Life in Treviso: Is it anything like NYC?

My mal di gola (sore throat) has me cooped up in bed with lots of spare time on my hands. And so instead of the usual day-trip to Venice, I spent this Saturday afternoon comparing my old life in New York City with my new life in Treviso. Not surprisingly, I have a long list of differences. I'll summarize as I know it's nearing the hour of cena (dinner) and I wouldn't want to you to miss out on the antipasti!

In New York I...

• Drank Starbucks iced coffee or Chai


• Spoke only English


• Rode the Subway


• Worked in a fast-paced, high-rise office in Times Square


• Saw celebrities and an occasional crime scene on my morning commute


• Lived in a small but lively apartment in the heart of Greenwich Village with an R&B singer and budding fashion designer


• Feared pasta


• Did yoga and was a faithful gym-goer


• Visited my family on the weekends (who I dearly miss)


• Was surrounded by diversity and open-mindedness

In Treviso I...

• Drink ONLY italian coffee. I wonder if I'll ever be able to stomach the "dirty water" again
  
• Speak mostly Italian, some English, and some Itaglish...if you are an expat in Italy you know what I mean. Some of the most common Italglish phrases are: and stop (basta), it's the same (è uguale) and as you prefer (come vuoi)


• Ride a bright yellow mountain bike


• Work in, on average, five different schools a week with Italian children ranging from age 5-20


• See white bunnies, billy goats, old villas and grandmas riding bicycles on my morning commute
  
• Live in a 7-bedroom family-owned flat with 2 doctors, 1 Spanish opera singer, and 3 other mid-20's Italians.


• Cook pasta


• Rely on bike riding and a busy lifestyle to stay fit (so far so good)


• Visit Venice, Verona, Asolo, Padova and soon Barcelona on the weekends


• marvel at the signs of racism that still linger in the minds of the local people. But there is hope: http://www.trevisocittaperta.net/

So to answer my own question, Treviso is NOTHING like New York City. I've pretty much done a complete 180° lifestyle change. Perhaps that's why I am so satsfied? I'm totally out of my element, seeing and learning something new every day. And you'd be amazed what little white bunnies and bike-riding grannies do for the soul.