When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

That saying has been spoken by many mouths and heard by many ears.  But what do the Romans really do?  I’ve only been here since Wednesday, but I’ve noticed a few things.  Romans like to drive small cars, or vespas, really fast, dangerously fast.  Not only do they drive “like their houses are on fire” but they fly down those little cobblestone side streets... that don’t have any sidewalks.  They also really don’t believe the “stop for pedestrians” rule that most Americans are used to.  And honestly, it is kind of scary if you aren’t used to it.  But these Romans have dangerously driving their little cars down to a ‘T’. 

The people of Rome love to walk.  Anything that you can walk to in 30 minutes is considered close.  And if you walk a 15 minute/mile like I do, then that’s two miles. Romans also like to take their time when they walk.  This is funny because they drive so fast but they “walk like they have all the time in the world”.  They just take leisurely strolls through the city.  They’ll get wherever they’re going eventually.  Plus they don’t like to get out of the way when people are trying to go around them.  They will push into you if they have to.  It’s a strange and frustrating habit. 

I’ve also noticed that they are very much amused by Americans.  A couple of my roommates and I go to this little café called Caffe’ Settimaniano near our campus and the Italians who work there are very very nice.  The cappuccino is really cheap but really good.  It’s connected to a little chocolate shop.  It’s quaint.  They like to joke around with us though.  The first day we went in there we were just kind of standing around awkwardly, unsure of what to do.  The one worker asked us what we wanted and my friend Jacqueline asked if we could sit.  He looked at us with the straightest face ever and said “no.”  And then he laughed and said “of course, sit.”  He also gave us a tip about being in that café.  He said that if we bring our cups up to the counter when we are done, instead of leaving them on the table, our cappuccinos would be cheaper.  And they were.  Good tip for you!

Romans, like most Italians, don’t like to get so drunk that they are incapable of normal functions.  They drink, sure, but not like Americans.  Americans go out and drink until they can’t remember that night.  Italians will have a glass of wine with dinner or some beer.  But they do not drink so much that they become incoherent.  They don’t embarrass themselves like that.  They laugh at those who do.  Most Italians are having a glass of wine with dinner starting at least at age 15, maybe earlier.  They don’t feel the need to go out and drink until they black out.  So just watch how much you drink.

Italians double cheek kiss.  It hasn’t happened to me yet, but I’ve seen them in the street.  They greet someone with a kiss on both cheeks.  If it happens to you, figure out what side they are going to.  You don’t want to end up accidentally kissing someone on the mouth because you both went to the same side.  That might be awkward. 

These are the biggest things I’ve noticed about Italians/Romans that really stuck with me.