When you travel for a week you are just trying to survive..

I've become an early bird! I know my mom wont believe me. Believe it or not I have. I love Rome in the mornings. Its different than mornings in New York when I wake up and its only construction workers and business people around. Here the sun is up, stores are opening, coffee shops and bakeries smell so good. Plus there is nothing keeping me awake past 10 or 11. I don't watch tv (we do have a tv but I don't think any of us have even tried to turn it on) and I'm done with all my homework by then.

I was up by 7am yesterday, I got so much accomplished all before noon! I really didn't think that was possible. I even had time to walk around school to take pictures for my photography class, it was nice because I walked down streets that I see everyday but never had a chance to walk down.

I'd like to think that I'm finally adjusting to living in Rome, Italy, and even just Europe in general. My International Marketing professor said "When someone travels for one week they are just trying to survive." After living here for four months I will get just a glimpse of the Italian culture. Even by December I wont be able to define to you what it means to be Italian, I can only tell you what I see. No one can define being Italian... "we eat pasta, move our hands when we talk, and have a funny accent" haha. He said that it probably takes about 15/20 years to understand a culture, which I find mind boggling for I'm 20 years old... does that mean I'm finally understanding what it means to be American? haha. I'm learning a lot of intersting concepts from this class, which I guess is a good thing because International Marketing is my major haha. He also told me that I'll never see my home in the same way, I'll be much more critical of my own culture. I guess this will be a good thing as well? I wish that everyone could get the chance to leave their own country and comfort zone and experience a different way of life other than their own.

These are some pictures from the huge Sunday market that is literally outside of my apartment. (The building on the left is my apartment)



I had Indian food for the first time! This picture doesn't have our food in it but I had Chicken cooked in yogurt and spices. It was delicious!