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Juggling being an intern and tourist in Rome

11Mar

1.Holding a “real world job”
Interning for the Food and Agriculture Organization is night and day different from most student-worker jobs on campus. You are given projects at the beginning of the week (or month) with very little guidance, higher expectations than you are use to and may not see your supervisor again for days. Learn to be independent. Don’t rely on your supervisor to tell you how to do every detail. If you have an idea, don’t be afraid to voice your opinion or just run with it!

Make friends with other interns and consultants. This is a must! Talk to them about where they are from, enjoy being able to hear about their culture and experiences before coming to FAO. Having them to explore Rome with at night and on the weekends or just having a group to eat lunch with everyday really helps when you’re trying to survive a long day/week.

2.Adjusting to life in Rome
Being from a small town, moving to Rome was a bit of a culture shock the first week here. However, you will find that this is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Live away from the tourist attractions. Immerse yourself in the “true Roman culture”.
Learn basic Italian BEFORE coming to Italy. I was told this before coming, but didn’t take it as seriously as I should have. It’s nice now being able to order a slice of pizza, telling the person behind the counter that you will eat it now, but want to take it with you (trust me this gets confusing if you can’t understand them and they can’t understand you).

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Coffee: First things first, do NOT order a cappuccino after lunchtime. You will definitely get the “you’re from the U.S. look” that you have been trying so hard to avoid. Second, café does NOT translate to coffee in English, it is an espresso. Third, always accept a coffee break invitation. Networking is why you are here and doing it over coffee is the most common way.

Gelato: Stay away from the touristy areas (this goes for just about any food or coffee). Research, find the ones that actual Romans love to go to. Try different flavors, even the crazy ones!

3. Being a Tourist
There is so much history here that you could spend months just visiting all the museums, piazzas and historical landmarks. Walk around during the weekends and at night. You’ll be surprised at how beautiful places like the Trevi Fountain are at night.

Go to more than just the normal tourist destinations. Take a Sunday morning stroll through Porta Portese Market with the locals (and tourists)!

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Travel! Even if you aren’t comfortable or can’t afford trips to other countries in Europe there are still plenty of places to go within Italy. Florence, Tivoli, Pisa, Venice, Naples and Milan are just to name a few. It is so easy to travel within Italy with the regional and high speed trains (and cheap too!). However, if you can I would highly suggest visiting other countries around Europe. Immerse yourself in as many different cultures as possible. It may be nerve-racking landing in a city that may only speak French, Dutch, or Spanish (when all you know is English and a little bit of Italian), but do it. You’ll be so glad you experienced their way of life for a few days.

Don’t be afraid to travel by yourself. If there is somewhere you want to go…then GO! Have fun, be a tourist and do what you want to do.

Every minute counts. Your time in Rome will fly by faster than you can imagine. Have fun, learn a lot and experience a new way of life (you never know, you may fall in love with a city halfway across the World).

Thanks and Gig’em from Roma, Italia!
Rebecca Kirkpatrick
FAO Intern – Food Safety Division
Spring 2016

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Chianti-Tuscanv-Tuscanv Countryside

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Tivoli, Italy

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Brussels, Belgium

10 Things You Should Know if You Want to Live In Rome

7Dec

Rome is a beautiful and historic city with countless hours – even years – of things to do. It’s simply impossible to fully grasp the enormity and complexity of the “eternal city”. The city presents the fantastic rewards to those who seek them out, yet offers interesting challenges which many Americans find unique.

1. The Coffee:

The coffee in Rome, and Italy, is very different than what we are used to in the United States. Everything is espresso-based. If you order a coffee, or caffè in Italian, you will receive a small cup with a shot of espresso. It’s strong, yet sweet. There are many options for your caffè: cappuccino, doppio (double shot), lungo (more water), caffè latte, among dozens more. Try experimenting with the different coffees and try out a traditional Italian breakfast, which consists of a cappuccino and a buttery cornetto (croissant), sometimes filled with Nutella, cream, or a jam-type substance.

2. Live centrally!

Rome is a large city and it can be difficult to navigate at times because the attractions, sights, venues, etc. can be spread out in the different neighbourhoods. This difficulty is compounded by reliability with public transport, frequent strikes, and traffic. Not only that, but Rome is a lovely city to walk in. It’s safe and you can come across many cultural treasures during your walks around the city.

3. Hope you like pasta and pizza!

Yes, it’s true: many Italians choose to eat pasta very frequently! In fact, at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations based in Rome, Italy, the cafeteria offers several varieties of pasta every day. Your typical Italian mean includes an antipasto, primo, and secondo. Yes, that’s three courses – not including the dessert! Don’t worry, you can opt for only a primo or only a secondo.

