WHAT IS IT ABOUT ME AND ITALIAN TRAINS!

So we get on the train in Pisa (yep, THE Pisa- and we ALMOST saw the Leaning Tower of.. but there was a building blocking its view as we zipped by on the train)- but its ok cause we are going back there next week when we are in Florence. And that's not the story- The story is about our train compartment company. It was an American family traveling together- mother, father and adult daughter with husband in tow. The parents were nice enough- of course Carol took them instantly- and I warmed up to them some after about 2 hours (it was a three hour train ride to Rome). The girl (25) was getting over being sick- you could hear it in her voice (and nasal passages)- and for those of you who know me well, yes I started a course of antibiotics last night (and no I'm not kidding)--

So Carol asks if they've traveled in Europe before and the girl says, "OH yeah!- I lived over here when I was a teenager." Carol, "Really?" "Yeah...I got 'bored' with high school and just decided that it would be more fun to go to school over here so I graduated early". Carol, "Oh Wow! and then you came over here to go to college??" "No- I went to high school again....but under my sponsors name....he enrolled me in school in Germany under his name."

Now about now I'm thinking---- "He enrolled you under HIS name? WHAT?" That doesn't stop Carol tho- oh no---- "Oh REALLY? Where did you live in Germany???" "Hamburg". Carol, "Oh that's nice and how did you like it??"

The girl, "I reaalllllllly hated it.....it was just a bad experience from the beginning...." Carol- "OH NO! Why???" Girl- "Well.....the father of the family.....he had kind of an accident right before I got there.....he was cutting up wood like with his chain saw......and he fell on it.....and cut himself up to death...." Silence in the train car--- just the clacking of the wheels on the track---- "OH NO!" Carol exclaims rightfully! "That's awful!!"

"Yeah, it was pretty bad---- so my first week as an exchange student in Germany we went to Norway to bury my host Dad!"...

Again the silence in the car...and the sound of the train on the tracks

"OH that's awful! you poor thing!----Carol adds, "Well, at least you got to see Norway!" with a smile on her face...

"Yeah, it was PRETTY baaaaaaaad- In fact I moved out a couple of weeks later and just got my own place to live". Carol, of course upbeat about the whole thing, "REALLY?"

"Yeah.....it was pretty baaaaaaaad.... my host mother was pretty mean- I mean she was grieving and everything but still she was pretty mean.....I mean my first Christmas she gave me the previous years calendar for my Christmas".

About now, I just had to say something so I turned and looked at her and said, "And you're 15 at this point?"

"Yeah....it was pretty bad......"

and I'm thinking WHAT IS WITH YOU PARENTS????? WHY DID YOU LET YOUR 15 YEAR OLD GO LIVE IN GERMANY WITH THIS CHAIN SAW FAMILY THAT LET HER MOVE INTO HER OWN APARTMENT AND GO TO SCHOOL UNDER SOME 'GUYS' NAME????

"Yeah----so I just got my GED done and got outta there after a year!"

(now I'm thinking---I thought you graduated early?)

Ever the optimist Carol, "OH so then you went to college???" "Yeah- I went to Baylor--- but I didn't like that---I just really wasn't too social...."

REALLY????? You seem VERY social!!!

At which point the young woman brightened, "Yeah well I'M MEDICATED NOW!! It makes a HUUUUGE difference!"

silence

Just the sound of the train moving down the tracks...