Writing Assignment #1

In my opinion the most impressive qualities of the human race is our ability to communicate. We all under appreciate how important it is to be able to convey our wants and needs to others. There are over 6500 languages spoken today and to think that we can easily communicate with most of these is incredible.

Since being in Rome communication has become a more prominent focus in my daily life. Having to ask directions, order, or just talk is developing into a whole ordeal. Whipping out my handy Italian phrase book every second to do things as simple as asking for a bill. This is the biggest struggle and border that I have faced here.

Seconds after stepping off the plane I already had to face my first challenge. There were signs everywhere. Still a bit groggy from my attempted napping on the plane, I stumbled off with my passport in hand waiting to escape the madness of the crowd. But I was lost. There I stood on the platform… there were two trains. Which one was the one for me? Frantically trying to read all of the signs and flipping through the pages of my Italian phrase book. I turned to ask others on the platform for some guidance. First I asked an old couple. They looked at me almost awestruck that I was speaking to them, then rolled their eyes and jumped on a train. So I turned to a group of people, trying to use a bit more Italian now. “Mi scusi, dov’e borse?” It was almost embarrassing to use my jumbled up words. The group stared at me for a brief second, and then continued their own conversation.

Alright I needed to do this on my own, I would take the next train. While is pulled into the terminal I grabbed my luggage and prepped my self to fight the mad rush of people trying to get on to the train. There was no going back now, the train was moving and I was on it. People were everywhere. We were all mashed together along with tons of rolly suitcases. As we pulled into the next terminal I closed my eyes and wished really hard I had gotten on the right train. The boy next to me seemed to notice my small panic attack. “Don’t worry this takes us to baggage claim,” he said seeming to notice my distress. He was an exchange student from Illinois studying in Turkey for the rest of the semester. We stuck together through customs then we split for baggage claim since I was meeting someone for a ride. Thank god for Americans and their politeness. I never would have thought that it was possible for people to be ruder than Americans. But somehow the Italians have managed.

Through out the week I have only continued to experience the boarder that is setting me apart from everyone. The inability to communicate and speak to people is really starting to get to me. I hope that between Italian class and my own ambition to learn more this border will start to come down. But all I have is time; because I know that it wont happen right away.