That said, all I knew was the city is infamous for tourism and the movie “Roman Holiday.” I didn't know much about what to expect when I moved in.
First of all, I was looking for a room on Spot a Home, but I couldn't find good options. so I ended up signing a long-term contract with Airbnb, for the second time while I am studying in Erasmus. It is a one-bedroom apartment, and although it is small, a separate living, dining, and kitchen area from the bedroom is all I really need. Rent averages around 1050 euros per month (the average price depends on the month; the average rises only because September is so expensive.) I think it's a little pricey in the eyes of locals, but it wasn't a bad option for a short stay as an international student. Some students pay 850 euros for a shared apartment in the city center, so I would say my place is not so bad.
The area is called Quartiere VIII, which is located in the southeast of the city of Rome. Depending on the time of day, it takes about 40 minutes to an hour to commute to/from the University of Sapienza, where I will be attending this semester. It would be much more convenient if the metro was a little closer, but the new metro, which is rumored to be under construction, is supposed to take several years to complete.
There are many immigrants in this area, and it seems that the population of Bangladeshis and Chinese is overwhelmingly larger than that of Italians. The rent of the area is not expensive, and for that reason, there is a student population as well. According to European prejudice, areas with large numbers of Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Chinese immigrants are generally considered dangerous areas. This area looks dangerous at first glance, but after living here for a month, it appears actually safe. Actually, it’s quite handy that the streets are lined with Chinese supermarkets. Other restaurants and markets are also relatively inexpensive areas, so it's quite helpful for a student. It is also a relatively quiet area with few tourists as it is away from the city center.
While there are many good things about living in this area, there are also bad things. First of all, the area is very dirty. Rome itself is a dirty city with a lot of trash, but this area, in particular, has dog droppings everywhere and no one cleans it up. It's hard to walk on the sidewalk. Also, people are washing their feet on the sidewalk, and there are puddles here and there. I think this is a custom for Muslims, but as someone from a non-Muslim country, I personally don't really understand why people do it on the sidewalk, which is a public area.
Also, the tram is very slow. When I chose this area, I thought that if there was a tram, it would be faster and more convenient than the bus. In fact, it's a shockingly old tram that occasionally breaks down in the middle of the route and stops working. You get off there and walk to the university. The locations of the stations are also a mystery because there is always a station immediately after the intersection. Due to this strange placement of the stations, first, the tram stops at the red light, and then immediately after, it stops again at the station. Since the train makes two stops at each station, it takes the same amount of time as the bus running on a busy road. Moreover, it is quite crowded in a shaky car, so just going to school is quite exhausting. It takes the same amount of time as walking. Not to mention the frequent strike of public transportation...
The last bad side is, although the distance to the city center is close, it takes about an hour at the fastest if you go by public transportation. I would like to visit as many places as possible during my stay in Rome, but it takes more than two hours to get there and back. My weekend sightseeing is not so easy.
In Portugal and Greece, it was only 5-10 minutes on foot from the school, so commuting to school was easy-breezy. When I finally get used to Rome, I will probably move again, but I would like to see and absorb as many interesting things as possible during my stay here.
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