Apparently, tapping your resources can relieve stress, improve your well-being, and reduce anxiety! With this in mind, I decided to interview my dad about the time he spent in Italy so that I had a better idea of what to anticipate during my time in Italy!!

Transcript:

Audrey [A]: Alright, first question: What was your favorite food in Italy?

Dad [D]: Umm, I don’t know if it was my favorite food, but the most interesting food that I was actually quite surprised [about] and tasted really good was a tripe sandwich from a marketplace in Florence that was famous for these particular sandwiches. I was very hesitant to try this but when I actually did it was actually very, very good. So, I think that was my most memorable meal when I was in Italy.

A: What was your favorite dessert?

D: Ooh that’s a good question [Author’s note: thanks!]! I… don’t really remember… the desserts I had there. Maybe gelato. We had gelato when we were at Florence. So yeah, probably I would say the gelato.

A: What was your favorite place that you went to?

D: Uhh, we only, I only went to two places while I was in France [he means Italy], which was Pisa and Florence, and both were pretty amazing. They took the train from Pisa to Florence. And when we were in Florence we went to a lot of different cathedrals, and art museums, and like just toured around outside. And then I think probably the most fun was in Florence because that was just like a day of just seeing the amazing architecture and art of the city from antiquity up to modern day.

A: What was your favorite art piece?

D: I don’t remember a particular favorite art piece, but the architecture of like how they designed the old historic buildings and how they’re all put together. I always thought that was really cool. Like cause a lot of it you know had been there for centuries and stuff that had been rebuilt after like WW2 and just how they had combined everything like in that space was. So, I think the architecture was more what I recall as opposed to like particular art pieces.

A: Was there any difference between like America and Italy?

D: I guess big differences just like the marketplaces were really different. Like in America you don’t really have that kind of community marketplace and vending, like vendors, like they do in Europe. I traveled to a few places in Europe and Eastern Europe and just like those… that community marketplace where they sell goods and wares and it’s a little bit fresher there than like mass transported goods that we have in typically America.

A: Any other thoughts about Italy?

D: Everyone was really nice when we were there. I didn’t feel like… unwanted even though you know it’s a… we were going into a lot of touristy areas so I guess that’s like part and parcel of that part of Europe, but even going around it didn’t… it felt very inviting and warm so that was really… really nice.

A: Was there any Italian words that you learned there?

D: No. [Audrey gasps in disbelief] No I didn’t learn any Italian, unfortunately. I feel bad about that. But no, I didn’t learn any Italian words.

A: Do you have any advice when going to Italy?

D: When you’re out there just be always aware of your surroundings and be with someone that you trust. Like that’s, that’s like the important thing like too when you’re going anywhere in these areas. Is like once you get there and you’re established, and you feel comfortable about doing certain things you can be more… open and explorative where if you have that confidence to do that. But when you’re unsure people can like pick up that and take advantage of that really easily. So, it’s always good to be with someone that you know, and can you know bounce ideas off of if you ever get into a situation where you feel uncomfortable. Um… jetlag is gonna suck. [Audrey laughs in pain.] Jetlag is gonna suck. And then, I always like trying the local foods or local cuisine within reason, like what you can and can’t eat and just like learning and trying to engage with the local communities and listen to them. Like that’s, that’s the best thing. Like a lot of times, you’re there as a guest in their community, their town, their city. So when you… treat someone with respect, they’ll respect you!

[Thank you to my dad for doing this interview with me!]