You know you've been in Sicily too long when . . .
I got to thinking about this yesterday when I found
myself wearing a down jacket, zipped-up, on a sunny day in 65 degree temperatures, and being completely comfortable! I've been Sicily too long! If we had this weather in Germany or Illinois I'd have been out in shorts, t-shirt, and sandals!Feel free to add more in COMMENTS, my American friends in Sicily!
. . . you find yourself passing on curve, if the road is wide enough.
. . . you're surprised when your luggage arrives in Catania on the flight you're actually on.
. . . stop signs and lights are only suggestions.
. . . you always bring your own paper and don't expect a toilet seat in a public restroom.
. . . you hit a killer pothole because you're afraid of hitting a scooter in your blindspot if you swerve to miss it.
. . . you no longer think "geep" are cute, just annoying for being on the road.
. . . you have horsemeat cravings.
. . . you no longer bother to wash your car or fix its dents, scratches, and scrapes.
. . . you are missing either a rear-view mirror, headlight, or taillight.
. . . you think Italian food IS the only cuisine worth eating and five courses is normal.
. . . you don't stand in lines but push to the front.
. . . you are not upset about a guy going the wrong way in a traffic circle; in fact, you think it's funny.
. . . you are an olive oil snob.
. . . you own at least one cat or dog you rescued from the street.
. . . you just laugh at GPSes and people who try to use them.. . . you buy more in the market or on the street than in stores.
. . . you always wear sunglasses, even indoors, even at night.
. . . you know the Italian words for discount, sale, and going out of business.
. . . you always check to see if there is a strike or volcanic ash in the air before going to the airport.
posted by Maryellen Pienta @ 3/15/2008 04:11:00 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
From Jen O'Connor:
..........being beckoned by an umbrella girl is a normal everyday activity....and I am a female!
..........seeing men relieving themselves on the sides of major highways is also common and normal.....why not? when you gotta go, you gotta go.
..........being chased by orange grove dogs has become funny, rather than pant-wetting scary
.......you expect to be surrounded by hideous bodily odors on any public transit....it's part of the cost of the ticket.
and number one....when you actually think of taking up smoking in order to better blend in to your surroundings
Well I'm not in Sicily, but Calabria is close enough right?
So I'll add...
When you see it's a windy day, you're excited because that means you can get LOTS of laundry done (provided it's not bringing up sand from Africa or ash from Etna).
From Pat Novak, who has lived here a LONG time!
you ignore the train crossing bars that went down and zip through knowing you have "just enough time" and after all, everybody else is doing it, too.
You know you've been in Sicily too long when . . .
you forget how to make coffee, just go to the bar and get a cup instead.
you think the homemade wine tastes good.
you don't see the garbage on the side of the roads.
From Jan Sibayan:
You know you've been in Sicily too long when...you watch the air traffic patterns going to work and know if the flights are on schedule. ...when you hang your garbage from the side mirror or throw it on top of your vehicle enroute to the dumpster.
Jan,
Good one! Just read the one about the garbage. I am guilty of all charges!
Miss it all more and more everyday!
...you recognize people at the various festas on the mountain...and they recognize you.
...you automatically lean in to greet people with kiss.
...you find yourself saying (without thinking), "buon giorno" or "buona sera" when you enter a store.
...your kids complain that sliced bread has no flavor.
...your clothes come in black, black, and navy.
-B. Tornatore
You don't thinks it's odd to see someone having a smoke while wading into the sea.
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