Wander With Lindsey

This week, my study abroad group is taking a trip to Rome, Italy. So far I’ve noticed some pretty stark differences between the two major European cities, the first thing that I had noticed is obviously the weather. It may be obvious but I didn’t expect the weather in Rome to be so nice- very sunny and warm and the trees still have their leaves. It’s a nice break from the cold city of Berlin.

I had also found that the streets are in a cleaner state than in Berlin. I’ve seen multiple people here in Rome walking around with brooms and dust pans to clean up a little. While in Berlin, it’s very common to see cigarette butts and debris scattered through the road, sidewalks and even gardens, and it remains there for a long time. 

The third thing I had noticed is there are a lot more shops open on Sundays than in Berlin. While it is nothing compared to the amount of shops open on Sundays in the United States, I found that most cafes, grocery stores and other shops near the main train stations were open. where in Berlin, usually there are only a handful of shops open in the whole city.

On my first night here I attempted to order food in Italian while out with my friends for dinner. But while I was trying to order, I found that I was saying “eine” instead of “uno”. This was something that I found to be super intriguing, to see how my brain processes foreign languages. I know what I’m wanting to say but it accidentally comes out in the foreign language that I’m more comfortable in, which in my case is german

Back in Berlin, I always try to speak German when I can, since I have found it has really helped me to develop my language skills. Especially ordering food or coffee and just trying to use the language, it helps to use the basics in everyday situations.