Today, I managed an all-Italian purchase. No English. No gesturing. Just straight up cake-ordering at the local pasticceria. Feeling emboldened with my mastery of simple vocabulary, I decided to venture into a funny wine shop I noticed open up across the street from the bakery. I was buying the cake to bring to Thanksgiving dinner, […]
Category Archives: Life in Italy
26
Nov
Nov
Thanksgiving in Rome is just another Thursday. Having just gotten back from a trip to Marrakech, I did not have plans to celebrate. But on Thanksgiving morning, I opened my mail to find this card from one of my favorite people in the entire universe: Awww! Feeling all nostalgic, it was time to do something […]
19
Nov
Nov
In Italian, “cavolo” means “cabbage.” And man, did I see some serious cabbages in Tuscany. But the funny thing is, you’ll hear young Romans saying “Cavolo!!” all the time, and I guarantee you that they are not talking about vegetables. Because it is so completely ridiculous to hear people yelling CABBAGE! all the time, “cavolo” […]
15
Nov
Nov
Last week was foggy and cold but colorful in Tuscany. This week, the warm weather has returned to Rome!
13
Nov
Nov
Americans aren’t exactly known for their geographical knowledge. But, being an international student, studying international development, I thought it was time to brush up on my country-finding skills. I went to a very large, very modern bookstore in Rome to buy a world map: As I struggled to hold up the map alone and tape […]
03
Nov
Nov
Here’s an easy example of something you would NEVER see in America, cigarette vending machines: I was quite confused the first time someone hurried by me and ran up to a closed shop door. Then I noticed the machine integrated into the metal shutter of the shop. Unmonitored cigarette machines would never fly in America, […]
01
Nov
Nov
Rain has returned to Rome, just in time for All Saints Day. It’s first time I’ve experienced thunder and lightening in my new home. It also marks the inaugural first broken glass: Crash.
30
Oct
Oct
Subtlety and sarcasm seem to be seriously lacking in the Italian language. Even the sales approach is straight to the point. Luckily for Italian salespeople, I’m usually so caught off guard by their directness that I end up buying whatever it is they’re selling. Case in point: Sephora Rome Due to Alitalia’s baggage limits, I […]