Italys Immigration Issue

The problem is that fears about crime by immigrants, inflamed by the news media and populist politicians, have combined with one of the largest waves of foreigners in Europe. The Northern League, a political party that once advocated the secession of Italy’s north, joined Mr. Berlusconi’s ruling coalition this spring after distributing posters around cities like Siena showing an American Indian next to a warning that Italians will end up, as the Indians did, penned into reservations if they don’t stop immigrants from taking over the country.

Here in Rome the first conservative mayor in years, Gianni Alemanno, won on a similar platform that advocated being tough on crime and illegal immigration. Rome, an ancient magnet for foreigners, is naturally more integrated than most Italian cities and, unlike most of the country, it has taken at least a few steps in recent years to come to terms with its multicultural reality, among them instituting a public library program to reach immigrants and provide Romans with books and lectures about foreign cultures. The question now is whether such efforts will continue.
Italian culture certainly isn’t diverse now. It subsists on an all-white, all-native, monoethnic diet of Italian game shows, Italian television mini-series, Italian advertisements on cable stations for improbable vibrating contraptions that promise to jiggle fat away, and Italian pop music. Even Roman schoolchildren no longer stray far from a spaghetti-with-ragú diet now that an intercultural city program to serve one international-themed lunch a month has been abandoned by the new center-right government, heeding some Italian mothers, who doubted the nutritional value of falafel and curry.

People here remember the last time the Italian government promised to deal with illegal foreigners, in 2002. Expulsions, 45,000 that year, dropped to 23,000 by 2006, while 640,000 new immigrants were legalized as part of the largest one-time legalization in the history of Europe. You could say that Italy, in its paradox, is going through the sort of culture shock the United States experienced a century ago, when millions of Italians, among others, immigrated to America. Romanians now make up the fastest-growing immigrant population here. There were 75,000 at the end of 2001. Since then, hundreds of thousands have arrived.

Romanians also account for 5.7 percent of the prison population. More than a third of all prisoners in Italy are foreigners. Foreigners are charged with 68 percent of rapes, 32 percent of thefts. (NYTIMES, June 25, 2008). So with this problem festering what would you do? Prevent all immigrants from coming in? I constantly see senegalese on the street selling their wares to earn a living - just like they did back home. The main different i see here though is the extremely high cost of living. I really wonder how they live without their families/friends support here. On one had the popluation is decreasing in Europe and people are needy and willing to work from other parts of the world - yet with this crime rate threatening to worsen how do you react? Is the prison rate due to disparity and desparation. Should the Roman government start programs to assist the immigration population?I unfortunately dont have the answer at this point but I find the situation extremely sad and feel its something we all need to consider. My family were immigrants once and you never know when you will be uprooted. How would you want to be treated?

My Churches in Roma

So there are a lot of churches here. Too many to possible visit in a lifetime Id say. So im going to highlight two of them that I have had some experiences with. First, St. Pauls within the Walls.

In France, I found a great international church in French that instantly became a favorite part of my weekly routine. Due to that great experience, I sought out a similar church here in Rome. St. Pauls Within the Walls is located near the Piazza Repubblica and holds international services on Sundays at 15h. I went for the first time last week and was amazed at all the nationalities present. The service is nondenominational, welcoming all outsiders regardless of core beliefs. The pastor speaks in English (and sounded quite American) and it is translated on the spot into Italian. It was rather powerful to be sitting in this BEAUTIFUL Church in Rome with people from all over the world, praising God and praying together. Quite the moment.

Another great experience occured in St. Peters Basilica. Officially known in Italian as the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano and is one of the most well known churches and is located within the Vatican City in Rome. It occupies a "unique position" as one of the holiest sites and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom." In Catholic tradition, it is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, according to tradition, was the first Bishop of Antioch, and later first Bishop of Rome and therefore first in the line of the papal succession. (Wikipedia)

