Some more random Italian facts that I have slowly learned and or experienced - I find them rather entertaining, which is why I’m putting them in here:
- Even churches close down for Siesta. Want God? Too bad, come back later. ;-)
- It’s the law in Italy that all stores and restaurants have to choose one night to be closed. In Cortona, most of them choose to be closed on Tuesday night. For future reference, this is NOT a good night to plan on spending out on the town.
- Ever wondered why Italians eat bread with their meal, yet they don’t give you plates for your bread? (at least, they don’t in Italy. Don’t judge by Italian American restaurants, please) This tradition (according to Marco) comes from the idea of family, community, and sharing one’s meal. It’s considered unfriendly for everyone to have their own plate – breaking bread together keeps everyone mingling and sharing, as does the dipping of one’s bread into a communal plate of olive oil. Kind of cool, I thought.
- Continuing with meals, I had the funniest discussion the other day with Enea, an Italian friend of mine (technically, he’s Albanian, but seeing as he’s lived here since he was really little I’ll consider him Italian for all intents and purposes). When asked why a meal is served in courses (aka: I miss eating my pasta and meat at the same time. A slab of meat on the plate all by its very own lonesome self just looks so funny!), he nearly broke his side laughing then demanded to know why Americans insist on cramming everything in their mouth together. He insisted that when you eat your pasta, meat, and veggies all together then you lose all taste. An interesting thought…
- And most importantly, cars in Italy don’t go “vroom vroom” but “broom broom” and you don’t attract cats by clucking your tongue or saying, “Here kitty, kitty,” but by saying “mici (mee-chee), mici.” =p So now I make sure to address all Italian cats with the proper phraseology. I’m sure they appreciate it.
2 comments:
Now Giedre...don't forget your Lietuviu kalba. To talk to a Lithuanian kitty you say: katz,katz,katz....something like calling Katrina to you!
AND...there must be some truth to having different compartments in your tummy for different food!!!! Communal bread and bowl?...sounds quite romantic! CHOMP on the bread, stick in the bowl, CHOMP on your bread, stick in the bowl....ohhhh a doctor's dream come true! Millions of little bateria swimming all together in the communal bowl! (Aren't I a pragmatist?????) Love you! Buckis! Mama
Haha...you know, that thought (how Viktorija and I have always insisted that our stomachs have separate compartments for food) was one of the first things that crossed my mind, too! lol Guess we're more brilliant than we thought!
Post a Comment