Okay, now the rain starts to become a bit much. It’s been almost a week of some sort of precipitation every day, and the forecast isn’t looking very promising either. But rather than mope around and wait for the sun to return, the weather has made me think it’s time to add a new section to this blog, Rainy Day Activites. Allora, prendi l'ombrello, bring the umbella, we’re going out!

What are some good things to do if it rains while you’re here? There are always museums of course but I have a better idea. Do the same activities you would do at home, but remember, it isn’t the same old activity when you’re doing it in another country. It’s an opportunity to observe the cultural differences and to take part a little bit in the day-to-day life here. So how about a movie? If your knowledge of Italian is intermediate or better this is great fun. Choose an action film, less dialogue and more visual cues. Or how about shopping? While just another day at the mall at home sounds pretty boring, don’t discount the fun of shopping in an Italian mall and comparing the stores and fashions. Try on some outfits; see how ‘Italian’ you can look. And if you have access to a kitchen, then stop at a supermarket, buy some local ingredients and a bottle of wine, look up a recipe, and create your own Italian banquet.

I’ll expand on some Rainy Day Activities in future posts; click on the Rainy Day Activities link on the sidebar to see them all. But the point is, a little rain shouldn’t be any deterrent at all to having fun. And chissa, who knows, perhaps a great adventure is waiting you in one of these everyday places.