Do As The Romans Do

Are you planning a trip to Rome? Even if you're not, here is my step-by-step guide of how to survive in the Eternal City. It'll come in handy if you ever visit. The first thing I want to talk about is the buses. In order to 'legally' take the bus, you have to buy a ticket for 1 Euro at a news stand or tabacchi and stick it in the little yellow machine on the bus. This machine will stamp the date and time on the ticket to prove that you've paid for your ride. 
The second thing is to always act like a Roman. Just follow them. This is especially smart when crossing the street. Sometimes there aren't lights at crosswalks. There's no hesitating, no 'maybe I'll cross...' You decide whether or not you're going to do it. If you do, look in the direction of oncoming traffic, stare into the eyes of the driver, and they will stop without any problems. Then you move along. 

The nice thing about Rome is that there are a lot of clues around the city for what area you're in. For example, if you want to get to Piazza di Spagna (Spanish piazza), look around at what you see. There is a very famous hotel close by called Hotel Madrid. Madrid, as in the capital of Spain - so Piazza di Spagna must be close by, right? Right! 

Food. How many times in your life will you get the chance to eat true Italian food? Do as the Romans do and savour every bite. Italians take great pride in their food, and for good reason. Also, one of the best experiences you will have with food is dining alfresco. Italians like to enjoy their food while also enjoying the weather, the scenery, and people watching. Also, dogs are welcome almost everywhere, so don't be surprised if you see a Yorkie or a beagle sitting alongside their owner at the table.

It is said that the best art museum in Rome is actually Rome itself. There are beautiful fountains, statues, monuments and paintings everywhere you look. You will notice in Rome that there are many different depictions of the Virgin Mary. The interesting thing about this is that it is not to honour her, but because the Romans believed that if thieves were around and saw the Virgin Mary, that they would have a change in heart and behave like a good Roman should.
Italians are very laid back. This is sometimes a problem for me, because I grew up learning how to do things quickly - this is why we have places like Walmart, because we don't want to waste our time going to different stores. We would rather one-stop-shop and get it over with quickly. Italians like to take their time. I remember going to my favourite bakery in the centre one morning and saw on their sign that they opened at 9 am. Well, it was just past 10 am, and the owner was outside carrying boxes inside. I asked how soon they would be open. She said, "Whenever these boxes are finished moving. Anytime." Italians do not care about time. It means nothing to them.

They take religious and nutella seriously over here. While living in Milan last year, a friend of mine was at the dinner table with the Italian family she was currently working for. You know how sometimes if someone asks you a question with an obvious answer, you reply with a sarcastic question back? For example, Zack asks Katie, "Did you buy the new Harry Potter book?" Well, duh, because Katie is a huge Harry Potter fan. So Katie can respond by saying, "Is the sky blue? Do fish swim? Does James Brown get down?" Well, the Italians asked my friend an obvious question to which she responded, "Is the Pope Catholic?" Jaws hit the floor, because in Italy, you never joke about the Pope! It just isn't something you do. And nutella is a serious business. 

Almost everyone loves to smoke cigarettes. Its a very European thing, and you will even notice the waiters smoking outside while still doing their job. I've been singed a couple times by Italians limply holding their cigarettes in the hand as I walk by in a pair of shorts. In North America we have vending machines where you can conveniently buy a drink or a snack. In Italy, they have cigarette machines. 

You definitely want to consider what time of year you plan on visiting. Christmas and Easter is the craziest time to come to Rome because of all the tourists. There are many nuns, priests and monks who travel all over to world just to come to Rome at this time to hangout at the Vatican. Between January and February is quite rainy. March and April offer warmth and sunshine. In April and May, the Spanish Steps are blooming with flowers, so its a very beautiful time to visit. September and October are the ideal times to visit because its hot, but tolerable. June to August is the absolute worst time to travel in Rome because there are literally millions of tourists every day who crowd the streets. Its hot, sticky, and super uncomfortable, which is why most Romans actually flee the city. You are guaranteed to sweat buckets and stand in line to get in anywhere for hours on end.
My final paragraph will be on random little tips. If you're a North American visiting Italy who is thinking about hopping over to a nearby country, check out Ryan Air. Ryan Air is a British airline company that flies all over Europe for as cheap as 9 Euros per flight. Amazing. Another thing I want to mention is that when you go to a bistro or pizzeria, they sometimes charge you extra if you stay there to eat. Its common for them to charge you an extra Euro for using their utensils, table cloth, etc.

