I have had a lot of teachers on this educational mission. Not just my language and culture teachers Barbara, Stefania, Teresa and Luciana. I have learned much from my fellow students from around the world and especially the roommates at my apartment.
I was a tiny bit worried about sharing an apartment. So I have been on my best, cleanest and most polite behavior around the house. I have had 3 women come to stay with me in the last 5 weeks. First Agnes. She was there for 2 weeks and taught me so much about the cultures, opinions, differences and attitudes of Europeans and especially the French. Then there was Rhiannon from Australia who stayed for 2 weeks. She taught me much about Australian culture and attitudes and made me work out my Italians skills with so much patience. I learned to love them and was very pained when they left me. Now I have Jozè (pronounced like the spanish name Jose - hose-eh) from Holland.
Jozè came in for one week and on her first day here we were introducing ourselves and she says "Oh, I see! You are a druid witch, how wonderful!". She had me tagged right away, but they say... it takes one to know one. She is such a joy and so much fun. She is a historian, an artist of many mediums (music and sculpture in various materials), a writer/journalist and a great cook too. She holds no punches (an Aries) and she sings in Dutch around the house. WOW!
One day we were having a discussion regarding the horrors of the American television media and of course the topic moved to include the subject of recent fiasco of Brittany Spears. She says "Oh, she's just another victim of Mickey Mouse!" I started laughing and could not stop for a full 10 minutes till I almost collapsed, breathless with tears streaming down my face.
Once I caught my breath, I said " Well that sums it all up. The issues of Americans with their unrealistic expectations, magical thinking and the problems of American culture infiltrating all other cultures around the world. I too am a victim of Mickey Mouse! Can I quote you?" "Sure. " She says. I have had the opportunity to use that term 4 times now (make that 5) Now I can see more clearly all the troubles I have had in my life trying to adjust to the harsh realities of adulthood.
Blessings:
- Jozè.
- La Pescheria. This is the fish market. I just bought some fresh calamari for the equivalent of $1.50 a pound.
- La Ducesa. This is my favorite Pizzaria. Jozè offered to buy me lunch a couple days ago so I told her I would show her the best in town. We walked over to the La Ducesa, it is right next to the castel of Otranto. We walked into the outside dining area and she says in her beautiful Dutch accent. Oh! I dont like it here!" The waiter approaches and listens to our very Italian like discussion (argument) that follows: "Why?!?" I say with my mouth hanging open. "I dont like the music" she says. " What! This place not only has the best pizza in town it has the lowest prices too. And WHY DONT YOU LIKE BOB MARLEY! I LOVE Bob Marley! He was a poet, a peacemaker and a prophet! A great man!". She says. "He was abusive to his wife and children and besides the music is too loud too!. " I look over at the waiter... he nods and runs away to change the music and turn it down low. "Hows that?" I say to her. "Thats good. Okay we have lunch now." I went in yesterday and as soon as he saw me, the waiter ran off to turn on Bob Marley and crank it up!. My kind of restaurant! My favorite pizza there is the mushroom, cheese and toasted walnut pizza. awesome!
Curses:
- Il Posto Italiani! (the italian postal service)
- Swelling feet, ankles and one knee.
- Fingers stained purple from pulling black olive pits out of my mouth. You find them hiding in many foods and you must be very careful. I'm afraid I might break a tooth too.
- Still hand washing my clothes. I just did the equivalent of two washing machine loads and I have another soaking. My arms and hands ache yikes. I was very busy and waited too long to do them. One good thing, all that soap, scrubbing and wringing... almost got the purple stains off my fingers, lol lol.
Instead of doing sketching and painting like I had hoped I could do when I was not busy with school, I am writing, writing, writing! I have filled 4 notebooks with written pieces and will have no problem with blog updates till long after I get home. Some of the pieces I have done and will post in the coming days include:
*A piece on the Opinion Poll I have been doing.
*A piece on the Italian Lover vs the French lover.
*Il Sole Italiano, (The Italian Sun.) with pics of my mosaic work of same.
*The piece on Cars and Drivers I have mentioned before and still have not completed.
*The Architecture of Southern Italy.
And I have a long list of topics and incomplete thoughts jotted down i want to write about. Maybe I will get a book out of this afterall. hahahaha.
Good news! With all the money saving things I am doing (faster typing, less cappucino, no wine and no pastries, staying at Jozè's for 4 days while in Holland), and all the love and money people are sending I am about three quarters of the way to my goals!
I love you all sooooo! io vado ora. presto!
No comments:
Post a Comment