Everyone go learn a second language. Covering the Best Restaurants Party at Heinz Field with Gretchen only reinforced the notion that it’s never a bad idea to go out of your comfort zone, learn about another culture and converse with people using something other than English. After all, what else is diversity for, anyways?

Not only did my brief, five-minute conversation with one of the Italian cooks, Giuseppe, from the Paris 66 Bistro and attempts at French with the owners Lori and Frederic Rongier impress the representatives, it created a “cool” little bond between us.

In my first blog, I said I could write something entirely separate pertaining to my love for all things Italian and European; maybe this thought stems from that adoration but who knows. Learning a new language was certainly intellectually challenging for me and gave me a goal. I wanted to learn Italian so that when I’d finally get to Euroland all by my lonesome I’d have some basic knowledge and thought, “What the heck I was doing?”

Anyway, after speaking with the Bistro’s owners and whatnot at the booth, I walked away feeling confident and proud. I’ve always appreciated Italian, but this experience made me contemplate the other languages I’ve been neglecting all the more. I’m a big believer that people can go farther in life exploring other cultures, nations and obviously languages. I think after this Best Restaurants event it’s time for me to start learning French.

Maybe I’m Euro-sick. Maybe I’m crazy, but everyone go out and learn another language! Good luck my friends or “In bocca al lupo,” as we Italians like to say.