Plane Jane

So where do I begin? 

Music: The playlist I’m currently listening to is a good starting point.  It’s entitled “Pretty Ricky and the Friday Night Bar Fighters.”  I didn’t ask the creator of his intentions, but it’s great.  A sampling of what’s on it ranges from: ACDC, Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, The Bird and the Bee, Bon Jovi, Bright Eyes, The Clash, DMB, Coldplay, The Doobie Bros, Empire of the Sun, Sinatra, Good Old War, J.LO, Janet Jackson, Hendrix,  Lou Bega? Metric, MGMT, No Doubt, Phoenix, and The Last Shadow Puppets.  It’s an unremarkably and entertaining experience.  

I’ve finally calmed down, thank.  I don’t think I have stopped moving since May 1st.  Between school ending, celebrating life, and preparing for this trip, life hasn’t spared me one second to sit still.  This flight is sort of a nice relaxing thing for me.  Kelly’s dad Alan drove us to JFK this afternoon.  We had lunch at Whole Foods on Rt. 4.  We were greeted by some traffic, but all was well and we arrived...3 hours early.  My suitcase some how made the weight limit.  Well, not really, but the man was gracious enough to let my overage of 5 lbs slide.  Getting there so early really wasn’t too big of a deal.  We hung out, got aquatinted with some of the other people on the trip.  Let me tell you, it’s one tiny ass world out there.  I met Kelly just before college and we’ve been friends since.  Two other girls on the trip are from HHK.  I’ve gone to school with them from kindergarten through high school and they transfered to Ramapo their sophomore year.  Three other people are from the county and the one girl told me she has been approached by multiple mutual friends asking if they were going on the same trip to Venice with me.  I can’t go anywhere where I don’t know anyone.

That brings me to excitement factor #1.  I’m excited to get lost.  I’m excited to be unfamiliar with everything.  I’m not sure of my thought process why I decided to go to Ramapo, but I did.  Initially the close proximity to home didn’t bother me.  I enjoyed my independence and life was great.  Now, with graduation looming, I’m anxious for bigger and better things.  I feel as if I’ve exhausted resources.  Jersey’s great.  I love my Taylor Ham, Bon Jovi, and the shore, but I want unfamiliarity.  I conquered the Lower East Side which was previously a maze to me and I have little trouble getting anywhere.  The notion of getting lost in Venice to come to a truer understanding of oneself is looking awesome to me.  

Attire: American.  I really hope that leggings have not caught on in Europe.  Although I wear them, I think they’re awful.  My plaid flannel shirt and fedora complete the outfit with my cliche denim jacket in tow.

Reading Material:  After discussing it with the group, it appears that only one of the kids have purchased the required books.  We received the syllabus only a week before hand and I’ll openly admit that I didn’t have a chance to look at it.  At least one person has the books!  I’m currently rereading “La Bella Figura” by Beppe Servergnini.  It was a book that I had to read for my Italian Culture and Society something something Anthropology class.  It’s pretty interesting.  The author is an Italian journalist and it’s written as a field guide to understand Italian culture, but in plain language.  It’s not a mind numbing travel guide or academic evaluation.  It’s a straight-up guide to why Italians run red lights, drink, cook, and why they think what they think.

Culture shock: I think I learned something in college!  After spending the first few years floundering and trying to decide what I wanted to study, and why I was actually studying, I’m extremely happy with my choice to study anthropology.  My small world was consumed by norms and preconceived notions but I’m happy to explore outside of the box.  Sadly, I enjoyed sitting at JFK for 3 hours.  People from all over the globe were stuck in one place.  The author of this book talks about how Italian airports are not a non-space.  I’d have to agree with him.  I love the organized chaos and watching it.  Granted, it’s a bit chaotic when you miss your flight, but everything has it’s purpose.  Advertising, marketing, product placement, nothing is chaotic about that.  The shops have to fit an entire culture into one store.  

I just finished my quality Delta meal.  I think it’s safe to say that that is going to be the most foul thing that I ingest in the next month.

I’ve had a lot of mixed comments and thoughts about my trip.  Travelers and foreign friends tell me that my month long adventure is way too short.  I won’t be able to see anything or really absorb the culture.  What we’ll call “true Americans,” they are shocked that I’m escaping for a month.  Why has America become so work obsessed?  I know few people who take off a full week, let alone two weeks.  Other contradicting opinions come from the experienced vs. the unexperienced.  I’ve come across this situation often at work lately.  If you claim you are a professional at something  (in reference to trades), I’d expect a professional result from you.  I’m pretty sure that’s how it goes.  With travel, if you haven’t experienced something, I don’t need to hear from the peanut gallery.  It’s sort of like talking politics with your ancient uncle who doesn’t know what the heck has happened since Vietnam, you listen respectfully and silently disagree.  The same thing goes with this.  If you haven’t experience Europe, there’s no need to hear your speculations and rumored theories.  I want to experience it for myself.  I think I’m savvy enough to take care of myself and not naive enough to be taken advantage of, at least lets hope so.  

Back to mixed opinions about Venice: stinky vs. charming.  I think/hope by actually living like a Venetian, I’ll be captivated by the charm and not disgusted by the decay.  People who have stayed for just a few days tended to tell me about all the negatives of the city.  However, if I were to show someone around Manhattan, there’s not a chance that I wouldn’t take them on the subway.  Rodents and slime aren’t exactly glamorous NYC that people dream of, but for some reason I’m intrigued by the sheer genius of the infrastructure and architecture that was put into the city.  I think I’ll err on the side of optimism and throw out everything I’ve heard and wait to draw my own conclusions.

Well that’s it for now.  I have about 4 hours to go before I land, and I couldn’t be more excited for what is yet to come.  Ciao!