But in future trips I will add more social interaction. For example, I can meet up with a sketching group, or I can take a cooking class, or language class. If I am real lucky maybe I can arrange to meet up with my penpal once again. :-)
I noticed it was very easy to talk and hangout with people at the airport but not so easy elsewhere.
Other notes on Italy:
1. Having my own apartment when I travel makes a big difference in my experience. Hotels make me feel like an outsider. Apartments help me feel like I am part of the community. Oddly, I loved drying my clothes on a line in Italy just like all my neighbors, and will do that when I return to California as well. And I must say I did enjoy opening a window to yell down to my neighbors and vice versus instead of texting or using the phone. Heh.
2. Italians know how to make a salad!!! They are so beyond iceberg lettuce, grated carrot, and tasteless tomatoes drowned in ranch dressing. They enjoy a variety of greens, tuna, juicy tomatoes, olives, and slices of mozarella buffalo cheese, all simply dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
3. My main takeaway from this trip is that the Italian culinary lifestyle taught me that we HAVE all the ingredients we need to make delicious meals...especially in California. The secret to rich flavor is fresh and organic vegetables, fruits, and grass fed animals, and making the effort to cook with them.
Cook simply; cook creatively; and cook with multiple colors!
Speaking of real ingredients and colors...I decided to invest in a gelato making machine made by DeLonghi.
4. Even hardships can help prepare you for the future. My overnight in the kiosk at the airport actually helped me get an early start on turning my hours around and readjusting to California time. I rather enjoyed the challenge. At least it makes a good story. And good stories mark an excellent adventure.
Thanks for reading my blog!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Italy: Venice, Bologna, and Urbino
