Google is my worst best friend, leading me to unfamiliar places without warning me I was trespassing. My shoes pointed toward a slope of cobblestones. I began to step forward when I heard, “Scusi Miss, Scusi.” Turning, I saw men from the Esercito in their vegetato desert jackets, berets, and guns as wide as their bodies. Terror struck me, chills running down my spine. Here I was, in a foreign country, being yelled at by the military. The soldier shook his head and escorted me off the premises. Despite the language barrier, his gestures spoke volumes. Embarrassed, I thought to myself, what a tourist thing to do.
Away from the incident, the shock didn’t deter my travels to a nearby park. The busy, overcrowded area in Rome was overstimulating, and I needed tranquility. The city became less populated and my nose was free of the scent of smoke, which was minimal as I explored to find a park.
I stood at a crossroads, uncertain of which direction to take. Hesitantly, I started down one path, but then Google Maps indicated I was going the wrong way. I turned back, and forth again, unsure and anxious about getting lost forever. I paced back and forth in the same spot, my hamstrings burning as if on fire. Each step was more painful than the last. Then, confusion set in. A car seemed to wait for me, but then a motorcycle suddenly darted out, cutting the driver off. I felt a pang of guilt, fearing I was the cause of the near collision. The broad street for cars and narrow sidewalks on either side stretched out before me, adding to my anxiety. The street was so silent I could hear my heavy footsteps on the cobblestones and my uneven breathing. Suddenly, a car zoomed past, making me shake in fear. I was alone on the side of the road, and my anxiety kicked into overdrive. Was he laughing at me for not taking a car? Was he going to run me over? Could he tell I was American, and how much did I stand out?
I finally reached the park, excited to venture into its tranquility. I felt the natural soil seeping into my shoes as I walked. A woman lay on a bench, listening to an audiobook playing out loud in Italian. A man AirPods to talk on the phone. Observing myself, I realized I was using my phone every minute using Google Maps to guide me. I pitied myself because even in a park, I relied on my phone for directions. I wondered if the Italians noticed my distinctly American ways.