7 February 2010

For the record, I am an amazing parallel parker.

Once, a group of men, all strangers to me, actually applauded me for the brilliance of one of my parking feats. On a separate occasion, I performed for a woman with a station wagon something like a 27-point turn - exhibiting both patience AND finesse, mind you - when she was unable to get out of an an untenable parking spot.

So you will be shocked to read of what happened last night.

But first, some context.

I arrived in Milan Tuesday evening, happy to be here. The farm was great, but after two weeks of being covered in dirt and without a hairdryer i was grateful for my return to civilization.

I started work on Wednesday - I am an au pair - and just getting settled in and becoming familiar with the neighborhood and the family. So of course on Saturday (I have the weekends off for the most part) I was so excited to venture out into Milano properly, as I had not yet had time to do that at all. In the afternoon I met up with some other au pairs to walk about and talk and, despite to cold, to have some gelato. And in the evening I attended a sushi dinner that I found out about through the website couchsurfing.com. And it was great! I had a great time, and met wonderful people.

Sadly for me, I had to cut my evening short as I was not feeling very well. I am convinced that my immune system has decided to fall prey to illness, one bacteria and virus at a time, as this is the second time I have been sick in Italy, and the third time since November (when you take into account the alleged swine flu I contracted in New York). Woe is me, as they say.

So when I got off at my metro stop and found the car (it is a short drive to the house) I was more than ready to be safely home in bed. Of course first I had to find my way there.

Now, most people who know me remember than my sense of direction is not one of my most impressive qualities. It comes as no surprise, then, that even with two maps to aid me there were several false turns and instances of back tracking. Somehow, miraculously, I found my way back to the house.

And here is when disaster struck. What you need to understand is that Italian proportions are very small! Angles are steep! The car was slightly larger than I am accustomed to! I scratched the car!

Yep, that's right people. Within four days of arriving I have quantifiably lowered the net value of the family with whom I am staying. I scratched the car. More specifically, first I got the passenger side door wedged against the door frame of the garage and was unable to move it. Then, after some deep breathes and not a few obscenities, I steeled myself, threw the car in reverse, and aggressively pushed down on the accelerator. And I was free! Free! And left only to the worry and anxiety of the perpetually inept.

I spoke to the family about it this morning, and they were so gracious. I got a hug, and was told that another au pair did the same thing twice, which was a relief since I had been positive that I had set a new record for destruction, if not in the world, then at least in this home.

So things are okay, and I haven't been fired or cast away. Other than that everything is fine. I am practicing my Italian, and looking for a local class to join, and looking also for a buddy with whom I can practice my Italian (and they can practice their English).

Carnivale is coming up in a week, so I'm excited about that. I've heard it lasts from Tuesday through Saturday, so needless to say I'm excited.

Hope you all are well.

Talk soon.

Love Eva