St Peters Cathedrale can hold up to 60,000 people is now the stomping grounds of Pope Benedict XVI. I left at 7am to attend a 930a mass and just barely got in (so i think we were at capacity). After an 1/2 hour wait outside, I approached the metal detectors and a man yelling -Advanced ticket holders only! TICKETS? I was not aware you need a ticket to go to church. Considering the pile of people milling about, I decided to chance it and see if I could get in. I avoided all eye contact, stuck in gob of people as they checked tickets and got in problem free! I did feel rather guilty sneaking in to THE church of the entire catholic world but hey I did not want to wait for nothing (and the museum in contrast to the guidebook was closed and therefore not free). So I was seated to the right of the alter, thus able to see the left profiles of Pope Benedict and his large entourage of ArchBishops during the 2.5 hours mass. The service, in a mix of languages as usual, was quite bizarre in my opinion. I felt as though I had wandered into a sporting event by accident. The Pope would say something then a group of the crowd would stand and cheer, then he'd switch languages and another group applauded, and on it went. The Bishops received honors of some sort and people would cheer for them as well. First of all, growing up WELS you do NOT clap in church. So that in itself was weird but honestly i half expected the Pope to start doing acrobatics or something to really earn recognition! = )
The entire crowd was offered communion in the end- and I thought oh my Lord this is going to take forEVER. But with that many archbishops and other men of the cloth around, it went pretty quickly because after all catholics only receive the bread and not the wine. After the Pope blessed the cup and bread (followed by bells respectively) the bishops took their positions and feed the hungry! It was nearing 12p at this point. So we all were herded out after a blessing for the entire group and giving 'Peace be with you' greetings to those around us. I took some great pictures on the way out. So I went to Catholic mass in the most famous church in the world. Its a shame I couldnt understand most of it.

Castel Sant'Angelo - A castle in the heart of a city!

I had the afternoon free and decided to instead just look at the outside, I should see the inner chambres of the imfamous castle. It was a great way to beat the heat too!

The splendid fortress of Castel Sant'Angelo was originally built as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian in 139 CE. In the 10th Century CE it was transformed into a castle, then, 500 years later, into the elegant residence of Pope Alexander VI Borgia. Michelangelo designed the marvelous main court for Pope Leo X and many of the rooms inside are decorated with frescoes of great beauty. It is also been used to house prisoners, including the sculptor Benvenuto Cellini. The terrace offers a fine view of the river Tiber and opera lovers will know that this was where the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Tosca (1900) took place. The building is now a museum with a fine collection of suits of armor. There wasnt too much to look at in terms of museum quality collectibles but the feeling you had in the castle was well worth the entry fee. There was a lovely snack bar at the top with tables available under a trellis of plants. The view from the terrace was really beautiful - you could see most of the major monuments of Rome from there. I am already designing my country home..

un caffe, per favore

I am sure you all are aware that coffee is a large part of Italian culture. I bet they have just as many kinds of coffee drinks as pasta! I often go out for coffee with colleagues and realized just how ignorant I was to this part of their culture - such as having cappucino is a faux pas after lunch or dinner. So i did a bit of research and here are the new terms i learned:

• caffè (espresso)—a small cup of very strong coffee, i.e., espresso
• caffè Americano—American-style coffee, but stronger; weaker than espresso and served in a large cup
• caffè corretto—coffee "corrected" with a shot of grappa, cognac, or other spirit
• caffè doppio—double espresso
• caffè freddo—iced coffee
• caffè Hag—decaffeinated coffee
• caffè latte—hot milk mixed with coffee and served in a glass for breakfast
• caffè macchiato—espresso "stained" with a drop of steamed milk: small version of a cappuccino
• caffè marocchino—espresso with a dash of hot milk and cacao powder
• caffè stretto—espresso with less water; rocket fuel!
• cappuccino—espresso infused with steamed milk and drunk in the morning, but never after lunch or dinner
• granita di caffè con panna—frozen, iced beverage (similar to a slush, but ice shavings make it authentic) and topped with whipped cream
• caffe con crema-hot espresso with a dolop of your choice of gelato in the middle
  

With this vocab, you all can order like a local! I think i will have to buy an Italian stove top coffee pot or Moka Pot as they are called as well- they know how to do coffee here = )

