lab collegues Vincenzo and Debora. Vincenzo actually spent some time in Gainesville with my research group last year. They immediately brought me to my apartment where I met my roommate, Eugenio. Eugenio has a Ph.D in law and was a fulbright scholar, which allowed him to study at Boston College for 4 months. He was really nice and made me authentic Italian dinner accompanied with wine. He also made me my first shot of espresso the next morning.

I spent the first couple of days getting some errands done and doing the tourist thing around Rome. I had a great time roaming around the city without a map and stumbling upon the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Colosseum, and the Roman Forum. One morning I attempted to go to St. Peter's but even though I've been there before I completely forgot that men with shorts are not permitted inside the church. The trip wasn't fruitless because it was in that area I finally found American plug adapters and a cell phone to purchase.

The 3rd day I was here I went to my college (The University of Rome Tor Vergata). It's one of 3 publicly funded Universities in the city. I was happy to find the school because once I got to my lab, I got internet access. I should be getting internet at home soon so these posts should be more frequent. So to sum up this post, I'm safe and having a good time. I'm planning on going to Munich next weekend to visit my friends Matt and Ellen who recently moved to Germany via the airforce. We're planning on hitting up Oktoberfest (yeah!). So till next time. Ciao!