DID YOU KNOW? ... or, the unspoken but understood ...

Did you know it is inappropriate to order a cappuccino in Italy after 11 AM??
     It has something to do with heated milk being a breakfast food and something for children....soooo, an adult DOESN'T order cappuccino once lunch approaches.  I have been the object of raucous laughter when, at the conclusion of a long lunch, I mistakenly ordered a...what?  cappuccino!  My friend, John, refused to buckle....so at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, despite my warnings, he ordered a c.... The waitress was kind, she just kinda smirked.  **Now, if you're in a big city where there are lots of tourists, the baristas are used to this, so you won't be an object of ridicule in Rome or Milan.**

Did you know Italians celebrate the Epiphany with a holiday called Befana?? 
     The Befana is a witch,--full-on witch, the nose, the hat, the cape, the broom--who brings children presents (get it?).  So, Christmas isn't the day of presents, it's Befana.  AND...it's a Festa, so all of Italy is closed in celebration of...gift-giving!  So, walk with me here:  Christmas eve--everything closed, half day, Christmas day, entire country celebrates, everything closed, Day AFTER Christmas (the Brits call it Boxing Day), everyone is recuperating, so everything is closed, New Year's Eve, closed, half day, New Year's Day, closed, Befana, everything closed....does this country know how to celebrate the season, or what???  This is lovely if you live here; who doesn't love a holiday?  However, if you're a tourist and planned to see the Sistine Chapel on January 6, you're outta luck!!

Did you know many/some/all Italians believe air conditioning is unhealthy?      
     Now, electricity is expensive here (can't wait to get our first full month's bill!) so things like dryers and air conditioners are rarely used.  Italy is sweltering during the summer, especially the bigger cities--Rome, Florence, Milan--they don't cool off at night, but many homes do not have a/c.  Air conditioners are now widely sold, and many people have put small units in their homes, but oftentimes they aren't used.  My cousins, Tina and Rino, bought a small unit for their home; it worked faaaabulously!  Gary thought he was in the US, cool, cool, cool.  However, Tina caught a cold.  That a/c went off and stayed off the rest of the summer....she was convinced the forced cool air was responsible for her cold.  She is not alone.  **If you travel, it is not a problem to find a hotel with a/c.  However, if you're staying in a pensione or a hostel, chances are you'll be sweltering with the rest of the Italians!**

     This also applies to clothes dryers...despite winter temperatures, Italians are hanging out washed clothes.  It's a wonderful sight; it's 5 degrees C, the sun is out, and every terrace has clothes out, drying.  When the evening comes, the clothes are moved inside to some place out of the way to wait until tomorrow to be put out again.  We had a load of laundry that took FIVE DAYS to dry, and even then the socks were kinda damp.

Did you know Italy is experiencing a huge influx of immigrants which is awakening xenophobia???
     I've had a lot of conversations about this...the face of Italy, literally and figuratively, is changing, rapidly.  Una razza una faccia, one race, one face, is often intoned.  Many Italians are unhappy with the changes, are unaccepting of the immigrants, want their country to be what it was like "before"....it's an age-old discussion, an age-old conflict, an age-old problem that isn't going anywhere in this ever-changing global world.
     This takes me back to our visit to the immigration office---the people there, of every race and creed, --Chinese, Albanians, Pakistanis, Indians, Iranians--are the people facing discrimination because they are different, like immigrants everywhere.  I need to wrap my head around this a little more to get a deeper perspective....
     AND...Italians hold grudges...the Germans, because of their role in WWII, are still not embraced or liked very much.  When I asked someone if they liked the current Pope, the answer was, "No, He's German."  Simple. Clear.
     It's an interesting time.....

Did you know Italians LOOOOOVE IKEA??   
      IKEA was one of the first stores to be open on Sunday; Sunday is a Festa and, as you now know,  on Festas, nothing is open!  When we went to the IKEA in Rome the first time, on a SUNDAY,  to buy furniture, 10 years ago, the place was PACKED.  We couldn't walk down the aisles without bumping into people who were sauntering, window-shopping, enjoying the day.  The restaurant was hoppin', people having a coffee, a piece of pie, a full-on one or two-course meal!  Every relative I have here has at least one piece of furniture from IKEA in their home!  I mentioned to my neighbor, Laura, we were going to IKEA, and her reaction?  A guttural, eye-raising, saliva-induced, "Bello!"  And then she asked me to bring back the catalogue.

How does one learn about the cultural stuff no one talks about publicly?  We keep our eyes wide open, watch intently, use reflective listening, and hope to God we're not stepping on any toes or creating una brutta figura....also my family here has graciously and generously opened their homes, their hearts, their minds and given us a special pass into the unspoken Italy.