We arrived on the 20th of September in the Eternal City. I don’t know how to describe it, but this might be the best decision I’ve ever made in my life: moving to a different country, immersing myself in another culture in my twenties. Yes, I’ve been to Rome before—two years ago, to be exact. I fell in love with this city, its people, its culture, and of course, the food.

Let’s start with a typical day. I usually wake up at 7 a.m. because on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I have lessons at 8:30 a.m. I walk to university every morning since it’s only 15 minutes away from our flat. Italians like to have a coffee (espresso or cappuccino) and something sweet for breakfast at their local bar. I usually have some muesli at home, or sometimes I enjoy a croissant and a cappuccino at a bar. There are several close to both our home and the university. Most Italians eat and drink at the bar while standing rather than sitting. I find that interesting, because sitting feels more comfortable to me—but that’s just their way.

Service here is also different compared to Austria. For example, at the bar I mentioned, it’s often self-service rather than table service. You go inside, order at the register, and then hand the receipt to the barista, who prepares your drink or coffee.

Now, about the Italians: they are not punctual. The only thing that runs on time here is the train. For meetings or classes, being ten minutes late is perfectly acceptable. Nobody minds. Life here is very relaxed. If you want to blend in, you’ll end up being a few minutes late yourself. There’s simply no need to rush—it’s in their blood. I adapted to this pretty quickly.

Back in Austria, I cooked once or twice a week because I often ate at the university, and most of the time my mother cooked. Here, I’m completely on my own, and I have to say it’s rewarding work. I’ve really started to enjoy cooking because it’s satisfying to prepare, eat, and taste the result. Most of the time I cook something that I can reheat the next day, which is the most efficient option. Sometimes I grab a bite near the university, and about twice a week we go out to a restaurant, bar, or bakery. The food in Rome is fantastic—you really can’t complain. The prices, the quality, the portions—it’s always enough. Most of the time when we eat out, it’s pizza or pasta, but supplì are also a great choice!

Communication with other people has been wonderful. With Italian students, I like to speak Italian because I studied it for a few years and want to deepen my knowledge again. Sometimes it’s difficult because they speak very fast, which isn’t always easy to follow. With other international students, I speak English—or German, if they can. One thing I’ve noticed is that French students often struggle with English, so they usually stick together in groups.

I really like it in Rome, and there’s no place I’d rather be right now!