Including good doggos and a farting Contessa. The Contessa, who is now deceased, was elderly, opinionated, and apparently gassy. My boyfriend John, once a longtime resident of Calcata Vecchia, used to help her down the stairs, accompanied by the sounds of her thunderous farting. She reigned from her daily perch in the piazza, nodding with exquisite condescension to those who pleased her, and baring her fangs at those who didn’t. Somehow, she got into an argument with one of the locals who called her a “Vecchia Mafiosa,” or as we might say, “an old Mafia boss.”
I love these sorts of examinations of foreign culture from an outsider's perspective. Having lived in a couple of different countries myself, I can relate to this...and also to knowing that no matter how long you live in a place, you will always be "the American." Forever the outsider. It's not such a bad thing.
EXACTLY RIGHT. I will never be Italian. I'm also not 100% American anymore either, although I'll never be anything but. Barbara Harrison did some AMAZING books on that outsider's perspective on Italy. I highly recommend them.
I love these sorts of examinations of foreign culture from an outsider's perspective. Having lived in a couple of different countries myself, I can relate to this...and also to knowing that no matter how long you live in a place, you will always be "the American." Forever the outsider. It's not such a bad thing.
EXACTLY RIGHT. I will never be Italian. I'm also not 100% American anymore either, although I'll never be anything but. Barbara Harrison did some AMAZING books on that outsider's perspective on Italy. I highly recommend them.
Well written, funny and totally enjoyable. Thank you.
Thank YOU. That is very kind.
I'm now considering a move to Italy because of my credit. Talk about starting over! I wonder if they give loans to outsiders? I'm thinking no.