Training - Hoping

Yes, I have been in training for this trip. Maybe not the type of training you would assume. I have not taken any German, Italian or Czech languages classes… though Roomy has taught me a few need-to-know Czech words. I have also not joined any obstacle course Italian race car (palindrome) driving sessions. Rick Steves did not even get a penny from me this year for European tourism suggestions. As all good women with a slower than desirable metabolism should do before going to Italy, I have been in sweat camp training. I paid an ungodly sum to loose weight before my trip and it has been successful. 1998, my junior year of high school, was the last time the scale registered something this small. I am pretty proud of myself, but I can not wait to feel guiltless while dining in Europe. Local, authentic cuisine here I come! J

Now on to ranting a bit.

I believe the iThingamajigs and MPwidgets have changed traveling for the worst. Train rides and mass transportation commutes aren’t like they used to be. It seems the majority of passengers are ‘busy’ being ‘entertained’ and are not open for friendly, random, spontaneous 3D conversation. I do hope this is different in Europe. Two dimensional communication is really the pits, plus I am a really great Texashingtonian that all Europeans should aspire to meet. I need entertaining too by golly!




Seriously, the next time you’re on a train, bus, ferry, subway or hot air balloon, try turning off your mass storage gadget that is podcasting the latest Hollywood scandal, streaming NPR, or bumping the most hippest, never officially released secret track and talk to the person next to you. Just because their playlist might not be as awesome or they might not have the latest version of the sleekest doohickey doesn’t mean they can’t enhance the (nonexistent) conversation, if only for a while. I guess if my expectations of European travelers are squashed, I can always read a book. Maybe someone will be hip and brave enough to talk GGK or DRR with me. ;)

Random warning: Man, now I really want to take an Italian race car out on an obstacle course. Also, the spell check actually knew thingamajig and doohickey. You can test it yourself. Odd.