1.THE AIR IS CLEAN, I’M FEELING FREE

word count: 436

I mentioned some of the fashion I saw in a little portion of day one. I think something that immediately stood out to me was the scent of the air. There are many trees that seem to be at peace or just working very well at purifying the air. I am not used to such sweet-smelling plants as I go for a walk unless I am in a park, but here I can just walk up the street and everything smells great. From the airport, I did notice pine trees; concepts of personal space were interesting but not too disturbing. I think there seems to be a certain calmness to Roman culture, where I feel as though a lot of locals are outside to take their time smelling the air, moving their bodies, shopping around, and just enjoying the day. I also noticed that young women wear really long nails sometimes. I saw it a few times, but I don’t have any pictures.

I noticed that there aren’t too many unhealthy snacking options, but there is a lot of olive oil, wines, and it seems so elegant and as if romans care a lot about their health. Even beef patties are sort of mostly vegan in certain stores. I got a faint recollection of the MTA on some streets that just smelled like pee. I wasn’t expecting it, but it felt like home in a sad, strange way.

Chapter 5 was tough to read because of this quote. “Shopping in Italy is an interactive social contract. When entering a small local negozio, it is standard practice to greet the shopkeeper with a warm ‘Buongiorno’ or ‘Buonasera.’ To ignore them and walk straight to the shelves is considered cold and unrefined.” I think something I really struggled with is being confident while observing the confidence of locals. I am uncomfortable being an outsider, but I just want to embrace it and have fun. I think I’ve been saying Grazie the American way, even though what I’ve been watching myself do is whisper when I enter the store because I feel like there is a spotlight over me. I’m committed to not doing that these next couple of days because I always greet warmly and brightly in New York, even if I don’t get a response back. So being in a new space is uncomfortable, but it’s not impossible, and I’m grateful for this observation and experience for shining a light here. I can’t wait to try a coffee bar this weekend and visit some more markets.

more good photos coming as i settle into picture taking

7 responses to “1.THE AIR IS CLEAN, I’M FEELING FREE”

Danielle

June 17, 2026

thank you for sharing. It sounds like you’re looking forward to the weeks in store and so am I. I also noticed that the plants smell very strongly which surprised me just because I don’t have a very good nose yet I could still smell them. As for the health, I knew the Europe had more food restrictions and regulations however it still surprised me that even McDonald’s had a vegetarian menu. What do you think about the options in fast food over here?

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ambitiousd77215ca3d

June 18, 2026

I noticed the photo of the ticket from Fiumicino to Termini is 8 euro. I assume that you weren’t checked by the ticket inspector (inspections are random). There are two types of tickets. The 8 euro is for a local train into Termini and there is a 14 euro ticket for the Fiumicino Express. If you catch the express with the wrong ticket you have to buy a 14 euro ticket from the inspector. It’s an easy error. I did it on several trips.

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ardenbelinsky

June 18, 2026

Shamiqua, I love how optimistic you are in talking to you, and in your blog posts. The way you described the trees being at peace really stands out to me, I like the way you see the world. Confidence will come with time I think, as you start to frequent the same shops, cafes, and even just with speaking Italian. But your excitement is palpable even in your writing, and I am really excited to hang out with you and explore the city together!

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hamood92306

June 18, 2026

I find it so fascinating that your tendencies are no longer second-nature here. I can relate to that as well, where I find myself trying to operate in a manner that respects the culture, even if I don’t yet know everything. I feel like I mess up occasionally, but we have to remind ourselves that we’re at least trying, and that is appreciated even more by locals!

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paoladvalentin

June 20, 2026

Hello Shamiqua!! I really love what you say about the trees, I feel very similarly, I’m just obsessed with the pine trees here, I think what I love about them so much is how much of the trunk is visible and I love their flat tops. The air feels crisper, but maybe thats just in my mind. I love your observations on the Roman people and the culture, I feel noticing those differences and similarities holds so much value! In my perception it allows one to be more present and value the moment more. I want to say I hear you on your struggle of confidence with interactions with locals, it is so intimidating to witness an interaction that has such ease and to feel like you’re clumsily following, I share that same experience.

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Safa Hidais

July 4, 2026

Hi! I related to what you said about feeling like an outsider at first. I felt the same way because I wasn’t sure how I would be perceived wearing my hijab, so I definitely understand that feeling of being a little nervous in a new place. It was nice to see that, with time that those worries started to fade. I also liked how you pointed out the little things, like the smell of the air and the slower pace of life because those are the kinds of details that really stick with you.

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lucyacurran

July 5, 2026

Hi Shamiqua! I also really agree with you feeling more comfortable feeling an outsider, and it makes me happy to know that later on in your blog posts you talk about all the people you met along the trip! It’s really beautiful to go from feeling so hesitant about immersing oneself in a new culture to feeling so comfortable and included in it, and finding people who you see yourself in.

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