An artsy side of Roma

A very warm evening in Roma, I decided to find the Piazza Navona home to the Nettuna Fountain and art lovers. I strolled down via Pietra by sketches and paintings of famous Roman momuments and stubbled upon a large open area full of people, artists easels, musicians, and carnies. Piazza Navona is known as the best place to buy local artwork and it showed. People were drawing charictures and architecture there on the spot- and the talent was visible everywhere you looked. Just north of the piazza there is a fun toy shop. It hosted dolls, cars, and wooden and metal toys that may be centuries old. I had fun perusing through the different kinds of toys as the owner had a watchful eye on my bag - schmuk. After that, I walked through the Piazza Fiamette where a friend of my cousin has a restaurant. I wanted to introduce myself but lo! I picked the only day of the week when it was closed = ( So I went to the Tevere river instead and crossed the Umberto I bridge that has an excellent view of St Pietro cathedral to the west. I followed the murky green water, passed several house boats and animals (even a beaver!) up to the Piazza de Popolo to find a great surprise.

Carvaggio was an Italian baroque painter, who was the most revolutionary artist of his time and the best exemplar of naturalistic painting in the early 17th century. Originally named Michelangelo Merisi, Caravaggio was born September 28, 1573, in the Lombardy hill town of Caravaggio, from which his professional name is derived. Orphaned at age 11, he was apprenticed to the painter Simone Peterzano of Milan for four years. At some time between 1588 and 1592, Caravaggio went to Rome and worked as an assistant to Giuseppe Cesari, also known as the Cavaliere d'Arpino, for whom he executed fruit and flower pieces (now lost). I was fortunate to see some of his famous work in a church off the Piazza de Popolo this week = ) Many people come to Rome just to see the sights where his work still hangs. They are beautiful but due to my lack of art knowledge and the fact the mass kicked me out of the church, i dont have much to say about them. Google Carvaggio and decide for yourself!

Parks, Irish Pubs, and 'Hidden' Rome

When i was in Paris years ago, i was feeling a bit lonely so I went to the Disney Store on Les Champs d'Elysee and bought a hefalump to be my sleeping buddy. In Rome there is a Disney Store as well on via del Corso so i went to find what other character I could add to my collection. I fell for Roo the Kangaroo also from Winnie the Pooh (wow poetic huh?). Sadly though, it was 19 € , and i could not bring myself to spend over $25 on a little stuff toy. Ill just have to find real friends.
This week was a bit more busy and fun. I decided to go to a new part of Rome everyday after work. The most notable discovery this week was the 'central park' of the city called Villa Borghese. In this large heart shaped park, you can find museums, music auditoriums, and above all some peace and quiet away from the bussle of the city. It was very nice to wander near the lake and see the calmer side of the city for a few hours. Another evening, along with some coworkers, we took slices of pizza and ate on the Spanish steps to people watch. The European cup is coming to a close and Germany played Portugal. Several of my colleagues went to an Irish pub to watch the action and have a few pints! The bar was packed with German fans and due to the warm weather, the beer went down easily. Needless to say, I missed my last train and crashed at my friends for the night, dragging into work the next day wearing the same clothes and red eyes. Oh to be young. A different day, I scoped out the Auditorium here in Rome where most of the musical events happen. Next week for example Alanis Morrisette is going to playing there.
When the weekend hit so did the real heat. Saturday night my roommate arranged to meet some of her friends from college out for pizza. Our reservation got pushed back to 1030p to eat in the Parco Torlonya where Mussolini has a home. Our group of six, five Italians and me, ate our thin crust pizza in open air followed by limoncello (a strong lemon flavored liquor) bitters, and coffees. I think i finally made it back near 4am after a lovely glass of red wine (Morenilli) from Tuscany, champagne to celebrate a birthday, and a croissant with nutella. (mmm) Italians eat quite late compared to us Americans. I was famished by 8pm!
The 'Hidden Rome Tour' took up most of Sunday. A fellow intern and I, were guided by a local Roman - Francesco- who also works with the WHO. He drove us all over the city to the parts were tourists rarely see yet are very special indeed. Rome is known as the city of seven hills and was born between three of them. We visited four of them during this tour - all with impeccable views of the city below. A few of the hills show monuments for the founding fathers of the Rome Republic - Garibadi, Cavour, and Mazzini. Aventina boasts a huge monument of Garibaldi who was known as the arm of the city, Cavour the brain - never used force to implement his policies unlike Garibaldi, and Mazzini the heart. Also on the hills are the rich neighborhoods of Rome where you can find embassies, mansions, and beautiful churches and monasteries. We stopped at a monastery and peered through the keyhole to a beautiful garden of the Malta embassy. On Hill Gianicolo is where its thought that Peter was killed on an upside down cross.

