Inter

Last night I thought I'd be killed. Just hordes and hordes of Sicilians losing any mental stability they might have once had. Grouping together in the streets donning the same colours, dancing, screaming, chanting, embracing, jumping on cars, crying, frantic whirling/hurling of flags, car horns blaring rhythmically, the stench of burning the oppositions garb. INTENSE EMOTIONS. Why? Inter Milan made an 2-0 victory against Bayern Munich.

Bit of love

My new family are just so god damn perfect

Auguri a tutti gli antifascisti

Today was a national holiday celebrating the Liberation of Italy. With a large group of friends, we trekked a small way up from the foot of the mountain and had a day of food and wine and soccer in the middle of a forest so enchantingly green and lush I more expected places like this to exist photoshopped and only in films. It was the private property of someones Nonni, a type of typical holiday escape - 'in campagna'. Their traditional variation on BBQing was interesting and just the whole scenic environment/situaton exquisite and once again I kicked myself for not bringing a camera. There was a colossal waterfight and everyone thought it would be a great joke to gang up on the Australian girl. Despite my best efforts I was vastly outnumbered and judging by the water flowing from my clothes/hair/ears and the parched appearances of others, I was probably unvictorious. I was obliged to change into a dry outfit donated by the evil but ever-loving culprits. Italians have a strange obsession with always having dry hair, utterly convinced you'd die of pneumonia otherwise. As well as having wet hair, having bare feet in the house/anywhere is a no-no taken tooo seriously. Troppo difficile to adjust after living in Yamba.

Helium + Shouting Sicilian phrases angrily = Good

The birds here are on acid.

Pedestrian sidewalks = Not a safety zone from oncoming motorbikes/vespas/general traffic.

Bye Neglect!

Starting today I vow to write SOMETHING on this blog every week regardless of how little/insignificant


I WILL BE CONSISTANT

You should know

That every generalisation you have ever heard about Italians/Italian culture is true. And exemplified to beyond what you thought realistic. Credere tutto.

London

LONDON WAS STUPENDOUS. There is much much much that is so very necessary to address. But I couldn't justify it on such a public domain. Amazing company, unforgettable times. Not to be sentimental but I long to return. I only wish you could have been there to witness the hilarity of a horde of Sicilians blocking up the metro in central London. Or just standing/walking on the wrong side in general. Though I have to say they responded well to the threats of death consecutively hurled at them. By singing Sicilian folk songs at them. At the top of their lungs... It was an experience being twice the foreigner; a DOUBLE foreigner if you will. Let loose in central London for a week with a pack of pazzi Siciliani. I did my best to translate, as I was relied on with noone on the trip able to speak English. The guide that sometimes accompanied us spoke only hasty Italian so I remain quite ignorant to much of the tourist attractions. I avoided tacky souvenirs at all costs. Gave mocking looks and criticised those who loved to buy things such as I LOVE LONDON shirts. And then upon return to Sicily was vastly disappointed with the discovery of lack of momentos.

Some highlights:

BEING IN THE PRESENCE of artworks of artists such as da Vinci, Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Botticelli, Monet, Raphael, Bellini at the National Museum. Ahhh. Loose in Piccadilly Circus by night. Tower Bridge and attempting to climb the lions in Trafalgar Square in torrential rain. Westminster Abbey. London Eye. Big Ben. Attempting to pat the raccoon hats of the marching band outside Windsor Castle. H A R R O D S - the single love of my life. Being able to purchase large coffees once again. Such a taken for granted luxury. The realisation that I will never appreciate food again that isn't Italian. THE FASHION. Nowhere have I ever seen such exceptional exceptionality. Hotel times. Madame Taussauds - raping Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Michael Jackson, Angelina Jolie, Audrey Hepburn and Britney Spears. And who could forget Shrek, Hitler, Obama and Gandhi. I'm not a sad little person. I met them and they liked it. Avoiding impending death from just BEING in the metro. Witnessed around three people being crushed by the doors which shut fast and heavy, regardless of whether or not you're all the way inside on time. A total of roughly three hours sleep for the last four days. Without passing out. A saxophonist rocking out to Destination Calabria in the middle of Piccadilly one night. Just throwing himself in the air with enthusiasm as he punched out each note. Remind me to get my Alex Gaudino on when I'm reunited with my Sax.


