[Back to Journal home]

The Italian Way -- Part One
My dear family and friends:

This is, yet another, update on everything, although this one is coming from Italy...

Things are going okay here. You wonder why just "okay". Well, things would be absolutely WONDERFUL if our team could win a match. The volleyball side of thigs, which is, unfortunately, the reason I am here, is not going so well. Our team has a lot of great players (virtually every player plays for her country's national team), but no one will play together. Our chemistry is TERRIBLE! Welcome to team sports!

On the bright side of things, Italy is wonderful. I love this country, and, although I complain a little about the way things are done here, I still love even the little quirks of this country. I really haven't completely figured out the Italians -- probably never will. They are so ahead of everyone in fashion, yet so behind in a lot of other areas.

Most Italians...

• Have their own opinion about our President and want me to know what they think;
• Would never admit that they secretly want to experience American life, if only for a few days;
• Laugh at Starbucks and take great pride in their coffee (they think American coffee is only to laugh at);
• Have clothes that I want;
• Can't understand a word I say, and attribute it to my being from Texas and growing up on a ranch. Little do they know that I really don't have a Texas accent and I grew up smack dab in the middle of one of the largest cities in the country;
• Knew I was American right away when I kept ordering a Cappuccino at all hours of the day when I got here. That is completely NOT accepted here. Cappuccinos are only for breakfast;
• Have shoes that I want. One of my first words to learn here was scarpe (shoes);
• Think it's funny that I need a menu when I sit down in a restaraunt -- I mean, don't I already know what I want? Who needs a menu?
• Use food as a means of celebrating life. I have seen more people toast, dance and sing at meals here than ever before;
• Have sunglasses and watches that I want;
• Think I am absolutely CRAZY (crazy=pazza in Italian...one of my favorite words right now) for washing my hair after practice and walking outside. And, for wearing flip flops in the cold. They are really concerned about "catching a cold" here. I think THEY are pazza!
• Have leather jackets that I want;
• Are really slow to take care of the things that are important and really prompt at taking care of the unimportant things. Do I have an apartment yet -- a temporary one. Do I have a car -- no. Do I have Inernet access -- no (I'm using an office computer of a friend of mine). Will I get these things that are written in my contract? Maybe, just maybe, by the end of the season or when hell freezes over.

With all of this said, I still love this place. It is quite different from my home in the US. And, although I have travelled to pretty much every country in the world, nothing is like living in another country. You truly get a taste of a different culture -- a truly different culture. It is a positive change, though. Italy takes pride in all the things I love...food, wine, clothing, and coffee. I think I am really Italian.

Anyhow, I hope all of you are well. All of you that told me you were coming to Italy should keep your word. I am holding you to it! We will have a wonderful time, I promise -- Brenda, we need to see if Italy can handle us, right? What better way to get free housing and a great tour guide in a foreign country?

Please keep me posted on everything back home (and in the other countries of you foreigners included in this e-mail). Eat lots of Freebirds burittos, Mexican food, oreos and pancakes for me.

I miss you all!

Ciao amici...

Baci!