I have spent a little over two weeks in Rome for my spring study abroad program. I offer this reflection for several reasons. Firstly, it is a self-initiated wellness check to the Notre Dame study abroad office since I have neglected to press “mark as read” on several tabs of my student portal.
Secondly, it serves as a summary of the past few weeks in a new foreign city for whoever is interested in my life. Whereas others’ schedule routine phone calls with friends and family while they are abroad or, better yet, create an online newsletter, I write columns.
Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, this article is targeted toward those ND students, and even all American students, who think life in Europe is categorically superior to that of America.
After two weeks, the phrase that reoccurs in my head is “American industriousness.” The “rise and grind” mentality is ingrained in the American DNA — it’s how we won two world wars. It is the reason why we have McDonald's open 24 hours and same-day delivery. We are needy people who need our packages and Big Macs delivered ASAP. Admittedly, I am — and so are you — the beneficiaries of American industriousness; we uphold convenience and efficiency as virtues.
On the other hand, in Rome, the mentality could be described as “Italian leisure.” It bewilders me that a store opens at 9 a.m. and randomly closes for 2-3 hours in the middle of the day. Pedestrians rarely walk faster than I do, and drivers courteously give me the right-of-way while on a sidewalk. Where are the towering skyscrapers with dozens of floors? Where are the monolithic glass office complexes? Where are the wholesale grocery stores? How does everyone have time to walk their pet labradoodle randomly in the middle of the afternoon? I have more questions than answers at this moment. However, I set aside my judgment of whether American industriousness or Italian leisure is the best way to live life.
But other ND study abroad students do not reserve judgment and immediately jump on the bandwagon of European life. I offer a few speculatory claims for why they might do so. Firstly, they use their parents’ credit card. Of course, your study abroad experience would be enhanced if every expense was offloaded to someone else. You could, in fact, embark on extravagant vacations to Malta or Prague or Florence — every weekend — if you knew mommy or daddy would pay for it. I have nothing against trust fund babies; I just would qualify their exaltations of European life on account of their false reality being one living in the highest echelon of any city they visit.
Secondly, the drinking and nightlife culture is more liberal. Rome is the place where wine and beer flow like water. Italian young people drink a lot, smoke a lot and club a lot. Of course, this life would be attractive to a Notre Dame student, especially one just itching to drink or one with a dormant addiction to nicotine. It is like when a toddler gets its hands on sugar — they just can’t get enough! Moreover, nicotine addictions are not met with public disapproval but rather an offer for a cigarette.
Thirdly, these students are not interested in consuming protein or meat. These two are sparse in the Mediterranean diet, and I suppose they are okay having egg, flour and water for dinner rather than a well-marbled 16-oz medium-rare ribeye steak.
Up to this point, I have been ambiguous about what my actual opinion on the study abroad experience in Rome is. Simply put, I am having an incredible time. The eternal city is not for everyone, namely those who could not care less about Greco-Roman history or those who hate the Catholic Church. But this city is, in many ways, for someone like me. I see what Italian society gets right that American society doesn’t, and I see what American society gets right that Italian society misses. There is value to both lifestyles, and each of us is predisposed to one more than the other. What I can say from my experience thus far is that life is much more humble. The American luxuries, which include but are not limited to air conditioning, massive meals, free water at restaurants, clean bathrooms and car travel, are no longer afforded to me. It does take a degree of adapting to this, but the tradeoffs are well worth it.
Thus, there is plenty more to be said about my reflections on living in Rome. Perhaps, I shall continue this discussion in my next column, which would rank me among the many insufferable ND juniors who cannot stop talking about their semester abroad. Ciao!
Jonah Tran is a junior at Notre Dame studying finance and classics. He prides himself on sarcasm and never surrendering. You can file complaints to Jonah by email at jtran5@nd.edu.