We also toured a few secluded neighborhoods that date back hundreds of years including San Saba. You can immediately tell when you are in a modern or ancient area of the city. The architecture changes the materials and colors used. One of the neighborhoods were built like american cooperatives. I took several pictures to use for the design of my house one day = ). Near Piazza Vittorio we stopped for lunch. This area is one of most ethincally diverse neighborhoods of Rome where Indian, Chinese, and African immigrants come to hang their hats. We ate at an incredible Indian food restaurant that reminded me of being back home. Later in the day, Francesco has one more big surprise for us. He drove to the SE corner of the city to the Parco Dellappia Antica where you can find an original foot path to the city that goes on for miles. The great part of this park is the ancient aqueducts ! I got some amazing shots and heard interesting stories about illegals using the aqueducts as one wall of their huts to survive. Prostitution was also rampant in that part of time back in the day. Francesco grew up nearby so showed us little nooks and crannies I bet few people know about. After five hours in 84 degree heat, we parted ways. What an incredible experience- I am so lucky to have a local roman show me around!

The Adriatic Sea

No doubt about it - i must live near the ocean! I am feeling particularly refreshed after this weekend. As a result of my down and homesick week, I decided to get a change of scenery and visit an old friend in Pescara, Italy. As luck would have it, Pescara is located on the eastern coast of Italy on the Adriatic Sea about 2.5 hours from Rome by bus. I left early Saturday morning and was welcomed by my Italian friend Licia, her family, and her boyfriend Paolo. Even though it was pouring, we found a way to visit the city, the nearby village of Ortuno, and the beaches and ports. The sea was brillant color blue and the coasts have lovely cliffs that reminded me of Senegal. People from all over Europe flock to Pecsaras beaches for holidays. The water so warm-like bath water! I found a silver cross necklace on the beach that day- i think my luck is changing... In the evening, they took me to a restaurant for local food. We had beef kebabs, fries, and beer - i felt right at home! After dinner we strolled along the boardwalk that follows the coasts eating ice cream and discussing all good things Italian and American.
The following day was beautiful so we headed down to the sand right after breakfast. We stopped to see all the yachts in the tourist harbor and strolled in the glorious sun. I was really happy to have spent a lovely weekend seaside with a now good friend. I spent time with her italian family and that is always a great experience to see how the locals live. I didnt want to come back to Rome at the weekends conclusion, but i did.

Piramide, FAO, and San Gio - Who?

So work was slow one day and i wanted to check out the Food and Agriculture Organization (cuz i might work for them one day) to visit their English library. The structure isnt so interesting and sadly I arrived when the library was not open to the public! I thought I didnt come all that way for nothing, so i snuck in past the guard and saw i must say a pathetic library compared to the ones at UW-Wisconsin. After a quick stroll through the building, I realized i had a bit of time so decided to see why one of the metro stops was called piramide. Was there in fact a pyramid? YES THERE WAS! The pyramid was included in the Aurelian Walls, and is close to Porta San Paolo. The pyramid is a funerary monument built about 12 BC as a tomb for Caius Cestius, a member of one of the four great religious corporations at Rome and is made out of white marble. The Roman Empire had conquered Egypt a few years before, in 30 BC, and the ancient culture of the new province became fashionable for a while; at any rate the tomb is unique among ancient Roman monuments. It was a nice surprise after a tough week.
Earlier this week, i had another nice surprise. I was wandering in a new part of the city and came across a beautiful church! Later i looked it up and discovered it was the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano - the oldest and ranks first among the four patriarchal churches of Rome; it is the head of all churches throughout Rome and the world. Originally the palace of Constantine, it was later adapted to serve as the church of the Pope. Not a bad discovery i must say! http://rome.arounder.com/san_giovanni_in_laterano/index.html

Italian remarks on america

Starbucks was here for a few months then promptly closed. McDonalds is found in several piazzas with higher prices and better quality food -yet you pay for the ketchup. Italy is against letting to many foreign (including Spanish Zara) companies in. They hope to keep Italy -Italy.
Bush is here in Rome this week to urge Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to expand his military support in the Middle east and to visit with the Pope.... and the Romans were waiting Monday, ready to protest his presence here, the fact that 3,000 parking spots were vacated for his arrival and as well as the blocked cell phone signals he caused. 10,000 extra cops are in the city this week due to Bushs visity so as you can see Italy is not exactly Bushs best buddy these days.

