A trip to the bank has never been so much fun!

So far everything in Italy is going great. I finally feel that I am starting to get in the groove of life here in Italy. Each day I manage to accomplish another task that makes me feel as if I am now living in Italy, not just visiting. Today I decided to take a trip to the bank. I needed to exchange my U.S. Dollars since I never had the chance at J.F.K airport. I was able to exchange $100 dollars in the Munich Airport, but I felt the exchange rate was too low (which I later learned I was correct). Now usually when you are in a different country, you can exchange your money right in the hotel lobby. Since I am not staying in a hotel, I need to take my first trip to the bank.

Since I am not sure where the bank is, Jessica (one of the girls I am teaching English) offers to guide me in the right direction. We walk outside and Jessica hops on her “motorino”. She is going to the library after she escorts me to the bank. As I start walking alongside of her, she tells me to “get on”. I am not at all opposed to riding on a motorino, in fact I would love the chance. However, riding on the back of a motorino being driven by a 17 year old girl just doesn’t sound like a good idea. I like my body free of bumps, bruises or casts. So being the fun, spontaneous level headed guy that I am, I instead challenge her to a race. This reminds me of when I was a kid and I would race my uncle in his car (with turbo) to the end of my block. After my first step forward I actually felt like a kid again.

I lunged forward full force, starting slow and gaining momentum. Judging by the fact that she was a full ten feet behind, she must have thought I was joking. Right foot in front of left, left foot in front of right, I haven’t sprinted like this in years. The wind is blowing harshly against my face and the air is cold and wet. I can barely breathe but I’m winning! I must say, for a 250 lb guy, I’m pretty damn fast. I’m going all out at this point and I hear the loud muffler on the motorino getting closer. I start laughing because I know at this point I have no chance. I see little old Italian men in their yards with looks of disgust on their faces. I could just imagine the thoughts going through their heads. I’m now at a dead tie with the motorino and I am running on all eight cylinders. We are neck and neck for about 5 seconds. I try my best, but I am no match for the two wheeled beast. Jessica and the motorino speed forward leaving me in their dust. I admit defeat but have a chance to catch my breath and think to myself “That was fun”.

After a couple minutes of laughing, I managed to compose myself and enter the bank. If I had known that 15 minutes later I would be running full speed again, I never would have challenged Jessica to that race. This time, I was running out of necessity, not by choice. To hear the rest of the story and find out why 15 minutes later I was running again, you’ll just have to wait for the book.