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Published: December 5th 2005
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Drink!
Ah, I love vino! The difference between visiting and living abroad may lies in the grocery shopping. Our newest favorite grocery store is called DiPerDi, which is strategically located nearby the Vatican outer wall, merely five minutes walking from our apartment.
There are too many things to list the difference between DiPer and grocery shopping back home in the U.S. Firstly, there are fewer selections on items; for example, there are only two kinds of cereal choices, one kind of milk (half a gallon in a card box), and to my dismay, there is no 2% milk, ramen noodles, ranch dressing, or Mt. Dew (typical American). Bread is measured by its weight instead of loafs, so my first day grocery shopping ignorance resulted a big chunk of bread, since I asked for 'due killi di pane' - two kilos of bread, which I had no idea of its measurement.
(I am still trying to figure out what would you call 'ramen noodles' in Italian. I tried 'pasta di cinese' - Chinese pasta, but the store helper only looked at me blankly as clueless as I was).
Secondly, checking out your purchased items turn out to be a stress out experience. As we
Emma and food
Finally, Emma eats an authentic Italian! learned it a little too late, one needs to provide his/her own groceries bag prior to checking out. It is not a big deal if you forget your bags, there are plenty provided by the checking out counter - except it will cost you €0.05 per bag. I also learn the phenomenal behavior; all Italians seem to have exact change to the cent when they check out their items. When I handed out a €20 bill for my €11.74 groceries, the lady behind the counter was so frustrated and felt like she needed to yell at me for such insult.
Ah. La mia Italia.
After studio on Friday (housing and neighborhood observation), Pia brought us to an Italian food store in Testaccio to sample many Italian delicacies. According to Pia, this particular store is famous for its 'excellent quality of cheese' - for the result, we are obligated to sample some five different amazing Italian cheese, along with
prosciutto, and sauce.
The laid back Italian culture also is reflected in their parties.
We had several encounters to experience such party, notably of those of Pia's and Mira's. Mira lives in the Pigna neighborhood nearby Pantheon, on
Vino
Ahh Italian wine. the top two levels apartment building. Her terrace was prepped with excellent Italian food such as crackers, prosciutto, cheese, meat, and plenty of vino - wine. It was an amazing experience to end the day on top of a Roman terrace, while watching the sunset over some red tiles rooftops and churches.
After thanking Mira for her hospitality, we headed over 's apartment in Trestavere by riding the light tram from Piazza Argentina, across the Tiber River. We played the spoon, while drinking ala American (classy Bailey's Irish cream and wine?).
Drinking alcohol in Italy is equivalent to drinking sparkling water in the United States. One of our favorite things to do while in Rome is to grab a couple of beer or wine from local grocery stores, then walking around town while enjoying the open container and people watching in some famous Roman site. Chilling by the lively Spanish Steps, watching the night goes by.
Of course we have tried the infamous Roman bar hopping - American style. Occasionally, some people recognize us coming from the United States, and hand us pamplets of this bar hopping activities which involves getting together
Italian cuisine
Prosciutto, a thin slice of ham ala Italia. in a determined tourist spot (the Colosseum). After paying some initiation fee (€10), we were given a wrist band and start going to different bars around town to binge drinking.
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