Eat, Pray, Love...and eat some more

So last night API hosted an English movie night. They took us to see "Eat, Pray, Love" at a movie theater that had American style popcorn. I can see how people wouldn't like that movie, but I loved it. I do like bad movies though.

I must admit that in the beginning when she was in New York, I got really homesick. Especially on the cut of her leaving, when it panned out. I miss my New York streets. But then something weird happened. They showed her leaving, and I mentioned how much I miss home and I thought of how beautiful it was. And the I realized she was in Rome, not New York anymore.

She was standing on the Castel Sant'Angelo looking out at the Vatican. That is part of my daily bus route to school. I realized I associated that as home to some extent as well. This is my home for the next few months, and that area is really part of my everyday experience. Then as she went around the city, I knew everywhere she was going. I walked by those restaurants before, seen those sites, experienced the same type of people. I really loved the part when she was eating gelato with the nuns, because I ride the bus with a group of nuns every day. And I see them everywhere, so that felt very real.

But I have been noticing a lot of things she 'learned' in the movie. Italians know how to live, where Americans know how to work. I keep noticing how much longer the Italian meals are, how they drink to taste every sip, walk slowly and talk loudly. The one that really hits me is how much slower they walk. Being from the city, I tend to hate slow walkers, but being here I keep trying to force myself to slow down and relax. When in Rome, right?

The food though. Don't even get me started on the food. I am not holding back in any sense of the word, I love it so much. Not just eating out, but I love the grocery store and going shopping there. I have been cooking a lot, and I love it.

Long story short I admire the Italian ability to live and enjoy everything. I hope that I can pick up some of that before I leave. They are so much more relaxed, I envy it.