A Myanmar in Rome - U Kan Myint ( Retd . Commissioner )

Author U Kan Myint

  When we were in high school we were taught western history . Since then I was interested in Roman Empire which expended to England and France in the west and Asia Minor ( Turkey ) in the East .Nothern parts of Africa also fell under the Empire . It became a powerful Republic between 510 BC to 30 BC and finally to a vast empire uo to the fall in 476 AD by the barbarians. Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire and became headquarters. At that time , Italy was not unfined and divided into many city states or small republics. It was unfined in the late 19^th century and became a Republic in 1948 . So Rome has a lot of history and culture .Actually I had no such an idea that on day I would be in Rome and experiencing the city life myself .

In 1991 , I was serving as a Deputy Director in the General Administration Department , under the ministry of Home Affairs. One day , I sat for the scholarship exminnation which was held by the department . Out of some 150 candidates , I stood first and was selected to be sent to a foreign course . It was an Advanced Administrative Officers Course co-sponsored by the Italian Government and the European Union .

 I left Myanmar on 30^th November 1991 and arrived in Rome on the early morning of 1^st December . An officer from Myanmar embassy came to see me at the airport .It was Sunday . We went to the hotel where I was stay in our embassy car .The morning was quiet and the traffic was sparse .The weather as a bit cold for me .As a person who came from a tropical country I had to suffer the cold winter of Europe .

We arrived at the hotel about 8 o’clock and reported at the reception counter . The clerk took my passport and checked its contents.After a while , he looked at my face and remarked “ you are too young ,aren’t you “ .
Why ? I replied in surprise .Then he gave back my passport and said .
Check your date of birth . I looked at my date of birth and then exclaimed in astonishment . Oh God  ! my date of birth was written as 6^th Feb 1940 . I said… There must be some mistake in some where .Any how . thank you for your kind observance and I will try to correct it . So it must be recorded as my first and foremost experience in Rome .

Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus who were twin brother brought up by a she – wolf in 753 BC.One of th oldest cities in the world , Rome grew up around the seven hills. The Timber river flows through the city , dividing it into two parts . There are many lod and historic building such as St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and the Colosseum , a large  stadium in which Roman soliders and the slaves or the slaves and the wild animals like lions fought each other. Much of the city was being built and planned to shoe the oldest buildings to advantage.

Vatican City

Within the city of Rome , there is another capital called the Vatican City , the capital of the Catholic Church and the head quarter of its leader , the Pope . It is the smallest independent state in the world . It cover 108 acres and has a population of about 1000. St.Peter Basilica is the largest church in the world . The Vatican has its own post office , its own currency , a newspaper and a powerful radio station . There are 18 guards in the Vatican . There are Swiss nationals , and they were the uniform of 18^th century designed by Michael Angelo . Many pilgrims came to the Vitican . We also frequented it on holidays . We used to send our letters home from the Vatican post office , because it took only 10 days to reach our country . If we sent them from elsewhere in Rome it took about month .

Rome is a great tourist and pilgrim resort.Some 18 million foreign tourists come to visit Italy each year. Most of them pass through Rome.So Rome is always crowded with people its citizens and tourists. Practically Rome has no industry or commerence. It thrives on touristm and pilgrimage . Most of the street are narrow and there are a large number of cars , one car for every four persons. So traffic congestion in Rome is the worst in the world . But traffic accidents are few . Some citizens think that Rome has been spoilt by the automobiles .

The citizens are friendly. The atmosphere is always warm and relaxed. No one feels a stranger here.Most of the citizens can not speed English. When we addressed them in English they would reply . Non-Englese . It means that we do not speak English . Conversations can be followed at a distance by watching swiftly changing expression of joy, sorrow and anger . But no body is rude to strangers . Most of the ladies are beautiful and lovely , may be the result of the mediterranean weather.

When you are in Rome do as a Roman does.This well known statement has been heard since I was young .I tried to follow this statement . I tired  to endure the weather , enjoy their food and try to follow their custom and them way of their lives . So after two or three months, I was accustomed to the life in Rome and started to feel like a Roman .I strolled in the streets and the market places and enjoyed city life .Since then , I began to like pizza , cheese and wine . During my six months in Rome , I was quite happy and very pleased . I will never forget these experiences for my life .

Written by U Kan Myint ( Retd . Commissioner ) @ Centenary Magazine of BEHS 1 Wakema ( Yarpyae Magazine )