Sometimes, it’s the little things that seem the most complex. Consider filling your tank in a foreign country. It can’t be all that hard — it’s all gas, isn’t it? Well, yes — and no.

Last year, we visited Italy. As usual, we rented a car and drove all over the countryside. Italy is a truly beautiful country.

When it was time to fill the gas tank, things got a little interesting. At the filling station, there was a pump labeled Regular. It sounded like regular gas to me. Unfortunately, the nozzle wouldn’t fit into the gas tank opening. I figured I had the wrong type of gas, but which one was the right one? There was another pump labeled Diesel, that did not sound like a good idea at all.

The only remaining pump was labeled Senza piombo. What could that be? Senza piombo … sans plumbum … without lead … unleaded! Could it be unleaded gas? Maybe it’s some wierd diesel mix? Well, it’s a rental, give it a try! The nozzle fit and there no thick black smoke from the tailpipe. Was it luck?
I guess some of that French and chemistry in junior high school sunk in. I’m a firm believer in importance of learning fundamentals. Sure, long division is not fun to do by hand, but there are good reason to learn it.