Seeing Rome in the news so much, I am "inspired" to offer some life-experiences from my time there. Too late for those who went to the Holy Father's funeral, but just in time for those who will hop on the next transatlantic flight for the installation of the next Pope.
When I went back to Rome last fall, I had to get re-acquainted with the protocol for street-crossing in Italy. See, in Chicago, if you are in the crosswalk, cars may actually stop! (Except in Chinatown.) But in Italy, cars will only stop (and they will, on a dime) if you are directly in their path. You, the pedestrian, are expected to keep moving, as if totally oblivious to the roaring engine coming directly toward you. The driver is using a sophisticated Italian form of physics to calculate the precise speed that will allow him/her to reach the crosswalk just at the point when you will have cleared the immediate roadway. You, the pedestrian, however, must never, never attempt eye contact with the Italian driver: eye contact means surrender. Your will to live must manifest itself not in self-protective behavior, but in a confident and steady stride. (Do NOT speed up or slow down! That will complicate the driver’s calculations, and he/she may not be capable of the higher math this requires!)
Sunday, April 10, 2005
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4 comments:
Hi Sr. Anne,
How I wish to enrich myelf with the faith. I wanted to keep your blog in my own blog but I still dont know how to do it... would you mind to help?
Thanks and God bless. Please pray for me always.
-losav
What I remember is that it helps if you are crossing the street with a nun!
RE: crossing streets with nuns, you'd better hope she keeps the rules detailed here!
You validated my memories! I first went to Rome on a school trip in '70. Since I grew up in the suburbs, I used to tease that I learned to cross streets in Italy. Your explanation echoes mine almost word for word! NEVER make eye contact as that is surrender. So at least one thing in Italy hasn't changed in the last 35 years!
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