Let's discuss the art of puzzling (puzzle construction) for a moment. There are many different kinds of puzzles, coming in all varieties of shapes, sizes, and challenges. Some are intended for newly born toddlers and others make you miss the days when you were one yourself. Puzzling, I've discovered, also makes an excellent metaphor for visiting a new culture.
Say you decided to challenge yourself by putting together a million-piece puzzle. If you only give yourself three days, or even a week to try to figure out this puzzle, you may begin to experience the same anxiety that Democratic and Republican politicians feel when forced to make adult-y decisions together. It's an impossible task. And what little you manage to piece together in that short time, while pleasant to look at, doesn't show you the whole picture. If you give yourself, however, a month, a year, or even longer to put together those millions of pieces, your final product becomes much more complete and much less overwhelming. It may take you quite a long time to find each piece's partner. There may be days when you don't think you'll ever understand what picture those million pieces are going to make. There may be days when those elusive pieces finally fill in the gaps you gave up trying to complete. But, if you allow yourself the time and the patience to figure it all out, something beautiful is produced. Living in a new culture is quite the same experience.
I have only lived in Italy for around two months, but I'd like to think that my short time here has allowed me to complete the top right corner of the Italian-culture puzzle (that's my favorite corner of a puzzle). And I am loving the picture that is beginning to appear.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert on Italian culture, nor are my observations applicable to every single region or person of Italy. These are just things that I have noticed through my young, white, female, American lens, about this culture that I absolutely love and wanted to share with y'all.
Italians are an extremely passionate, proud people, on many number of topics, the most important of which includes their home region and their food. Most Italians will tell you that a "Make Italy Great Again" mantra isn't going to be very popular throughout the country. Instead, you might find a "Make Firenze/ Roma/ Sicily Great Again" phrase instead. There is a strong pride in one's region and a strong distrust, dislike, or even disdain for Italians from other regions of the nation. I find this fascinating, especially considering that I come from a country that pushes national pride into its children from the first day of pre-school. One thing that unites most of Italy together, however, is their love, and consumption, of food and drink. A regular Florentine day allows time for at least 4-5 meals of various sizes, and a traditional Italian dinner consists of five courses. I am taking a cooking class here (shockingly enough, nothing important has been burned, chopped, or poisoned yet!) and have learned to give the same respect to the art of Italian cuisine that I would to painting or drawing. Each meal, when prepared properly and with passion, is truly a work of art. When paired with the perfect beverage, it will make the tastebuds soar with the angels.
I have found Italian, or at least Florentine-Italians, to be quite friendly and welcoming, especially when I try to speak (and usually butcher) their language. They have often stopped their day to patiently help my stumbling tongue figure out a word or phrase. As a woman, I can't smile at people I pass in the street/accidentally make eye contact with, as I would at home, because that generally gets me into trouble. And as with most cities, people here can brush and push past you if you get in their way. But, when personally interacting with people in Italy, I am usually met with an Italian version of Southern Hospitality. There has been more than one instance when my friends and I have received free desserts/ wines/ and other treats from restaurants because the staff took a liking to us (definitely going to miss those free treats when I come home). One downside to such friendliness, according to a few of my Italian friends, is that Italians are generally much less confrontational than is good for them, often looking for a way to skirt around a problem until it gets too bad to ignore.
My absolute favorite aspect of Italian culture, something that I hope desperately to bring home with me, is the slow, meandering pace of life here. Not very many things are rushed in Italy, (except perhaps their language, which could put any rapper to shame). Dinner is usually a three hour affair at least and one can spend hours upon hours doing nothing but sipping coffee and reading a good novel without feeling an ounce of guilt. As with any wine or cheese, the longer you rest, the better you turn out.
As much as I love American culture, there are certain aspects--its push for constant speed, its rewarding of complete burnout, and its guilt-tripping of those at rest-- that I will always despise. My mental health hasn't felt this good in a long while, being less frazzled, worried, and stressed, since living here. A day spent wandering museums, sipping wine, and chatting with a friend is a day well spent. Now granted... a leisurely life-pace can often produce less than desirable results in productivity. Not much gets done around here, as my Florentine friends have often complained. "That is why", they explained, "Italy is so well preserved. It's because no one ever got up enough desire or energy to change anything!" Yet I still LOVE the idea of existing completely guilt free in rest. Usually back home, the only times I ever truly rest is when my body stops functioning and sickness takes the reigns. How unbelievably toxic to assume that one can only attain happiness and fulfillment if one is working and busy all of the time. (Again, I am speaking from my own perspective and experiences from home, I know that not all of American culture applies). I love it here. Heaven help me when I come back to college with that slow, relaxed Italian mindset. Yikes.
Spring break is fast approaching and I will be spending all of next week in Barcelona! You best believe I fully plan to roast on whatever Spanish beach is closest to us. I hope you all are doing well!
Arrivederci,
Leah
P.S. The photos you are about to see have not been altered or photoshopped in any way at all. I'll be honest, when I saw this sunset I kiiinnddaaa had a little bit of tears in my eyes. The sky from San Miniato Church never fails to disappoint. What an honor to see this masterpiece in real-time.
