Sunday, November 11, 2007

Rome's the place for me...



After carefully dissecting the views of Italian doctors and other expats, I ended back to my same conclusion; Rome's the place for me.

The fact is that I need more than medical school. That's why I'm going to Italy.

Padova is a nice town, I've lived there already, but I will learn so much more from a large international city with world class museums and events, a place bustling with people, a large institution, and even the city's chaos. When I weigh everything out, Rome wins hands down! It has so much to offer!

If I were to pass this by, I would regret it for the rest of my life.

6 years in Rome... The people I'll meet. The places I'll see. The events I'll witness. The museums I'll know. So many non-profit organizations have headquarters in Rome. There will be a lot of good and bad, and I will learn from it all, and it will stay with me no matter where I go after medical school.

I've faced enormous challenges all my life, and I've learned from each one of them, and I'm still here. Actually, it makes me who I am.


Photo credit: Christopher McKean Scott, view his photo blog. (Thanks Chris :)

The fact is that I need to balance out science. I don't just want to be another nerd. Life experiences teach me more than any book will ever teach me. That's why I'm going to Rome.

The fact is that I want a large international city with intense culture and history. That's why I'm going to Rome.


Photo Credit: Stuck In Customs Blog, Creative Common License

It's settled.

My father always tells me, "Don't take anything for granted. Once you take something for granted, you fail to savor everything it has to offer, and you are not as happy." While I'm in Rome, I will look around and remind myself of how hard it was to get there, what a privilege it is to live there, and I'll savor every second as if were the last...

I'm sure I'll be challenged every day, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

15 comments:

Giulia said...

Yeaaaaaay for you! I bet it's a weight off your shoulder that you have made your decision! You seem very determined and you would have done well in either city, I'm sure. :) Best of luck to you!

I checked out that 'Stuck In Customs,' blog and OMG, the photos on that blog are BREATHTAKING!!! I want whatever camera they have.

Sara, Ms Adventures in Italy said...

I think you'll really enjoy going to Rome - Padova is nice but I think in Italy it's always great to start big and go smaller later....I loved living there, and the fact you have a scope/goal will be easier, I think! :)

(And now your blog title is 100% true!)

Roam2Rome said...

Ciao Giulia,
Grazie Giulia, and that's the funny part! Looking back, I wonder why I re-considered Padova so seriously, hmmm. Well, Rome it is :)

Isn't Stuck In Customs a great phtoblog? I really wonder what kind of filters he uses!

Ciao Sara!
I love your perspective, and I especially like hearing people say they loved living there :)

Arriving to a place with a definitive goal will definitely influence my view of Rome, and how I enjoy my days... How we approach something definitely changes everything!

Though I must admit I just didn't want to change my blog title! (kidding) ;)

0o_irene_o0 said...

e qui ti stiamo aspettando bella!

Devil Mood said...

I'm so excited for you! :)
Rome is the WORLD !

Unfortunately it's been so chaotic this weekend all over Italy because of the football tiffosi. :(

Anonymous said...

Oh good, now you don't have to change the name of your blog! ;-)

When are you going exactly, do you know yet? It's just that I'll be in Italy in the spring and I would LOVE to meet you in person over a gelato.

Anonymous said...

That's wonderful!!

Rome is such a wonderful place. A place where history gets a dimension of reality.

ryssee said...

Your dad is sure right. Also remember how envious some of your readers might be! ;-)
Someday I'll go for a week or two, but there is nothing like the experience of living somewhere and taking it all in through day-to-day experience.

Geggie said...

Congrats on your decision!

Anonymous said...

Good for you! You are young and should be in a city filled with activity. I wish you every good thing there and hope you will post about your adventures.

Michelle | Bleeding Espresso said...

Woohoo! I don't want you to be just another nerd either (although I really don't think there's any danger of that no matter where you decided to go) ;)

qualcosa di bello said...

your words (& your Dad's too) are a breath of fresh air!!

Roam2Rome said...

Grazie Irenita!
Sicuramente ci vedremo tra poco, okay, va beh, tra pochi mesi :)

Ciao Devlish,
Uf, unfortunately yes, I heard...

Ciao Tina!
Hopefully this Spring, late Spring I should be able to be in Italy.
Though the visa will be issued in August, but I might be able to leave for Rome in April or May :)
Oh, that would be wonderful to meet up in Italy! :) Magari...

Ciao Astrid!
Grazie! Got your e-mail, sounds good to me!

Ciao Rysee :)
That's cute ;) Ah! but see it starts with a 2 week trip, then the city will trap you! I'm telling you...

Grazie Geggie!

Thanks Maryann,
I'll definitely post every little detail with pictures, too :) Okay, maybe not every little detail, but close enough :)

Ciao Sognatrice,
Hehe... you'd be surprised how nerdy I can get sometimes :)

Grazie Qualcosa di Bello,
Somehow my father always knows what to say to me. He has that talent over me :)

Sharon said...

My post evaporated.

A descision is a comforting thing!

Leanne was in Italy now in Australia said...

Rome is just the most wonderfully amazing place to live. I miss living there, and strolling pass the Trevi Fountain as and when I wanted (my favourite monument in Rome - it is over run by tourists, but in the late hours of the night, or early hours of the morning it is beautiful.) I used to say to everyone you cannot be sad in Rome as there are so many things to distract you. Every corner you turn there is something waiting to be discovered!