Independance Day - Expat Style

So instead of the usual fireworks show and family picnic to attend this year, I attended a fourth of july party hosted by the American Club of Rome. The party was held in the city at the Marymount International School which is a private Catholic co-educational day school from Early Childhood (age 3) through Grade 12 with a curriculum based on the American system of education. The school was north of the city so it took me about an hour and half to get there...well a bit longer due to an unpleasant run in with the italian police. This guy accused me of having the wrong ID (even though its worked every other time before) and did not try to understand my array of other languages. He only knew italian and was just annoyed as i was that we couldnt communicate. He gave me a bill for 50 euro that quickly went up to 100 euros because I refuse to pay. I think the only way he didnt take me to the station was because i agreed to go to the ATM to get the money - fool. They have no contact info on me so by the time they realize i didnt pay ill be back in the good ole USA. Jerks.
The picnic was a nice change. The food was a decent bbq complete with smores and pepsi. They had a live band, games for the kids, and a raffle that created a nice ambiance. The people I met there were from Nebraska originally and were quite characters. Women who had fallen in love with ITalians and somehow (sometimes against their wishes) wound up in Rome. I heart some bitter women complain about how difficult it is to live as an american here and they envied me for being able to go back in a month. It was not exactly the uplifting evening i was seeking and after the run in w/ the cops that day - i really needed a drink. I successfully hurt my ankle, got a huge fine, and got sunburned this weekend. I think next week, i need to get out of town.