Here's a link to SOME of the many photos from the London trip:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=213834&id=701123956&l=709169f2d3

Aside from London adventures, much much much has gone down. Sicilians are beautiful people and their everyday exuberance and warmth ceaselessly impresses me. Being here is more fun than ever. Recently I visited a four story bar composed ENTIRELY of penis's. I need photos to illustrate the tremendousness to which the place has incorporated its theme. I've now visited Taormina, easily the single most magnificent place in Sicily. It's fair to say I've never seen anything more exquisite - it's where i'll grow old. Last night I rode a Vespa for the first time. JUST THE BEST THING TO EXIST even though all that was in my head was DEATH IS EASY AND SOON. I miss everyone from Australia with enormity. Not just the people but the mentality. And I have failed so dismally at keeping in contact with anyone. In fact, there's not one person I've kept in half acceptable communication with. Not even the people that are closest of the close. I imagine many, if not all of you are feeling betrayed and hurt and I can only hope that upon return you will forgive me. Such a failure on the highest level. On a more optimistic note, my skype is finally working :) Message me and let's work out a good time for a catch up sesh or ten.

Fail

Life here is insanity. Sweet, surreal insanity. Hence I've lost all capability to write. Call me.

When in Sicily

The arrival in my Sicilian town, Acireale, was comparable with my recent visit to Milano’s Duomo. I sort of just stood there, gazing at it in stupor. And this kind of stupor isn’t restricted to the initial-reaction variety. Today I have my first real alone time, time to stop and remind myself that I'm finally where I want to be. I explore my surrounding neighbourhoods, running my fingers across the walls of the antique buildings, with nothing entering my realm of thought but YOU ARE IN SICILY. The enormity of being here, of what it means to me personally, is stubborn to sink in.

Little narrow cobblestone streets with Baroque inspired balconies. Bursting with flora and draped with freshly washed clothes. I watch cars rampage up and down these impossibly narrow streets and wonder how on earth they avoid scraping the sides along the walls. I buy gelato in briocche (BEST) from a corner in Corso Umberto. The gelateria man gives me about five times the standard amount as I tell him I want his preferred flavour. I must give cool Australian vibes. I peruse some shops with the all too appealing SALDI (sale) that's plastered across every window. Always lunging at my eyes.

The ocean, just a couple of blocks away (thank god)



I am so desperate to learn Italian – Oh the luxury to be understood.. to verbally contribute something worthwhile... In my free after school Italian language class (the first of many to come), I spend roughly three hours labelling pictures of random words in both English and Italian, like “boat” and “bricklayer”. The English teacher scolds me: “Boat! That not boat…eez ship!” I take a deep breath and long for an Italian lesson – Bruna style. Then get back to writing out nouns some more. “Again and again” the teacher says “Until you have memory".

Mi dispiace

Dear blog. Sorrry for the mass neglection. Truth is, my mind has been (and still is) blank with overload. HOW IN THE WORLD can I cram everything that is crucial - in order to give you an accurate perception of how it is here - in this one pathetic post?

So yes, unfortunately this is how it will be. A minimally detailed sketchy account - in an attempt to cover it all. Bit by bit.

I went to Milano.

Indeed. That is where I went.

Ok so I can't do this unelaborative ding-dang. (Sez - it's on the spread!) (And unelaborative? It's been what. Two measly weeks. And my English vocabulary is a deserted desert).

Il Duomo pretty well made my life. SURELY NO PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE IS MORE EXQUISITE. I don't consider myself religious, but on stepping inside I was dumbstruck. It's aura is indescribable. I felt like crying!