Forza Italia!

The great part about June, is the European soccer tournament (Europai 2008)! From the 7th until the 29, there are matches almost every night to see who is the european champion. Last night, my roomate and i huddled around the Italy vs Netherlands game in our flat as people from all over europe on vacation or business in Rome gathered in bars to cheer on their favorite. Sadly, the Netherlands had a solid game and came out victorious 3-0 against the Italians. The enthusiaum of soccer in unavoidable here and I have gotten hooked on watching the matches (george and benn i think you have something to do w/ this!). Im going to root for Italy and France since they are close to home for me now and when they play each other on the 17th -let the best team win = ) Check out all the details on the tournament at http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/

a word about transport and 'foreign food'

I use the public transportation everday in Rome to reach my destination. I must say that without it i would be completely lost as far as getting around but I also need to say that if you come here , you must experience it. Not because its a hoot and a holler, but because its an unpleaseant but large part of the big city culture. Imagine yourself a sardine, pinned on either side by fishy smelling Italians. They naturally have their armpits exposed as they hang onto the overhead bar and have no qualms about practically massaging you with their failing appendages as the train or bus jolts. I am sure that Italians wear deoderant and perfume and unlike that old cliche - Europeans dont always smell. But the transportation is always cramped and the bodies created quite the sauna. Everyone sweats, i just think Italians have the best genes for it. So needless to say, I dont exactly look forward to my 45 minute commute twice a day.

Rome is quite the international city and hosts a variety of cusines. You can eat Indian, Chinese, Sushi, Mediteranean, etc. On the via Veneto where the United States Embassy is you will see the Cafe de Paris, and even A Hard Rock Cafe! I checked out the menu as I walked by and it will cost you 13,75€ (about $22) for a normal hamburger. This is the only 'American' restaurant besides McDonalds listed in the WHERE magazines special dining issue. As far as sweets are concerned, you can stop just about anywhere for something terribly bad for you. The infamous gelato is found everywhere, baked goods like sweet crossaints and cream puffs made daily tempt you from behing glass cases, and so far my favorite the Lindt Chocolate bins at Termini train station. In the Lindt shop, you can go in and scoop your favorite varieties of Lindt roulettes into plastic sacs by the kilo! Its like jelly bean bins at home but with the best chocolates in the world = )

Pizza is THE fast food here-found on every corner and sold by weight. I have had some terrible pizza that was almost too salty to eat (ham) and i have also had some tasty slices with lots of tomatoe sauce and vegetables. So be picky about your piece and you will land on a good kind.
I have discovered some other Italian foods that I do quite enjoy. Pasta tomatoe and fresh mozzarella salad, tiramisu, and McDonalds Italian version of baked goods are quite nice. Ill be sure to talk about Italian cuisine in the future but for now I think France has this country beat.

