Italian Sand Through The American Eyeglass: 10/29/06

Hello to all,

I hope this email is finding you all happy and healthy. As for me, happy yes, healthy no. I have determined through self diagnosis that I have bronchitis. I know this because I have had it probably 30 times in my life. Luckily, no prescription is needed here for antibiotics as long as you plead a good case with the pharmacist. I did good. Now I know I will finally start getting better. In that case, I am afraid I no pictures, nor many events to share because, honestly, I have been sleeping a ton and staying close to home.

However, I still have plenty of time to think about who I am and what I am doing here, which I could write about for hours and hours!

I have decided that travelling is much like reading a book or watching a movie. A first visit, read, or watch is somewhat superficial, as there is little previous experience or background knowledge given to you. When I came to Florence almost ten years ago, it was for one day. I had hardly taken the time to research the city and our trip was so fast and jumbled, I really had not impression at all. It compares to watching something like JFK. The film is so big and full of details, theories (about the assassination and about film), and nuances. It is impossible to take it all in in one leap.

My next trip was 5 years ago, actually, almost six. My experience was different for three reasons: I had done research on Florence, I could speak Italian, and I stayed her for a long period of time. In this time, I was able to observe Italy and Italians. I grew accustomed to their time frame, their food, and their culture. I adopted it as it was the reason for me studying abroad. Yet, it was still a little superficial. I may have been here to learn about and to feel Florence, but I was still living in a little bubble, a safety net if you will. I had and American doctor to go to, teachers who spoke English, and a ton of American friends in my program. I may have wanted to meet Italians on that trip, but I really did not. My aga was also a factor. I was 19, coming to a country where it was legal for me to drink, and offered a plethora of restaurants, bars, and clubs to haunt as the American students before me had done. Florence is such a popular destination for American Students, it is easy to get an impression and all the ins before you even get here.


So, this brings me to right now. My experience today in Florence. It is, as the second is from the first, a whole new world. I have previous experience and contextual background to start from, allowing me to analyse everything more complexly. I know the characters better, the setting. I have not come to party and visit all of my old places... I don't need that now. What I want tis to transcend the title of tourist and feel what it is like to be an Italian, to be a local. I can do this because I have taken the previous steps. I am now an expert on the film of Florence, in a sense. Yet, this process will never be finished. You can always learn and see more. It just depends on how you are looking. As we grow, we can always look back at many things in our life and see them a different way: a job, a heartbreak, a relationship, etc.

And who said I never learned anything important in film school? Thanks Ernie.

OK, sooo serious, I know. I can't always be funny. I really have no material. However, I will ease all of your minds by saying I am really keeping up good Italo-American relations. Just today I walked by a store and an Italian boy said, "God bless America for all these beautiful girls." No matter how bad politics get, they will always appreciate the beautiful girls!

Today I did laundry. The last time I did it was sort of a nightmare. I have a washer in my apartment, but no dryer. So, I went ahead and let them dry naturally. It took two days and all of my clothes were stretched out and too big. So, today I gave in and hauled my washed, wet clothes, to the laundromat and paid a small fortune to dry them. Worth every penny. There is something really comforting in a domestic schedule, especially when you are away from home. I can't just have fun and be out all the time I am hear. The luxury of coming for a long stay is being able to have days of relaxation and normalcy without feeling like you are wasting your time.

OK. I have a question. People keep telling me it is not good to eat gelato when you have a cough because it is cold. Ummmm, hello, I never heard this one. Are they just trying to trick me because them saying it makes me want to run out and get some right now. Hmmmm, dinner, gelato. Dinner, gelato...............

Oh man.. There is the cutest little Italian kid in here talking up a storm. i swear, whenever I hear a little shoot off in Italian, I feel like they have to be some super smart kids to be able to speak such a fun and crazy language. Of course I know that they grew up learning Italian, blah blah. It still just catches me by suprise and entertains me to no end. My kids MUST learn Italian!

OK. I promise to do something really fun tomorrow to blow you all away with! There are no more towers to climb, but I still have to climb the dome. I may need a few days for that. Until then, I hope you are all doing well and remembering to look at things differently if you are not liking what you see!

Ciao e Tanti Bacci!