Things to do, and things not to

Things I've learned thus far in Roma:

1. Don't expect anyone to speak English. They all speak Italian.
2. Learn Italian. You will be lauded for your effort and abilities.
3. Look in strange places to flush the toilet and turn on the water.
4. Don't expect hot water.
5. Make friends with an Italian, or many Italians.
6. Ride a Vespa.
7. Get used to crowded transportation.
8. Leave plenty of time to get places, because you will probably get lost.
9. Always carry a map.
10. Relax.
11. Sometimes the bus comes every ten minutes. Sometimes the bus never comes.
12. Learn to give and get directions.
13. Pay at the counter, then order.
14. Look up words you will need to know before you go somewhere.
15. Learn to bargain.
16. Never fail to be polite.
17. Never refuse an invitation.
18. Never outstay your welcome.
19. Keep an open mind, and suck in the experience.
20. Wear layers to shed when walking uphill or riding a hot, packed, steamy tram.
21. Learn the routes.
22. Get on public transport, go somewhere you are completely unfamiliar with, then wander.
23. Do as the Romans do. That means smoking cigarettes, even if you're the most vehement non-smoker (like me).
24. Don't expect anyone to have your American sense of urgency.
25. Bring an umbrella.
26. Venture so much that it hurts. That means it's worth it.
27. Go to every museum.
28. Go to every ruin.
29. Go to the cat sanctuary at Largo Argentina and pet the cats daily, or at least weekly.
30. Bring your own bags to the store.
31. Figure out whether you should serve yourself at the fruit and vegetable stand (mi posso servire?)
32. Show off your talents in front of the Pantheon.
33. Drink a caffè daily.
34. Spend more time in Rome, and less time traveling Europe.
35. Learn to roll your Rs.
36. Take more mental photos and less digital ones.
37. Smile at people. They'll know you're American, but sometimes it will be well-received.
38. Ask Italians for help, in Italian. They are friendly.
39. Figure out the postal service.
40. Get rain boots.
41. Practice your pronunciation by reading Italian books aloud.
42. Take your caffè at the counter.
43. Cook your own food. It's fresh.
44. Get falafel.
45. Know how much something costs before you order it. Otherwise, you might end up with a 15 euro cone of gelato.
46. Always have cash.
47. If you don't pay for public transport, always have 50 euro on you. If you can't pay the fine on the spot, it goes up to 100.
48. Pay for public transport.
49. If you are in dire need of American food, go to T Bone station in Trastevere.
50. Refuse to get sick of pizza and pasta.
51. Prepare to walk, and walk, and walk some more. And then climb stairs. And then walk uphill. And then climb more stairs. And then walk more.
52. Go to Le Fate restaurant in Trastevere.
53. Learn the neighborhoods.
54. Talk to your cab driver in Italian.
55. Get Chinese food. It's Italianized, not Americanized. 
56. Go to the parks.
57. Look nice. No one goes out in sweatpants.
58. Wear a coat, even if you think it's warm. The Italians are accustomed to extremely hot summers, and they will look at you like you are crazy if you are anything less than bundled up in March. They will also make comments.
59. Go on dates.
60. Get out of your apartment. Don't budget time to explore -- budget time to be in your apartment. Always be out.
61. Always remember that you're here to study.
62. Be quiet. The walls are thin.
63. Know that everything runs 15 minutes behind schedule.
64. Embrace the disorganization.
65. Prepare for transportation strikes.
66. Learn to tell people in Italian that there is a transportation strike.
67. Get an Italian cell phone. Don't try running around without one for two months.
68. Make a budget, and keep to it.
69. Don't worry too much about getting hit by a car. The Italians are usually respectful of pedestrians. But you also might get hit. So watch out.
70. Study the history.
71. Always know what you are looking at.
72. Watch out for the dog leftovers on the street. It's everywhere.
73. Know that the moment you leave the bus stop, a bus will come. And if you don't leave the bus stop, it will never come.
74. Stay up-to-date on Italian current events. It's very political, and people care.
75. Don't expect anything to be open on Sunday.
76. Go to a Latin mass.
77. There's barely such a thing as waiting in line. It's more like bustling through a cluster.
78. Appreciate the beauty that surrounds you. Find beauty even in things unbeautiful.
79. Learn the different types of caffè you can order.
80. Don't try to use American appliances in Italy. Buy Italian appliances. And always have converters.
81. Document your experiences.
82. Write at the Coliseum.
83. Study at the ruins.
84. If you must travel, do it within Italy. There's too much to see to justify leaving.
85. Abandon your American inclinations, and become a Roman.
86. Love the culture.
87. Embrace every moment, every pleasure, every irritation, every person.
88. Rue the day you will have to return home, and try not to think about it. It's a downer.
89. Don't get mad if you are nudged. It's crowded. It's common.
90. Watch for pickpockets.
91. Get involved on campus. Go to the events.
92. Go on university excursions.
93. Study the archaeology.
94. Go to the basilicas, regardless of whether you're religious.
95. Look around the hole-in-the-wall shops.
96. Gaze at Very Famous Ceilings, so much that your neck hurts.
97. Know you will face the touristic self-loathing, and know you will adjust.
98. Use audio guides. You need to know what you are looking at!
99. Take notes.
100. Gaze at the city from the highest elevation you can find.
101. Go to a concert.
102. Have fun getting lost.
103. Enjoy Roma's past, Enjoy her present, and Enjoy their juxtaposition.
104. Order un cornetto alla crema. It's the best pastry in the world.

More to come soon :) And a basic summary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ10QTIXlEA