1. Screaming children. This is nothing new, but it has become a more persistent problem with the onset of flu season and the children I live with becoming ill.
2. Racism. I was privy to a confrontation on the subway platform between a black man and an Italian man, who was screaming at him and the whole subway platform, "YOU DON'T BELONG HERE! GO TO YOUR COUNTRY! GO TO AFRICA! YOU ARE AN EXTRACOMUNITARIO!!!"
An extracomunitario is basically a foreigner without papers; these days, with an active government campaign to get all the foreigners legal, it's considered a pretty rough insult.
Also, Africa is not a country.
What brought this on? Nothing, but noone stopped him. Noone except the girlfriend of the guy being yelled at. I wouldn't dare step up -- my Italian isn't rough enough to join a verbal battle -- but the Italians in the subway just laughed and made fun of the black man's accent. What the hell kind of country is this?
3. Sidewalk etiquette, or lack thereof. There are really really small sidewalks here, and a fun game to play is to guess who the foreigners are -- you can pick them out because they are the ones weaving in and out, dodging old ladies' shopping carts, and looking annoyed at how damn slow everyone is moving. Sometimes, I can saunter along with the best of 'em, but not when I am late for work... and not when I am behind two nonne having their afternoon stroll, stopping to gesticulate relatively wildly every two or three miniscule steps -- it's like the fear of God. You just don't challenge the nonnas. You also don't see people walking on the right side of the sidewalk -- I mean, that's crazy, right.
Sidewalk etiquette also encompasses umbrella etiquette. It rains so much here that everyone carries one on a grey day.
Because Italians like rules (so that they can disregard them) I offer the following as Umbrella Etiquette.
1. Umbrellas of the curved-handle variety may be carried in the hand if the carrier adheres to the following: the umbrella is carried vertically, is not swung wildly with each step, is not used as a cane, does not impede traffic flow on the sidewalks by sticking out at various angles.
2. Open umbrellas may be carried only above the head. Half-open umbrellas, for example a half-retracted umbrella carried in the hand at knee height and dripping wet, is inadmissible.
3. Umbrellas must be lifted above the head of the person passing the carrier on the sidewalk, especially if this person is umbrellaless. If both are carrying an umbrella, the taller person must yield. Avoid dripping onto the person's shoulder.
4. Umbrellas purchased in the subway must not exceed 4 euro even when it is raining cats and dogs.
With the rain come the umbrella vendors, like worms, crawling out to profit in their way from the rainfall. On Sunday my umbrella broke and I was a bit desperate; I talked one vendor down from 8 euro to 4. Just because it's raining, your umbrella doubles in value? He did look pretty devastated to be selling me the umbrella for 4 euro, though - it's a rather nice one, with a curved handle and a huge circumference, and I'm pretty sure it's been treated with something becuase it is impermeability itself. I am happy with my purchase.
4. University application fees. Why are these so high? Why do they get higher with each dehree level? Does it take more brainpower to process my transcript, reference letters and contact info than it does to process Joe Undergrad's transcript, reference letters and contact info?
5. The fact that just about everyone I know chose the year I moved away to move to Toronto. It's like they were just waiting for me to leave...
Bonjour, c'est moi.
- Danielle
- Your average Canadian soprano sallies forth into the big bad world of classical music in search of integrated, meaningful experiences as a performer and spectator. Currently in Baltimore, MD, pursuing a Masters degree in voice performance under the tutelage of Phyllis Bryn-Julson. Special interest in contemporary and experimental classical music, as well as interdisciplinary projects.
6 comments:
Do hear anything about the swine flu in Milan? Is the medical community inoculating the children?
I was particularly interested in your racism experience. What struck me was not the fact it exists but that they are so overt about it. I see racism here all the time but it is far more subtle.
Loved your bit on umbrellas.......very funny.
Stay well.
An older patient of mine who used to live in Europe pulled the sides of her eyes back with her fingers and asked me "Don't you miss your home country?" <>_<> I told her I was Canadian and redirected her during our session! It was so strange - that was one of the first times in a LONG time any racist comment came my way.
ps: Loved your bit about the umbrella!
Sending you sunny and warm asian-canadian vibes from TO :)
Of course, racism exists everywhere. But we tend to think of the bygone days of segregation and slavery as the "racist" part of our history -- not yesterday, or last week - no, we've come a long way, right, and people just don't spout racial slurs in public, or use race as a factor in decision-making.. right?
THat's why Grace's story shocks me, but in a way, doesn't, because in Italy, at least, it's totally normal to do something similar to what Grace's patient did. It's shocking to us from Canada because although there is a majority, it's a pretty diluted one, and there is so much racial diversity and has been for so long, that why bother dwelling on it?
Oh and swine flu has arrived, although the big news for awhile was an Influenza A epidemic that has passed now, or at least subsided.
People are getting really nervous about swine flu but it is not really making any large impact.
I don't think we dwell on it. It is a reality, a fact of life. Racism has nothing to do with the bygone days. It is what it is. It exists now. It affects the lives of many people. I really don't think we have come a long way. It is part of opur everyday lives. It just manifests itself differently. What you are seeing in Europe is a mirror of what we are seeing in the world and it is very sad.
Sidewalk etiquette is one of my hugest pet peeves in Banff. Just because you're a tourist does not mean that you are allowed to leave your brain at home.
Further, I am walking along narrow a sidewalk and someone comes from the opposite direction, why is that I'm the only one that has to move? And if I also don't move to teach them a lesson, I get a dirty look? God, I hate people.
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