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snaggle

On Successes

by snaggle at 02:43 PM on September 30, 2003

One of the most intriguing things about living abroad is that every minor task you succeed in completing turns into a major triumph, worthy of laurel wreaths and a trumpet fanfare. Coming from the Midwest, where most everything one could need is a short car trip away to the nearest Target or Wal-Mart, I have been used to a life where the minor necessities of life are easily procurable. In big cities, it is of course a little different. Instead of the big Target in town, you can hit up the neighborhood hardware store, grocery store, electronics store, or whathaveyou to find what you're looking for.

Italy, however, is just a little different. First of all, you have the "small specialty store" problem, just like in many big cities. Next, you have the problem found in old cities of tiny streets, difficult-to-read signage, and the tendency to get completely lost in a maze of streets that make a bed of spaghetti look like Mondrian. This one's especially relevent here in the centro storico or historic center of Rome, where even Roman natives have to ask for directions.

Then of course you have the problem of language. While I have a good working knowledge of Italian, specific nouns like "power strip" or "wireless router" or "laundry hamper" just aren't really in my vocabulary and are rather difficult to translate, even with the help of phrase books and dictionaries. Sometimes the combination of broken Italian, hand gestures, and Italian-accented English conveys the general idea of what I want. More often than not, I have to rely to spy with my two eyes the item that I want. I'm sure there have been numerous incidences of pan-city odysseys on a mission to locate an item, when it was actually available at the first store I went to, just not out in plain sight.

One other problem that may not be immediately obvious is the logic of placement. You can see this one pretty easily wherever you are; for example, one roommate's 'common logic' would dictate that her room is an appropriate place to store two weeks' worth of dirty dishes, while you would prefer the sink - or better yet, the dishwasher. You see the same thing in different stores. Are Kleenex in Housewares or Health & Beauty? Are candles in Housewares or Crafts? Are condoms in Apparel or Entertainment? Now you have the same thing in Rome, only with "Italian Logic" applied to it. Power strips? You wouldn't find that in an office supply store! That's hardware! Fresh meat in a supermarket? You have to go to a butchery! A hairdryer in a beauty supply store? That's hardware too! A hardware store open at 3 p.m.? What planet are you from?

I'm working on it, at least. After attempting to find said power strips at said office supply store (and then having to buy a pencil and eraser so I wouldn't look like a stupid American wandering into the store in search of something they obviously wouldn't have...) I decided to go for a little walk to walk off my frustrations. By some major stroke of luck, I not only remembered that I had once passed a hardware-looking-store in the area, and how to get there (more or less), but it was even open. Stepping inside and carefully avoiding the notice of the elderly proprietor of the shop, I proceeded to have a little look around to ascertain if this was, indeed, where I would find the item that would make me a living saint in our household, so we could finally stop stealing power outlets from each other in order to charge our laptops. I almost immediately spied power strips after only a few seconds feigning interest in bike chains, and I carefully selected three to exponentially increase the electricity usage of our apartment (at €0.40 / kwH.) Finally, €32 later, I emerged from the ferramenta, extremely pleased with myself and ready to celebrate my accomplishments with a major night on the town.

comments (2)

You go, Snaggle! I've only been abroad for a week or two at a time, but I totally identify with the feeling of helplessness you describe. Where the one thing you really need might be just paces away, but you'll never know! Because you can't speak the language! And foreigners might so have the advantage here, because they can hop into America, not know a speck of English, and still have a fairly good chance of getting whatever they want inside a Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, even a Rite-Aid or Sav On.

Please write more about Rome, because I love Italy! I'm currently trying to convince my friends to make a trip there next year. And please do tell if the men in Rome are as hot as they are in Florence... ; )

by jean at September 30, 2003 3:03 PM


I often feel that way in our cavernous Lowe's right here in the US of A. Where do you suppose AC filters would be? Why in with the plumbing supplies, where else?

Why the sudden craving for power strips?

by anna at September 30, 2003 5:12 PM