A filmmaker’s adventure abroad

I knew ahead of time that I wanted to make a film while I was in Italy. What it would be, I wasn’t sure; I wanted new ideas and felt sure they would blossom once I got to Orvieto. Sure enough, after 10 crazy days of writing, shooting, directing, editing, and acting, I completed this crazy filmmaking adventure to produce the film posted above! Watch and enjoy! 🙂

Italy: Making Third Wheels Cool

Italy: Making Third Wheels Cool

Episode 4: Benvenuto a Italia

Extraordinary Foreigner video blog… episode 4 is live!

The Heart of Life

By the time I get used to Italian toilets, light switches, and keyholes, the trip will be over. It’s the subtle things that make me homesick, like feeling stupid for not knowing how to unlock my own front door or being afraid of getting zapped by a buzzing outlet. Learning how to live in a foreign country teaches you how to be tolerant to difference; to survive, you must adapt. While I struggle to adapt, I also learn through struggling.

An overriding difference stands out in the style of consumerism. In America, we have shopping malls, chain stores, fast food, and huge supermarkets. Everything is big. Everything is fast. The goal is to produce the greatest output in the shortest amount of time. Technology outdates itself in a matter of months, creating a social hierarchy where owning the fastest, newest products equates to a certain level of social acceptance. Chemicals infiltrate our meals and homes, creating an easily replicable but generic palette to base our lifestyles on.

In America, quality is sacrificed for quantity and faster is always better.

The Italian lifestyle, though also rooted in consumerism, pulses at a gentler pace. I’m convinced shopping malls are an urban myth and chain stores are much smaller or American based, if present at all. Instead, small business owners dominate the local market, with each shop having it’s own personality and presence. On a daily basis. the entire city stops to sleep in the mid-afternoon haze. The comforts of American life are luxury: dryers, high speed internet, gigantic grocery stores, and accessibility to technology.

In Italy, quality beats quantity and authenticity trumps efficiency.

Though I still find it challenging to flush the toilet after a week in Orvieto, the differences I discover in even the most basic activities ignite my mind with inspiration and wonder (yes, I used toilets to talk about inspiration). It’s the things I don’t understand that teach me the most and remind me that the heart of life is good.

Extraordinary Foreigner Video Blog!

If you’re not already hip with it, I’m also doing a video blog! Check it out. Episode 2 is already up!

Everything’s Different in Dallas

Within 30 seconds of getting off the plane, someone started talking to me about the Creator. And then I saw some true Lone Star pride… mannequins with cow heads. Dallas/Ft Worth is like its own little city.

Also, it is very green here.

10 Things I’ve Heard About Europe

Having never traveled abroad, I started asking a lot of questions early on. Here’s a list of the things I’ve heard – contradictions, opinions, and advice.

1. Everyone hates Americans.
Pretty self-explanatory, things like Teen Mom and George Bush don’t exactly give us a good rep. However, I’ve also heard that this is just the American stereotype, and not all Americans get dissed.

2. The food sucks/it’s the best food you’ll ever eat!
Opinions vary on the quality of European food… my waistline will thank me if the first is true, but my heart will jump at the latter.

3. No one speaks English, and even if you try to speak their language, they’ll still hate you.
On the contrary, I’ve heard most people in the big cities speak at least some English, and overall people will appreciate it if you make the effort.

4. European airports put ours to shame.
Well, I’ll find out in about 15 hours.

6. Everyone smokes.
Fact or fiction, this truth will be told in a matter of hours.

7. Beer and wine are cheaper than soda and other drinks.
Hmm. Well I better start liking both.

8. All the people are highly fashionable.
I sure hope so. My back to school wardrobe is coming from Europe!

9. People everywhere are waiting to steal your luggage or pick your pockets.
I’ve heard even children do it. This has prompted me to buy a smaller wallet and locks for all my luggage. Not that a lock will save me, but I can try!

10. You will have the time of your life.
Gee, I sure hope so.