Some Favorite Things

Some awesome things I love: 

1. Having the pizza box on your lap when driving home.

2. Getting that acceptance letter to your dream school.
3. Finding out you made the honour roll (even if it wasn't a surprise).
4. Long, cozy scarves.
5. Mr. Nori's jokes (my old geography teacher, a true gem).
6. Waking up and realizing you still have time to sleep in.
7. The first snow fall of the year.
8. New FML posts. Your life is immediately not so bad.
9. Decorating the Christmas tree.

10. That wonderful time of year when Tim Hortons sells all things pumpkin flavoured (tea, muffins, donuts, etc. Need I say more?)
11. Liking your school year photo.
12. Finding a great dress on sale.
13. Getting a perfect bear hug.
14. Wine from Tuscany. 
15. Your first e-mail account (puppy_luv_14@hotmail.com)
16. Chunky knit sweaters.
17. The sound of autumn leaves being crunched.
18. When your favourite store has a sale.

19. Spending time with my papa.
20. Juicy red apples.
21. Putting your iPod on shuffle when a really awesome song you forgot about comes on.
22. Drinking tea first thing in the morning.
23. Leaving an interview knowing you rocked it.
24. Finding leftover money in an old wallet.
25. That fuzzy feeling when a good story actually comes on the news.
26. Wearing a pearl necklace. Instant elegance.
27. That moment when you see your food coming in a restaurant.
28. Dogs in sweaters. What's not to love?!
29. When your sub at Subway is exactly how you wanted it.

30. When you get that short little head massage at the hairdresser's.
31. Getting the new Cosmopolitan magazine in the mail.
32. Winning the lottery (even if you only get $10).
33. Eating cookie dough instead of the actual cookies.

34. Licking the bowl clean after baking.
35. Falling asleep by the fireplace.
36. When you find out it was actually the neighbor's cat who got hit by a car, not yours (although I bet my neighbor Jack next door disagrees...)
37. Sleeping in your own bed after a long trip.
38. Hot showers in the middle of winter.
39. When your mom fills your tank of gas up in the car for you.
40. Short check out lines.

41. Not getting caught after skipping a class.
42. Bra shopping.
43. Having the whole movie theatre to yourself and your friends.
44. The way your grandparents eyes light up when you visit them.
45. That gentle breeze in April.
46. Hugging someone that smells really, really good.
47. Open bars.
48. Getting off work early.
49. Coming home with dinner already made.
50. The smell of clean laundry.
51. Grocery shopping.
52. When you go to buy something at the cashier and it comes up cheaper than you thought.

53. Popping bubble wrap.
54. Looking fabulous and running into your ex.
55. The smell of pine trees after it rains.
56. Nice letters
57. That time of year when its the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
58. "Has anyone ever told you that you look just like __________ (enter name of favourite celebrity here)?"
59. Finding out the person you like like's you back.
60. Fuzzy socks.
61. Having a hot teacher.
62. Having the kind of parents who didn't force you to go to church as a child.
65. Scented candles.
66. Spending Saturday night's inside with your sister eating popcorn, watching The Office, and wearing cozy PJ's.
67. That little black dress.
68. Winning something on Tim Hortons Roll Up The Rim.
69. Feeling energized in the morning

70. Finding the perfect shopping companion. 
71. Sunsets.
72. First kisses.
73. When Juan is on the nights episode of 1 girl 5 gays (love him).
74. Reading quotes from Chelsea Handler.
75. Falling asleep while listening to Coldplay.
76. Boys who know how to dress well.
77. Getting gift certificates to Chapters.
78. Snow days!

79. Visiting my aunt in Mallorytown.
80. Hearing wolves/coyotes howling at night.
81. Writing your name in the sand.
82. People with manners.
83. Free stuff.
84. Warm memories.
85. Being asked for advice.
86. Flinstone vitamins.
87. When the Jehovah's witness walks right past your house. 
88. Having freshly shaved legs.
89. Surprise beach days.
90. When the girl you were rooting for on America's Next Top Model wins.

91. Old Disney movies (my personal favourite is Peter Pan).
92. When mom puts the 'spring' flag up after a cold winter.
93. Actually getting something in the mail.
94. Birthday's.
95. Owning a trampoline.
96. Sleeping on the cold side of the pillow.
97. Ghost stories around the campfire.
98. Memorizing all the lyrics to the new City and Colour album.
99. Chugging a glass of ice cold water after a rough night of drinking.
101. Taking your bra off at the end of the day.
102. Having freshly painted nails.
103. Having a dog.
104. Rubbing your eyes after taking your make up off.
105. Getting Chinese food because nobody at home is in the mood to cook.
106. GETTING YOUR PHOTO PRINTED IN A MAGAZINE.
107. Having a best friend who is always there for you. No matter how late it is.
108. Getting a good horoscope.
109. Having a good fortune from a fortune cookie.
110. That feeling you get when taking off in an airplane.

