help

The view from my room...

Piazza Popolo, that thing near my apartment

Well, I did it.  I’m in Rome.  In fact right now, I’m lying under the covers of my very white bed in my very white room.  I have a free hour, so instead of going for a run, I thought I would sit down and talk about myself on the internet.

First of all, Rome is insane.  It’s dirty, loud, and there are many very committed street artists and beggars on every corner.

I have yet to find the beauty in this city because I’ve been spending most of my time chasing after a car-obsessed two-year-old (I’m a nanny here, I’m not sure that I ever mentioned that) and wiping pizza grease off my t-shirts.  I really haven’t had time to look around.  I’ve been on a couple of walks down a popular shopping street, “Via del Corso,” because it’s close to home, so I’ve seen thousands of British tourists ask for the nearest bathroom, but I haven’t been able to do nearly as much exploring as I would like.  However, I was followed by a Bangladeshi man selling laser pens for three blocks after I accidentally dropped my keys and grumbled “wow what a world”, revealing that I was in fact an American tourist so there’s that.

I’m confused all of the time.  The lifestyle here is obviously very different, and I’m completely out of my comfort zone.  Also, the whole “not knowing the language” thing is really starting to get in the way of my communicating with people. 

Anybody who told you that “everybody speaks some English in Italy” is lying to you.  They don’t.  Just ask Mariella from the Wind mobile store on Viale del Muro Torto.  She will gladly stare back at you in silence, brow furrowed and finger tapping.  By the way, charades is not an acceptable way to purchase a cell phone plan.  I’m fairly certain that I accidentally entered into a five-year contract with Wind mobile.  I triple dog dare you to try and figure it out, here’s the link to their website: http://www.wind.it/it/privati/.  I purchased the “All Inclusive Ricaricabile, Verso Tutti 7 euro/mese” plan.  If you’re a language whiz and you really do figure it out, please let me know before I try to seduce Luciano, the store manager, into a loveless marriage to escape the horror of a 1,825 day phone contract.

After a few more disastrous interactions with the locals, and a quick emotional breakdown on the steps of Fontana di Trevi, I signed up for Italian classes at a language school with a bangin’ reputation.  You know, from the one person I asked about the school’s reputation. 

Now we should all keep in mind that I’ve only been here five days, which explains why I’m so completely overwhelmed with everything and anything help me I can’t breathe.

Gasping with love,

Kay