Submitted by Kristina Demou on the 2017 spring semester program in Rome, Italy…
I am starting to feel more settled in Rome, and since orientation week activities are over and classes are still just beginning, I’ve had some extra time on my hands. Lucky for me, my uncle’s cousin lives with his wife in Rome and they offered to take me around the area and show me some “hidden secrets of Rome.” I was so excited to get out and explore my new city with some locals and get a different perspective rather than just the tourist’s view.
Driving through Rome at night was a beautiful experience. Everything looks so majestic with all of the lights accentuating the architecture of the buildings. Every corner we turned, my cousin pointed out another ancient or historic monument to my right or left, and each one had me in awe. It is an interesting concept that this city has been around for thousands of years, considering there is nothing back at home comparable in age to these ancient Roman buildings.
Another stop on our night tour included getting to see St. Peter’s Square through the keyhole of the Aventine, a church that is off the beaten path in Rome and not a huge tourist attraction like the Coliseum. I would have never known about this truly unique and breathtaking view if I was just going to the typical tourist spots. Plus, I had the added benefit of experiencing this without a large crowd of tourists in the way. It was like the moment was mine, which I loved.
After we drove around to some different sites in Rome, we went to a local Italian restaurant. It was different than all those in my neighborhood of Trastevere because this was outside of the heart of Rome, where tourists frequent. The menu did not have English descriptions and everyone spoke Italian. Luckily, my cousin helped me order what ended up being possibly the most delicious pasta I’ve ever had. It was refreshing to go outside of my small, Americanized bubble for an evening and truly see Rome as a local experiences it. Even though I am living in Italy and have noticed many cultural differences in my neighborhood, I am still going to an American university, so there is a limit on how much culture I am really being exposed to while still having my metaphorical American safety blanket.
I am so grateful to have this connection in Rome, so I can be a tourist when I want to be, but I can also call my cousin when I want to get out of the bubble for a while and gain a new perspective on the city that I will call home for these next four months.