Roman Holiday: Week number one done

First week as an intern with the Rome Sustainable Food Project, American Academy in Rome is done and it's dusted. It was a turbulent first week in Rome, from which I am still adjusting and still acclimatising, but am beginning to feel like it's ok to release the safety belt. Everything from the language, people, style, light (yes, the daylight!), landscape, crazy drivers and overly confident pedestrians to pizzas, pastas, sublime espressos, palazzos, piazzas, forums, history of life as we know it.. and as we don't know it, is what it is to be in Rome on a first glance. I'm looking to embrace what I see as a very different breath of culture which is so strongly 'Roman' and in stark contrast to where I have most recently come from, Ireland. There have been a few barriers, none more significant than the language barrier, of which I know nothing. But the main challenge and priority of my time, is working in the kitchen, which so far has been rewarding and inspiring, gaining a bearing and then getting lost, being acquainted with the fellow interns, acquainting oneself with the fellows, being 'trained' by old interns one day and throwing ourselves into it with a sink or swim attitude the next day. I would like to think we all floated nicely.

It has been utterly amazing every step of the way and I can see the next three months flying by at an aggressive speed, so much that I almost already feel the end approaching, sadly. But in reality, we have a long way to go as a team and as individuals and i'm looking forward (as they say) to the pending journey.

What you will expect to hear from me in the course of the next three months, in regards to my Roman Holiday, are endless references to food, whether it be growing, cooking, eating or feasting. I aim to pick up some local lingo too which is going to require some severe work on my anglo-fied Australian accent with Irish lilt and German throatiness, so I'll see how I go with that.