Archives: May 2007
Mon May 28, 2007
Lo Stesso!
While leisurely relaxing on the white couches in the lobby of Hotel Villa Aricia, I reflect on my time thus far in Italy and realize I may already be a bit too comfortable here! The adventure has just begun, yet I’m continually impressed by how far our group has progressed in becoming acclimated to life in Ariccia. It seems only moments ago that we arrived in Italy, and I felt as though I had entered another world. No one spoke our language and the food and lifestyle were completely unfamiliar to us. Our first lunch was with one of our professors, Maurizio. I believe we all will easily admit that the local dishes slightly scared us. Foods such as porchetta, massive green olives, eggplant, roasted peppers, hard dry bread and mozzarella buffalo were all served swimming in olive oil, and the time was way past our ‘normal’ lunching hour. We knew coming into this trip that things would be slightly different, however this was the first moment that I realized—we were a long way from Auburn, Alabama!
Some of the girls sitting with Maurizio and Francesco overlooking the beautiful town of Ariccia.
As a group, we were quick to point out the things that were different from America. However, when trying to pinpoint those differences, I quickly begin only seeing the striking similarities. Walking along the Piazza di Corte Ariccia, I cannot help but notice all the older men gathered - no doubt reminiscing their glory days - and loving the interaction with the ‘younger crowd’ as they relish any attention we give them. I am instantly reminded of Auburn on game day, smiling at the alumni waltzing down College Street, and how they, too, love the interaction with the current students. After living for two weeks in Ariccia, it has become almost second nature to me to hear the familiar honking of cars (at our striking beauty, naturally) as the parade of nineteen “bella donnas” walk across the bridge to class. When driving down University in Auburn, it becomes rare to not see anyone you know on their way to class. Therefore car windows are normally rolled down in both Ariccia and Auburn, ready to call attention to anyone known or unknown passing by. When deciding where to eat, the entertainment and familiarity of Fabrizio and Luca, our two favorite waiters, entice us to go downstairs to dine in Hotel Villa Aricia. I feel as though I’m back at Amsterdam Café where half of the staff knows us and a meal becomes more of a dining experience. Our CHS@Italy professors remind me of home as well; immediately embracing us with open arms, they convey a similar compassion I feel from my professors in Auburn.
These adorable men can always be found relaxing on the wall in the Piazza di Corte Ariccia across from Chigi Palace.
The summer group loves hanging out with Luca and Fabrizio in Hotel Villa Aricia's Restaurant!
The similarities between America and Ariccia are becoming more obvious every day. While dining at the most adorable outdoor café in Roma, I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself at the table next to ours that held six Italian women enjoying lunch. It reminded me so much of home—women out having a great time, talking a mile a minute until the bill came, and then instantly beginning a playful argument about who would pay, all fighting to pick up the tab. So typical of human culture anywhere in the world! Not only are middle aged women remarkably similar, but adolescents as well. While at the Albano train station I had the “pleasure” of waiting with a group of six teenage Italians, who were relishing every second away from their parents. It reminded me of those teenagers in America, who once let loose in the mall, begin the playful flirting, loud music, and overly obnoxious behavior. This was yet another glimpse of the similarities from back home.
Hospitality and impeccable customer service are expectations that bring the same result worldwide: pleased guests. The overly friendly staff at the hotel, including Sonia and Mirko, never goes unrecognized. The daily “Ciao!” and “Buona Sera!” that greet me as I walk into the hotel lobby are constant reminders of good customer service. The local business owners, may it be at the local pizzeria or a cute boutique in Genzano, are always in high spirits and make our presence in their establishment feel appreciated. In Ariccia, the people have grasped the importance of making the customer feel recognized and valued. It is a feeling many businesses strive for, but few attain. Shopping has become a delight because the language barrier, while sometimes frustrating, quickly turns into a charades-type game filled with many laughs and warm smiles. The adorable shop owners often take time attempting to perfect our Italian by repeating important phrases once, twice, or sometimes sixteen times! I am reminded yet again of Auburn, where the employees are eager to help you and offer their suggestions ensuring complete satisfaction. I never came to Ariccia thinking that it would be anything like Auburn, or America in general, but only after two short weeks, I’ve began to notice their strikingly similar characteristics. Even across borders and time zones, there are some things that remain the same. Friendliness, good service, and customer satisfaction all speak the same language. As long as the impressive hospitality continues, you’ll hear no complaints from me!
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Thu May 24, 2007
Let's take it down a notch
One of the first things I noticed about Italy was the slow-paced and low-stress lifestyle. Whenever we walk somewhere as a group, I can’t help but notice all the people we pass because we aren’t even in a hurry (well, except for the times we have to sprint to catch a train). And when I stop to think about why we ever walk so fast, the only thing I can think of is that I always walk fast in the United States. Time is always a luxury, and there’s always something I have to do.
