GL 350, Week 4

            I cannot quite wrap my head around the fact that we are now more than halfway through our experience in Rome.  We went to Florence over the weekend and it was everything I expected and more.  People had told me before I left that I should take advantage of the market and do most of my souvenir shopping in that city and I most definitely took that advice! Overall, these past few weeks have been amazing and I would not trade the memories I have created for anything.

 I have found myself changing small habits of mine, trying to fit in a “do as the Romans do;” however, there are a few small things that I have yet to work on.  Back at home it is part of my job to smile at people without even knowing who they are.  So naturally, it is a habit of mine. 

             Here in Rome, I continuously find myself smiling at locals while I go up to the checkout or while I simply pass someone while making awkward eye contact.  Instead of smiling back, Italians just stare at me as if I were crazy.  In The Italians, Barzini states, “Ordinary people must usually choose between the unrestrained expression of counterfeit emotions and the controlled expression of real ones.” Now I understand that Italians do not like to show emotions, but they could at least smile back when someone smiles at them!

            Last week in class Professor had brought up the point that throughout our life, during every experience, we will somehow tie it back to Rome.  Even now I find myself doing that while I am talking to family and friends back at home, regardless if I mean to or not.  This experience is something that I will always look back on.  I have seen, learned, and done more than I have throughout my entire life so it is almost impossible not to!