To whichever parent passed on the Directionally-Challenged: Can't-Find-Their-Way-Out-of-a-Paper-Bag Gene, I blame this story on you.
All of the Rome students had to visit the housing office today to complete our permit of stay applications. I traveled there with another person because it's really hard to find - not even the cabbies on our first day here knew what piazza we were talking about. We get there, wait in line for our turn, sign junk, then leave. Well I left by myself. The office complex is a big square with a large courtyard in the middle. I was looking for a way out and came across a door labeled uscita (exit). I went out the door and found myself in this jank mini courtyard/exit area. I see a wall to my right containing a door, behind which I can hear traffic. I go to the door and you need a key to get out. I turn around and you need a key to get in the door I just exited. Immediate thought: scale the wall. Look up, barbed wire. One refuge remaining: sketchy staircase to my left. I usually stay calm in frustrating situations but my heart was definitely starting to pound. They said to get lost in Rome, but not lost and trapped in Rome. I take the stairs and low and behold I hear english!! I go to the door and knock like 20 times (a little excessive but hey, I was panicked. oh and did I mention that all I had with me was my passport? yeah...survival skills...) They respond by saying: "This door doesn't go anywhere...this is our kitchen and there are shelves blocking the entrance with a note that says: Danger, do not open door." I explain my situation in a nervous high pitched voice and then go down to my mousetrap so they can see me. They do and say they'll come let me in. My rescuers and I converse as they lead me to the proper exit and I find out that they share our university building. How pleasant. Ironically enough I didn't have one problem finding my way back to studio after this incident.
Yeah I'm gonna party tonight.
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