I’m visiting friends I met through Rotary Friendship Exchange. One of Rotary’s main goals is to foster cultural understanding. Friendship Exchange allows Rotarians to travel and stay in the homes of Rotarians in other countries. Experiences tend to be local and less tourist-centric. And some exchanges really do yield friendships.
Lidia and Alberto are attorneys in Milan. Alberto and MTM share a passion for bicycling. Last fall, MTM introduced Alberto to L’Eroica, a vintage bicycle ride in Tuscany. This year, they’re doing it again. I don’t mind, because we get to eat with Italians. AND NOTHING IS LIKE EATING WITH ITALIANS IN ITALY!!!!
I’m grateful to Rotary for these connections. We fear things we don’t know and deride what we don’t understand. By getting to know people from other cultures, I hope I contribute positive things to the American narrative and banish cliched generalizations. Experiences are more powerful than fear.
Shopping in Italy is always an adventure.
My first time, I squeezed into a dressing room and couldn’t close the curtain. The woman opposite was modeling things for her husband, and he decided it would be easier to choose from the seat in her dressing room. I covered the door as best I could and proceeded, thinking men in the dressing room must be how things were done in Italy.
Nothing phases me now, so when Lidia wanted to take me to the Milan Saturday Market, I said, “Bring it! I’m a pro.” How stupid I am!!! I found a linen dress I liked, and Lidia wanted me to try it on. I resisted, because 1. It’s a gabillion degrees here, and I’m always soaked with sweat; and 2. The “dressing room” in a street market is an improvised canvas shroud on the sidewalk. I couldn’t imagine disrobing in that thing!! But Lidia shoved me inside, shut the curtain, and went off to haggle price, convinced it was already perfect. She was right.
Milan architecture is beautiful.
I lied today. I pretended to be a cardiologist to get into this building. Fiera Milano Congressi is the largest convention center in Europe. So I crept in with a group of doctors, stole away on my own, and snapped photos of architect Mario Bellini’s amoeba-like place. I’ve been married to an architect too long!!
Today, I visited Milan’s Cimitero Monumentale to listen to the stillness. Because I write afterlife stories, am I obsessed with death? I ambled along shaded avenues, squeezed between exotic mausoleums, and rested in a pyramid’s shade. And in the stifling heat, I heard a quiver or two. No idea who they will be.
Maybe I’ll find out during my writer’s residency in Trelex. I’ll be paying attention!
(If you want to see more pics of the beautiful architecture follow me on Instagram.)
2 Comments
Write on, my friend.
this all looks amazing, and so great you know someone there to fill you in on the way of the locals )
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