Getting Involved - As an expat

In my last entry i was feeling a bit down and lonely due to my language frustration and the fact I dont know anyone here. So to beat those blues, I decided I had to stop living like a visitor and start living like an expat. In Rome there is an enormous expatriate community. My Irish colleague informed be about the American and Irish Clubs of Rome. They plan numerous events and provide support for expats in the area. It is hard to determine who is Italian and who immigrated here for other reasons because it is such and international city.
So to my movement to 'get involved' started Friday night. The ladies in the WHO office arranged a girls night out. So at 6p we went for drinks in the place where Tom Hanks was spotted earlier that day. He is currently in Rome filming for Angels and Demons. After that, we went to Sex and the City in its original version with Italian subtitles. It was a good girls night choice and quite funny yet dramatic. The conclusion of the movie led us to La Gustto which a very modern restaurant in the same area. The ladies had to help me translate the menu, Italians have about 50 words for pasta and 50 more for cheeses! I called it an early night since i didnt know how late the buses ran to my neighborhood. One metro was already closed so i had about a half hour walk to the other which stops at 1am. The walk allowed me to see the sights of the ancient city at night which are all lit up. It was a great night. Then, luckily the bus runs all night so i made it home just fine and met a nice french speaking Tunisian man on the way to boot.
Saturday after chilling all day with a sore throat and ear ache (either the pollution is getting to me or some teeth are coming in) I went out to a typical European saturday outing location. IKEA. My roomie, her boyfriend, and a spent hours there - it was a good thing there are beds in the store = )
I also heard that the Irish club was hosting a picnic this weekend at the Irish College downtown. The college has about 50 students from all over studying to be a priest. The grounds of the college were perfect for a picnic full great foods, sack and egg, races, and table triva! I spent several hours meeting Irish expats who live in Rome for a variety of reasons and who work in diverse areas. It was a lovely day hearing about the many success stories of foreigners moving and loving Italy. The American Club has a big 4th of July celebration planned and I already have a date. Even though my italian is slowly improving, it feels really great to meet new people that i can completely communicate with.
On the way home, I had a run in with the cops. I am technically not a resident here because my stay is less than three months. I have however the metro pass for a resident recommended by my roomate because its cheaper. I was stopped to see my pass in the metro. If they discover foreigners with such passes there is a hefty fine. The policeman eyed me for a good 5 seconds and then asked me for my identity card (well i think thats what he said cuz he didnt have any objections when i then gave it to him). I gave him my university ID for some reason i thought it would be more believable..He studied for a moment, then me a bit more as i thought 'dont talk, dont panic, dont show fear!' and he said ok and let me pass. WHEW! I think what saved me is my Italian last name - the ID clearly has university of WISCONSIN in huge letters. Hurray! I can blend in!

and the honeymoon is over ....

I said this before, and ill say it again - at one point when you travel and have an extended stay you will hit a wall. This is the end of the honeymoon stage. Things are no longer exciting and interesting. You realize that this new existence is your norm to bear for how ever long you are staying in that location. For me, 2 months more, which seems long considering ive been in Rome less than a week and already feel like that if ive seen one church and piazza, ive seen them all. I would love to continue to visit new places and try new foods but the mighty euro is killing me. If these feelings were not enough to get me down, i think i ripped someone off today as well and feel really bad about it. I went to buy a slice of pizza and went to pay but didnt have exact change. I know he asked if i had a certain coin but Im sure if i gave him too much and he didnt have the change or I i didnt give him enough. Frustrated, I stormed off with the pizza and now feel i need to go explain myself. This pizzeria is in my neighborhood so im likely to go again - but not if they think i steal! Granted, it was only about 4 cents but still! When i get tired, I do not have the patience to figure out a new language. Furthermore, the pizza wasnt to my liking. It was super salty and had no tomato sauce on it whatsoever. (can you tell im cranky at the moment?)

I was pretty tired by then because I did explore a new area of Rome today after work. From my office, I walked to the Pantheon which is a building in Rome which was originally built as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome. It is the best preserved building in Rome and the Pantheon has been used as a christian church since the seventh century. I then meandered to the Piazza San Marco & Church de San Marco. I think there are over 800 churches in Rome alone so there is now way im going to see them all! Right next door is the Piazza Venezia and la Vittoriano or (National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II). This momument cuts into the side of Hill near the forum, is all in white marble, and honors the first king of unified Italy. Very beautiful indeed. I then wandered back to the roman forum for a while, through a public park were many kids were playing basketball, and finally to metro to head home (after two hours my feet were sore). Even with all these new discoveries though, I cant help but feel lonely. Everywhere you look in Rome there is couple making out or enjoying the sites together-it truly is a romantic scene. I think this trip maybe the last one i do alone.

