apartment

i was studing abroad in italy for 3.5 months. when we first moved into our italian apartment it was the end of january, and it was COLD. italians aparently don't use heat. they expect you to be bundled up inside. i swear to god every second i spent in my apartment those first few weeks i spent in my bed. in sweatpants. and a sweater. and two pairs of socks.
all of the doors in our apartment were made of glass. while the panes were distorted, you could still see through the doors somewhat. so much for privacy. we also had six girls living in one tiny apartment. you were never, ever, alone. there was no dryer, and if you were taking a shower and someone else needed to use the water you were left standing in a freezing cold trickle. we had no couch in our living room, we only had a love seat. our kitchen table was really only big enough for four people.
as imperfect as my italian apartment was, i miss the hell out of that place. i miss the sounds of the city. i miss the fact that the tv was never on because we were all so busy exploring. i miss the days when i would hang out in my room and relax. one of my favorite days was when all my roommates left for the weekend and i was alone for probably the only time i was there. i spent one day watching people out the window and chain smoking cigarettes. i watched the people in the store across the street repair shoes. i watched people just arriving in italy dragging their suitcases down the street, looking excited and anxious at the same time. i watched a group of homeless men sprawl out on the sidewalk and smoke. one woman yelled at her boyfriend, and hit him with her purse. a man chased a girl down the sidewalk with a rose.
somehow even everyday life was more exciting in italy.

driving miss buchanan: why i'm such a backseat driver

riding in the car with my dad is terrifying. i can't tell you how many times i have sat there, wide eyed and white knuckled, positive that those were my last few moments alive. one time we were on the highway and it was just the two of us. he pulls out his map, and is studying it intently. we start drifting over into the opposite lane. i just sit there, kinda waiting for him to notice that oh guess what we are on the wrong side of the road. yeah, he doesnt notice. but what catches my attention is the huge 18 wheeler barreling towards us. i wait a couple more seconds.
"dad"
"daaaaadd"
"DAD!!!!"
he jerks his head up and swerves back into the right lane, overcompensating as usual almost putting us into the gaurdrail. "oh, thanks" he says nonchalantly. and goes back to reading his map.

another time, we were on a long drive to visit family. once again, im in the front seat. he takes out his new book, and starts reading it. while driving. on the highway. never do this while driving in heavy traffic on the highway. lets just say im lucky to be alive.