Lesson #8 Getting Lost

     Oh Directions. They seem so simple, but for the directionally challenged, they are, well, challenging.
   
     Everyone says that you need to get lost in order to discover where you truly are. In Rome, this is also true, but entirely too easy. To get lost in Rome is basically my day job. I am brilliant at it! Even with a map, I am discovering new places all the time. I actually view it as an adventure. You see things you never would have seen had you actually know where you are. Being in Italy is refreshing. The lifestyle is so different than what someone from America knows. There is no rush to do anything or get anywhere, it will simply happen when it happens. My first couple of weeks here when my directions were absolutely hopeless, I had no phone and no place to be. It was like the outside world disappeared. It was nice to just walk aimlessly and enjoy the city. That is what Italy is about, enjoying life, even the small parts. Even getting lost.

   
     Lesson #8: Getting lost is part of the experience!

Lesson #7 Italian Wall Lizards and Toads

     I bet you didn't know that Rome is full of these little buggers! Italian wall lizards are everywhere! And they are super fast. They just hang out everywhere! They are kinda adorable, but kinda jump out at you when you least expect it!

     We have also discovered that other reptiles inhabit Rome. Not really what I expected when I pictured a city, but it works here! We were walking home late at night and guess what belched at us? A toad. Yep. It was the first toad I have ever seen, and might I just say that I felt no inclination to kiss it. None whatsoever.

    So, Lesson #7 Lizards and Toads inhabit Rome!

Lesson #6 Express Buses

     Express Buses. The word express makes it sound like a super bus, but its not . . . The word express actually means very few stops, long distances and DON'T MISS YOUR STOP! The thing about buses in Rome is that you have to push a stop button if you want them to actually stop. Problem is, you have to know where that stop is, and if not, well you are stranded on that bus until it comes back around. Unfortunately, with express buses, they don't go back the same route. We discovered this the hard way trying to get to a movie theater up near the Borghese Gardens. We got on the bus going the wrong direction and ended up sitting and waiting for the driver to have his cigarette. Then we FINALLY made it to the movie, only 5 minutes late mind you! However, after the movie, we couldn't find the bus stop to go down the hill and ended up having a nighttime tour of Rome, waiting for another cigarette to be finished and two hours later finally getting home.

     Lesson learned? Express buses don't actually mean you will get there sooner. Most likely you will get a beautiful tour of Rome. Hence, Lesson #6: Express Buses . . .

Lesson #5 A Gelato a day keeps the Italian doctor away!

     Italian Gelato. It is AMAZING! There really is nothing better in the world than freshly made Italian Gelato. For years I have been in love with it, so its not really a lesson . . . but in Italy, it is on every street corner and it is delicious. If the pasta and wine had not made Italy already famous for food, Gelato would. Therefore, we decided that it was necessary to have one a day. Its like apples, its healthy! As the saying goes, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!"

     Here is our calendar of events:

     Lesson #5: "A Gelato a day keeps the Italian doctor away!"

Lesson #4 Grazi-E!

     So the major question of the day: Is is Grazie or GraziE? With emphasis on the E . . . No one really knows. Apparently, depending on the region you are in, the pronunciation varies. In America, I was taught to say thanks was grazie with a silent e, and to say thank you was graziE with the E emphasized at the end. Well, that is a load of crock. Thanks = Thank you no matter your pronunciation . . .
     Now you may ask how I learned of this in Italy? Well, the answer is simple. I went for TWO WHOLE WEEKS saying grazie with the silent e until someone was polite enough to say its graziE with the E!

     Lesson #4: Grazi-E not Grazie

#3 Mopeds vs. Pedestrians

     Drivers in Italy are notorious for being the craziest in the world. However, that statistic is devoid of moped drivers. Mopeds. Yikes. Those little scooters are just asking to die. They swerve in and out of traffic, run red lights, sneak up on buses and try their best to hit pedestrians. We discovered there is an ongoing battle between the two: Mopeds vs. Pedestrians . . . who will win?

Mopeds

vs. 

Pedestrians

     If you are a pedestrian, every single step you take off the curb when a moped is flying by will not turn out well for you. Therefore it is decided: Mopeds will probably win . . . every time.

Mopeds win

      Lesson #3: Mopeds vs. Pedestrians, don't be the pedestrian . . .

#2 Who needs stair-master when you have Italy?

     Stairs. Most people don't tend to realize the amount of stairs that Italy has. In Rome, there are 7 hills, meaning there are stairs to get up those hills! Even in buildings, those darn stairs tend to show up and elevators are uncommon. In our walk to school, there are 281 stairs and then 30 for each floor up to class. Oh, and that's not including the building we live in . . . There are a lot of stairs. We have now realized the cure to the massive pasta consumption, its stairs! It's the path to having buns of steel! We will let you know of our progress . . .

     So, Lesson #2: Who needs stair-master?

#1 Watch where you step!

     In Italy, especially in Rome, there are certain things you need to watch out for. A prime example being dog poop on the street. Italians love their dogs. You see them out walking all the time. Big dogs, small dogs, plenty of chihuahuas, as well as a lot of cats. This amount of dogs and cats on the streets means only one thing, the same amount of poop. Well, Italians don't especially like picking up after their dogs or cats, so the walk to school in the morning is an adventure skipping from one clean part of pavement to the next. Unfortunately for some people who have not yet had their morning cappuccino, this is not the best part of their day. If you happen to be one of those poor unfortunate souls, you tend to slide before you even realize what has happened, curse when you realize exactly what you steeped in, and hear the laughter from the bank security guard all the way down the street.

     Needless to say, Lesson #1: Watch where you step!