I’m in Rome to speak to the National Association of Broadcasters on new media. One of my favorite things to do in a new country is find differences between it and New York. To be honest, without sound, people looked and moved the same as they do in New York. Little kids play video games; Beautiful women wave to oversized men; the stylish and bold wear puma sneakers, jeans and sports coats.
The Mcdonalds, however, is quite different. Near the Spanish steps, the Mcdonalds is more family gathering place than fast food joint, filled with festive noise and good ole American joy.
Perhaps the biggest difference, at least the most apparent one for me, is to be without a mobile phone for a week. I’m having to call and check messages. I can’t change my plans on the fly. It’s so very 1998.
Rome seems as connected as any major American city, integrating the virtual world with the every day. I know that should I need to learn about the city, I could reach out the blogging community–a AAA card of sorts, and find myself in like-minded company.
