Adventure might hurt you, but boredom will kill you

How on Earth did I end up here?! - I asked myself, pushing the control stick. The aircraft wiggled and coughed, and I backed off.

- Better you do it! – I yelled to Francesco. – I didn’t even manage to pass my driving test…

- Try again, don’t be scared – he shouted back. – Be firm but careful, a tiny move makes a huge difference.

I grabbed the stick again and barely touching it I tried to move the plane to the left. It obeyed and we turned towards the river. It was almost sunset and the rays were blinding me a little. I didn’t care though; the landscape was gorgeous: green and yellow fields with occasional patches of forests and the river Po meandering in the lowland. In Turin Po looked feisty and dark, but here in the countryside it was just a sheepish stream.

- We should go back soon, it’s dinner time – I heard Francesco’s voice, muffled by my headset.

- Sure! – I knew how important meal times are for Italians. And no wonder, I wouldn’t have missed carbonara made my Paola, Francesco’s wife, for the world.

I was their au pair for the summer, hired very last minute, and my adventure seemed surreal at times. I did love living in Piemonte; Turin turned out to be a much more exciting a place than I had expected.

Perceived as a rather industrial, cold northern city, for me it was a real treat. Although visiting museums with my Italian family was fun, from the moment I arrived I was buzzing to have a tête-à-tête date with Turin. Connecting with the place, seeing it with fresh eyes and noticing silly little details, and getting lost, and randomly smiling at people – that’s my definition of travelling.

Turin was generous in sprinkling my blast of a summer with new experiences. Camping in the countryside, having a day trip to France, attending some local festivals, learning to make fiori di zucca and walking; strolling lazily for miles down the city centre. I had an espresso and stared at the busy locals, ate some ice cream sitting on a bench at one of the sunny piazzas and checked out a couple of bookstores. Cheesy? I say classic.

The major adventure was flying with Francesco in his light aircraft. I mean, not many au pairs can say they have done something like that. I knew I was lucky. How did it all happen? It didn’t even matter. Whatever crazy ways got me there, I was glad they did; I was having a ball. As someone said, adventure might hurt you, but boredom will kill you. I was always willing to take this risk.