Rome is one of the most interesting cities in the world in that the ancient and the modern are side by side. When you walk down a street, you may be walking in the same steps as Julius Caesar. When you sit down at a cafe, the ancient column you see that is strangely standing before a modern wall may have been part of an ancient temple, or theater, or stadium. Where you happen to be standing may be above an ancient home or palace. There is so much buried under the city that, whenever an expansion of the subway is considered, it takes so much time because they will undoubtedly run into archeological remains that must be preserved, and so a different route must be taken.

And yet, Rome is a modern working city. People go to work (yes, there are rush hours), people go to school, people go shopping, etc. It is also a major tourist city, with many restaurants and hotels, and of course, many monuments to see. In the middle of all this, you will be taking classes and living, just like other Romans.

You'll live in a typical Roman apartment, which generally (yours may be different) has a kitchen with stove and refrigerator (but no microwave ovens!), 2-3 bedrooms that you will share with your roommates (generally 2 to a bedroom), a single bathroom with a shower whose hot water is precious (after one shower the hot water's gone and will take some time to be replenished, so you'll have to schedule your showers or take cold ones), perhaps a washer for laundry (but typically no dryer - everything is hung to dry outside, perhaps in a balcony), and a dining room and living room (perhaps combined). It will be hot and there won't be any A/C. You'll learn that energy is very expensive in Rome, and Romans make do without A/C and so many of the other amenities we have in the USA. You'll probably be living in a building where others Romans live, and so you should respect their need for quietness when it gets late as they need to get up early for work the next day. When you see or walk by someone in the hallway in your apartment building, it is customary to greet them with a smile and perhaps say "salve" (pronounced "sahl veh", which means hello), or "buon giorno" (pronounced "buohn jor no", which means good day), or "buona sera" (pronounced "buoh na seh rah", which means good evening), as you are now part of their living environment.

Outside, you'll see people everywhere. Rome is a city where people dwell mostly outdoors (except in the middle of the day, when it is very hot). There are cafes (which they call bars, where they serve espresso and cappuccino and pastries), pizzerias, and gelaterias (ice cream!) everywhere. You'll find young and old taking walks, sitting at outdoor cafe tables or on park benches, etc. You might hear music coming from some apartment up above - someone practicing their piano or trumpet - in the midst of car horns and vespas (motor scooters) whizzing by on the street below.

Rome's transportation system is expansive and fairly reliable. The bus system will take you just about anywhere you need to go. The metro system is fast, though somewhat limited (again because they cannot dig tunnels too aggressively because of running into and not wanting to destroy any archeological remains). You'll have a transportation pass that allows you to use the buses and metro as much as you like.

Rome is a great city for walking. You may walk down a narrow street, only to see it open up to a grand piazza (a plaza, or square) with a beautiful fountain and great sculptures from the renaissance. Rome is full of churches (you'll hear their bells ringing all the time), that may not appear as special from their outside facade, but inside you'll find a world of art. Many of the famous structures and monuments are easily accessible. The Colosseum is just sitting there in the middle of the city, and you can walk up to it day or night and admire its exterior. At night, it is beautifully lit up, as is the rest of the city.

Rome is a fairly safe city, but it is still a major city, and like all major cities, there is crime. As safe as it may seem walking around, you do need to watch out and be careful. Tourist cities are especially prone to petty theft by purse snatchers and pickpockets (especially on buses and the metro), and Rome has its share. If you leave your bag momentarily on the ground - say just to take a photo - you might not see it again. We had such an incident happen to one of our students, right by the Colosseum. The best approach is simply to be careful: keep your eyes open, be aware of your environment and people around you, keep your bag close to you, don't carry a lot of money or valuables, and avoid being alone (especially at night).

One thing is for certain: living in Rome will be very different than in San Diego! You need to be flexible, as sometimes it can be very frustrating. On the other hand, if you are curious and you approach this as an opportunity for growth, it will be fun and rewarding. At the end of your five weeks, you will know Rome better than most tourists ever will in a lifetime of repeat visits. Someday, you'll return to Rome and be able to say, "I know this city very well, how to get by and get around, and how to live in it and enjoy it."

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You'll encounter a number of important differences living in Rome than in the USA. You might want to purchase a good guide book on Rome, such as Frommer's, which has general tips on living in Rome (or you may do some research on the web). Here are some specific tips: