I stole this idea from Expat Travels who used to live in Switzerland, but now lives in Canada, and she borrowed it from Canadian-Swiss who is a Canadian living in Switzerland. Many thanks to Canadian-Swiss for translating this into English for the rest of us!
5) Name five things you love in your new country:
* The Ionian Sea (with the mountains behind it)
* Gelato
* Taking naps in the middle of the day
* My great summer tan (that has since faded, but I am certain will reappear in a few months)
* Cheap dinners, drinks, coffee, and desserts
4) Name four things you miss from your native country:
* My family and friends
* Variety of restaurants
* Sales and clearance items
* Girl’s nights
3) Name three things that annoy you a bit (or a lot) in your new country:
* Being stared at (everyone does it – men, women, young and old, kids…sometimes I think even the dogs are staring…and no – I am not paranoid)
* Everyone has an opinion about everything…and they express it – every time!
* Getting honked out for slowing down on the street to let an elderly lady walk by… (Yes, this has happened to me!)
2)Name two things that surprise you (or surprised you in the beginning) about your new country:
* “La dolce vita,” for many Italians, is a thing of the past
* Italians don’t speak to each other when they pass them on the streets or in an elevator.
1) Name one thing you would miss terribly in your new country if you had to leave.
* Besides Giuseppe? I would miss being here…I would miss the view from my window, the ocean and the mountains, the scenery…
Pass it on – If you do this meme, please leave me a comment and a link so I can check it out…thanks!
Since I don’t live in another country I can’t participate but I did enjoy reading your answers.
That seems to be a rather harsh indictment of Italians. The longest I ‘ve been there at one time is three months, but still I didn’t see much difference between Americans and Italians except for style differences. I drove for three months and only remember getting honked at once, about the average for the US. I didn’t notice anyone staring at me (maybe it’s because I’m a guy)and no matter what city I was in I got the impression that during passagata everone in the city was best of friends. Maybe it’s because I was just seeing it as a tourist.
Thanks, Nadine…
J – You must be a better driver than me, that is all I can say, cause one honk in three months…I get probably one every three days!! Ha ha. And, I guess I should have clarified – Italians don’t speak to strangers when they pass them on the street. We are super friendly in Texas and smile, wave, or say hello to strangers when we pass them on the streets or in a hallway. Italians don’t do that. It was strange to me. They do, however, seem to all know each other when they are on passeggiata, you are right about that!
Cherrye – very cool! Can’t believe it’s like 20 days now and I find this. 🙂