Where To Go

Here I am, wondering where the heck I'm going to be next year. The truth is that I don't know, and I won't until May when final acceptances come in. I have a pretty good resume - I studied at a French school in France. I was captain of the cheerleading team, was one of the founding members of the Fair Trade Club, had above the standard amount of community service hours under my belt, was on the honour roll, an active member of the school's Yearbook Committee, played tennis for the city's Tennis Club, and also found time to have a part time job. 
I recently got a facebook message from a boy in my grade who congratulated me on what I'm doing. He wrote, "I had no idea you were so insightful and that you kicked your ass so much. I wish I knew how talented you are and how your mind works because I would've really liked to spend time with you." That made my day.
I love what I'm doing right now - traveling around Europe and helping people improve their English skills while crafting my writing skill with this blog. I am so fulfilled by teaching, and at the same time, learning so much about myself, about history, about different life styles, about learning a new language... Wouldn't it be great if I could do this forever? Well... Why not? 
The longer I am sitting here in my Italian bedroom thinking about what I want to do with my life, the easier it becomes. I want to go home to Canada this June (basically I have to, because my 9 month tourist visa expires at that time) and go to University in Ontario in the fall. I'm thinking Ottawa.

Because really, what better place to study than my nation's capital?! I love politics, I love history, I can very easily practice my French there, and it is just so beautiful. My only downfall about Ottawa is that it's freezing. The cold is where I am the most un-Canadian. Many Canadians like to enjoy the winters by playing hockey, skating, having snow ball fights, building snow forts, sledding, skiing, snow boarding... Basically, embracing the snow. I avoid going outside in the winter much like a cat avoids water. When I do have to go outside, I spend about ten minutes finding my heaviest pair of snow pants, and layering myself with as much clothing as possible. The worst part is when my eyelashes freeze, causing me to shiver every time I blink. 

So I guess this means that between November and March, I will be spending my time drinking hot chocolate by a roaring fire in my apartment in Ottawa. We'll see what happens. But after completing my education in Canada, I plan on flying right back over to Europe. I seriously want to settle down here so badly, but first, I must skip my merry way back to school next fall. But for now I am going shopping in hopes of finding some cute new things to wear for the next time I go out. On my way home I'll stop at my favourite pizza shop and then take Giulia to her viola lesson, and maybe get some more pizza after that...

Words of Wisdom

Gene Siskel asked Oprah Winfrey a question that forever changed her way of thinking. What do you know for sure? I decided to ask myself this very question. It happened when I was sitting on the city bus this morning, where I do my best 'accidental thinking'. What I mean by this is that every time I take the bus, I let my mind wander because I'm not concentrating on anything until I arrive at my stop. My accidental bus thinking has gotten so strong, that I now carry a little pad and pen with me in my purse. I thought it would be a good idea to share what I know for sure. In a world of complete uncertainty, its comforting to have some words of wisdom shelved inside your brain. I collected a list of some of my favourite quotes and things that I know for sure for when some of those uncertain times strike.

1. When people show you their true colours the first time, believe them.
2. You have to accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

3. If you let the fear of rejection keep you from doing something, you will never get what you want.

4. Having the right to be angry and having the right to be cruel are two totally different things.

5. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things (one of my favourite things on the list).

6. The best things in life really are free.

7. Maturity has nothing to do with the amount of birthday candles on your cake.

8. Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you decide to react to it.

9. No matter what happens in your life, the world will not end because of it. The sun will still rise tomorrow.

10. Where you come from and how you were raised contributes to the person you are, but you are ultimately responsible for you.

11. Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

12. Laughter is by far the best medicine.

13. Your life can change in minutes based on a stranger.

14. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything - they just make the most of everything they have.

15. The greatest riches in life have nothing to do with your bank statement.

16. Worrying is not time well spent - doing something about whatever worries you is more proactive.

17. When one door closes, another one opens (in my case, a big, Italian door).

18. The world will not end if someone disagrees with you - stand up for what's right, even if you stand alone.

19. Trust your gut. Intuition is important.

20. Let you profession also be your passion.

21. There is no storm that can't be weathered.

22. Be careful of who you step on the ladder - you may meet them again on your way down.

23. "The world is a book, and those who do not travel only read one page."

