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Published: April 1st 2007
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Bike Adventure
A little adventure with me and my bike. We went past the train station and down south of the Arno, heading into the city's outskirts. With how many times John and Eleanor pushed the button on their toy fire truck that said "This is mommy, look both ways before crossing the street"...you'd think I'd get the idea.
Here's the story:
Thursday morning I was asked to do a story-telling for 2 classes of second graders. Our director's daughter was in the second group, so the director of syracuse and several other visitors from other schools (who are interesting in making an alliance with Syracuse Florence Program and whom Syracuse is trying desperately to impress) came to watch me teach the wee ones. The program went really well and I got some new fun contacts with people at GW and elementary school programs in Japan...hmmm.
So, we all took a cab back to Piazza Savonarola together and after saying goodbye to everyone, I went to take the teaching supplies back to the building they belong in. There is a cross walk where there is no light, but if there is a person waiting to cross, cars are supposed to stop. So a small white truck stopped, waved me on, I started walking, and got hit by a motorcycle.
She said the truck
stopped and she didn't see anyone crossing so she decided to illegally pass him. this is what motorinos do here. they weave. there are no observed rules.
I sort of remember getting hit. Its one of those things...you can hear it, but you can't see it. I remember being on the ground, though. And I remember trying to get up and having someone push me back down and tell me not to move. I saw that my hand was bleeding, but I knew nothing was broken, so I kept trying to get up, but there were so many people, I just didn't know what to do or say. I just laughed. a lot.
As you can determine by the fact that I'm writing this, I'm OK. It was very dramatic, though. Since this occurred in front of all the guests, our school felt the need to act in a way where there could be no possible way for me to ever come back and say they didn't help me. Meaning, an ambulance came. I was strapped to the stretcher, I had a brace put around my neck, I was rushed to Santa Maria Novella Hospital, and placed in
line in the emergency room.
At this point I found the whole thing so silly. I just kept giggling, and I think they thought that I was in shock, but really, I was just wondering why I was in the hospital. I was trying to smile and strike up conversation with the odd paramedic with purple glasses that was waiting to push me in the room, but she was not having it.
But, after waiting for 5 hours, knowing all I wanted to do was wash my bleeding street dirty hand, I started getting very impatient. They kept the thing around my neck for no reason at all, and no one would talk to me. I just had to lie there staring at the dirty ceiling for hours and hours. When the doctor finally saw me, she didn't do anything. they washed my hand, charged me 30 euros and said that if I was still dizzy later to come back, but no point in doing an exam now cause I'd have to pay for it. haha. oh my.
So, besides the accident, I've also done some fun things these past weeks. I've been on a few solo
bike adventures where I discovered Llamas and miniature horses in Italy. This past weekend I went to Mantua and Parma for my High Renaissance class. The trip was lovely, though sadly quite rainy in Mantua. Parma is beautiful, though. I sometimes wish I could've studied in a smaller city like that. I think my italian would be better.
Then yesterday I scored another free ticket to an orchestral concert with Marina because her friend couldn't go. So, we spent the day together. It was fantastic. We went to the concert, took a walk down by the Arno, and went out to dinner at her favorite restaurant. She's so wonderful. We're definitely what my dear Megan MacPhee would call "Level 5 Besties" now. She told me she's very sad that I have to leave in a month, and then when I realized I'm leaving in a month, I also got very very sad. I can't believe how fast this went. ::sigh::
So, here are some pictures of my adventures, and the Villa Rossa in the springtime.
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Katie
non-member comment
hahahahahahahaha omg sarah! i can't believe you got hit by a freaking motorcycle!!!!!! hahahaha oh my gos...it's really actually quite funnny-i mean of course it wouldn't be if you were hurt but since you're not it's hilarious! haha i'm glad you're ok. i miss you!