Italian Living

We really enjoy living in Italy and most especially we love Sacile. Yes, we miss home terribly and the friends and family and our dog--we wish we could just "pop in" for the weekend. But there are experiences here and adventures that, hopefully, stick in our mind as good and memorable times during our stay here. I want to make sure I remember all of these Italian-isms so I have been making a mental list.

• There are lots of bike riders. Young, old, with children on the front or back and they are everywhere. They are in the street like a normal car--no sidewalks. My favorite is when it's raining and they just ride their bike and hold an umbrella in the other hand. No biggie. Ladies in their skirts with their purse on their shoulder, just headed to the market. No biggie.
• Italians have an aversion to the cold. Yes it's cold in the winter and at night sometimes it gets chilly. But like in the hospital, in the 98 degree heat, the boys were wrapped and wrapped and wearing 2 outfits to keep them warm--this is how they live. No ice because ice is cold. No fans in the bedrooms because the air could cause a cold. Air blowing on your face? Why would you do that? In the winter is when it's the most fun to watch because the Italians bundle up to their eyeballs in gear. Personally, I think it's a way for them to excuse the obscene amount of money they spend on their clothes/jackets/boots/hats. Once October hits the calendar, the sleeves turn long, the coats come out, the gloves/scarves/hats are out in full force, even if it's not too terribly cold.
  
• Carseats are merely a suggestion. For some people at least. I remember last year, while I was behind a tractor on a main road to base and unable to pass him, I watched a woman walk to the passenger side of her car and take a car-seat, with a baby in it, out of the front seat. She unbuckled the seat belt like anyone normally would, and took the car-seat out of the car and went on her merry way. WHAT? I have since seen toddler size kiddos riding in the back seat, unbuckled and climbing all over the car as I wait at a stop sign. Yes, I used to do this too growing up, but that was before all the research on seat-belts, safety, air bags, etc. came out. Most recently I was crossing a crosswalk and the car letting me walk had a passenger holding a baby on her lap while she was driving. Are you kidding me? But my favorite, and the one I recall with clarity was on the way home from Tuscany. We had only lived here 1 month and getting around with our GPS was tricky to get used. So when we pass a car in the far right lane going 50 mph on the autostrada, I empathetically thought, "They're just trying to figure out where they are." Nope. It was a pinto with 2 grown men in the front and passenger seats. Their overhead light was on in the car. Why? Well, because the passenger had a toddler on his right leg with his arms wrapped around him and on his left...was a baby. Getting his diaper changed. At least they slowed down.
• While I am enjoying a morning coffee at our nearby bar, no doubt there is someone, male or female, having a spritz or a glass of wine.
• On the main roads, during harvest seasons, it is not unusual to get stuck behind a tractor or two and be unable to pass them. One of my favorite tractors was driven by the husband (I'm assuming) and hanging on and standing behind his seat was his wife. She just held her purse while she rode on into town, or maybe on the way to a friend's house, in her skirt and cardigan. I guess you have to catch a ride somehow!
• Bathrooms here are a fun topic of conversation. Fun because it's funny to describe to someone else the particulars of using one. It can be a hole in the ground (squatters as we call them), a normal potty like in the U.S., or a normal potty but without a lid, just a bowl. Some have flushers on the top, on the wall, hanging from the ceiling--everywhere. Just make sure you're fully clothed before pulling any strings because you might pull the emergency rope and the owner might just rush in. Didn't happen to me but it did to a friend! It doesn't matter we all use them the same but some are more unusual than others, but I will say I at least find a stop to go the bathroom while out and about. Some Italians, do not. While on the autostrada, it is not abnormal to pass an inlet (used for emergencies, to pull over for a phone call, have a flat tire etc.) and see the driver of the car using the nearby stretch of grass for a restroom. So far we have only seen males, however, I have not encountered them in the city limits or up close. Well, as I waited for the train a few days ago on the way to base, the truck driver in front of me got out and went to the grassy patch on the side of the road for a pitstop. It's not a big deal but I was shocked because he was maybe 10 yards from my car. Then he just hopped back in his truck. When ya' gotta go, ya' gotta go I guess.
  

Seriously.

I have been asked a few times about the daily issues that come with living the Italian life. We try to go with the flow most times. It helps just to laugh it off when something that should be open (grocery store) is closed, or something that should not happen, (leaf blowing at 5 a.m.) happens. So I will try to post something, every now and then, that I find interesting, funny, outrageous, or just a little odd. Some of them may happen in the U.S. and some may not--either way, here is your introduction.

So let's discuss parking. At a nearby grocery store, I was waiting on a few friends, when this car pulled up. Count it. The minivan took up three parking places. I know you might think it's an American because it's a minivan. Nope. Full-on Italian and on her cell phone to boot. But I'm sure she was just in a hurry.