One of the most hilarious situations I have ever found myself in happened just a week ago in the Rome train station.

I had gone there, not to catch a train, but to do a little last-minute shopping at a well-known Italian department store that I knew had late night hours. I heard the “closing in 10 minutes” message and headed into a dressing room to try on a couple of dresses. And when I heard the “store is closed” message, I headed out of the dressing room within 1-2 minutes.

I walked from exit to exit to see which one they were letting folks out from and soon discovered that ALL the doors were locked and NO ONE was inside. No other shoppers. No store employees. Just me. Inside a now-dark Italian department store. With only my Italian mobile phone (on which I had only my Italian friends’ contacts, none of whom answered my call).

Luckily, it was in a train station! There were people around! A young woman quizzically approached one door when I beckoned to her from inside the store. Ninety minutes, 4 police officers, 5 recalled store employees and countless bemused passersby LATER, I finally was free to go. OMG!

The only person who knew what was happening to me was my son in Los Angeles, whom I was amazingly able to call from my Italian mobile. He promptly posted my predicament to his Facebook page, asking “Why does she get to have all the fun?”

THE BIG TIP: This would have made a fantastic video. I could have at least gotten photos of my rescue party. BUT I DIDN’T HAVE MY IPHONE WITH ME. Whether you are traveling with your business or just heading to the grocery store at home, don’t leave to go ANYWHERE without your smart phone. You never know what you might need to capture!

When I came to live in Italy a couple of years ago, I had the choice of swapping homes in Viterbo, a small medieval town near Tuscany, or in Rome. At the time, I was certain Rome would be too big, too chaotic, TOO MUCH, so I chose Viterbo. But I ended up coming to Rome numerous times and totally fell in LOVE with it.

So I chose to start my journey this time here in this city I adore. As my plane came in for a landing, I really felt like I was coming home! And while having my first cup of oh-so-delicious Italian coffee, my eyes filled with tears of gratitude for this opportunity to live my love affair with Italy.

I’m staying in a flat near Piazza Navona…in a 15th century building. WHICH MEANS…no elevator. You should have seen me getting my luggage up four flights of stairs!

And there was no time to waste when I got in: I had to figure out my phone situation quickly so that I could conduct the first training call for my last offering of the 6-Figure Newsletter Secrets Virtual Intensive later the same evening I arrived!

I knew there was a landline here, but I also knew there was no international long distance. I was pretty sure I could figure it out by “game time,” but I said little prayer for ease and speed as I set off in search of a phone card. Luckily, I found a tobacco shop just a short few minutes down the cobblestoned street. Yes, that’s where you get phone cards!

All set? You bet!

I have so much more to share with you, but it’ll have to wait. I gotta go get some pizza!

Oh wait…one more thing. Even though I have a lot of awesome experiences when traveling and living abroad with my business, I have to face fear every day. Little fears (they’ll laugh at my bad Italian) and bigger fears (what if something bad happens to me while I’m here on my own). It’s normal. AND I think it’s actually good for me.

What fears do you face while traveling and living abroad with your business?