livin la vida local #HogsAbroad in Italy

one of the things that my friends and i are challenging each other to do this month is to behave like a local. or at least, try our hardest to. in some ways, this has been an easy transition. we’ve taken the subway without asking any questions, conquered the bus system, sipped our coffees standing at the bar, bought produce at a corner stand, and refrained from asking restaurants to split our check. however, in other ways, trying to shed our american assumptions has proven to be more difficult. here are five things i’ve picked up on and adapted to in an attempt to make my time here as authentic and rewarding as possible.

1. italians don’t wait patiently in line for anything. not for coffee, not for food, not for events and definitely not for the bus. you have to be a little pushy to get what you want in a timely manner and as long as you’re not physically or verbally abrasive, no one will scoff at you. there’s no better way to look like an intimidated, lost american than standing toward the back of the huddle in the coffee shop and watching everyone else effortlessly catch the barista’s attention (pro tip: they sometimes change the menu according to the time so don’t be shocked if the barista says you can’t get a drink with milk in it after 4pm).
2. dinner is not the time to get drunk. the relationship with alcohol in italy is one of the biggest cultural differences i’ve experienced. casual, social drinking is emphasized here while drinking to get blacked out is almost unheard of. if you want to go out with your friends, there are plenty of bars and nightclubs, but if you’re eating pasta with your girls, don’t overdo it on the wine. you’ll be out of place and potentially perceived as disrespectful.
3. the dress code is nicer here than in america. on a day to day basis, italians tend to look instagram-ready. you don’t see a lot of leggings and sweatshirts, even on college students walking to early morning classes. if you want to keep the negative attention off yourself and experience what it’s like for those who live in rome, up your style a little bit. if you really want to blend in, go for the neutral colors or even better, pile on the black and reach for the leather. from what i’ve noticed, the aesthetic here is clean, minimalist, and modern with a touch of casual chic. confusing? yeah, i’m still trying to catch on myself.
4. the cars will not hit you. at least not in rome. many of the crosswalks do not have buttons for you to press and are rarely placed at actual intersections with traffic lights. that means you’ll be crossing four lane roads without any way to make the cars stop except for your body. ever been to new york city? it’s like that but worse. the key is to realize that the cars are not going all that fast and they know to watch for pedestrians. the other key is to just be ballsy. it may seem like they’re going to flatten you, but they will absolutely swerve around you as long as you make eye contact and don’t jump out right in front of them. do not, and i repeat, do NOT stand on the corner and wait for them to stop. they will literally laugh at you from behind the windshield.
5. everything costs money, even the water at dinner. you will be offered either sparkling or still water at every meal, and even if you order the flat water, it will still show up on your bill. typically, so will that basket of bread that they sometimes bring without asking. do not be afraid to decline these things! i’ve been carrying and refilling my own plastic water bottle so that i don’t end up spending thirty euros on water by the end of the trip. also, those guys lining the streets trying to give you bracelets? they will never give you anything for free. i’ve seen them put jewelry on people so tight they can’t get it off and then demand payment. just ignore them or say “no grazie” and keep walking. don’t even slow down; they’re hustlers trying to profit off polite tourists.

this list is by no means comprehensive, but i feel like these five things have been the most important differences i’ve noticed during my short time here. since i recognized them and made the conscious effort to conform to them, i’ve found myself getting more confident and comfortable in italian culture. i’m sure that when i get back to the states, i’ll be saying “va bene” to my waiter and asking for aperol spritzes at jj’s out of habit. but that’s a sign that your travels have truly changed you and opened your eyes to a new way of living.

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Junior English/Creative Writing major Rylie Frederick is spending the summer 2019 term at the University of Arkansas Rome Center.

Read more from Rylie at https://rylieinrome.home.blog/

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