Air kisses...
and other Cute things Italians Do...
Air kisses...moooo-wuaaah!
...or a kiss of the finger tips that is then sent your way with a swish of the hand...
Kissing on both cheeks as a greeting...
This can be the greatest thing ever cause here's this handsome guy
that (in your dreams) you would like to kiss on the cheek,
but you never, ever would...
...or it can be awkward because here's this guy you really don't want to encourage,
but he just kissed everyone else in the group on both cheeks,
guys included...
so...here we go you silly American...go with it!
ok...so no kisses on both cheeks from these beautiful men...
...but I wonder how an Air Kiss would have gone over...
...hmmmm...
Almost everyone has a buongiorno to say to everyone... before lunch that is...
After lunch everyone has a buona sera to say to everyone... whether you know them or not...
By the way, if your not sure what time it is, 'ciao' is not time sensitive...
Wine for lunch and dinner, but just enough to enhance the food. It is considered shameful for an Italian to be drunk. (Thus you rarely see one who is.)
They drive cute little work trucks like the one pictured above because they are basically a 3 wheel motorcyle that goes about a million miles to a gallon.
I think that most Italians would be great at the game charades
because they are very, very expressive and usually make deep eye contact
...and yes, they use their hands all the way up to their shoulders to express themselves!
It is amazing to sit down to a meal and just watch!
I suppose being expressive may be driven in part by the fact
that there are so many dialects of Italian that they need to be expressive in order to communicate!
Where I am staying there is always a little itty biddy english/italian dictionary close by the dinner table because communication and improving their english is important to them.
Their are 2 of us english speaking volunteers here
the other one being a man from England.
It's a joke now that when they ask how to say a certain thing in english
David will usually answer first with his thick english accent,
and then I will say...."or, in American english it is pronounced..."
Then we all laugh. It's hilarious.
Most of the Italians I have met speak at least one second language.
The biggest meal of the day is lunch (around 1ish), and is primarily pasta.
The final meal is also primarily pasta and is served about 8pm.
And no, I'm not fat yet...
at least...my jeans still fit...oh wait...they stretch...ummm...
at least...my jeans still fit...oh wait...they stretch...ummm...
Turns out pasta is inexpensive, very filling and can be prepared in so many ways that I have NOT gotten tired of it, and... and... because it is filling, I rarely snack between meal.
Breakfast is very light. Pastry, cereal and always, always, espresso...
Espresso is always served in the morning of course, but also
after lunch and dinner.
They make it in one of the little things shown below...
Just in case you ever wanted to know how to make Italian espresso...
There are three peices to the... um, I dont know the name of it...
...but I have seen them sold in the States...
...but I have seen them sold in the States...
Unscrew the top half from the bottom half.
Fill the bottom with water up to the little screw shaped valve opening.
Fit the little tray with holes in it back into the bottom half.
Fill that tray with espresso. Do not mash the coffee...
Only settle it litley with edge of a little spoon, (the edge like as if you were going to cut something)...
Screw the top half back on and put it on the burner on the stove...
Wait about 5 minutes till you hear a wooshing, gurgleing sound...
peak under the lid and when the top half is full...
Voila! Best coffee ever!!!
The Italians drink it out of tiny espresso cups,
( always ceramic, no plastic cups will do)
and drink a shot.
( always ceramic, no plastic cups will do)
and drink a shot.
I prefer a slightly bigger cup with half milk... buonissimo!
One more thing about espresso... they call a coffee place a 'bar' here... most Italians order at the bar...
...yes, looks similar to a bar where you would order alchohol in the USA...
then they remain standing at the bar and down a 'shot' of coffee
...like someone might down a shot of alchohol...
they pay around a euro...
(lay the money on the counter, do not put it in their hand, and no I don't know why)
and then a 'ciao' and back to work!
(It's really cute to see this hunky, big Italian man drink out of little itty biddy
white cup with a little handle on the side...
like a father playing 'tea' with his little daughters play tea set.)
(lay the money on the counter, do not put it in their hand, and no I don't know why)
and then a 'ciao' and back to work!
(It's really cute to see this hunky, big Italian man drink out of little itty biddy
white cup with a little handle on the side...
like a father playing 'tea' with his little daughters play tea set.)
This little bambino spotted this pony and became deaf to the rest of the world...
He zoned into this fascinating creature, new to his world
and just sat staring for several minutes...
...Guess he decided the silent conversation was over and that it was time to touch...
This little guys expression says it all...Horses are magical creatures...
About work...all of the Italians I have met are very, very hard working people. They might not run on a predictable time schedule, but they defiantly work long hours.
The economy is not good here, so working hard is a fact of life...
...But they still don't seem to be money driven.
Among themselves, there seems to be a lot of bartering... doing favors...
and knowing that your family and friends will take care of you...
I mean, you are NOT going to starve.
They help each other...a lot!
I mean, you are NOT going to starve.
They help each other...a lot!
They look out for each other and once you have won their friendship, they will take care of you!
...Wether personally or through another friend. "You're going where?
Oh I have a cousin, or family member there.. you must stay with them!"
Rent a room? Oh no. Too much money... I will call them...
...Wether personally or through another friend. "You're going where?
Oh I have a cousin, or family member there.. you must stay with them!"
Rent a room? Oh no. Too much money... I will call them...
I am honored to say that the warm and wonderful Italian friends I have met here
are definatly taking care of me!
They are prooving to be very very hospitable and generous people. It is just the way it is.
It's a fact and they don't expect you to fall all over yourself thanking them...
just remember your friendship and give back...
somehow, someday...give back... I LOVE IT!
are definatly taking care of me!
They are prooving to be very very hospitable and generous people. It is just the way it is.
It's a fact and they don't expect you to fall all over yourself thanking them...
just remember your friendship and give back...
somehow, someday...give back... I LOVE IT!
1 comment:
The details of everyday life are very interesting to read.
That is a serious amount of pasta!!
Isn't that interesting about the languages? Every European I've ever met knew a minimum of 2, and many of them 3 different languages!
Kim
Post a Comment