Man, what a day! I swear, being a car instructor in Castelfiorentino is like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded. So, I wake up, right? Sun’s shining, birds are chirping, and I’m like, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
First off, I hit the road to meet my first student, Marco. He’s a cool kid, but he’s got the attention span of a goldfish. We meet at Piazza Gramsci, and I’m already sweating bullets. The dude shows up late, of course. I’m standing there, looking like a lost tourist, while he’s busy scrolling on his phone. I’m like, “Dude, we’re not here to check Instagram!”
Finally, we hop in the car. I’m trying to explain the basics, you know, steering, brakes, all that jazz. But Marco’s more interested in the gelato shop down the street. I mean, who can blame him? Gelato in Castelfiorentino is life. But c’mon, focus!
So, we’re cruising down Via Roma, and I’m trying to keep my cool. Suddenly, this old lady on a bike swerves right in front of us. I’m like, “Marco, brake!” He slams the pedal, and we stop just in time. My heart’s racing, and I’m thinking, “Great, now I’m gonna have a heart attack before lunch.”
After that little scare, we head towards Via della Repubblica. I’m trying to teach him how to parallel park. It’s a disaster. He’s turning the wheel like he’s trying to do a dance move. I’m yelling, “No, not like that! You’re gonna hit the wall!” And he’s like, “What wall?” I’m losing it.
But then, outta nowhere, he nails it! I’m talking perfect parking. I’m so shocked, I almost drop my coffee. I’m like, “Dude, you just parked like a pro!” He’s grinning like he just won the lottery. I’m happy for him, but also thinking, “Why can’t you do that every time?”
Next up, I have a lesson with Sofia. She’s a sweet girl, but she’s got this habit of talking too much. We’re driving down Via dei Mille, and she’s telling me about her cat, Pino. I’m trying to focus on the road, but she’s like, “Pino did this, Pino did that.” I’m half-listening, half-wondering if Pino can drive better than her.
Then, we hit a roundabout. Oh boy. She’s panicking, and I’m like, “Just follow the signs!” But she’s looking everywhere except the road. We almost end up in the wrong lane. I’m gripping the seat like it’s a lifeline. Finally, she makes it through, and I’m like, “Sofia, you survived! Congrats!”
After a long day, I decide to treat myself. I swing by this little café on Via Cavour. Best espresso in town, no joke. I sit down, take a sip, and it’s like heaven in a cup. I’m finally relaxing, thinking about how crazy today was.
But then, I see Marco and Sofia walk in. They spot me and come over, all smiles. “We should celebrate our driving skills!” Marco says. I’m like, “You mean your driving skills, right?” We all laugh, and I can’t help but feel proud.
As the sun sets over Castelfiorentino, I realize that despite the chaos, I love this job. The streets, the people, the gelato—it’s all part of the ride. And hey, if I can survive today, I can survive anything. Bring on tomorrow!