#13 - Life is full of surprises

I headed off to the cafe to start my day (today was Briana-meets-the-Pope-for-lunch-at-the-Vatican day). Our favorite cafe didn't even have one cornetto cioccolato, so Jenny and I went to "il cafffe con tre effe" (a little further down the street) to get a cappuccino and a croissant. We picked out our croissants and headed over to the bar to order our cappuccinos.

Pastry lady

We stood among a crowd of about 10 others, waiting to get their morning espresso or cafe latte. As the crowd surrounded us, Jenny's cappuccino was delivered to her in a plastic to-go cup from a man behind the counter. We like to put sugar in our cappuccino, so she removed the lid and put two packets of sugar in the cup.

I ordered my cappuccino while Jenny replaced the lid to hers. I said "cappuccino" and just as the gentleman turned away, a warm and now-sugary splash of a freshly brewed caffeinated beverage collided with my face. Half of Jenny's cappuccino had managed to make its way onto my face, into my hair, onto my scarf and my left jacket sleeve, while the other half splashed onto the floor and counter in the cafe. Needless to say, we were all surprised, especially the baristas, who looked as if it had never happened before.

Jenny had pressed too hard on the lid, causing a cappuccino explosion. After the shock died down, we laughed it off (and so did the baristas) and she was given another cappuccino. Jenny went to the cashier to pay for hers and wait for me. I received my cappuccino and poured in my three packets of sugar (because I can have three packets of sugar if I want).

I simultaneously grabbed my pastry bag and replaced my cappuccino lid, without realizing how hard I must have been pushing on the top of my to-go cup. Before I knew it, my cappuccino was all over the counter and the floor of the cafe within two minutes of Jenny's initial explosion, but this time, the employees didn't think it was as comical. I felt terrible, but couldn't help but laugh at the coincidence and the utter embarrassment. I couldn't believe it and I honestly didn't know what to do.

There were people all around me and there was cappuccino on the floor. I grabbed the tiny napkins and tried to mop up some of the mess, but gave up when people started giving me mean glares. I took my new cappuccino (layered with two cups for reinforcement) as the barrista pointed at it and told me in Italian "don't push on the top" and "don't take off the lid." I know he was thinking, "Americans..." So, sorry guys, I didn't make a good impression today. I paid for my drink and pastries and left.

We met up with the rest of our group in front of our apartment. I waited until I got on the tram to put sugar into my drink, and I drank it as soon as I did so I didn't have to worry about any more cappuccino surprises.

Spotted sleeve

With my first 20 minutes out the door consisting of two exploding cappuccinos and almost missing the tram, I wasn't sure how the rest of the day would go. After a long day at the Vatican, I decided to relax in my apartment. I took a long nap, got dinner from a small restaurant a couple blocks away, and watched a movie in bed, safe from exploding drinks and from walking street vendors asking me to purchase an umbrella every ten seconds.

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Ciao!

Briana

#12 Don't always take their word for it

When you stroll into Olive Garden for a family outing, you expect a taste of Italy, right? Zip through Fazoli's and pick up some delicious Italian goodness. "Italian food" has always been one of my favorites. I have always enjoyed lasagna, fettuccine alfredo, ravioli, spaghetti, pepperoni calzones, and pizza. I fully expected those dishes in Italy, only BETTER...because I'm in Italy.

You hear people say "Italy has the best food ever"...don't always take their word for it. I might be the most picky eater in the word, and I am probably just used to the Americanized versions of "Italian food," but - don't hit me - I really don't care for the food here. To make my point evident, here are some examples of authentic Italian meals straight from Rome and my kind-of-harsh opinions on them (don't think I'm a pessimist, but as already mentioned, I'm really picky...).

My first meal in Rome was only 3 Euros. It wasn't that
bad, and it had bacon in it, so I was pretty happy. It did,
however, make me worry about the food here and how
much I was going to like it...

This was pretty good pasta with red sauce, and I
didn't have to pay for it because Jeremy bought
everyone's food. I'm not complaining about this one!

Ham and cheese on bruscetta. The bread was soggy
(I think they soaked it in broth or something) and
I'm very picky about ham. I could only eat
two of these. EEEEEW. I was definitely my second least
favorite dish here.

Carbonara is probably one of the better things I have had here,
but it doesn't have much taste to me. Jeremy suggested I get
this because I was craving some alfredo. (They don't have alfredo
here...nothing even close! Why do Italian restaurants serve
it in America?) It had a "white sauce" which is probably the
closest thing I could get to alfredo. It wasn't close,
but it was pretty good and it did have lots of cheese! Mmm.

I decided to get daring on one of my more recent meals.
We went to a Chinese restaurant. I wasn't really sure what to order
because I had no idea what anything looked like;
thank you American Chinese restaurants for putting pictures
on your menus. I got BBQ chicken...it looked
just like Zach's "spicy chicken" so I am suspicious as to whether
it is not the same dish with a different name. I did, however, pick out
all the chicken and drench it in soy sauce.

This takes the cake as the worst dish I've had here. And I really
tried to eat it! It was spinach lasagne...and it was the most
appetizing thing on the menu...EW.

