I'm about to embark on a month long journey to Italy to study art and architecture. The itinerary includes: Rome, Pompeii, Paestum, Naples, Siena, Florence, and Assisi. Thus the Civ tutor qualifications continue to build up. My upcoming journey will be my second trip to Rome within the last ten years. I'm very excited to see Italy as a slightly taller and substantially more mature woman.
Maybe I'll remember to blog regularly, maybe I won't. Maybe I'll find a cute Italian boy with a good last name. Maybe I'll reject him because I love the US far too much to compromise my lifestyle. Maybe I'll find out why my ancestors left Italy in the first place. (Why would anyone want to leave a country that has a designated nap time?)
Packing is going swimmingly because I never unpacked from college. All I had to do was airlift moderately-clean clothing from one suitcase to another.
One special aspect of my packing process, however, includes a lot of allergy management precautions. For anyone reading this who has the privilege of eating without restrictions: pat yourself on the back and go eat some Trail Mix. Not only do I have stunning looks and modesty, but also pretty substantial pollen, fruit, and nut allergies. On a day to day basis, I don't even think twice about my allergy management: it's something I've always had to do since age three. However, skimming the ingredients of a PopTart box is a far cry from gaining food security in a nation where hand gestures are the main form of communication. Managing my allergy will definitely be a challenge, but I'll make it work somehow.
Scary stuff aside, pre-departure also consists of memorizing Italian phrases that might help me get by. I have my ancestors to thank for our family's swift Americanization. The only Italian words I know are curse words, pasta shapes, and the lyrics of Volare. So if I'm in a jam, I can either let my angry Sicilian show, or I can ease the tension with some Italian folk music.
It's about 36 hours before I board a plane, so I'm off to pack as many granola bars, Gatorade, and Pop-Tarts into my suitcase as possible. I wonder if I can get french fries through customs..? Stay tuned.
Ciao,
Sue
August 2006
I'm long overdue for a post-braces photo on the Spanish Steps.
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