The Exhilarating Rome

Is Rome oppressive or exhilarating? To me this seems like a no brainer and without giving it a second thought I will say Rome is indeed exhilarating. The World English Dictionary has exhilarating as, “causing strong feelings of excitement and happiness,” and I feel that was way whenever stepping foot out of my dorm room and into the exciting and beautiful Rome. The people in Rome are so lucky to be surrounded by such beauty 24/7.

When walking around Rome I feel as if I am traveling through time. All of the history that has taken places here it just remarkable and incredible. Rome is like a massive museum that never closes and is free to all. Everything I lay eyes on here I think should be preserved and put away into safe keeping, even some of the food looks to pretty to destroy by eating (i.e. some of the pastries and cakes are works of art themselves).

As I walk around and go on different tours of museums and parts of the city I try to soak it all in. It is starting to be harder to soak it all in and remember every detail because I have seen so much and am learning so much, and it is only the second week! I will say it again that my grandpa was right about not being able to comprehend and soak up all the history and how old everything really is. To think maybe in hundreds of years there will be people coming to the United States to try and understand and take in all of our history, and we will have been alive during the things they are learning about. I actually think that is pretty exciting. Such as 9/11, as bad as of a disaster that was I was alive in that big historical event for the United States and my great great great great grandchildren may not be able to get their heads around it.

I am getting more used to the gypsies and illegal immigrants. However, I do still find then horrifically rude. Also, “Operation Blend In” goes pretty well except when we are traveling as a class or need to purchase something. If I am just walking around though with a couple people I feel as if we are blending in better and don’t stick out has tourist. I am buying more clothes which I get pumped for after every purchase. There is just something about most Italian clothes that I find classy and fall in love with.

Coliseum

This may sound funny but before coming over here to Rome I wanted to blend in. I read up on how the Italians dressed/acted and asked my family (who has been over here a couple of times to visit other family members) some pointers. To pack I went through my closet and grabbed all of my dark clothes that were also mostly modest. I even went out to buy a few more clothing articles to help out "Operation Blend In". After doing more research I found out that a lot of women and men had their noses pierced so I was stoked that I had mine done and felt one up on my operation. I didn't want to stick out as a tourist because I didn't want people to be staring and gawking (let us admit it I know everyone has done this before at some point), and I still feel that way.

Before leaving for this trip my grandpa told me how hard it is to exactly grasp how old and beautiful buildings, statues and others things are. I listened to him but thought that when I would get to see them I would be able to “get” it, boy was I wrong. After just arriving in the city of Rome I was swept away and when my eyes first landed on the Coliseum I was in awe, and my jaw dropped and wouldn’t close for some time. After walking into the Coliseum and being able to tough it I couldn’t contain mu excitement. I started thinking how my grandpa was right and I couldn’t fathom how old and beautiful this place is. When I was inside I tried to picture the gladiators and animals battling it out and the crowd cheering in the stands. It is interesting to thing how things change so much over time, such as nowadays people go and watch soccer games instead of the gladiator’s battle here. The history is incredible here and I hope that as the weeks go on I will be able to soak up and appreciate it more.

I can only name one thing that I do not like about Italy and it is just the way some of the men make me feel and that is a disgusted and ticked off feeling. It isn't really the Italian men here but more of the illegals that try to sell you things. I hate rudeness and when men look at women like they are animals. The illegal immigrants that I have come across try to sell things are do so in a very rude way and sometimes I will watch them and just watch the way they get when a woman walks by which just ticks me off even more after witnessing their rudeness. I honestly would just like to take them and have Manners101 with them. They give off a bad reputation to Italy and they don't even belong here.

I really look forward to and am stoked to meet and talk to some of the citizens here. I can't express how bad I want to learn Italian so I can converse and not feel embarrassed when trying to talk to an Italian. Being here actually makes me want to learn history, which is a big thing to say because I have never been a fan of it and just have never been that interested in most of it all throughout my school years. Seeing the Coliseum and being able to appreciate a big piece of history like that really jump started my thirst for more history.