Thursday, October 27, 2011

Sinta-se Bem!: A leitura de nossos pensamentos ,  do "Sinta-se Be...

Sinta-se Bem!: A leitura de nossos pensamentos ,  do "Sinta-se Be...: A leitura de nossos pensamentos ,  do "Sinta-se Bem!" no Facebook , já o ajudou em algo em sua vida?

Sunday, September 11, 2011

10 year anniversary of 9/11

As I sit in my apt here in the center of ancient Napoli on this the 10 year anniversary of the terrorist attacks in the USA, and also having just watched a movie dedicated to the passengers who overtook flight 93, I feel somewhat the same as I did 10 years ago when it happened. I awoke at around 9:30 am perhaps even 10 to see the towers crumble. Perhaps it was better that I didn't see the planes crash live on national TV. I am sad, I am shocked, I am also angry. I suppose now I can take some small satisfaction that Bin Laden is dead, the brains of that whole operation. When he was killed a few months ago, I actually wasn't happy simply because I looked at it from a Christian point of view.....in other words I can't picture Jesus Christ pulling the trigger on anyone, not even Hitler. But when I learned however, that the US military took him out as Osama shot back and reportedly shielded himself with a woman, then I thought this is self-defense which is different than shooting someone defenseless. So in the end Bin Laden was a coward. Good ridance, may God have mercy on his soul....if that's at all possible.

I am sure God had a reason for all this to happen which will become clear when we meet Him, but wow it is sure hard to make sense of all it while we are still alive. What I simply can't and have never been able to fathom is why anyone thinks they can kill in the name of religion. I can't think of any faith that tolerates the taking of a human life. Islam is supposed to be a religion of peace and I am sure it does not condone violence if followed correctly. I understood the hijackers motives; reaction to American imperialism all over the world, which I have heard the US is a bully in other countires, but the taking of innocent lives is simply never the answer.

God Bless the 9/11 victims.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

America 2011

Ready to begin year 3 here in Southern Italy. I just got back 2 days ago from America and it is good to be back. Napoli is becoming more familiar to me as time drags on and by now it is my second home. Being back in America was not as strange as it was last year. For some reason last year America seemed foreign after passing a year in a city so diverse than that of my little town of Tolland, but this year it almost felt like routine. I dont live there anymore but it's still home.

Some of the highlights of my trip: having just came back from England where I worked at a summer camp, The hurricane which knocked out power for 2 days, water for 3 and the cable for 5, the earthquake which I didn't feel not even a tremor, the free Red Sox game with my cousin John and going to Boston with my sister Joanne. The trip def had a different feel to it than last year. Apart from the fact that it still felt like home, it didn't feel like this was an optional trip like last year, but more like a trip that I had to take because I had no cash as result of the Wall Street school closing and not being paid very well by the other school where I worked. I got cash from England but I didnt see that till the end of July. So, I felt kinda powerless in the USA where I had no car of my own, and I had to rely on my parents for many things. Not exaclty a self esteem booster but then again it wasn't shameful.

I got to see most of the friends that I wanted to see and the important ones I saw often enough to satisfy myself. Some of them I didn't see and for as much as I would have liked to have seem them, I don't sweat it because I made the effort to meet up but it also takes two to tango. I made the offer, gave out my temporary number, but if they don't respond, what more can I do? Technically I am the guest now in the USA, does it seem right for the guest to ask to be someone's guest?

My opinion of the USA has not changed at all since I came here 2 years ago. I still don't wanna live there and I see more advantages to living in Europe. There is still the possibility to earn more cash in the USA, but life is so much more complicated and exagerated there and I don't see things improving from an economic standpoint. One other big reason why I like being here is that the healthcare is universal and it's sad for me when I see people shelling out so much cash for medical care in the USA or worse friends who can't afford it. So they pray that they don't get sick. Pathetic. Despite all that, I still havent ruled out the possibility that I might go back to the USA, but only if I have a job waiting for me that pays well in the Boston or NY area. I never want to live in Connecticut again, it is a nothing state without a real identity.

I think the primary reason for me staying here is the people. From a psycological point of view Italy for me is healthier and I am less stressed out by the people here. I find too many Americans socially awkward and somewhat arrogant and ignorant of the world around them. As I always say, there are many great people in the USA, but not enough of them unfortunately. Both the USA and Italy seem jealous of each other; The Italians are convinced that life is automatically better in the USA and Americans are jealous of me being here! While back home I couldnt resist to ask my friends, " Is this still the land of opportunity?" Somewhat sad their response if u ask me.

But to sum it up, it wasn't a bad trip at all. I was happy to see family, friends and to be apart of Red Sox nation again. It was also nice to drive a car again and be in a house with central air.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Air Action Vigorsol 2011

Commercials/Pubblicità

Before I moved to Italy, I had been observing commercials with my father for quite some time and for a rather specific purpose. We have seen that in about 60% of TV commercials that they are all dedicated to showing racial harmony and clearly present the idea that America is, or tries to be a country of racial harmony. Whether it is or isn't is another discussion. In short there is always a white person and a black.....or some other minority and the white guy is made to look like an idiot or is the brunt of something. Of course I think many American commercials follow this pattern anyway in which someone gets made fun of or made to look like an idiot.

