So my mind and body could not physically process the fact that I am in a different country. Whenever I got off the flight to Italy, I looked around and felt I was still in the United States. Walking through the airport, I started to see signs written in Italian and of course went through customs to get my passport stamped. However, that was not enough for me to believe that I am in a different country.
When I boarded the bus, I started to see cars on the road, which was kind of comforting. Last year, I purchased a silver Ford Focus sedan (my first big girl purchase!) that I named Lucy, and I was determined to find a Lucy on the road. However, as we traveled from the airport to Rome, I noticed something strange. There were literally no sedans on the road! It was all hatchbacks and Smart Cars.
I decided to do some research. I learned that in Europe, vehicles on the road tend to be 90 percent hatchback and 10 percent sedan. Meanwhile, in the United States, this trend is the opposite. Some suggest Europeans like hatchbacks for fuel efficiency, while others suggest Europeans like hatchbacks because roads in Europe are tight.
It is funny to me that something as odd as cars could set in that culture shock for me. Eventually, I was able to find the Italian Lucy.
The pictures below are my Lucy.
The picture below is the Italian Lucy.
While the picture above is not the best quality, the Focus logo on both cars is the same. This difference is shocking to me.
As I am writing, I can finally accept the fact that I am no longer in the United States.
Overall, I am satisfied with my first day in Rome. I got to see some cool sights, eat amazing pasta and gelato, and walk on cobblestone roads. Rome is a neat place, and I cannot wait to see what else this trip has in store for me.
I retrieved the info regarding hatchbacks in Europe here: http://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1147351.