Okay, so clearly everyone knows that plugs in the US look like this:
And most people also know that this is not what they look like in Europe. Also, the voltage is different here in Rome; while in the States our appliances operate in the 120-140 range, in Europe they operate between 220-240. Therefore, it is necessary to purchase a handy-dandy little appliance like this converter/adapter:
Unfortunately, these really not so little adapters turned out to be not so handy dandy. Within the first 24 hours of being here, mine broke, and most people in the program were having issues with these adapters breaking and appliances not working. Amanda and I didn't even try the hairdryer she brought because of the voltage (hers usually runs at 150, just out of the range), and we didn't want to break the last precious converter/adapter. So we decided it would be easier to just buy a cheap hairdryer here:
Unfortunately (again) and much to our dismay, not all the plugs in Rome are the same either. Although they are the same general shape, they are different sizes. The plug to our hairdryer, despite checking every plug on every model in the store, has the large prongs, which does not fit in here:
...all the outlets in our apartment. After four days of wet hair, we were some desperate women. We then heard about a store up the street from the residence that sells adapters for the plugs here in Europe...it changes big prongs to little prongs!
Thanks to this wonderful little device, we now have dry hair. :)To make things slightly more complicated, computers do not need these adapters (which no one in any computer store in central MA seems to be aware of). Luckily, the school is renting adapters for us to use for our computers for the semester.
So there you have it...our determined efforts to understand the electricity in Rome. One more aspect of life in Italy that we have successfully mastered...
Ciao for now!
3 comments:
Thanks for the science lesson Cait, I'm guessing it's going to be one of the very few that you ever give. :)
That is very confusing. The great thing we found out about Paris and London all the plugs are the same size. It's fantastic.
I get to talk to Mandy on Saturday, if you're around I'll see you too!
~Diane
Cait,
Your patience and endurance is definitely being testing in Rome. I was glad to hear that you are "going with the flow" and not letting these little things get to you.
I'm glad you are able to blow dry your hair...it must have been frustrating those first few days.
Continue to enjoy the experience and adventure.
Love ya lots!
Mom
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