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The 20/30-Somethings In a country where Gucci, Prada, Armani and Versace have pushed breaking news of the Pope's health to the back pages of the newspaper, one has to wonder why? Why is it that my generation, the 20/30-somethings, care more about fashion than fidelity, or more importantly, in a country that is synonymous with the Catholic Church, the Pope? After taking this important topic into my own hands and talking to a number of the 20/30-somethings, I have realized that there really is no faith -- no pun intended -- in the most religious country in the world. Some will argue that, if there really is a god, why is there war? Some will say that the Catholic Church is far too political to really be considered a so-called denomination of Christianity. Divorce, infidelity and marriage are big topics of debate in Italy at the moment amongst the 20/30-somethings. Now, allow me, the expert, to give you some results of the research I have been conducting since my arrival into Italy. *Note to reader...This research is NOT completely based on personal experience. Rather, it is a compilation of observations -- similar to that which a fly might observe whilst sitting on a wall. In this, ironically so, boot-shaped country -- I think even God was thinking about shoes when he created Italy -- sex is as common to the 20/30-somethings as waking up in the morning and putting on underwear. It is almost as if it's a fad -- I can't believe I just said that word -- to talk or read about sex. You can't watch TV without a nude commercial flashing before your eyes, and heaven forbid should you watch a talk show about something other than a man and a woman fighting over who cheated on whom first. There is even a show specifically aired to find a significant other with questions such as "When was the last time you had sex?" or "What positions of Karma Sutra do you know?" My favorite is "What is the most crazy place you've 'done it'?" Elusions to sex are even creatively displayed on t-shirts and jeans, or for that matter, on ALL articles of clothing. The Italians are dressing up their thongs, or g-strings, and allowing them to strategically peek out of their pants as if to say, "Oops, I did it again!" In the name of research, I have asked many Italian men and women how they feel about their relationships -- or, as I see it, lack-there-of. In a world of infidelity, is it simply just accepted now to cheat on each other and forgive and forget? Apparently so, as so many 20/30-somethings are entering relationships with the ANTICIPATION of infidelity. So, with all this said, I ask myself, why, in Italy, has fashion pushed its way to the top of the pyramid of importance? My answer...Because when the 20/30-somethngs shop, they know that they can try on a pair of shoes, wear them a little while, buy them and take them home. Later, if there are any defects, they can take them back and get fully refunded, or they can simply go buy another pair when the shoes they have are out of fashion. Unfortunately, investing in a relationship is not like shopping -- you can't take back your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife for a refund after you realize they have "defects" and they're not perfect. And, contrary to popular belief in this "out with the old, in with the new" world, it's probably not the best idea to "get a new one", once you have gotten tired of them and decided that "yours" is just simply not in style anymore. As for me, I will be bringing home bags of Gucci, Prada, Armani and Versace from Italy and leaving the men behind. Why would I want a committed relationship, when I can just shop, shop, shop 'til I drop, drop drop? Ciao, Ciao for now! |