This was a ham and cheese panini from a really cheap place. It was
pretty bland and almost tasted burnt, but it wasn't terrible and it was
probably worth the money.

This panini is THE best thing I've had here and I think I paid
2.50 Euro for it from a street vendor on my way home from
the Colosseo. It had spicy salami, so it tasted almost like pepperoni.
(They don't have pepperoni in Rome! "Peperoni" here means pepper.)

This potato pizza was very bland, kind of like eating soggy crackers with
sliced potatoes on them. Okay, that was over-exaggerated,
but I didn't like it very much. Like most other pizzas here, it didn't
have sauce, and didn't have enough cheese for my taste. I love cheese.

This was carbonara, too, and it didn't have much of a taste.
It was pretty good. If you like noodles with a little bit of
parmesian, you'd like it.

Now, these...these are the exceptions: pastries, tiramisu, and gelato. I will REALLY miss these.

Nothing pastry-wise tastes this good at home. Chocolate cornettos.
YUMMMMM! 

I will miss my favorite pastry shop right down the street.

I will definitely miss authentic tiramisu.

And I will miss gelato.

...Especially chocolate-covered gelato.

I know I just complained a lot, but I really do miss the food back home including our "Italian food" with pepperonis and alfredo. I'm pretty sure I've lost 10 pounds between smaller meals and walking so much.

I'm worried I will gain it all back when I get home because I began to comprise a list of things I want when I get back to the states. I soon realized the list was basically a list of my favorite foods. Upon my arrival in the states, I will soon have the following:

• 1 soft taco supreme with no lettuce or tomato and 1 Doritos locos taco supreme with no lettuce or tomato from Taco Bell
• El Patio beef nachos
• Fazoli's breadsticks
• My granny's chicken and dumplings
• Steak and A1 sauce
• Shell macaroni and cheese
• A pepperoni calzone
• A scrambled egg sandwich
• Loaded baked potato
• Biscuits
• A soft pretzel with salt and mustard
• Sesame chicken from Sakura

Mmmmmm. We've got it made in America when it comes to food choices! Can't wait to get back to eat some good ole southern cookin'...Taco Bell, here I come!

#8 - Being nice pays

You know what I like? Some great customer service...and we have found a few places that have had just that. They are the cutest little cafes on the corners or alongside the streets with delicious food and the cutest people working there. Good employees and a great atmosphere...they are just so friendly! 


The first cafe is very close to us...literally, just around the corner, and we have gone there almost every day for breakfast!

The inside is very modern, clean, and sleek. I want one of these at home!

You have the option to stand at the bar or sit in these cute tables (and pay an extra .30 euros).

The outside banner reads "New Management,"
and we can't decide if that is the name,
or if they just got new management...

The guys there put a special touch on our cappuccinos each day.

This is Logan's spider web design on his cappuccino.
It's a little more manly than the hearts on ours.

Isn't that the cutest thing?!

This precious man is one of two that have waited on us each day.
They are so friendly and know English well enough to have witty conversations
with us as they make our drinks and serve our food. They are learning more
English words as we learn more Italian words.

The pastries all look delicious and the way it's set up is just great.
It's a popular place with a lot of "regulars."

And this...this is my favorite part. YUM.
It's chocolate inside of a sweet and flaky chocolate chip pastry.
I think it's called cornetto cioccolato, but I like to call it DELICIOUS.

#7 - Patience is "key"

We are having constant problems getting into our residence.

The key will work one day and the next, it takes forever and you have to hold it a certain way or sing a certain song...it is really strange and annoying.

It's little things that try your patience on trips like this, especially at the beginning, because we all want the experience NOW and we want things to happen NOW...and then we have to wait forever just to get into our rooms. I am definitely learning to be patient and not rush things - to just take in the experience...it gives me something to blog about later! ;-)

Patience is key...see what I did there?

#6 - Sometimes rules are merely "suggestions"

Sometimes, rules are merely "suggestions," and if they are followed you will get hurt! I'm talking about DRIVING here.

We took a taxi from the airport to get to our apartment. What an adventure! But, you know, compared to the taxi driver we had today (and yesterday), that guy wasn't bad at all.

Logan, Greg, Jenny, and I decided to take a taxi yesterday morning to St. Peter's because Jenny and I are still injured and I'm walking with a limp (or swag if you want to be nice), and then we took a taxi back to the apartment. We also took a taxi today to St. Peter's...but he took us in circles, so we got outta that thang.



Basically, here's what the real road rules are...
Green means go.
Yellow means go.
Red means go.
See the problem?

Taxis and other cars (and only cars, mostly Smart cars - I haven't seen any trucks or SUVs) swerve in and out of traffic...park on the medians...double park behind other cars...and cut off other cars...all without ever missing a turn and only running one or two red lights and perhaps brazing a pedestrian or ten.




Everyone does it and if you don't, you will probably be rooted off the road! ("If everyone jumped off a bridge, would you?" No, that is completely different. We are not on a bridge. We are on a road.)

