Americans and Italians...

... a few differences I noticed during the last few weeks. Please note that this is supposed to be funny. Don't take any of it personal... if you do, you have no sense of humor!

POLITICS
Italians: They complain about all the politicians, they hate them all. The news love trashing them and advertising all the corruption, sex and drug scandles they are involved in. It's worse than a "telenovela-meet-big brother" contest! They read all the newspapers and watch the news religiously. They also like to complain about being Italian, and living in Italy.

Americans: Many refuse to follow the news. Not being aware of bad news, it's like fixing the problem and making it better... right? They love the party they belong to, they are proud of being Americans, and to live in the land of opportunity.

FASHION
Italian Women: They must follow the latest trends in clothes, shoes, purses, phones, sun glasses, make up, haircuts, hair styles and colors. However they have awful hands, they just don't believe in manicures!

American women: This needs to be extended more, as each state has their own trends. Some are stuck in the 80's... why did they pick that decade by the way? Fashion evolved up to then... and then what? Some are stuck in some kind of "all year 'round beach-wear", with their flip-flops and shorts. It drastically changes in the main cities as NYC or LA where the uber fashionistas are very Cover girl! But cross-country American women are obsessed by their mani-pedi. Make up seems to be more in demand among the younger crowd.

Italian men: Just like their women, they love to follow fashion trends. From clothes, to shoes, to haircuts and sunglasses. But why are their hands in much better shape than women's??? Maybe because they don't do house chores... Having a nice expensive car is also a big men's fashion statement.

American men: For the big part they wear whatever is available. Although khakis and polo shirts are still a big hit! Shoes are not a priority in their fashion repertoire... but bright t-shirts with big logos of their favorite sport's team surely is!

SEX
Italian women: You still easily meet plenty of women who have only been with one or two men in their entire life, and they are happily coupled with someone (either number one or number two!). I'm not sure if I feel sorry for them or if I slightly envy their pure innocence mixed with the ignorance of not knowing what else is out there...

American women: You still easily meet plenty of women who do not remember how men they have slept with... this is sort of fascinating to me. It makes me feel sad somehow. It's like sex has turn into some non-special/routine action like going grocery, eating, or pooping... then again it is an animal urge! But I like to practice this basic instinct only when I feel it's special (even if is just a little... magic?)... one more sign that I just don't fit in either criteria, maybe I'm just an alien!

Only Me Portions :-)

I noticed I highly enjoy buying individual portions of food. It must the freedom feeling of thinking, this is JUST mine! I love it that now they have neatly pre-packaged fruits and vegetables for singles. I can buy 1 eggplant, 2 bananas, a small bag of pre-cut and pre-washed greens for my salad. It's wonderful, I always used to throw half of my stuff away, now they have finally realized that there is a high demand for "singles' food", we eat too for goodness sake... just not as much as two people would!
Additionally... I must admit that I think it's cute! It makes me feel like a big girl buying my own single artichoke!!! I also like it because I can have a bigger variety of colorful stuff in my fridge.
Ok, I'm a nerd, and yes I do make grocery lists before I go to the store, and I do cross things off with my pen as I put them in my basket! Hey, I'm a Virgo I can't help it being organized and detailed!!!!
Gotta run now to re-organize my socks' drawer by color, length and material.....

Priceless Moments!

Today after work I quickly went to buy a bottle of wine at the store by my house. I'm gingerly walking towards the register as marching at the rhythm of whatever I'm listening on my iPod. There is a large area by the deli products, a girl is walking ahead of me, and there is a man in business suit walking towards me. The man is checking out the girl in front of me... to the point that as she passes by him, he makes an abrupt full stop and turns around to check her out... mostly he's checking out her ass! I witness the whole very theatrical and humorous deal, I actually confront him by staring back at him straight in the eye, and I have a very satisfied smirk on my face... sort of saying "I caught you!!". He stares back at me with a confused look over his face.
The reason why I'm sharing this story is because as it happened and the way it happened, I realized that this is perfectly fine! Yes, because in Italy you're allowed to stare, to be obvious of noticing somebody or something around you, and to look at strangers right in their eyes. It's not rude, it's part of our culture to acknowledge each other.
In some mother countries, even in ridiculously small places, such as elevators, people try to politely ignore each other. We don't! We greet each other, and immediately start a conversation. We have smart chats(even if sometime we don't agree the subject)with taxi drivers, or strangers on the bus, in shops, at the bank. We just LOVE to STARE and TALK!!!

PS: The image is of Valentina Crepax that has forever been my muse when observing human behavior...

How I fell in love with India...