The fast-paced American lifestyle is reinforced by the abundance of 24 hour shopping centers where you can run out to get something at the last minute and be back home in 30 minutes. Among my classmates I’ve heard comments that question the local peoples' ability to get anything done in a timely fashion because of how long it takes to get to one place and how
far apart every location is. Surely it has to be a hassle, right?
Well, not so much. When you stop, observe, and think about how the people here live, you realize they don’t need a Wal-Mart or some other conglomerate store that caters to all of their needs in one place. Let’s start with the morning schedule: most shops have some sort of regular hours, but they’re never explicit. The owners take their time in the morning—they walk slowly; if the sign on the door says they open at 10, they might not open until 10:30. Then at lunch, which is usually around 1 or 2 pm, all the shops close for a few hours for a long break. In the United States I can’t think of how many times I was rushed in and out of a restaurant, or how many times I rushed myself out of a restaurant to get back to whatever it was I needed to finish. After a slow lunch in Italy, most people stay at the restaurant and talk, or they read the newspaper or, I suppose, in some cases go home to catch up on some sleep.
This girl was so relaxed after lunch she fell asleep.
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Mon May 21, 2007
Mangia!
Americans are always on the go, as if we are in fast gear. When it comes to food we want two things, convenience and speed. It isn’t very common for families to sit at the dinner table together and enjoy a home cooked meal. If we do eat together as a family it normally involves eating out in restaurants where the staff quickly seat us, take our orders, and in less than 10 minutes our food arrives in front of us. In America, it usually takes about 1 hour to go out for dinner, but in Italy dinner is a long event. The culture of eating in Italy is very different than in America. This traditional country enjoys savoring the flavors of the foods and the special moments with family and friends. Everything here in the town of Aricca is made fresh every day with non-preservative products. Dinner consists of many different courses, antipasti like bruschetta, then a primi of some type of pasta, followed by a secondi of a meat dish and finally a dolci (dessert) like fragola e gelato (strawberries and ice cream). The meal is accompanied by some type of vino (wine) that complements the food.
In America it is common to go to Wal-Mart and do what I call “the mad grocery shop,” where you stock your grocery cart to the top with weeks and weeks worth of groceries. However, people in Italy go to the grocery store and market every day to buy only the food that they need for that day. During a recent visit to Rome we went to Campo di Fiori, which has fresh fruit, flowers and spice markets every day. I never thought that food could be just absolutely breath taking. The colors of the flowers, the size of the produce and the smells of the spices all seemed surreal. I knew at this moment that only by studying abroad would I experience something like this. This unique experience would have never happened to me while living in Auburn and shopping in WinnDixie or Walmart. Our grocery stores in America have become mass supermarkets and one-stop shops. This is really sad to me because I believe it takes the fun and joy out of shopping. When shopping in a market the energy and buzz of the people are exciting and you begin to develop relationships with the shop owners. It’s a special way of appreciating such a basic thing as grocery shopping.
With out a doubt there isn’t one individual on this trip who hasn't said the word “appreciate” sometime during our daily conversations. We all appreciate this experience we have gotten that includes broadening our horizons by trying new foods, learning how to speak Italian and emerging ourselves in a new culture. The twenty Auburn Students who arrived in Ariccia will return to Auburn as more well-rounded individuals.
Fresh spice mixtures at the Campo di Fiori market
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Thu May 17, 2007
Arrivederci to USA, Hello to Italy!!
When you come to a new place, it can be scary. The people are different, the food is different, and the time may even be different. Warming up to all of these new aspects of life can be hard to adjust to at times. For me, the people I encounter have always affected my outlook on a new place. When coming to Ariccia, most of us had a picture in our heads of a parade awaiting our arrival. Once we arrived, there was no parade but something a little different. We wanted the Italian people to welcome us and take us in with open arms as soon as we arrived. Although many have lived up to this expectation, becoming friends or friendly with the Italians requires some give and take and a little effort. At first the locals seemed a little skeptical of twenty American students running around their town, perhaps with good reason. But unlike Americans, as soon as we tried to pronounce buon giorno or ciao, they seemed to become like the friends you pass by on campus on your way to class. The Italians have been very warm to us once we tried to communicate with them. For example, at dinner the other night with a couple of the girls, there was a table of people next to us who could hear us speaking English. As they glanced at us, we could tell they were very curious about who we were and where we came from. At some points, during dinner, we felt almost as though they did not want us there. However, once we had paid our check and got up to leave, we all did the polite thing and said ciao and buona sera, and suddenly the entire table opened their arms to us with endless goodnights and goodbyes. IAs soon as we tried to speak to an Italian, they couldn’t wait to try and speak with us. Up until now, I had always wondered how a person could become friends with someone who spoke a different language. I was confused about how you could possibly communicate or get your point across while having a conversation. I didn’t understand how you could break the language barrier without actually speaking the language. After being in Italy for barely a week, by watching my peers and experiencing it myself, I have realized that you don’t have to know the Italian language to speak to an Italian. It just requires a little effort.
After asking one of the members of the staff for a cappuccino, Lauren gets herself some breakfast provided by the hotel every morning.
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