Day 2 – Rome - Saturday, January 4th 2014: Ms Vial

Aside from the many sites one can visit and explore in any city/country, the most interesting aspect about travel is the chance meetings you have, at the most unexpected times, with people who either live in the country or are passing through. It’s easy to become insular and self-protect at home, but travel forces you out of this zone and helps you enter into another way of thinking and living.

You actually don’t need to travel very far, or see anything too extraordinary, to form an impression of a city. A brief walk around the area where we are presently staying – about 5km from central Rome – offers a glimpse of life here and you can’t help but make comparisons with home.

• Cyclamems appear to be very popular here and obviously grow well in this climate; I’ve seen them everywhere in the last few days.

• English music can be heard everywhere here.

• Apartment buildings are everywhere and most people live in an apartment.

• In general, the cars are so much smaller; no doubt a reflection of the limited parking spaces available.

• And there are a lot of people doing it tough; lots of foreigners trying to make a buck selling cheap goods on the streets.

As much as I can appreciate everything Europe has to offer, I know I’m privileged living in Australia. You may be surprised to know that those I have already spoken to here to date consider our country some sort of Eldorado, and their eyes light up when they discover where we are from.

-The other good thing about travel: You get a chance to sit down and talk to students and friends, outside school.- usually at the end of the day. I don’t know about you, but sitting down and having a chat is a rarity in my home and that’s sad. Unfortunately, it is becoming all too common with the busyness of life. – My New Year’s resolution is to change that.

-The most annoying thing about travelling abroad: tapping into a travel card that actually works!

Tania Vial