The ANNOTICO Report

Change is difficult for many people. The Familiar is Reassuring.
Even if your going from Hell to Heaven, (that is here on Earth, not
literally).
Sort of like me going from Cleveland, Ohio to Beverly Hills, California :)

Maureen Jenkins, a Chicago Sun Times Reporter has been a little more
Civilized by her 7 months in Italy. But at 36, old habits die hard, and the
loss of  trivial conveniences become exaggerated.

Her missing "White Castle" gives you some idea. Some suspect animal parts
ground up, between two pieces of cardboard sends her into ecstasy. That
should tell you a lot!!!

On my trips to Florence, I was Overwhelmed by the Cultural Stimuli. One
building after another an  Architectural Masterpiece or Delight, and
Museums overflowing with part of the 90% of the Patrimony of Western
Civilization lovingly cared for in Italy.

Maureen caught some of the obvious "essence" of Italy to her credit, but
never reached it's "Soul".
She regales those conveniences in Chicago, that are so Superficial to
REALLY living "Life".

Perhaps she was merely writing "down" to the level of her reader:)

BEEN NICE KNOWING YOU, BEAUTIFUL ITALY

Chicago Sun Times
By Maureen Jenkins
April 17, 2005

CHICAGO, Ill. -- When I moved to Italy more than seven months ago, I didn't
much think about how I'd eventually return to Chicago and settle back into
my old life. I'd read how tough it can be for expatriates to come home, as
their family and friends are sick of viewing their countless photos and
listening to their romantic tales about life "over there."

But now that I'm back, I do feel a bit stranded between the two worlds --
that of my temporary home in Italy and my permanent one here in the States.
Not only has my body's time clock not yet adjusted to Central Daylight Time
-- I still regularly rise at 3 a.m. to write stories and do phone
interviews with folks in Europe -- but in many ways, it reflects my
ambivalence about being back in America and thrust back into the lifestyle
habits I'd hoped to shake for good.

Living in Florence, even for a short time, helped me realize that it's not
necessary -- or terribly healthy -- to live a frantic, running-in-circles
existence. That it really is possible to savor a meal without
simultaneously reading, paying bills and taking notes for the next
interview. And that it's as important to step out for an early evening
aperitivo with friends as it is to crank out the next deadline assignment.

Alas, my Italian adventure has come to an end -- albeit about five months
sooner than I initially planned. As I wrote back in January, the imbalance
between the increasingly valuable euro and the still-depreciating dollar
was taking its toll on me and other American expatriates who moved abroad
without the security of either corporate jobs or trust funds.
Unfortunately, I chose an expensive time to live in Europe -- and since at
36, I'm too old to be living like a student, I decided to take the grown-up
step of returning to Chicago and resuming my free-lance writing career here
in April rather than in August. But fortunately, I love Chicago, so while
I'll certainly miss bella Italia, I'm also glad to be back home.

I'm sure my living-abroad experience will continue to shape me in ways I
can't yet imagine, but for now, here are some ruminations on what I already
miss about my temporary Italian home and why I'm looking forward to
readjusting to life here:

WHAT I'LL MISS ABOUT ITALY:

The universal sacredness of dining -- from the food you consume to the
people you share meals with to the unhurried pace of the entire experience.

Enjoying at least one glass of red wine at both lunch and dinner -- and no
one looking askance as if you're a budding alcoholic.

Savoring vino da tavola, or table wine, at any trattoria and always being
pleasantly amazed at how such inexpensive wine can be so good at every
single place you drink it.

Tomatoes so sweet and full of flavor they make me want to weep.

How store owners, whether in an enoteca or butcher shop or pasticceria,
prepare your purchases -- wine bottles, slices of prosciutto ham or
pastries you're taking to a friend's for dinner -- with such loving care
that you almost don't want to unwrap them. And it's all lovingly done free
of charge!

Regardless of my complaints in last month's column, the stylish grace and
effortless flirtation of Italian men.

Actually meeting and becoming friends with neighbors in my Florence
palazzo, something that almost never has happened in the countless cities
and buildings I've lived in since college.

The multicultural and multinational nature of St. James, an American
Episcopal church filled weekly with Americans, Italians, Africans and
others all united in a weekly worship experience.

How ristorante owners have no shame in telling you NO and correcting you,
such as when you ask for Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on pizza or a
seafood-laden pasta dish.

The nightly passegiata, or evening stroll, that Italians take year-round
just because.

Stopping to chat in broken Italian with store owners I pass every day, from
the corner cafe to the mobile telephone store to the cleaners. It's simply
uncivilized not to wave, stop and talk, albeit briefly -- and what a nice
habit to get into, especially when one lives and works alone.

Being able to enjoy daily the small luxury of fresh mozzarella di bufala,
or mozzarella made from buffalo milk, without paying a fortune as you must
here.

The fact that on nearly every Florentine street and around every corner
there's some incredible work of art, whether inside a church or on a
building facade.

Hopping a high-speed train to Rome, Venice, Milan, Torino -- even Paris --
and experiencing totally different lifestyles within hours and without
leaving the ground.

WHY I'M GLAD TO BE HOME:

No more drying my pillowcases, lingerie and socks on my apartment's
steam-heated radiators -- and no more planning my laundry needs three days
in advance.

Taking clothes to the dry cleaner and getting them back the same day,
rather than five days later at the soonest.

I can argue in plain English with telephone companies, Internet service
providers and insurance companies -- and know I'll get satisfaction once
I'm done complaining to a supervisor.

Speaking of the Net, I won't need to spend $300 per month for
pseudo-high-speed home access. Here, I can get a year of unlimited and
truly fast service for that price.

Knowing I'm actually paying the price marked for every item I buy, and no
longer needing to quick-figure euro-vs.-dollar equivalents in my head.

White Castle. Wendy's. Pepe's Mexican Restaurants. Home of the Hoagy. Did I
mention White Castle?

Being able to enjoy full-blown American breakfasts with pancakes, eggs and
bacon, something that's just not available in the land where a double
espresso -- tossed back while standing up, no less -- constitutes the
morning meal.

No worrying about whether train, bus or airport workers will call an
impromptu strike on a day I absolutely have to get somewhere.

Actually being reminded about daylight-saving time.

The Weather Channel, ESPN and "Sex and the City" reruns on TBS.

Being able to watch English-language CNN around the clock, rather than only
between the ungodly hours of 3 to 6 a.m. in Florence.

Fiesta Mexicana. Charbroiled burgers at South Loop Club. Cuban cuisine at
Cafe Laguardia and Moroccan food at Andalous. Morgan Park's KW Spice is
Nice barbecue. Smothered pork chops at Jackie's Place. Home cooking from my
mom Gloria's South Side kitchen. Anything at Sweet Maple Cafe.

Never worrying that my favorite eatery will be closed from 2:30 to 7:30
p.m. -- as most decent restaurants are in Italy -- because I rarely eat at
normal hours.

No longer needing to consult multiple Italian dictionaries and grammar
books before making a "simple" trip to get my boot heels repaired or to
ship boxes at the post office.
To those Sun-Times Travel readers who've been kind enough to follow my
Italian adventures -- those who wrote supportive e-mails and even penned
blunt ones when you disagreed with my conclusions -- thanks for caring
enough to respond. Sharing my observations with you has been a treat and an
honor, and I'm thrilled some part of my experience resonated with the
traveler inside each of you. Grazie mille for joining me on the ride.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/
travel/tra-news-notes17.html