Worldwide OAVB's

Ciao a tutti il mio amici,

Worldwide OAVB’s
One of the best things about this little educational venture of mine has been having the opportunity to have discussions with people from around the world. There has been 16 people that I’ve been able to have discussions with, that have gone deeply into their OAVB’s (opinions, attitudes, values and beliefs). 4 Italians, 3 British, 3 Dutch, 2 French, 2 Australians, 1 German, and 1 Brazilian.

We have had discussions about things like politics, religion, cultural differences and how to live a happy and healthy life. I have tried to feel people out about their impressions of Americans and our culture. I will share with you some of the trends I have picked up on.

The Commonalities
They were all healthy, open-minded, intelligent people. They all love Italy and the Italian language and (duh, that’s why we are all here) and have been here more than once. They all speak more than one language. Anywhere from 2-8 languages usually 3-4. All spoke Italian. All but one spoke English. Most seem to think of English as the “Universal Language”. They all like to drink wine and tea. They all love music and dogs.

About America
None had ever been to America. Only 3 had even met an American before. About half (8) expressed the desire to come to America some day. Most think American culture pervades and infiltrates all other cultures (the Mickey Mouse Syndrome). This infiltration includes some positives (literature, music and movies) and some negatives (foods, television and politics).

There was one item of conversation that kept coming up. Most people wanted to tell me who they favored for the next American President. So if they didn’t offer it up, I started asking. Who do you favor for the next American President? I even asked people who I meet briefly, like people at the Mediterre Conference, and people on the trains I rode. I told them I had not made up my mind yet and needed to know what they thought. This seemed to make people very happy lol lol.

The overwhelming majority of people want Barak Obama. One man I met, as I was working out my introduction in Italian, interrupts me and in English and says “You American? You vote Obama then!”. There were a few people (3) that wanted Hillary. They seemed to think if we elect Hillary, we get Bill too. Everyone seems to love Bill! I am starting to feel that the American president has so much impact on the world, that everyone should get a vote.

Not one person I spoke to wanted to see McCain get elected. They think he is the same as Bush. BAD. I told several of them that I think McCain is different than Bush, but I don’t think they believed me.

This is the perfect place to memorialize my favorite teacher ever, Professor Thomas McMillan. Prof. McMillan taught the class called “Critical Thinking” at Mendocino College. This class woke me up and changed my life for the better. He also taught “World Religions” and had taught at Oxford and Honolulu Universities. Mendocino College was very lucky to have him. He died of cancer a couple years ago and the main building at Mendocino College was renamed McMillan Hall.

He is the one who taught me about my OAVB’s. Everyone has them, they are as individual as our fingerprints, and they are NEVER wrong. His favorite final assignment was 4 questions that brought together with great clarity, a term paper called “My World View”.

Before that assignment I did not even know I had one, or that anyone cared to know what it was.

Blessings:
- picking chamomile among the ancient ruins beside the castle. I was feeling a little low and the chamomile tea is making me feel much better. Besides it is free. And while picking it struck me… I guess I am writing a book. I think I will call it “My Wild Heart”.
- A new roommate! Claudia from Germany. Another beautiful intelligent woman. I have been so lucky. I spent a week alone here in the apartment but this time I did not get depressed. I have the laptop now and I spent the time writing and writing on it.
- The festival of San Francesco. There were so many fun activities.
A carnival on my street.
Folk music and dancing
An orchestra in the Park
A Procession and Mass in the Basilica with the Tree of Life, which I attended.
I cry every time I get near the Tree of Life. This is the third time too and the tears just flow. I can’t seem to help it, it touches my heart so deeply.

Curses:
- I ran into my angel friend Rosa yesterday and instead of telling me I looked beautiful, she said I looked fat! ha ha ha. I told her it was that time of the month and I was just bloated. Maybe it is because I stopped running across town everyday to the post office to check for my package. Or maybe I am just eating too much pasta! So last night I made myself a nice bitter insulate and stuffed calamari risotto for dinner instead. And tonight I made sushi. Two days without pasta or bread must be some kind of record here.

Basta la Pasta! Do me a favor okay? Find some happiness today! Love you all.