Sealed with a Kiss

Officially one week later. I lasted one full week without the use of my cell phone (ok bbm doesn’t exactly count) or facebook, tv, films etc. Basically technology free (unless you count vending machines that serve espresso…I know, right?) I couldn’t help but cringe at the sight of coming to Italy (a.k.a the birthplace of espresso) and finding one of the most tell tale signs of Americanization (Industrialization, taking the human power out of production & mass producing standardized goods). Another rather depressing finding was the free food supplied by, albeit a beautiful restaurant on the beach, a place that knew nothing more than to how to make everything taste like pickled feet. Needless to say I lost a bit of weight over the last week.

NOT TO WORRY when I arrived at my ‘familia’s’ house just outside of Aulla (not on the map, but a central Tuscan town) they had every intention of putting some meat on my bones (quite literally as I found out they specifically asked for a non-vegetarian :)

On the way to meet my host family my nerves got the best of me and I felt as though my stomach had leapt into my throat. I’ve come to realize I’m much more of a pansy than I thought. I couldn’t think of anything but trying to keep the croissants & nutella-like substance from coming back up. I’ve never stayed with people I don’t know, in a country I don’t know, in a language I don’t know. People misunderstand me all the time but at least I understand them…this time it’s “non compisco” from both sides. Alas there is a silver…or should I say velvety smooth red lining…VINO! I brought my host family a small bottle of ice wine and an exceptionally cheap box (ya that’s right I said box) of white wine (because I happened to have it in my bag) to which they were very thankful and inquisitive. “Do I like wine?” The father asked. Hesitantly I replied yes, not wanting to seem like a wino (my cheap bottle of wine didn’t really help in that department). The mother smiled a devilish grin as she sat and smoked her Pall Mall cigarette. “You smoking? She asked. I knew that I had to be smart about how I answered this question because a) she probably wouldn’t understand and b) again, wanting to make a good impression so I said ‘only with friends”. Immediately I was tossed the pack and a lighter. I’ve come to learn that despite the incredible language barrier her and myself have A LOT in common! For starters, we both love red wine and cigarettes (together), we both love cheese and most importantly we both love MADONNA! I couldn’t be happier to have the family that I do. They are exceptionally loving and have already asked me to stay forever, we’ve broken out into song several times with the neighbors and the best kiss I’ve had all trip was the one that was placed on my cheek by their 10 year old daughter Beatrice, spoken with the sweet English words “goodnight”.