This is a very special moment for me and my loved one. I have officially been in Rome for one whole month as of today. *start wedding anthem* Where did all the time go? I do not know. It frightens me that I'm already 1/6 done with my exchange. There's still so much that I want to do/see in Rome, in Italy and in Europe. What do what do?!?! Oh well, I'll worry about that later.
Now onto something more invigorating. I just came home from school and before I forget the experience, I need to write this down. Last Monday, I was gifted a bike from Miso and because of the gross weather we've been having, I haven't had a chance to take it out yet. So when I woke up to an alluring ray of sunshine, I decided today would be the day...that I die. I knew before I ventured out that this was no easy task. I've seen how cars and motorbikes manoeuvres in the city, but I thought "if I could bike in China, I can bike in Italy". How arrogant of me.
For starters, there's no bike lane in Italy. You can choose to bike on the street with the ongoing traffic in narrow streets where they could knock you over at any moment. Or you can go on the sidewalk that's filled with potholes, elders who does not respond to ringing bells, and worst of all, no ramps. Confused? I'm talking about the little smooth ramps that connects the road to the sidewalk. It's the small things that matter! I really took Vancouver's sidewalks for granted. Any disabled person on a wheelchair would not be able to navigate the streets of Rome at all. Also, if you have brain injuries, do not bike in Italy. It's like biking on a mountain terrain, bumpy the whole way but with unpredictable obstacles at every corner.
Because I value my life, I biked at an almost snail pace, stopping every now and then to check Google Map to confirm my position. Even at that pace I still almost got run over by the LUISS shuttle bus, oh the irony that would have been. Best part is, I did all of this to save me some time cause I was running late this morning. It takes me 45 minutes to walk to school, and it took me 45 minutes to bike to school. Hahaha, what a fail! Needless to say, I was late to school, and looked like I just finished an intense workout. I almost didn't want to lock my bike in hopes that someone could steal it so I wouldn't have to bike home. I will not be biking to school tomorrow.
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