Tid bits

Let’s see what’s on the menu today. A random collection of tidbits!

Pissed off with Italian bus-ticket inspectors. Got challaned 25 E today for having validated my bus pass one time too many! Get this – everything in this country is in Italian. No french, no german and most definitely no english. So when I land here, the first thing I do is get myself to a Tousim Info Point which then proceeds to inform me – in fluent italian – that since I am still 25 years old, I can avail of a bus pass. Right. So I get myself one and on the first bus ride, have it validated in the machine.

So far so good. The next day, I get on and repeat the process. Since there is absolutely no information posted anywhere about the use of bus passes, this continues for three days. Whereupon a really nice lady in one bus points out that I don’t need to validate the pass more than once a month. Fine. But by now my pass has a few stamps on it already. Never mind, I say and learn my lesson for the next month.

Today of all days, after class, I board a bus packed with people. Out pop two ticket inspectors. Fine. No problem. I whip out my pass when they promptly proceed to stop the bus at the next stop and in again fluent italian inform in in no uncertian terms that either I dish out 25 E or head to the nearest police station with them.

Hang on. Wait a minute. I’m a lawyer.

So out we go and stand on the kerb and argue – they in italian and me in english – saying positively the same thing over and over again till I’m fed up with the lot of them and hand them 25 E. There. Went. My. Grocery. Shopping. For. The. Week. B*******.

That’s that.

Had lectures for the past two days on China’s (lack of) justice system. Yawn.

One thing I find extremely odd about the cold climates – the habit of fussing with one’s clothes all the time.

Let me explain. Back home, we wear what we do and then we forget about it. But here, it’s a striptease on-and-off every time! Since most places are air conditioned, once indoors, one can walk around in Ts and denims. But being outdoors requires a whole new wardrobe to be emptied onto the self. So on comes a jacket, boots, gloves, a muffler and a cap. Now get to a bar, ristorante, cinema hall, class, office – anywhere – and there. You need to strip off the extra clothing. This, of course, is not done gracefully at all. Ok, well, atleast not by me. You need to be born here to be graceful with stripping off a pullover. I always resemble a bedraggled child whenever I have to pull off jerseys. Anyways! So yes, the point being, it’s unnerving. The whole put-on-take-off routine. And annoying. Can’t wait for better weather!

Hmmm… let’s see. What else! Read my first Danielle Steele. That, my dear, is the extent of my boredom in life. Help. Please.

Am in deperate need of a back massage. We have these really odd chairs and tables in class, made for spineless midgets. Sitting on them for close to 9 hours a day is literally back breaking. In fact, it’s been so bad that sitting there at the front of the class today (yes, I was that unlucky! Got in late. All the the good back seats were taken! ) kept myself entertained with thoughts of a good back massage. Sadly they are to stay unattained since I am morbidly afraid of getting one at a spa for obvious health safety reasons.

Rambled on enough. Have a look-see at the previous post. Nats has done a good job! Thank you lady!

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