Blog #1

I have finally arrived in Italy and have 6 days of experiencing Roman life under my belt. Although majority of these 6 days have been spent catching up on sleeping, downing EmergenC, and stuffing my face with all delicious treats that Italy has to offer, I have had some time to explore the beautiful city of Rome. Every time I walk through the doors of the Rome Center I cannot believe where I am. I cannot fathom how unbelievably glorious this city is, with its' rich culture and history, and how generations upon generations upon generations of people have walked the same streets as I am now.


Prior to my arrival in Rome I was encouraged to read the book Culture Shock! to prepare for my upcoming travels and was warned of the unsettle feelings I may experience at first  living in a foreign city. Thus far however, I feel as though I may be better suited for a life in Italy than in the states, apart from the language barrier. I have had very little interaction with the youth of Rome, aside from distant observation. My first general impression is that the social life in Italy is much more casual than it is in the states. The nightlife in Rome seems to be much more vibrant than it is in the states, with swarms of young people in the streets and bars celebrating. Whereas in the United States there are many restrictions confining party-goers to stay within the limits of the bar, the party in Italy spreads throughout the city. However, compared to the overtly drunk nightlife in Seattle around UW, the drinking among Italian youth is much more subdued and intimate.  In contrast to the unregulated nightlife of Italy, it seems as though many of the social institutions are regulated, which is a debated issue among Italian youth. Two members, Carlo and Roberto, of Arcigay Roma a gay rights activist association in Italy, came to our class and informed us of the lack of protection gay and lesbian citizens have in Rome. They told our class that student social groups are absent in the Universities in Italy, which is a very prevalent aspect of student life in the Universities in the United States. The youth in American all seem to be congregated around their respective college campuses, whereas in Rome this does not seem to be the case.  In the upcoming months of exploring Italy and having a hands on learning experience in service learning, I hope to become more knowledgeable of Italian youth. Ciao!