Buongiorno! 

After two weeks in Rome (and Italy in general) I have experienced so many things I am very grateful for. Through these experiences, it is very clear that Italy is very different from Pittsburgh. One thing I will miss when being away from Rome are the water fountains throughout the city where you can freely fill up your water bottle instead of buying a new plastic one. Mostly everyone is very friendly in Italy and are always enthusiastic to help you learn more about the culture/language. Rome is very similar to Pittsburgh in terms of how walkable and available public transport is. In addition, both are set up as one big city with smaller regions/neighborhoods (ex. Squirrel hill, Oakland, Prati, Trastevere, etc.). Rome and Pitt are very niche and quirky cities, however Italy and Pittsburgh are much more different than they are similar. The set up of the cities are very different, which is evident from walking around. Lastly, the cultures and sights of both cities are different. The food is very different (but very good) in Italy. There is a less variety but the dishes differ depending on the region you are in.

The typical day in Rome is very different from my daily life in Pittsburgh. It is a weird mix of being both faster and slower. Italians seem to be more slow paced but traveling (walking and public transport) tend to take up a lot of time in the day. Being a tourist has definitely made life faster in order to fit everything in. Outside of doing tourist activities, life has been slower than I am used to. We tend to have dinner at 8:30 pm. There also tends to be a slower time period between 2-4 pm where individuals take a “siesta” where they take a break from work to rest. This is not something that my friends and I are used to/something that we have to plan around. Lastly, one thing that has been the most different is how historical Rome has felt. No matter where you turn, there is always something with a history or a meaning. It has been really surreal to experience and walk through. The immense amount of statues, ruins, and churches really cemented this. 

Thanks for following my journey!