Yes Men out there wish I had typed Italian Girls GONE WILD & Women wished, Italian Men GONE WILD but really the real life issue everyday is mentality (mentalità)! It FLASHES me everyday HEAD ON! Pun intended!
How do I explain Italian mentality … I don’t! You have to live it & you can’t live it for a week, two weeks or a month. It something you have to live for an extended period of time. I also believe in my soul that you either get it or you don’t. You have to JUMP (saltare) into it with faith (fede) and know that you will land safely on the other side. If this all sounds mysterious, well the Italian mentality is someway mysterious (misterioso). Let me explain it the best way I can and it still won’t explain it. How is that for clarity?
Italians are boisterous & conservative, generous & thrifty, warm hearted & guarded, loving & quick tempered, industrious & lazy, impatient & relaxed, fashionistas & fashion victims. Informal & have the best of manners. Besides some of these obvious contradictions they are also passionate, sociable, gourmet, scandal lovers, spirited, political, Italian football lovers, musically well rounded, creative, tardy & of course, individuals.
Ahhh, these characteristics describe many Americans but it’s HOW the Italians look at the world (mondo) is what pulls them into my heart. Me as a stranger I have to always prove myself. It is a tiring feat but one I know must be done. I am asked by many people “WHY” Italians do “this or that” or “say or that” & I can’t always answer these questions because I have come to just accept many things for the way they are. I don’t ask questions … I go with the flow! I jumped in!
There is a phrase here that I have been told perhaps 50,000 times, plus & I know it is the way of life here but maybe my American blood fights it because I Just Want It All - Now. The mentality of the saying “piano-piano” (American translation: slowly but surely). So when I wake up in the morning I take a deep breath (respiro profondo) & I embrace the soul of the Italian people, the voices I hear out my window, the relaxed way of life, the spontaneity of my day, the church bells that ring, the beautiful Italian women, the flirty Italian men, the aggressive drivers, the incredible food & the value of family especially children.
By reading this you might be thinking this mentality does not seem so difficult. I read it & think the same thing. However, walking each day in these Gucci pumps down streets filled with Vespas and a language that makes saying the worse things sound beautiful … you must live it to know it. Viva Italia! Thank you Italia for cradling me & sharing your mentality with me! Italy’s Tomorrow is my TODAY!
How do I explain Italian mentality … I don’t! You have to live it & you can’t live it for a week, two weeks or a month. It something you have to live for an extended period of time. I also believe in my soul that you either get it or you don’t. You have to JUMP (saltare) into it with faith (fede) and know that you will land safely on the other side. If this all sounds mysterious, well the Italian mentality is someway mysterious (misterioso). Let me explain it the best way I can and it still won’t explain it. How is that for clarity?
Italians are boisterous & conservative, generous & thrifty, warm hearted & guarded, loving & quick tempered, industrious & lazy, impatient & relaxed, fashionistas & fashion victims. Informal & have the best of manners. Besides some of these obvious contradictions they are also passionate, sociable, gourmet, scandal lovers, spirited, political, Italian football lovers, musically well rounded, creative, tardy & of course, individuals.
Ahhh, these characteristics describe many Americans but it’s HOW the Italians look at the world (mondo) is what pulls them into my heart. Me as a stranger I have to always prove myself. It is a tiring feat but one I know must be done. I am asked by many people “WHY” Italians do “this or that” or “say or that” & I can’t always answer these questions because I have come to just accept many things for the way they are. I don’t ask questions … I go with the flow! I jumped in!
There is a phrase here that I have been told perhaps 50,000 times, plus & I know it is the way of life here but maybe my American blood fights it because I Just Want It All - Now. The mentality of the saying “piano-piano” (American translation: slowly but surely). So when I wake up in the morning I take a deep breath (respiro profondo) & I embrace the soul of the Italian people, the voices I hear out my window, the relaxed way of life, the spontaneity of my day, the church bells that ring, the beautiful Italian women, the flirty Italian men, the aggressive drivers, the incredible food & the value of family especially children.
By reading this you might be thinking this mentality does not seem so difficult. I read it & think the same thing. However, walking each day in these Gucci pumps down streets filled with Vespas and a language that makes saying the worse things sound beautiful … you must live it to know it. Viva Italia! Thank you Italia for cradling me & sharing your mentality with me! Italy’s Tomorrow is my TODAY!
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