Pizza is very common here and quite different than what we are used to in the United States. You will find many options and styles of pizza. The pizza here, especially in Rome, is very thin and crunchy. Toppings can include zucchini flowers, prosciutto, mushrooms, and potatoes. Pizza is typically considered a dinner item, but you can easily find quick grab-and-go pizza places open for lunch. I’ve never had a bad pizza in Rome! You simply cannot beat the food in Italy.

4. Yes, it’s busy with tourists, but you can avoid typical tourist traps:

Rome is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It’s no surprise that during peak tourist season from April to October, it can be packed with tourists and tourist traps can pop up. It’s recommended to avoid restaurants which try to coax you inside with greeters on the sidewalk, and especially restaurants boasting large pictures of food items in English on the outside. At these types of places, the prices are expensive and the food is usually of subpar quality. Use TripAdvisor (more popular in Rome) and Yelp to find restaurants you might not otherwise notice.

As far as sightseeing goes during peak tourist season, ALWAYS book tickets in advance on-line or in-person! Many people spend hours of their vacation standing in line to buy tickets. This is especially true for the Colosseum and Vatican Museums. Have you seen the lines that wrap around the Vatican for nearly a kilometer? You can skip that by buying a ticket online!

Remember: play tourist! You may be here studying or working, but take the chance to still be a tourist, also.

5. Be careful crossing the street!

For your first few weeks in Rome, you will find that it’s incredibly difficult crossing the street. Try shadowing locals whenever they cross the street until you can get a feel for the technique. Cars will – usually – stop, but you cannot always rely on that. Don’t go if you have any doubt that the driver isn’t paying intention or has zero intention of stopping. Many cars will continue driving and will not brake until they are a few feet from the crosswalk – that’s always fun. Running stop signs and street lights is relatively commonplace, which poses hazards for pedestrians. Best advice is to remain vigilant and don’t take risks.

6. Research what Rome has to offer and what you are seeing.

We all know about the history and the wonders of the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and St. Peters Basilica, but Rome offers many hidden treasures. For example, near the Colosseum there is a church called “San Pietro in Vincoli” which features Michangelo’s grand statue “Moses”. It’s an incredible experience as there are usually very few people people there, which offers the opportunity to take the time and appreciate it. San Giovanni, a Papal Basilica, features the original ancient doors from the Roman senate house. These are just a few examples of the hidden, little-known treasures Rome offers.

7. Be prepared for the infamous bureaucracy

The Italian bureaucracy is quite infamous and frequently discussed. My experience with the Italian bureaucracy was relatively smooth and painless, but for many it is not. Yes, if you stay over 90 days you will need to get a visa and then a Permesso di Soggiorno. The cost, when adding up all the fees and taxes, came out to nearly €200 for a temporary residence permit. It took multiple trips to government offices, but when it was all said and done, it was no different than getting a driver’s license in the United States. Remember: you’re no the first person to go through this process! Ask friends, ask colleagues, and scour the internet for information on how to fill out your forms.

8. Learn some Italian:

I came here with not-so-great Italian language skills, and I do regret not putting the time into learning the language better. Although in touristy and business areas some Italians will speak English, many will not speak English. This is completely understandable as it shouldn’t be expected for nationals to speak a foreign language in their own country. In my opinion, knowing Italian greatly enriches your experience as Italians are very expressive, friendly, and very people-oriented. For practicality purposes, it eases the transition and makes daily tasks such as eating at restaurants, getting groceries, etc. much easier. No one expects you to be fluent, but a little bit goes a long way for many locals.

9. Try the “acqua frizzante“

You may notice that many Italians and Europeans opt to drink fizzy water instead of normal, still water. If you read up on why this is, it’s a very interesting history lesson. The trend dates back to when naturally effervescent water from mineral springs was the optimal drinking water because it was safe and thought to offer medical benefits. Drinking fizzy water, or acqua frizzante in Italian, is a different taste than normal water. At first, I didn’t enjoy it. However, I eventually came to appreciate the taste and favour it over normal water. Give it a shot – maybe a few – and you might come to really appreciate it.

10. Bring an umbrella and rain coat!

When it rains in Rome, it pours. There have been many days where I walked outside into a pleasant, blue sky and come back from lunch soaking wet from the rain. It’s quite the experience. The metro tends to flood, the streets sometimes flood, and the whole city seems to come to a screeching halt. Be prepared!

 

Ian Sprouse

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Rome, Italy – Fall 2015

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