Its Been One Month!

I have officially been in Italy for one month!! I can't believe how fast this time has gone by! I only have 2 and a half months left, which is crazy and I have already started looking at my schedule for next semester. 

Since I have been here for some time now I definitely have formed opinions about different things that happen here in Italy. The majority of things here I LOVE but there are a few things that are a little irritating.. and since this is the one month anniversary of my trip.. I figured I make a post about what drives me a little crazy about beautiful Italia.

1. EVERYBODY SMOKES CIGARETTES. I mean EVERYONE. I'm sure that there are more smokers than non-smokers in this country. Every time I walk around the city there is smoke blown in my face, and I can't stand it. At home, I would only have to worry about smelling like cigarettes if I were at a bar or party... but here it's EVERYWHERE. Have they not gotten the memo that it is bad for you!? This just baffles me. 

2. YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR WATER EVERYWHERE! I hate having to spend money on bottled water. In my apartment the water is just fine but at restaurants they will not serve you tap water. Usually it's only a few euros a bottle but it still makes me cringe that I have to spend money on something that is normally just given to me. I fell like I am much more dehydrated here than I usually am at home. 

3. The Italian men are SO AGGRESSIVE. I have never experienced so much whistling and so much name calling in all of my life. EVERY TIME I walk down the streets there is someone calling me "bella" or "baby" or something along those lines. They make kissing faces at you and will wink. I have learned the hard way NOT TO GIVE THEM EYE CONTACT. Just keep your head down. It is so hard not to look at them, All I'm wondering is, "who are these fools yelling at me." But if you look at them it just provokes them even more. 

4. Italians don't have DRYERS. Never have my clothes been so stiff in my life. I never thought I would appreciate and miss a dryer so much. My clothes take a day a half to dry in our apartment and they really just don't feel the same. I Can't wait to do laundry at home. 

5. ITALIAN DRIVERS. I feel as if I could be killed every time I cross a street. And the streets are so narrow that when a bus drives by and you are on the sidewalk you feel as if it will take your arm off. I can't imagine ever driving here, although I would fit in since there are so many mini coopers here :)

These are really the only things that I think about and annoy me about this beautiful place. Everything else is pretty much perfection and I am so happy I choose such a wonderful city to study in. 

Ciao, Erica xo