Festa della Repubblica & WHO

Today was a national holiday in Italy to celebrate the independence of the Republic. So many things were closed, people had the day off, yet I have to report to work = ) While the city was congregated around the coloseum to watch an extravagant parade full of beautiful men in uniform, i was meeting everyone in the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe aka my new prison. No, i shouldnt be so negative, I was actually pleasantly surprised at how friendly and welcoming everyone was and that the office was normal and not HUGELY WHO. After the tour and necessary paperwork, I met with my new boss - Dr Kruse. Originally from Norway, she has her DVM and her PHD. This women is very bright and has a laundry list of interesting positions shes held all over the world. She even worked for the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for a time in the states and claims she has strong professional connections there = ). I think im going to like working with her. Shes outgoing and very knowledgeable and isnt afraid to leave me to work independently. Dr. Kruse took me out for lunch today as well and actually believed i spokeIitalian after i ordered! I guess maybe i dont sound that bad after all. My first day was typical, intros, paperwork, and a lot of reading about the food safety programme in Europe. I met a really nice german intern and an irish women active with the American club here in rome (dont ask me, i dont get it either) so things are looking good = )

First Impressions of Roma

Milanos train tracks led me to Roma Termini, my new home, and my new roomate. I arrived in Rome friday evening to a smiling italian girl named, Stefania. She is a friend of a friend who offered to be my roomate this summer for a tidy sum. After we came to the appartment, I feel like its a steal! The place is super modern, chic, and I love it. There is a common area colored with red and black (ei the kitchen cuboards are all dark red), one large bedroom for us to share, a balcony, and a nice sized bathroom. Its clean, bright, and im happy to have it. My roomate is absolutely adorable too. She comes from southern italy and has worked as an architect in Rome for four years now. Her hospitality has been wonderful. She made us dinner my first night and helped me figure out the transport system to my job. She even went grocery shopping and bought my ticket for the metro for me. I am really lucky to have such a caring person around - especially since when i speak italian, its really hard to be understood. This language is all about intonation - so if you dont stress the right part of the word, no one understands you. So frustrating.
Yesterday, Stefania went to her parents place due to an Italian national holiday June 2. Therefore, I had my first weekend in Rome all on my own. The first day i didnt do a lot. I took care of my bags, spoke to my only french speaking italian friend on the phone, and walked around the neighborhood trying to memorize it. It seems if i need anything from a pedicure to a new pair of glasses - its all within a few blocks. After a lazy evening in eating Swiss chocolate, watching MTV Cribs in English, and talking online, I turned in early because Sunday i had some serious plans. Sunday morning, I went to town to find out where my office was located. So taking Stefanias advice i first took the bus, then the metro and then another metro to le Piazza Spagna (Spain Square). It turns out i will be walking by the infamous Spanish steps everyday i go to work! The WHO office is nearby in a large yellow bland building. After i found the place, I visted the Fountain of Trevi often seen in movies and ate my lunch there surrounded by tourists from all over the world. I dont know how many languages I heard! After lunch, I wandered back to the metro and decided that for the rest of the day I wanted to see the Coloseum.
As I came out of the metro, my eye caught the historical Coloseum and at that moment my breath was taken away! There is nothing like seeing it in person (you all have to visit rome). I stumbled upon a guided tour that left minutes later so i was immediately shuffled inside ahead of the long line of visitors. I visited the site with a group of enlish speakers and heard about the numerous uses of the coloseum (originally called the Flavian Ampitheater) and restorations over the years. The coloseum could hold over 50,000 spectators. Once entirely covered in marble, it was stripped during the Renaissance of its precious materials included marble and bronze. Gladiators and wild animals were the stars of the spectacles and water battles were also showcased here by flooding the lower levels and bringing in ships through the arches. Do you know that men and women were not allowed to sit together? Due to the sexual freedom of the day, women were seated in the fourth tier to avoid any public displays of ..... The coloseum was truly a sight to behold and pictures do not do it justice. After that, I went across the street to visit the Roman Forum - the origin site of the birth of rome, and Palatine Hill known to be the place where emporers built their palaces. These two sites were incredible, a bit eery even. Some of the marble walkways are still there from over 2700 years ago when Rome was born. The ruins of the senate house, emperors palaces, and chariot racing stadium made me wonder what life was like for royalty back then. Fanned by slaves, hand fed grapes, watching the best roman soldiers battle each other and exotic creatures. Rough, im sure = ) You know that saying 'all roads lead to rome'? Well i saw the road that ends all roads to rome. The original street is believed to still exist in the forum. Hows that for creepy?