americana undercover

At some point in the past few weeks something indefinable has shifted in me. I don't feel like such an imposter in Rome anymore. I mean, it doesn't feel like home by any means, but to a certain extent I feel undaunted by the city where I used to feel reticent. I'm no longer hesitant to set out on my own. In light of this realization I decided to go to a nearby cafe--alone--for breakfast this morning. Feeling daring and vaguely European, I decided to glam things up a bit. Instead of my trusty North Face fleece and sneakers, I put on some leather flats, my brown trenchcoat and the striped scarf I bought in Athens, and topped it off with some dark, smoky eyeshadow. On my way to the cafe I stopped in a cartoleria (I needed pens) and greeted the shopkeeper in Italian. Now, normally when I do this, they immediately reply in English. But the lady continued chatting with me (or more accurately, at me) in Italian! I couldn't believe it! It soon became apparent to her that I did not, in fact, speak Italian...but I was gratifed even so. Intrigued, I continued on to the cafe, where once again no one attempted to speak English to me...this was very interesting. Emboldened by these encounters, I went on to the tabacchi where I was complimented on my Italian by an old man and then to the grocery store where I was NOT met with the usual contemptuous glares but rather spoken to in Italian in perfectly civil tones! I didn't understand much of what was said, but that's hardly the point. The point is, I totally passed for an Italian this morning.

Sweet.

it's vacation time!

For those of you who don't already know, I'm going to be gone for the next two weeks--tomorrow morning, we leave on our weeklong trip to Sicily. We return to Rome next Saturday and then...fall break begins!!! I'm going to be in Greece until Sunday the 21st :) I'll probably have minimal internet access for the next two weeks, but you can expect a massive blog update upon my return!

Ciao ragazzi!