As soon as I learned how to read I started to devour books. One of my favorite childhood writers was Emilio Salgari. I loved how he described with so much detail his novels that took place in such exotic Indian locations. I had a real weak spot for "The Tigers of Mompracem"; the story was so adventurous, suspenseful, romantic and dreamy. One of the things that fascinated me the most about Salgari, was not just his writing style and talent for story telling, it was the fact that he had never been in his entire life in India. He just read about all this far away locations, and through his studies learned all about them.
By the time I was six years old there was a television series that was premiering.... it was called Sandokan! It was based on the "Tigers of Monpracem" novel. Every week I waited for the new episode with a nervous sense of anticipation. I for the first time fell in love, not just with the story, but with the lead character of Sandokan... I was so obsessed with him I begged my parents to get me a poster of Kabir Bedi (the actor playing the role)... I would stare at that poster every night before falling asleep. I would fantasize of traveling to India and discover its ancient temples... and of course accidentally running into Sandokan, who would take me away, fall in love with me and we would live happily ever after!


Awww, the innocence and dreams of a six year old. The simplicity of my fantasies. They seem so far away yet so fresh in my memory... one thing is still present on my wish list: going to India. I had decided last December while chatting with a good friend of mine, I call her Pinche, that I would have gone there in within a year for sure. And now the craziest thing happened! Another good friend of mine, I call him Danish, he asked me to go to India with him next year! Will I go? Absolutely! No question about it. Before then I will need to do quite a bit of writing, but right now I have all the motivation in the world! I already know that this is going to be one of these trips that will make a big mark in my life.There must be a reason if I have had this attraction for this far away country for all these years, and there is only one way I can discover it... GO TO INDIA!

OMG, is it really my first post for 2010?

I have lived in foreign nations for so many years, I had forgotten the beauty of my own country: Italy. I have moved to Milan not even fully two weeks ago, and yet I feel intoxicated with the vibrant lifestyle. Many of you might be wondering “Excuse me, what’s the difference? Haven’t you been in Italy for the last four months while at your parents?”… No, it’s completely different, for two main reasons: 1) I was in Sardegna! Not only it’s an island, it’s literally a lost land on its own. Although it’s gorgeous in summer time to go there and show off your bikini, and go to pretentious clubs where you will easily spend a whole paycheck in one night…. it’s not anymore I place where I can find my happiness, follow my career and dreams, nor have anything in common with its residents. 2) I was overwhelmed… to say the least by my parents’ insanity that was slowly eating me alive and dragging me into the quick sands of isolation and hopelessness. I do love them dearly, but I can’t change them, save them, nor be with them.

Luckily I have managed over the years, my trips, my journeys, and my jobs to make some solid and incredible friends. They really are not even friends, but truly a fortunate extension of my family. The best kind of relatives, because you get to chose your favorite friends! Am I side-tracking from my main subject, my move to Milan? Nope, not at all! This is all connected. If it wasn’t for this wonderful group of people that I have secretly named (yes, I did copy it from a movie) My Circle of Trust, I wouldn’t be here now. Wow, it sounds like the words from my show… it’s unbelievable how reality was so well woven in that script… So, I thank my Circle of Trust. I refuse to reveal their identities, or to even let them know who is in or not… let’s just say the Circle includes 9 people, purposely one of my favorite numbers as it is a multiple of 3 and the number of my birth month. Yes, I’m a freak!

So, here I am in Milan! I’m still in shock! I absolutely love it! When I was a teenager I used to believe I was going to move here to go to University… but my overly protective parents opposed (thinking it was too far! Well I showed them, didn’t I?), and subsequently I fell in love and decided to get married instead (the overly protective parents opposed on this decision too…. And obviously I did NOT listen).
So many years later, here I am! And it’s exactly how I had imagined it when I was sixteen. I imagined that after getting my degree, I would have found a great job, I would have stylishly dressed in grey and black on winter, I would have had a cute medium length haircut, and live on my own. I’m almost there! I got a job that I love, I got the haircut and clothes… and next I’m going to get that degree I have been wanting for so long. I already have an appointment tomorrow for some orientation! I swear, I’m on a roll this year. NOTHING will stop me!!!

I had started by saying how I had forgotten that I was Italian… I really had, and it was sad! I’m slowly re-acquiring my Italian flare. I walk down the streets enjoying the smell of cigarettes and espressos coming out of the busy and stylish cafes. I’m having to re-learn my beautiful and complex language as I speak like a foreign child! I’m breathing so much Italian through the sites of the monuments, art, architecture, and fashion that I feel high on this strange mixed sensation of pride for belonging to this culture. Women and men are nicely dressed, and pay attention to the detail in a very casual way, they have very fashionable haircuts. And something else I love, women wear make up! Women… are women and even having their careers, husbands and children they still like to look stunning… then again this is Milan, the capital of fashion!!!!
I just want to add that I feel thankful, grateful, and blessed! It’s only February and almost all my wishes and resolutions for this year have been already accomplished!