Welcome to Rome

Our mother has been absent since the day we founded Rome, but there’s gonna be a party when the wolf gets home

The above line is a lyric—the chorus actually—from “Up the Wolves” by the Mountain Goats, a band definitely on my “must see live every time it is reasonably possible” list. I’ll admit that before Sunday night during my flight to Rome, I never actually understood what that line meant, but now it seems fairly obvious that it is being sung by Romulus and Remus, the mythological founders of Rome. Turns out, being given an apartment in a foreign country is a lot like having a revelation about the true meaning of a song you’ve loved for years.

At the airport, my school corralled all of us wide-eyed Americans and sent us to our apartments in vans. Welcome to Europe. So, here’s the deal: my apartment is tight. It’s only me, my friend David from school, and this other kid Daniel, who turns out to be really great. We have a lot of room, and most importantly, the precious honey that is wifi internet. It’s the little things that I really love about this place though: the key is giant, the water out of the tap tastes great, and we’re above the only Chinese place I’ve seen so far (read: zuppa di won ton). The three of us have already gotten lost several times, trying to guess the right way until finally we break down and ask someone, “Dov’ è la via trastevere?” And then usually it isn’t hard to figure out where we’re going. Rome is large, confusing, and the term “urban planning” doesn’t really apply. But, it is more or less well connected with busses, trams, and subways. More on that later I’m sure. Definitely more on the food soon. There’s not much to do this week, so it’s time to get to know the city better and start planning the first trips. Things are looking good.