Thoughts of a Modern day Roman

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Miscellaneous by: Giorgio Merillo

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Status: Finished | Genre: Young Adult | House: Booksie Classic

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A short narration of my life as a 22 year old suburban in Rome, Italy. Talking about the modern struggle of the youth for emotions, love and friendship in an Italian context.

Submitted: November 28, 2017

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Submitted: November 28, 2017

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2000 years after the powerful Roman Empire that shook the world.......

Hello, I am Giorgio Merillo, an American educated Italian. I am 22 years old and I have always lived in Rome's suburbia, a few miles from the historical center of Italy's capital.

I would like to narrate a moment of my life in suburban Rome, just 5 miles from the historical center, where pools of tourists fall in love with the intimacy and candor of the piazzas and narrow streets.

But first if you wish I will talk about what Suburban means.

What do you think makes a lifestyle suburban? Is it living in a residential setting far from commercial and public activities? How can we determine that a house is far from such places of social activity, whether a super market or a cafè, when we can access these activities and meet people online? For example can have products shipped to our homes, and we can meet our best friend virtually with sound and video. There.....In an electronically connected world, togetherness, distance and friendship seem to escape the rhythm of space and time.....

So here is my story. I was walking from my house to the gym where I train, the only place of gathering nearby. As I am walking I am asking myself why I am so lonely, " Giorgio, in a society whose culture is ruled by capitalism and private endeavors, why do you keep on searching for company in your suburban neighborhood? Don't you know you need a hobby or an affiliation to a group to meet people?"

" I know" I answer myself, "but I think friends don't need to work on something in common, they can just be friends..." For many miles the down hill road is lined with 4 or 5 floor apartment buildings, just residential and very quiet. Sometimes I wonder what everyone is doing in their homes. I never see anyone, except for when they bring their dogs out for a walk. Yes, it is a posh neighborhood and people pay good money to live in peace. The other side of the coin sadly is that they also often live in loneliness. There are diamonds in the houses, and dog poos on the streets. The wealthy wives peep their botoxed faces out of their SUV cars as they race to maintain their aestheticism, as their children are stuck home having trouble to socialize and grow emotionally.

Gravity is pulling my thoughts down hill, as I am thinking of the beautiful girl who works at the gym's front office. "Whooops!! I almost stepped on one!" I thought. Whenever I walk by her she is kind and she looks at me. I should really speak to her. Maybe in this way, with love, I would break the apathy that fills the wealthy suburbs of Rome, and break free from this world that wants my attention for money, and not for love. I see on a facade of a building an Ancient Roman styled mosaic that is breaking off and I think of how decadent Rome has become, or am I the one who is decadent at 22 years old?