Submitted by Carly Whitman on the 2018 spring semester program in Rome, Italy…
Today I had my first experience with the Italian train system. I did not know what to expect and I only had American railways to compare it to. The station in Rome is set up pretty similar to those back at home; all tracks set up in a row next to each other with their destination listed on a screen in front, but it was not that simple. Next to each destination were multiple letters and numbers. It was hard to decipher between what the track number was and where it was located. After a bit of frantic running around and asking numerous people for advice, I came across an English speaking couple that pointed me in the right direction. If it wasn’t for the nice couple than I wouldn’t have been able to find my train and make it on in time. Moments like these have made me so appreciative for people, but more specifically for Italians who go out of their way to help people. The stereotype that I may have had for Italians before is no longer true. My few weeks here in Rome have really taught me that.