24. Sometimes, slow and steady really does win the race.

25. You must be patient with yourself when learning something new.

26. There is no greater friend in life than yourself.

27. Karma is real.

28. Love without friendship for its base is like a mansion built upon sinking sand.

29. You can tell a lot about a person by how they deal with lost luggage, a rainy day, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

30. Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

31. You can't go through life wearing a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw some things back.

32. People may forget exactly what you did and what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.

33. If you are unsure about what you want, think about what you don't want and the answer will come easily.

34. Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, its about learning how to dance in the rain.

35. You're here for a good time, not a long time. So have a good time - the sun can't shine every day.

36. Sometimes, the people who you would expect to kick you when you're down are actually the first to help you up.

37. A house is not a home without a dog.

38. Embrace loneliness. It gives you the opportunity to learn about yourself.

39. There is no such thing as impossible if you work hard.

40. Leave loved ones with kind words. It may be the last time you speak to them.
41. When you move away from home, you'll be surprised at what you miss. You'll also be surprised at what you don't.
42. Some people aren't meant to be in your life forever. Sometimes they're there to teach you a lesson and move on so you can learn from other people.
43. Family doesn't have to mean blood relatives. 
44. Reading books can open your eyes to a world way beyond anything you could ever imagine.
45. No matter how physically, emotionally or mentally exhausted you are, when someone you love calls for help, you will find the strength to do it.

New Beginning's

After the Christmas holiday, the mom wants the girl I au pair for, Giulia, to have a 'break period' from an au pair to see how responsible she has become. However, we're going to work out a day where I can visit the house each week and tutor Giulia in English. Earlier in my stay I mentioned that my sister would be in Rome from May 3rd to June 20th to hopefully work as an au pair. They would like to have another au pair in the spring, and have agreed to hire my sister (who I know would absolutely fit into this family much like I did). In a couple of weeks, I'm leaving the quiet suburbs of Rome to the bustling neighborhood of Campo dei Fiori. 

I will never have to take the bus again, because all of the hot spots in Rome (the Colosseum, Pantheon, Piazza Venezia, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, etc.) are all in simple walking distance. In Italian, Campo de Fiori means 'field of flowers'. Don't let the name fool you, though. The name originated from the Middle Ages when the area was a meadow and used by the Romans for public executions. The great philosopher Giordana Bruno was burnt alive here because his theories (such as heliocentrism) were deemed dangerous. A statue of him now stands on the exact spot of his death, directly in the centre of the square. Today it offers one of the best open markets in Rome where fruits, vegetables, handmade accessories, clothes, and anything else you could possibly want are sold each morning. There are tons of outdoor restaurants and cafés in the area that turn into bars at night. So whether you go in the morning for some fresh food or the night to meet up with a group of friends for drinks, Campo de Fiori is the ultimate location. 

The new family is actually the same one that my friend Shayna worked for last year, so I'm going into this family knowing the ups and downs, and feel prepared for what's about to come my way. The father works as an oil broker and the mother is a professor for the history of architecture in one of the local universities. They have four children - yes, four. However, I'm only responsible for the two little ones. Clemintina, the eldest, is 14 years old and an artist. When I met her she dressed beautifully in Ralph Lauren and showed me her artwork in her loft. Manfredi is 12 and very shy, but the mom assured me that he's very independent and spends most of his time outside of the house doing sports. Lodovica (Lodo) is 8 and is super talkative. When I went over to the house, she asked me ten thousand questions and gave me a tour of their mind-blowing home. Desideria (Daisy) is turning 6 in December.

The kids all go to the super exclusive private French school in the middle of the most famous park in Rome, Villa Borghese. The street they live on is how you would picture a typical Italian street - narrow, cobble stone, rich oranges and yellows, with a huge arch you have to pass under to get into the house. They live in a four-story yellow townhouse with a courtyard, and the house is filled with expensive art and every toy imaginable. There's tons of interesting antique shops nearby and in order to enter the neighborhood, you have to pass one of the best bakeries in Rome. So whenever you walk by, you take in the smell of melting sugar and Italian pastries. 

Two minutes from my house is Piazza Farnese. There is a palace in the centre that was designed by Michelangelo and is one of the most important Renaissance Palaces in all of Italy. It's run by the French Embassy which of course means it isn't open to the public for most of the year. It's an area only for the aristocratic, so the prices are sky high, the wine is rich, and the fashion is beyond anything you can imagine. In about fifteen minutes from the house you reach the Tiber River, and right across from it is the most ancient neighborhood in Rome called Trastevere which literally translates to "over the Tiber River". The people that live here call themselves the real Romans and is full of winding streets, cool bars, and laundry hanging from the windows. In celebration of my new situation, I'm going to Campo de Fiori for a huge, delicious pastry while I continue to explore the area.

