These criticisms make you sound like the poor stereotype of the self-centered American who wants to visit other places and expects their culture to cater to what's important to you, instead of you simply experiencing theirs.
Why go to Rome when we can just to to New Jersey to experience authentic Italian culture? In fact, our Italians are better than theirs anyway. #Murica
I like Rome okay. It isn't my favorite because public transportation can't match up with other European capitals, but I still loved it there. Great history, tons of great food, neat atmosphere. On one visit, I was ripped off, and it's incredibly hot in the summer. But that isn't specific to Rome, and I don't hold it against the city. I won't really comment on the OP's experience because I wasn't there to be in any kind of situation to say whether it was failure to accept their culture or not. But I'm sorry you had a bad experience, and didn't enjoy your trip.
I've studied there for half a year, it's truly horrible from an organizational standpoint. The university regularly changed the dates of block courses and exams, you had to check the university website each morning to not be surprised. At one point a course was scheduled to start mid november, but one day before the start they postponed the whole course to mid december and the final exam to Dec 22nd, which of course mightily f****ed us exchange students, as we had our flights booked already. This happened regularly, at one time they even postponed a course from November to March. A few friends live and work there, one told me a story how he had a job interview at 9:30am, but arrived late at 10:00am. To his surprise, no one was there, the HR person then managed to come ONE HOUR later and didn't even apologize or have any reason for arriving late. Many Italians just don't give a crap. This also happens in the service industry, me and a friend were waiting at the tourist info point of a travel association and for over one hour there was no employee at the info desk - and that was during their opening time. The other employees of course didn't give a F, told us to draw a ticket (they always have those darn number tickets everywhere in Italy) and wait.
Yep, expecting people to wait in line, follow rules, or expecting people to do their job is too much to ask.
I liked Rome. In my experience, most Italians are reasonably friendly if you speak the language passably. The thing about lines seems so silly to me, I suggest you avoid Spain.
I have been there. It's a great country. People are pretty friendly even if they can't understand you. I have been to a lot of countries including 10 just this year. I guess some people here have had a good time in Rome. I guess my experience was just a little different. Rome has a smaller economy than Houston, but their city is so much nicer. Wish we could build some buildings like them.
Rome is one of the 3-5 best places on the planet IMO. They are laid back, have an incredible culture and the food is excellent. There are so many other places you can complain about........ go to the culturally devoid and soulless China or the human cesspool that is large areas in India. Even in those places, you as a tourist have the obligation to make an effort to communicate in their language or at a minimum be humble.
