A little Private to Public please!

There are many different ideas that come to mind when thinking of the transition from public to private and vice versa. For me, the example that most stands out in my mind is the huge transition I made when moving to Rome for 6 weeks with 2 people that I barley know. I am the only child in my family, therefore my wants, needs, likes, dislikes, and living lifestyle in general is centered around me. Going aboard to Rome was not only a chance for me to feel and see a foreign country better but also a chance for me to learn to live on my own without the constant help and support of my parents. My whole privet life was at home. Now, my privet life is on show for two people I barely know. I know one of my roommates for about 1 and ½ year and still feel as though everyday is a learning experience. We are all single children in our families and all have to put out our privet ways of life in “public” for each other. I am not used to share anything with anyone. We plan who showers when because hot water is an issue an issue in our apartment.
I am very proud of myself and them, because we are all shoved into this environment in which we have to understand each other’s needs and wants. Every person has their own individual pet peeves and ways of going about life. I hope that by the end of my trip I will have no doubt in my mind that I can survive on my own. If I will rely on my parents just a little less when I come home to Philly, I will consider this trip as a success in every way.

When looking at this adorable couple kissing and cuddling in the park I knew this was the best example of privet to public transition. Their feelings for one another were privet but where in a public area for all to see. Their openness next to a beautiful fountain just reminds me how romantic Rome can be.

While passing on a little street, I noticed this gate around a beautiful building that was gated off from the street. It made me think, the owners of this home wanted to keep their lives privet but this gate let public eyes look into their little “sanctuary.” Anyone…like my camera can take any moment and save it for themselves.

There are many different ideas that come to mind when thinking of the transition from public to private and vice versa. For me, the example that most stands out in my mind is the huge transition I made when moving to Rome for 6 weeks with 2 people that I barley know. I am the only child in my family, therefore my wants, needs, likes, dislikes, and living lifestyle in general is centered around me. Going aboard to Rome was not only a chance for me to feel and see a foreign country better but also a chance for me to learn to live on my own without the constant help and support of my parents. My whole privet life was at home. Now, my privet life is on show for two people I barely know. I know one of my roommates for about 1 and ½ year and still feel as though everyday is a learning experience. We are all single children in our families and all have to put out our privet ways of life in “public” for each other. I am not used to share anything with anyone. We plan who showers when because hot water is an issue an issue in our apartment.

I am very proud of myself and them, because we are all shoved into this environment in which we have to understand each other’s needs and wants. Every person has their own individual pet peeves and ways of going about life. I hope that by the end of my trip I will have no doubt in my mind that I can survive on my own. If I will rely on my parents just a little less when I come home to Philly, I will consider this trip as a success in every way.

Some pics I thought showed public and privet in Rome are:

Ahh...Rome's "Broken Technology"

Rome is strange enough as it is, especially when compared to Philadelphia. I thought Rome was going to be some heavenly, beautiful, crystal clean, and modernized place. Well I got 2 out of 4 right. Crystal clean…definitely not and modernized…haha. Ok well maybe to some extent, but with everything that does not work or takes 20 minutes to understand how it works defiantly takes the fun out of the whole Rome experience I was expecting to have…none the less any experience is better then sitting at home in Philadelphia doing the same thing everyday.


My experience in the restaurant Jonathin’s Angels, described as one of the best little restaurants/bars in Rome, was quite an interesting one. I was out with some friends, enjoying the night life of Rome when we decided to sit down for a drink at Jonathin’s Angels. Well, after a lot of water (haha) and some wine, I decided I defiantly needed to check into the bathroom. As I stroll into the room with the bathroom, I wake into this gothic like room with many pictures or the most random things, dark lighting, this aroma that basically takes over you (not in a good way), candles everywhere…ok it defiantly reminded me of a sacrificial room. I wanted to go to the bathroom…not get tortured. Then you see a weird tub like fountain with god knows what because you can barley see and smell. When I finally turned to the left I saw a hole in the ground with a type of toilet seat to maybe stand on and to aim??? I am still not sure because let me tell you…I definitely did not take my chances with that bathroom…I fall everywhere as it is.


Another example of just how comfortable Rome is…is my apartment. I decided with my friends to rent an apartment because it would be better in all aspects: space, privacy, air conditioning, two bathrooms, and general comfort. When we first arrived we thought it was perfect and so was the landlord. But when taking a second glance…things in the house are extremely old, my air conditioner does not work (which is horrible because the heat is coming!), lamps are not working, dressers do not open because they are too old, TV has 3 channels, and all the other problems come as we keep living…so I will update later. Ahh what is a girl to do…but I do love having this apartment and feeling as thought, even just for 6 weeks, that I am totally independent. You don’t get that much of that feeling when your best friends are your parents and when you’re the only child that is considered the oxygen of the family.
: )

The invisible city

There are so many interesting things that go on behind the tourists attractions, the shopping, and the gelatos (even though they are all wonderful) in Rome. When I look at the Rome I see and feel the life that breaths through every person, the never-ending winding streets, the piazzas, and in the ancient buildings. After a sweaty and exhausting day of classes, on my way home, when i was walking into the termini station, the first thing I noticed was a group of white blobs slowly working through the array or tourists and natives. When I took a second glance, I noticed they blobs were actually cute, little, old women who were probably part of some religious group. They were dressed in white, in sneakers, and little black pocket books. Their appearance made me want to stare at them, partly because I am Russian and that’s what we do, but also because they were so clean and pure. They stood out from the crowed of the many frantic people. I thought they are the perfect representation of the invisible Rome because even though Rome is a city that has changed through time, we can still see representation of religious people following old traditions.

What I carry with me

What I carry with me

My sun glasses that I bought in Odessa, which I love and never want to lose, are a warm constant reminder of my vacation to my birthplace. Ever since I was little I would always ask my parents and grandparents to tell me stories about Odessa and what it was like. When my grandmother would make a certain salad, she would say that this smell of fresh tomatoes and cucumbers with a splash of oil and a dash of salt was the common salad her mother made for her and that she makes now for her family. Therefore, from her stories, I have always associated this smell with Odessa. When I arrived in the beautiful city, the smell came back and I understood what my parents and grandparents have always described. As for the rest of the things in my wonderful IMTA (international Modeling and Talent association) bag, there are the very important tissues because I feel as though I am allergic to Rome. When coming to Italy I imagined hat all my problems, including my allergies, would magically disappear—I guess that naive dream didn’t come true. The Advil and Sudafed are also in every bag I own. I feel like I carry a pharmacy with me because my mother is a nurse and Russian which a scary combination. If I cough or sneeze I will have a Sudafed shoved down my throat. My Clean Hands bottle is also a key ingredient in the bubble that my parents would love to surround me in if they could. My dad is a clean lover or lets me honest, a clean freak. Don’t get me wrong clean hands are great! My wallet from Betsy Johnson I got just for Rome because it is the perfect size. I love her and her cooky designs. Ok the extra shoes I carry with me are a comfort factor. The day before I almost died because my feet hurt so badly I thought that was the last day I could every use them again. So…thinking I would be smart and bring some other shoes to help better my foot experience. A notebook…of course take notes for my very important classes: Neighborhood Narratives and Art History. My Camera is my best friend because I love taking pictures to remember every moment in my life because well who knows when amnesia might come knocking...just kidding. I have a cell phone for those emergences, for example if I need to call taxi to come pick me up because I only noticed after 30 min of waiting with my friends at bus stop that the bus does not come on Sundays. As of right now, the garlicky smell of the first chicken legs that my friends and I have prepared together are almost ready! MmMm Can't Wait!