Good Times & Cheap Wine

Last night Jeanny, Anna and I met downtown where we ate dinner at this amazing little place called "Auto Grill." It doesn't sound appetizing, but this place had delicious pizza and stands upon stands of pastries, gelato (with some interesting flavours I haven't tried yet like watermelon - yum!). I was really excited once we got to Scholar's because a few other au pair girls were there. I met Ronja from Sweden, Jenna from Australia, and another girl from Holland who was really nice! I ran into my Irish friend Stephen again and since it was karaoke night at Scholar's, we agreed to go up on stage together.
I am dreading writing about this one guy we met that we couldn't shake. He asked me what my name was, and because I hoped not to see him again, I came up with the fake name of Claire. He asked me if I wanted a drink and I told him no thanks. He asked, "why?" And I said I don't take drinks from strangers. Then he told me his name (which I forget) and that "now we aren't strangers anymore."

Clearly, this guy could not get a hint. As if to win me over, he went on stage and said very boldly into the microphone, "This is for Claire." He then proceeded to sing a depressing love song and the au pairs and I couldn't stop laughing even though we felt bad.

Benedictus XVI & I

If you read my last blog post, you'll have known that I was supposed to spend the weekend in Tuscany with my host family. I woke up yesterday morning with sore muscles and an even more sore throat than the previous day before, and so when I started asking the mom what she wanted me to do before we headed off to Capalbio, she said, "Would you feel better if you just stayed home for the weekend instead?" I was like, you know what, that's the best idea I've ever heard of. So everyone has gone away while I have three whole days to spend by myself in this huge Italian palace. I spent all day Saturday doing "me" things like giving

myself a mani/pedi, had a deep conditioning wash for my hair, and had a perfect bubble bath with soap roses and candles while drinking a generous glass of red wine. Ahhh... Was that all I needed to feel better? I guess so!
This morning, I was feeling as good as new, so I decided to go to the Vatican. It was incredible to see and hear the reactions of the people around me when the Pope stepped onto the balcony and appeared in front of thousands upon thousands of people in the crowd. I didn't understand anything he said, but that's ok. I really enjoyed being there, and now it's one more thing to cross off my "European Bucket List". Before I left for Italy, I made a list of all the things I want to accomplish while I'm here, but I'm always adding new things to the list. I'm going to post it at the bottom, and cross off the things I've already done. For example... Seeing the pope with the naked eye! That's one thing to cross off now!
After the Vatican, I walked to the centre so I could check out Rome's International Film Festival. It's the sixth annual festival and is held at the Auditorium Parco Della Musica, which is a world famous art complex. During the festival, the 1,300 sqm walkway is lead to the Cavea outside the Auditorium and transformed into one of the biggest red carpets in the entire world. Its used for international celebrities, but also for festival goers. 

It's getting late now and so I need to pick out an outfit to wear tonight, because I'm meeting up with some of my girlfriends so that we go to Scholar's for karaoke night. I don't know if I'll be singing tonight but it's always packed on Sunday's. Sometimes, it can be really hard to choose what I'm going to wear because the weather is really unpredictable for me. I don't mean that it has surprise rain showers every day, I just mean that I kind of follow what the rest of the people in the house wear and then follow suit. For example, on Saturday, I saw the mom wearing a pair of jeans and a thick jacket. So, I put on a pair of jeans as well and wore a chunky knit sweater which was a BIG mistake. I wore a T-shirt under that and thank GOD I did, because I took my sweater off. I would've died on the sidewalk in my cream coloured H&M knittie. Anyway, this amazes me, that it's November on Tuesday and I can still get away with wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I'll cross things off the list as they happen.
1. Meet someone special (or someones special)
2. Ride on a gondola in Venice
3. Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain
4. Go clubbing
5. See a live soccer game
6. Spend Christmas with Magda and travel though Germany, Austria and Czech Republic
7. Go to a museum
8. Tour the Vatican
9. Go to a semi-nude beach
10. Celebrate 'Friendsgiving'
11. Sing at a karaoke bar
12. See the Pope
13. Spend the night at a convent
14. Sit on the Spanish Steps
15. See the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam
16. Go to a live concert
17. Be visited by family
18. Ride on the back of a vespa
19. Have a photo of me published in Glamour magazine
20. Take a trip to London, England
21. Drink beer in Germany
22. Tour the Colosseum
23. See Michelangelo's 'David' in Florence
24. Go hiking through mountains
25. Go to the Pantheon during a rain storm
26. Swim in the Mediterranean Sea
27. Learn Italian
28. Learn how to play the harmonica
29. Take a trip to Greece
30. Get into the best shape of my life