First Day
September 1, 2009
We took a taxi. I would like to say it was the first day of school, and that is why we took a taxi, but it is just not true. Sort of like it would be false to say that chocolate brioche are only for Fridays.
The truth is we take taxis when it rains, when the walk to the 99 bus stop seems a little too far away or sometimes when we are feeling really dramatic we might say, "The journey to school on public transportation is just too arduous for a day like today." But, a taxi, rain or no rain, long trek or not, a taxi to school, is completely frivolous and we know it. We don't usually apologize, believing we are actually saving money and being environmentally conscious by taking a cab ride from time to time.
But, today, WAS our first day of school, which provided us with just enough justification for the hired ride to school. It would ensure getting to school early and still looking pressed and ready for our new students and their very wealthy parents. Perfect! A short walk to Porta Romana taxi stand and we would practically be there, in Noverasco, teaching. Walking, we quickly brainstormed ways to avoid working altogether and then calculated how on Earth two months had magically passed, without us noticing.
But by the time we hopped into the taxi, we had resigned ourselves to our fate and were quite enjoying our ride to school, chatting away as usual.
"Your hearts are very light," our taxi driver finally said over his shoulder in Italian, "The ceiling helps!"
"If we weren't laughing, we would be crying.... vacation ends today!"
We took a taxi. I would like to say it was the first day of school, and that is why we took a taxi, but it is just not true. Sort of like it would be false to say that chocolate brioche are only for Fridays.
The truth is we take taxis when it rains, when the walk to the 99 bus stop seems a little too far away or sometimes when we are feeling really dramatic we might say, "The journey to school on public transportation is just too arduous for a day like today." But, a taxi, rain or no rain, long trek or not, a taxi to school, is completely frivolous and we know it. We don't usually apologize, believing we are actually saving money and being environmentally conscious by taking a cab ride from time to time.
But, today, WAS our first day of school, which provided us with just enough justification for the hired ride to school. It would ensure getting to school early and still looking pressed and ready for our new students and their very wealthy parents. Perfect! A short walk to Porta Romana taxi stand and we would practically be there, in Noverasco, teaching. Walking, we quickly brainstormed ways to avoid working altogether and then calculated how on Earth two months had magically passed, without us noticing.
But by the time we hopped into the taxi, we had resigned ourselves to our fate and were quite enjoying our ride to school, chatting away as usual.
"Your hearts are very light," our taxi driver finally said over his shoulder in Italian, "The ceiling helps!"
"If we weren't laughing, we would be crying.... vacation ends today!"
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