Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Being Italian is a Full-time Job: Beppe Severgnini in "La Bella Figura"

The ANNOTICO Report

 

It is Not only interesting how differently people in your own culture view and review a book, But even more interesting the thoughts of those from an entirely different Culture. This is from The Hindu in India.

 

Be sure you read down far enough to review the 4 "I"s and the 4 "G"s of being Italian. It's got to make you smile!!!!!!

 

 

Being Italian is a Full-Time Job

 

Where cars are an extension of the womb

 

The Hindu 

By D. Murali 

 Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Being Italian is a full-time job, begins Beppe Severgnini in La Bella Figura (www.landmarkonthenet.com). The book, an insiders guide to the Italian mind, is a 10-day tour of 30 places, including Malpensa, Milan, Rome, Naples and Sardinia. Dont trust the quick smiles, bright eyes and elegance of many Italians. Be wary of everyones poise, cautions the author, a columnist for Italys daily Corriere della Sera.

He describes his country as an offbeat purgatory, full of proud, tormented souls each of whom is convinced he or she has a hotline to the boss. Italians are prepared to give up a lot for the sake of beauty, even when it doesnt come in a miniskirt, frets Severgnini.

We judge books by their covers, politicians by their smiles, professionals by their offices, secretaries by their posture, table lamps by their design, cars by their styling and people by their title, he writes. No different, closer home.

Do you know why Italys superb concierges, military police  the excellent carabinieri  exceptional traders and mediocre scam merchants are in demand all over the globe? Because of the trademark warm welcome. Lukewarm is the average temperature of Italian social relations, explains the author. The thermostat is sensitive and the mechanism kicks in to connect hotel guest and porter, seller and buyer, candidate and voter, inspector and inspected.

The courtesy is not as superficial as in other countries, nor passionate as some non-Italians believe it to be. Its a combination of intuition (this is what the customer wants), professionalism (this is what Im supposed to do), kindness (thou shalt coddle thy neighbour as thyself), shrewdness (a happy customer is a less demanding customer), and good sense (it takes just as much effort to be rude as it does to be polite). Useful lessons.

Severgnini is eloquent about the cars on Italys roads. They dont just talk. They make comments, insults, protests, insinuations, and lectures. For instance, a short, sharp beep means I saw that parking space first! or Wake up! The lights just changed! Similarly, they can chirp, Here I am to a child coming out of school; wail disconsolately, Who left this car in front of my garage door?

Italy has 72 cars for every 100 residents, one learns. In January 2005, births registered were about 45,000; vehicle registrations were nearly five times as many. Cars arent used for transport They are an extension of the womb that comes after the stroller and before the easy chair.

The alternative uses of the car are growing, informs Severgnini. In our cars, we telephone, argue, deal, wait, drink, confess our sins, warm our hands, slake our thirsts, listen to music, catch up on the news and fiddle with the instruments Cars are still where people woo and seduce. So much so, to some, performance in a car is more important than the performance of a car.

The book wraps with 4 "I"s in the Italian mind that can confuse: intelligence (overused to the point of exasperation), intuition (almost uncanny), intentions (not always accompanied by good groundwork), and intimacy (admirable, but sometimes you dont know when to stop).

And there are 4 "G" s that are enviable: genius (in everyday behaviour), gusto (keen enjoyment good taste), guts (the way they tackle lifes complications), and generosity (a foreigner is never an outsider in Italy).

Helpful insights, youd agree.

http://BookPeek.blogspot.com

 

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