Expectations of Italy
When I think of Italy, I envision the old Coliseum
in ruins in the same city as the Vatican.
I picture brick walkways leading to stone chapels with high steeples and
centuries old art galleries. I expect
Rome to be commercial and catering to tourists.
I look forward to the mountains of Spoleto littered with umber and
sienna houses topped with clay tiles. I
envision myself resting at a seaside café drinking a latte and battling the
hair that sticks to my mouth. I look
forward to soaking up the rich history and traditions of a culture that has
thrived for many centuries.
I am sure I will enjoy the authentic Italian cuisine
that all too often gets Americanized here in the States. Fresh,
simple goodness will fuel my wanderings and inspiration will touch my soul in a
way I cannot predict. I would like to
limit my expectations because I can’t imagine what it will be like to live
there for five weeks in the midst of a completely different culture. I want to leave room for new and exciting
experiences related to my surroundings and also to my experiment with writing
as a new medium of art expression.
Clichés
I have always heard that Italians speak with their
hands. It’s funny, though, that I have
met all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds who find that gestures
are a good way to enhance the spoken word.
I have also heard that Italian women are very
maternal and get offended if you don’t eat enough to their liking. I think a lot of maternal grandmothers fit
into this category.
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