Okay, I give! When I started to write about a life
in Italy, I had made a decision to highlight only the positives. After-all, how
could a life in retirement on the Riviera be anything but positive?
Well, hold on; here I present a few of the challenges of living in Italy.
Speaking
The following is an example of what Italians hear
when I speak . . .
First must tell about the language problem. When
talking I translate every word and think I will never talk well until I'm
thinking too the language. When entering a shop first explain I, my Italian is
poor and hoping that they speak English to me, I ask always, "speak you
English?" they answer always, "a little," which really mean,
"nothing!" When this happen I must find the words to get what I
want.
I've recently stopped explaining that my Italian is
limited; I think they get that right off.
Driving
One has a year, from the date of becoming a
"resident" to obtain an Italian driver's license. I got my
"residency" in 2008 and, if I had been told at that time about the
driving requirement, I could have taken the test in English. Instead, through
an unfortunate incident another American experienced, I found out about this
requirement only last year, I also found out that the test was now ONLY offered
in Italian, German and French. No problem, thought I, I'll just study the 800
pages of True/False test questions, written in an "Italian" one never hears
in the shops!
Without anymore unnecessary information (I'd have
to tell you the details in private), I can now claim that I possess a
driver's license from a different E.U. country which respects the fact that I've
been driving safely for almost forty years.
Eating
Since I'm putting my cards on the table, let me
talk about what else you'll find on an Italian table.
I, of course, LOVE Italian food and since
living here, I have tweaked my Italian recipes and techniques to better align
myself with what's considered proper Italian cooking. I now make lasagna with a
proper besciamella. I now use less garlic and when I do, it's used
correctly. My pasta is cooked according to the time listed on the package. I
make my own tomato sauce from home grown tomatoes. I prepare and eat smaller
portions of meat and I always know where and when the animal was born, raised
and killed.
I eat raw sausage with the best of the Cerianaschi.
And yet . . . I'm craving: hamburgers, burritos,
tacos, American/Chinese take-out, Indian Food, and Twinkies.
When Rich and I go out to dinner here, it's a sure
bet it's Italian! And it really doesn't matter where we end up, it's all good, but . . .
It seems Italians might be a bit unadventurous;
they love what they have; it's usually the best, and that's that! This
contentment with all things Italian, if it can be called that, extends from
their tables to their leisure time. August 15th rolls around and the bulk of
the population is on vacation, destined to the same lidi their families have enjoyed for generations. Italians love their beaches; really, what's not to
love about a beach? Italian pediatricians still recommend several weeks of
sunshine for their young patients; thus imprinting sun-worship from a very
early age. Beaches here are organized in rows. Rows upon rows of beach
chairs or beds. Rows upon rows of umbrellas. It's all very organized, it's all
very regular, it's all very Italian.
Occasionally an Italian couple might take an exotic
vacation to, say, the U.S., or the Maldives, or Machu Picchu, but
usually only if it's an organized tour with other Italian couples. They go as a
delegation so that they're never without the comfort of their countrymen. In a
pack, there's always someone who's better with the language; someone who's
better with the money; someone who's been there before and knows where to find
the best Italian restaurant!
in somma . . .
We Americans are spoiled by endless variety, our many
choices. The very fabric of America is woven with diversity; diversity and variety defines us, it's our mindset, and we are uncomfortable when choices are few.
So, aren't we really just like them; looking to find
comfort in what we know best?