So yes, there really are some road rules in Italy that are meant to be broken...but choose them wisely. In other words, only break them if doing so will allow you to keep your dignity, moral integrity - and your life.



Briana

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"If things go wrong, don't go with them."
- Roger Babson

#5 - Make friends

Make friends...otherwise, you'll have nobody to talk to about important questions like: "What are those Lion King trees doing in Rome?"

or "Why is there a pigeon looming above Logan's head?"

or  "Are those people really waiting to take people somewhere or are they some sort of flash mob?"










Make friends...otherwise, you could be left alone for an hour waiting for your luggage to show up.










Make friends...otherwise, you will undoubtedly be seated beside a person who will at some point either pick their nose and eat the findings or one of these other seat-mates that Jenny (roommate) has written about in her blog [click here to read it].

Make friends...otherwise, elevator rides with strangers could be a little awkward...and close. Not even kidding, the elevator at the boarding house can probably only fit five people...if you planned it out.
Granted, person number 5 might have to piggy-back ride, Spidey-climb and hover above, or act as a carpet for others to stand on, but I think it can be done.

Make friends...otherwise, you'll be lonely on your taxi ride from the airport...even if you can't see your newly-made friend for the giant luggage wedged between the two of you because there is no more room in the trunk because you and your friend are both girls and you inevitably packed a lot of stuff.

Make friends...otherwise, you can't buy any these necessities from the plane's SkyMall:

*bug thwarting sleeping cocoons

*sushi pillows

 *Yeti garden statues

*armadillo beverage holders










*Yeti tree statues














Make friends, people. You need 'em.

Briana

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"Change your thoughts and change your world."

#4 - That "well-rounded" education could pay off

Students everywhere have designated the I-will-never-ever-use-anything-I-learn-in-this-class-again title to a foreign language class. They just know they will never need it. Well, I am SO glad I took Spanish!

I've learned quickly that Italian is very similar to Spanish...and I love Spanish! It has been helpful in understanding a few things people say and quite a few signs! Numbers are almost exactly the same! Now I wish I knew more Spanish...

While in the airport, the signs were all translated into English...

...which was horrible preparation for what would happen when I stepped outside the doors...no English!

Jeremy took Logan, my traveling buddy, away from me because we didn't have room in the taxi...but thankfully, I had two new friends to experience this culture shift with me - Amanda and Jen. (See lesson #5 - Make friends.)

Our taxi driver didn't know where to take us...and for the first time on this trip, the thought occurred to me, "You don't speak English, do you?" I looked to the left and right of me at travelers in cars as we zoomed past them (speedy cab driver) and thought, "and neither do you...or you...or you..." I was surrounded. I was surrounded by people I didn't understand. A little frightening, maybe. Okay, yes, very. But, wait...it gets better...

After we arrived at our destination (by handing him a piece of paper with the address on it), I asked "How much does it cost?" (in Italian!) and I understood him when he told me 40 euros (in Italian!)! It was so exciting!...if you can't tell from all of the !!!!s. =)











Of course it is harder to speak Italian than it is to read it, but I'm just excited that I can understand some things!

It's definitely better to know some Italian phrases - so far I've used "excuse me," "thank you," "you're welcome," "goodbye," and "how much does it cost?" I need to learn words like "here" and "sorry" (because obviously I need to apologize for not knowing what people are saying, like this RUDE lady at the market). I also need to learn the word "this" so I can point at things I can't pronounce or don't know.






Off to learn a few more things in Italian...Never stop learning! Hey, maybe by the time I'm ready to come home, my blog will be "Life Lessons Learned in a Country Where I Didn't Understand Anyone but Now I Do."

Ciao!

Briana

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"This money is so PRETTY!" - Me

#3 - Don't get distracted and miss important things

Are you afraid of missing important moments during your flying experience?

The following are lists of things I may or may not have done, but I have compiled them for your entertainment using photos taken with my Blackberry's camera phone along my trip to Rome.

Don't miss your flight. While you are waiting to board, do NOT:

continuously take pictures of other people boarding flights (while missing the chance to board yourself)

call others over to look at the old MS-DOS-like ATM interface

walk around making smart-alack comments about the names of shops and restaurants in the airport - ex: Tailwind

ride the moving sidewalk, sit on the moving sidewalk, or surf on the moving sidewalk

dine in a restaurant with great food when you obviously do not have time to spare

make a game out of "How long can I wait to get on the metro before the doors close?"

wait until the last minute to exchange currency

attempt quickly to learn another language strictly by reading signs along the airport hallways

Don't miss the important instructions once aboard the aircraft. 

While the announcements are being made, do NOT:

compare illustrations on the safety brochure to illustrations on the 90s show "The Magic School Bus"

take pictures of scenery out the aircraft window

read/shop the SkyMiles magazine

listen to the cries of an extremely bothered infant

Don't miss your luggage at the baggage claim. 

While the baggage is being released onto the conveyor belt, do NOT:

attempt to read names on other people's baggage to see who they are or where they have flown

watch one bag revolve around until someone picks it up

count how many people are wearing blue

Briana

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