Easier said than done. I promised to write but... how many days have passed since my last post? I don't even want to think about it. In short - too many!
In addition, this is my third attempt to write this post as for some mysterious reason, the text i've been writing goes missing and all i see is a blank imput window. Let's hope that bad luck is gone now, and I can finish this post.
I haven't been writing because life has been everything but boring and when one is leading an interesting life, there is obviously less time to sit down and write. Write about life, the universe and who knows what else. Oh, I promised to write about Italy and Italians, I suppose.
Well, Italians are...Italians. What else can I say? When getting to know a culture, the first step is interest, even if one denies it, there is a good amount of exoticism in everything. One might not agree with everything, but differences are interesting. One may admit it or not, but when first coming in contact with a different culture, there is a good amount of exoticism involved. The differences are interesting, they expand your understanding of the world, they prove there is more than one possibilty to live a life (in a very broad sense)
The first step is a bliss. Everythig is indeed lohunderdvely, amazing and what not. But then comes the next step. One has to live in an evironment where everyone is different. Different world view, different customs, a different understanding of what is generally accepted and what is not. Well the previous sentence was a nice general way of saying that most of italians are always annoyingly late, their words and actions rarely go together one hundred per cent and...well there is more, let's not spend time on making a list :)
Oh yes, living in an evironment, where everyone is so different from you is certainly very interesting, but at the same time it can make you cry, make you fall into depression and...most of all - when living in a forgein country one tends to become the biggest patriot there is. One knows there is one country where people are "normal" instead of weird. In that country one knows how everything works - native country. In a foreign country on the other hand, every little detail needs attention, everything can and will at times go wrong. And there's no way f blaming others. It's definetly me who doesn't fit the norm, not them.
Water is deep and fuzzy and while during the first step, swimming was easy (because one was relaxed and rested) but now swimming becomes more difficult and I am mildly tired. It is a question of survival. Can I make it? I have good chance of survival and I hope i will survive in this country because everything is indeed interesting but...at times it is just too overwhelming. Too much "difference" makes my head ache. Let's hope I'll be able to absorb it instead of developing an allergy!
9/14/10
6/26/10
Here I am...
So, it has been four days since I landed in Fiumicino. I have to be completely honest: I've been anything but an enthusiastic tourist. I've seen the landmarks of Rome several times by now and frankly I have no desire to elbow my way around near the Fontana di Trevi or Piazza di Spagna. I will see them sooner or later. I'm not planning to leave so very soon, am I? Until now I've been rather lazy and...well...let's call it adjustment. I've been adjusting to minuscule breakfasts and large late dinners. Of course, after a large dinner at 9.30 pm, who wants breakfast anyways? Being slightly cynical though, I have to say: Been there, done that! I've experienced this before and I have written about it too, I think.
What I haven't done ever in my life, though, is taking part in a protest. From the TV you see riots, policemen, tear gas etc etc. Well, I am sure that there are protests like that too, but the protest I took part in, was a small quiet protest. I can't say I am an expert on the matter, but from what I know, the protest was justified and I am happy that the people who do protest are so persistent. The protest was against RAI (the public TV and radio of Italy) and the people protesting were the citizens of L'Aquila. One year after the devastating earthquake in L'Aquila the situation of the people and of the city is still problematic, to say the least. And RAI, controlled by the government, and thus by Berlusconi, just ignores this information. No news, no problem?
When it comes to press freedom, most European countries, according to the index, have high press freedom. Italy, though, is not one of them. Estonia, for example, ranks fifth while Italy is only 49th...
I cannot even begin to understand what it's like to see your city, your home in ruins. There isn't much one can do against natural catastrophes. But there is much that can be done after something like this happens. I knew things were bad but yesterday when I saw Draquila, I saw proof about how rotten everything is. I've always tried to distance myself from politics, I need to know what is happening, but I want to stay distant. But I can't but feel solidarity towards the citizens of L'Aquila. I don't know how much the people in oppsition can really affect politics but I admire their will. As little as it may be, at least something is done.
So, what does Italy mean to me? With every time I come here, it becomes more dear and at the same time less of a paradise and more a bundle of problems. I just have to use the words of Leonard Cohen do descirbe my feelings:
PS: I promise, no politics next time I write :)
What I haven't done ever in my life, though, is taking part in a protest. From the TV you see riots, policemen, tear gas etc etc. Well, I am sure that there are protests like that too, but the protest I took part in, was a small quiet protest. I can't say I am an expert on the matter, but from what I know, the protest was justified and I am happy that the people who do protest are so persistent. The protest was against RAI (the public TV and radio of Italy) and the people protesting were the citizens of L'Aquila. One year after the devastating earthquake in L'Aquila the situation of the people and of the city is still problematic, to say the least. And RAI, controlled by the government, and thus by Berlusconi, just ignores this information. No news, no problem?
When it comes to press freedom, most European countries, according to the index, have high press freedom. Italy, though, is not one of them. Estonia, for example, ranks fifth while Italy is only 49th...
I cannot even begin to understand what it's like to see your city, your home in ruins. There isn't much one can do against natural catastrophes. But there is much that can be done after something like this happens. I knew things were bad but yesterday when I saw Draquila, I saw proof about how rotten everything is. I've always tried to distance myself from politics, I need to know what is happening, but I want to stay distant. But I can't but feel solidarity towards the citizens of L'Aquila. I don't know how much the people in oppsition can really affect politics but I admire their will. As little as it may be, at least something is done.
So, what does Italy mean to me? With every time I come here, it becomes more dear and at the same time less of a paradise and more a bundle of problems. I just have to use the words of Leonard Cohen do descirbe my feelings:
I am sentimental, if you know what I mean...
I love the country, but I can't stand the scene
-Democracy-
PS: I promise, no politics next time I write :)
6/15/10
a new start
Hello, world!
Yes, I have neglected this blog. But maybe you know how it is. When interesting things happen, there's no time to write about them. Then there's more time but the most interesting times have passed and it's a little strange or even awkward to write about it from such a distance. And I have another, even better excuse. How am I supposed to write notes from abroad, when I'm in my home country? I've even considered changing the name of the blog but I've been hopeful about returning some day. I mean, longer that just for a short vacation. And now...there is a good chance I will!
I have a one-way ticket to Rome and I will be leaving exactly in a week. This time I will try to make more of an effort to write about my experiences :) At least it seems that the most important issue has been solved - I have work.
Basically, I was offered a job on a silver platter. ""Hey, come here and take my job. I'll be leaving soon!" Well, you don't get chances like this every day and... I thus I bought a ticket. It's not a very glamorous job, but I will like to make the best of it. And above all, I am really happy to go back!
Yes, I have neglected this blog. But maybe you know how it is. When interesting things happen, there's no time to write about them. Then there's more time but the most interesting times have passed and it's a little strange or even awkward to write about it from such a distance. And I have another, even better excuse. How am I supposed to write notes from abroad, when I'm in my home country? I've even considered changing the name of the blog but I've been hopeful about returning some day. I mean, longer that just for a short vacation. And now...there is a good chance I will!
I have a one-way ticket to Rome and I will be leaving exactly in a week. This time I will try to make more of an effort to write about my experiences :) At least it seems that the most important issue has been solved - I have work.
Basically, I was offered a job on a silver platter. ""Hey, come here and take my job. I'll be leaving soon!" Well, you don't get chances like this every day and... I thus I bought a ticket. It's not a very glamorous job, but I will like to make the best of it. And above all, I am really happy to go back!
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