Rome via Brooklyn

What did you see on your journey from the airport to your accommodation? Keep your eyes open and reflect on ways modern and ancient intertwine.  Did anything you learned in CultureSmart! come true for you in your logistical interactions along the way? What is your strongest taste or scent memory of today? Why? Did anything today remind you of life in NYC what was the most familiar part of the day?

On my journey from the airport to my accommodation, I noticed how the old and new parts of the city mix together. Modern highways ran past ancient ruins, and I saw pieces of Roman aqueducts standing near apartment buildings. It felt like I had entered a place where history and the present live side by side. I was surprised by how natural it seemed for people here to live around such old structures.

Something I read in CultureSmart came true when I was waiting in line for a taxi. The book mentioned that people in Italy do not always line up the way we do in New York, and I saw that happen. People just moved forward slowly, not always in order, but no one got upset. I also remembered CultureSmart said to learn a few basic Italian words. Saying simple things like “grazie” and “buongiorno” really helped. Locals were more friendly when I tried to speak their language.

The strongest taste memory I have from today is the pistachio gelato I ate. It was smooth, cold, and full of flavor. It was much better than any pistachio ice cream I’ve had in New York. Eating it while walking through the streets made the moment feel peaceful.

The subway reminded me of home. The crowd, the sound of the train, and even the way people moved inside the cars felt very familiar. It was like a small piece of New York followed me here.

My favorite part of the day was biking to the Colosseum after class. The sun was setting and the sky turned orange. Seeing the Colosseum lit up in that light while riding through the city made me feel lucky to be here. It was a beautiful and unforgettable moment.