Gli Italiani sono molto gentili

Gli Italiani sono molto gentili: Italian people are very kind. They truly are very kind!

However, you always have that one…that creep, jerk, or otherwise mean person that is out of the norm. Naturally, I was bound to find him at some point of my trip. After Ryan and I got our tattoos yesterday, he dropped me off in downtown Catania. I had a couple of hours to kill before my flight so I walked around in search of an internet café. Of course, Ryan had dropped me off at 1:00pm. If not even longer than the other Italian cities, Catania shuts down from 1:00-4:00. Thursday was the official St. Agatha holiday, so most stores were closed for the entire day.

As I walked away from a closed internet store, I noticed a guy (not more than maybe 20 years old) walking towards me. I paid attention because something in how he walked towards me made me nervous and I’m never nervous around people. As he approached he took the gray scarf he had on his neck and wrapped it around his face so all I could see was his eyes. Now I was walking at an angle so I could get on the street and out of his direction. I didn’t act fast enough though, because he came towards me and pushed my backpack. I turned around, giving him the “what the hell?” look…but he was already walking away fast in the opposite direction. Whatever, I figured, what a creep…so I kept moving…

Then I noticed in the reflection from the stores across the street that this man had started following me. When I would pause in my walk, so would he. Now, I’m ridiculously trusting of people and I honestly don’t get scared of people very often. However, now I was feeling irritated and confused. I figured I’d go sit in a café and that he’d leave…no such luck. I stopped into 2 cafes and each time I walked out, he continued to follow. Then I started seeing another man multiple times, all in the same vicinity of this kid who was following me. My eyes started to well up with tears. I didn’t know what this kid wanted and I was getting seriously scared.

I went into another café and found a couple my parents’ age. I walked up to the husband and said, puo aiutarmi? quell’uomo mi sta seguendo (can you help me? That man is following me). The man told me he spoke a little English but even still, I couldn’t help but burst into tears as I tried to explain to him that I was scared and I just didn’t know what to do.

The couple told me not to be sad and walked me out of the café. They said we would go find the police and that it would be okay. I kept searching the streets, searching for the stalker….and sure enough, he started following me with the couple!!! I turned around, pointed directly at the guy who was looking at me and said loudly to the couple “HIM! Quell’uomo mi sta sequendo!!!”

Geez, he had some nerve! We found the police but I guess the guy had finally gotten the clue because he took off. The policeman spoke good English and had me walk with him and two armed military men for about 15 minutes. I explained to him that I was traveling alone and that no—I didn’t have anyone to call, no—I don’t have a cell phone if the guy comes back. The policeman told me I was brave for 23 years old…(hahaha---as I was not feeling very brave right then). Eventually, the policeman stopped he asked me if I felt OK. I did, so we shook hands and I headed on my way.

At this point, I’m feeling drained. What’s an emotionally drained backpacker to do when she’s got no one and everything is closed?!?!? Seek good old American comfort of course---so I went to McDonald’s and had a large container of greasy fries!!!

The fries didn’t do the trick though, so I decided to seek some Italian comfort instead, when in Rome…do as the Romans, right?!?!? I bought a pack of cigarettes, sat down at a café, and proceeded to chain smoke, drink coffee, and listen to my music. I did feel better after that and by that time I was done, I needed to go find a bus to the airport.

My day did end up well and my last experience in Catania, Sicily was extremely positive. A girl my age helped me when I went to the wrong bus station and even walked me all the way to the correct station, helped me by my ticket, and find out what bus number I needed to get on. I truly do believe that gli Italiani sono molto gentili. There are creeps in every country, every city, every town…I just hope I don’t have to run into anymore over here!

Oh ps: I’m back in Napoli. Spence is taking me to the Almafi coast this weekend and then I’m heading out on Monday to a place TBD…

Ciao!

No wonder I get stalked...I definitely look like a foreigner!!