Teacher, I Need You

If You Go... Things I think are worth mentioning (again)

		All the tour literature promotes packing light. You’ll hear it again and again, but take it to heart. We each brought only a carry-on bag and shared a small backpack for daily essentials. Plan on doing a little laundry every other day or so (the first day of a two day stop gives you maximum drying time). Travel and outdoor stores like R.E.I have great, light weight, fast drying clothes. You end up wearing the same clothes several times, but if you’re on a tour, everyone else is doing the same thing. If you’re traveling on your own, no one you see on Tuesday will know that you’re wearing the same shirt from Saturday.
Bring an extra pair of shoes. OK, I know I just said to pack light, but let me continue… If you do a lot of walking, it’s really nice to give your feet a break. We both brought a good quality pair of walking shoes (wore them on the plane) and packed a pair of Keen’s sandals. These sandals are great. They don’t take up much room, they’re comfortable, durable, and waterproof (even the leather ones). After hiking all day (Cinque Terre or city streets), you can rinse the dust off in the shower and let them dry for the next day or later. They have a closed toe, so they are versatile enough to wear for any occasion. And they look great!
	Plan on being exhausted when you arrive in Europe. Don’t underestimate the effects of jetlag. Even if you can “sleep” on the plane, you will not likely feel rested and relaxed on arrival. Carrying your bags when you’re exhausted is exhausting. (See above.) Try to get on the local time schedule as soon as possible. This means that you can go to bed early the first couple of nights, but try not to sleep during the day – it just makes it harder to adjust to local time. It gets better day by day.
It’s nice to have a book to read, but don’t bring more than one (or two at the most). Most of the hotels have an informal self-perpetuating book exchange. When you’re done reading your book, donate it to the exchange (you don’t want to carry it home anyway). Pick up a gently used replacement from the exchange or buy a new one locally (most shops have some English titles).
	If you're traveling with someone else, have a plan in case you get separated. Most of the hotels also provide a business card that you can carry with you in case you can't find your way back to the hotel. Both of you should carry one of these cards. That way, at least you can both make it back to the hotel.
If you go on an organized tour, make sure you get the tour guides cell phone number. Karin gave us her number on the first day and we carried it with us the entire trip. We didn't carry a cell phone of our own, but most Europeans have cell phones that they will gladly let you use (if you look desperate and mime talking on the phone). We never had to call Karin during the trip, but we've got her number!
	Bring some cold medicine or decongestants with you from home. Sure, it's fun to find the pharmacy and try to explain in your best Italian that you have a runny nose, but it's easier if you just bring a few from home. Even if you don't need them, someone else might. (Thanks Nicole)
Learn a little Italian, it enriches the experience. Even if you can’t understand every word, it’s fun to listen to conversations and pick out words that you recognize. And, try to use it. The Italians will appreciate your effort (Most younger Italians will speak some English).

Top Learnings in Village Italy

Is something doesn't seem quite right, it probably isn't. This may seem obvious, but it's worth repeating. Look around, explore the boundaries, ask for help. For a good example, see the train ride through Cuzzago on the Stresa page.
	Gelato can be very creamy. Italy has the best gelato in the world, and it's generally not made with cream, yet it tastes incredibly creamy. My personal favorite in Italy is Limon (Lemon).
Olive oil should have flavor. If you just want to keep food from sticking, use something else. If you want to add flavor, use extra virgin cold pressed olive oil.
	Real balsamic vinegar from Modena is incredible. It's much different than some balsamic vinegar sold in the US that is nothing more than regular vinegar with caramel coloring. Put a drop or two on a strawberry, it tastes great. Put a few drops on some vanilla ice cream. Its really good.
Flavorful olive oil and flavorful balsamic vinegar make a great salad dressing. Here in the states, we call it Italian.
	Take more time to relax. There are a lot of things you could be doing, but many of them are probably not important. Relax, have a glass of wine, visit with your friends and family. For Italians, relaxing is an art form.
Smaller can be better. In the US, we're obsessed with big. Big portion sizes, big cars, big houses. Smaller houses means less to clean, less to heat and cool, less to buy.
		Some innovations have not reached the US. In Loro Ciuffena, we had suite apartments with a kitchenette. There was as cupboard over the sink (not open space or a window like in the US). In the cupboard was a dish drainer with a slotted bottom so that the water would drain back into the sink. Efficient, out of site, a great idea.