Spring Break
A twist on the ideal Roman Holiday
Letters from Abroad
Issue date: 10/25/07
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My second day in Rome progressed quite seamlessly. The morning started with lectures on both the dangers of Italian men and the skills of pick-pocketers. "If you dance too sexy, don't be surprised to find the Italian man behind you panting," remarked one of our professors so eloquently. My natural response, as well as that of my fellow classmates, was a mixture of disgust and amusement at this new piece of important cultural knowledge. Storing this bit of advice for future use, we walked casually through Rome to the restaurant where we experienced our very first massive Italian meal.
I don't think I've ever seen quite so much food in one sitting. From the moment we arrived, charming Italian waiters brought out trays of food with various Italian specialties, each tempting the palate of the eager American students. Little did we know that this continuous presentation of sumptuous treats would last two and a half hours. Needless to say, our untrained American stomachs could not go the distance. Not more than hour through this taste challenge did many of the Americans quit, basking lazily in the food coma that was quickly depleting any remaining energy.
It was at this point we saw our Italian student companions, as well as our Italian professors, marching up to the now set up buffet table for seconds and soon thirds. We all watched in amazement as the most petite of Italians packed in plates of food, with all the simple European grace that has proved to be inherent.
I have since learned that the siesta we experienced that day is not quite the norm, not the first of the romantic Italian notions of American students that was dispelled.
Then there was bowlingProbably the last thing one would expect to do on a night out in Rome, it was most certainly the last thing I thought I would ever do while abroad here. When I think of bowling, dorky shoes, greasy food and cheesy music comes to mind ... not characteristics easily associated with Italian "coolness." Bowling has always been that thing I did when I was too young to do anything else. Or at the most, it was what I might do with friends when we were all in the mood for a goofy night out. But never in my wildest imaginary Roman adventures did bowling ever play a part.
I don't think I've ever seen quite so much food in one sitting. From the moment we arrived, charming Italian waiters brought out trays of food with various Italian specialties, each tempting the palate of the eager American students. Little did we know that this continuous presentation of sumptuous treats would last two and a half hours. Needless to say, our untrained American stomachs could not go the distance. Not more than hour through this taste challenge did many of the Americans quit, basking lazily in the food coma that was quickly depleting any remaining energy.
It was at this point we saw our Italian student companions, as well as our Italian professors, marching up to the now set up buffet table for seconds and soon thirds. We all watched in amazement as the most petite of Italians packed in plates of food, with all the simple European grace that has proved to be inherent.
I have since learned that the siesta we experienced that day is not quite the norm, not the first of the romantic Italian notions of American students that was dispelled.
Then there was bowlingProbably the last thing one would expect to do on a night out in Rome, it was most certainly the last thing I thought I would ever do while abroad here. When I think of bowling, dorky shoes, greasy food and cheesy music comes to mind ... not characteristics easily associated with Italian "coolness." Bowling has always been that thing I did when I was too young to do anything else. Or at the most, it was what I might do with friends when we were all in the mood for a goofy night out. But never in my wildest imaginary Roman adventures did bowling ever play a part.
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