just another friday

It rained for the first time today since the 10 days i have been here. Grey gloomy day that i suspect was a preview to what winter time will be like in the eternal city. And today, it mirrored my overall outlook on italians and all things italy. dont get me started on italian efficiency. maybe i was just missing home - i said i wouldn't say that again just to give rome a chance, but i do miss the familiar comforts and predictability of Kuala lumpur.

Where were we? My grey gloomy outlook - I was locked out of the apartment in my pajama at 9 this morning. I jiggled and wiggled, somehow the key i had just wouldn't turn - until a neighbour forced it to. At that moment, what i wouldn't give for the chinese efficiency in making key copies that can actually work without you having to have the strength of a bull. ~sigh~

If you were wondering why i was out of the apartment in my pajama (i had a jacket on, and i did brush my teeth before i leave the apartment), i assure you it is not a habit i just picked. i was just delivering a message to our nigerian classmate (two days old in rome!) who was waiting outside. today was just one of those days...

The transportation workers were supposed to be on a strike today. We small people of rome who depend on the public transportation sighed "here we go again". By we, i mean them. it has been one major topic of conversations in class. i on the other hand was a little bit excited at the prospect of watching this italian 'culture' for the first time. alas, at 9.32, kailash (coursemate, friend, motivator) smsed "the trains are working!" and we all went about our day as usual.

Took the Metro B to Termini, changed to Metro A at Termini for the Flaminio stop, walked in the rain for about 1 kilometer, i arrived at the insurance company to purchase my resident insurance. Strange how in Kuala Lumpur the agents would be hounding you and here you do all the work. i guess they save their aggression for something more beneficial...like a strike.

Walked back to Flaminio station, took the Metro A for Termini, saw some people holding flags and banner from inside the coach, changed to Metro B for Basilica San Paolo station, walked another kilometer or so to the nearest PosteItaliane to our apartment to hand over my 'Permesso di Soggiorno' document. After a combination of bad english, unintelligible italian and sign language, the whole thing costed me some 70 odd Euros. on the way back, a driver in a fiat turning the corner screeched to a stop a couple of feet from me as i was crossing the road - the guy in my light was green - go figure.

Walking in rome in autumn is so pleasant if you can handle the psychotic/idiotic drivers. i can walk and walk and walk and continue to walk. today was an exception - it rained. and even then it is somewhat pleasant if you dont mind the soggy shoes.

at home, i toasted some cheese and tomato on bread sprinkled with olive oil. served it with some grapes on the side. bruschetta for lunch. on the balcony. very the italian.

we have 5 days of free days before we hit the statistic background classes next week. we crash-coursed a one term economics course in 24 hours last week. between the curves that are actually straight lines, state of equilibrium that constantly changes and notional neoclassical views on growth/wage that are used to rule the real world, we were all exhausted.

"hey, it's friday night. would you like to do something? onyelkachi is with me, and we can see of thais is free too," said kailash on the line. i had better get ready. it's just another friday afternoon in rome.