As far as the people of Milano are concerned, it's certainly true what they say. The difference in warmth of character is astounding when comparing the North to the South. Though I did discover it was a fun game to smile inanely at every very sombre-looking Milanese.

Indietro

I know in a previous post I rather smugly told you I'd be staying in a castle this week… but you see I was mistaken. Turns out it's just a hotel – a very gorgeous historic one at that. Think tendrils of greenery spilling over intricate stonework. Big stone pillars and wells in the courtyard.

This is the view from my bedroom window:




Houses are more like works of art rather than practical dwellings, each individually intensifying the charm of their surroundings. Most are bold coloured antique-looking little things with intricate fencing, balconies and windows, elongated vertically. They seem to reflect the personalities inhabiting them.

Despite my instant-love reaction of this place, it’s difficult to adjust to its backwardness. Of course there's the obvious things. Like adjusting to an opposite climate, timezone and toilet flush. Then there's the extra attention you have to pay when crossing roads. I’ve almost been taken out a few times by people (who veer to the right rather than the left) and by cars - being accustomed to looking to the right when anticipating oncoming traffic.

At 5AM this morning - After growing sick of having ice cold showers in this climate - I call reception for help "Scusi, Non ho aqua caldo in bagno", I say. A male voice prattles at me and within 1 minute there is a knock at the door - I'm still in my towel. I have the tap turned towards red, for hot (like any sane human being would). The man turns the tap to blue and sure enough precious hot water cascades from the shower head. He laughs and as I thank him, he tells me “I stay and wash you just to make sure”.

ARRIVADERCI MIEI AMORI

Allora. This is my final AUS post. The gruelling voyage commences around 6am tomorrow morning. To those I didn't exchange proper goodbyes with (most): Just. Count yourself lucky. Today was spent busily readying last minute must-haves + hauling the blubbering wreck that is me from one goodbye to another. Such a soppy/corny extravaganza. Nottt what you want.

Now to the point.......

HSC YA LATER!

Unfortunately I will (see it later) D:

2 DAYZ

Like that with a Z. 43 hours 21 minutes and 15 seconds. THEN IT BEGINS. My flight itinery = Brisbane - Sydney - Bangkok - London - Milan. Then a weeks orientation on Lago (Lake) Maggiore in a castle. You heard. A CASTLE. Just casually staying in one. Lago Maggiore is just below the Alps. Soooo. Guess it will be a tad cold. Being the middle of Winter and all. Such a whimsical watery wonderland (so the pictures tell me). I will upload photo's on arrival so stay tuned :)

3 DAYZ

For those who don't know: I'm going on exchange to Italy for a year. The place i'll be living is a "small" (for a population that's squished together like sardines) coastal town called Acireale in Sicily's East. It lies at the foot of a massive, highly active volcano.Yew.

This is Acireale:

- I can't wait to have my own shots :)


3 days til my flight to Italy. Mixed feelings. Excited beyond description. but. also very, very nostalgic. Leaving all this is harder than I what I'd imagined. Ha. I never knew I had emotions. Today I had to say goodbye to Adam, he's off to France tomorrow morning. Exchange - like me. I love him like I love things that I love. Only better. I'm avoiding eye make-up for a while...I'm sick of looking like a cheek-streaked drag queen whilst farewelling. I miss him so much already D: Ugh.

This is my bebefille. Au revoir. Ily ily mwa mwa :
On Tuesday I had my Arrivaderci Dinner at the tavern with amazing company. Enjoyable. But overwhelming too... to have to say goodbye to so many of the people I love in one whammy:


This week also! I finished up at work. Devastating, I know. Such a family. Lynne + Vic (our bosses) took Adam and I out to dinner at the golfy. Biggest sweeties to exist.

Friendliest Grocer has officially left the building - for the 2nd time:

...My icecream parlour4lyf <3>

...Observe their eagerness. Simply CLAWING at the glass for icecream attention.