I was wrong.
It was an octogenarian carrying a bottle of olive oil.
I guess she couldn't bear the thought of going to sleep without at least half a litre in the house...
The other night, as I was driving home from dinner at around 11:30, I saw a figure stumbling down the sidewalk carrying a bottle in one hand. Naturally, I assumed it was a drunk.
I was wrong. It was an octogenarian carrying a bottle of olive oil. I guess she couldn't bear the thought of going to sleep without at least half a litre in the house...
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Sometimes cultural differences make it very difficult to be classist. If you are planning a trip across the pond, and judging people by their earned income is one of your favorite pastimes, beware: poor Italians do things that Americans associate with rich people; rich Italians do things that Americans associate with poor people; rich Americans do things that Italians associate with poor people; and, you guessed it, poor Americans do things that Italians associate with rich people. I'm not talking about the extreme ends of the income spectrum here (it's easy to identify and pass unfounded, prejudicial judgments on those people), I'm talking about the two sides of middle-income-earners.
Don't allow the following mixed signals to stand in the way of you being judgmental: THINGS FAIRLY RICH AMERICANS DO THAT ITALIANS ASSOCIATE WITH POOR PEOPLE: Wear polyester Build homes out of drywall, plastics, and composite Cook with corn, canola, or non-extra-virgin olive oil Have no bidet THINGS NOT-PARTICULARLY-RICH AMERICANS DO THAT ITALIANS ASSOCIATE WITH RICH PEOPLE: Get manicures and pedicures Have had braces, teeth whitening, and other fancy shmancy dental work Have several credit cards Are willing to spend more than one dollar on a cup of coffee, at least once a day Have 1 karat or larger diamond engagement rings (from Jared) THINGS FAIRLY RICH ITALIANS DO THAT AMERICANS ASSOCIATE WITH POOR PEOPLE: Hang their laundry out their windows to dry Live in a multi-family home even in the suburbs May have houses that seem only partly furnished, or at least very sparsely furnished Have only one bathroom THINGS NOT-PARTICULARLY-RICH ITALIANS DO THAT AMERICANS ASSOCIATE WITH RICH PEOPLE: Know very many things about wines and may have a wine cellar Drink espresso and make it at home Wear dress shoes and oxfords for no apparent reason Have a vacation home (IN ITALY) Have marble floors Build homes using only stone, bricks, ceramic, and hardwoods Have lots of savings Pay 30% or more in taxes In America, everybody coasts on Friday.
In Italy, everybody coasts in July. |
AuthorI'm an American living in Italy and making gross generalizations about it. Categories
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