Some people may say that what I am saying sounds kinda racy......i dont think so! Just watch commercials and you will see what I mean, the black guy always looks more intelligent, scorns the skinny white guy and at times ends the commericial with him looking at the white guy as if to say "what is he doing???" Course this is merely my opinion, take it for what it is worth. I swear there must be an advertising agency who has a general scheme in which they make sure there is a white and a black.


My question is this: why does anyone have to look like an idiot in a commericial?? And it's not often done even in a fun way like in Europe. In Italy, people in pubblicità arent ridiculed or look socially awkward like in the USA and often they make me laugh. Of course then we touch upon one of the vast differences between US and Italian culture, in this case being that in the USA, ridicule is much more common in contemporary culture than in Italy. BTW On my blog here u can see a commerical that made me laugh the first time I saw it.

There is some hope for US commericials and in the past there have been some that have been really funny. Those days however kinda seem far gone unless we're at Super Bowl time.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Some sad news

This hasn't exactly been an easy month for me, this week no exception. I just found out my godfather, Jerry is near the end of his life. I regret that I will miss his funeral which is expected to take place shortly after his passing in about 2-4 weeks. He always treated me well and I regret not having spoken to him in a while. I don't know why I hadn't seen him before I came here to Napoli as he was part of our family and someone whom I was very comfortable with and considered him like an old uncle. Whoever says "I have no regrets in life", I don't believe it. To have no regrets means that you knew exactly what to say, feel, think, react etc etc in every moment of your life. Simply not possible.

What is perhaps most remarkable is that it has been Jerry's decision to be taken off dialysis and to be put on hospice. This is a very brave decision and I pray that he is ready to meet Christ and that He will welcome him with open arms and to alleviate Jerry from his suffering.

R.I.P. Gerald Knoblauch 1935-2011

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

America 2011

So, I am going back home for my annual visit at the end of July and I am looking forward to it. I need a break from Napoli once in a while. I'll be back for 5 weeks then once again here at the beginning of September. Although I am having some money problems here and am not making as much as last year due to a change in schools and the fact that one of my 2 schools doesnt pay on time, I have not changed my mind about living here. I have no desire to return to America.

I may however decide to leave Napoli next year, not because I am sick of this city, quite the contrary, but simply because I need to make more money and there is probably more opportunity elsewhere in the boot. What I think needs to be explored is the social factor when deciding to live somewhere. Me at this point, I am getting attached to Napoli, the dialect, the people, my friends, my hang out places, my local shops, the overall feel of it and so I think it would be difficult to live somewhere else in Italy....let alone back to cold America. Nonetheless I think I could be happier in other regions of Italy if it came down to me leaving here. I didn't come here to get rich, but I am 31 and I wouldn't mind something semi-steady at this point in my life.....as do most people my age who are probably wishing the same thing. I'd be happy with steady hours in my current job or perhaps if it is at all possibile here, Id take a job as an English teacher in the public school systems. From what I hear, it is so steady that it would take a miracle to fire you.....like the post office. We'll see.

There is also a unique risk here in Napoli......Vesuvio. You never know when it could explode again. There is also another volcano which is the biggest in Europe called Marsili. Located all underwater and north of Sicilia, it has never exploded, but scientists believe that if it did, it could cause a Tsunami which could crush Southern Italy. Not that I am worried about it, nor would this be a factor to make me decide to leave Napoli, it has however a small factor to consider. For now I'd prefer to concentrate on the present and not think about it.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Rome trip

I went to Rome yesterday as part of the extended holiday weekend here. The day after Easter is called Pasquetta which was and is a day to commemorate the day the angel met the women at the tomb of Christ to announce that he had risen from the dead. Although people use this day as an excuse to take a one day trip somewhere. Not wanting to hang around Napoli all day, I decided to take advantage of the free time and go to the Eternal City. I can see why people say most Romans dont live in the center of the city as much as in the past. It's overrun with tourists and what seemed to be mostly Americans and English speaking people!

This was my 4th time to Rome if I have kept track correctly. Perhaps the most reoccuring thought in my head was that I couldn't believe that my little apt here in Napoli is in the same country as all the wonders in Rome. With that said it was kinda nice to realize that I do in fact live in the same country as all those places and only 2 hours and 44€ round trip to get there. I must say, I prefer Napoli in the touristic sense simply because we dont get a ton of tourists like in the other Italian destinations like Rome, Florence, Pisa, Venice, Milano, etc etc. Also, unlike Rome, napoletani still live at the center of the town which is what gives my experience living here quite an authentic feel to it. Too many tourists wouldnt make me feel as if I am in Italy.

So what did I see yesterday. The Colosseum even though I had seen it last year, the vatican, St Peter's cathedral, the trevi fountain and ciro massimo which was once a race track for chariots. I had one interesting encounter with an Indian who was selling umbrellas. It began to rain and as I was getting drenched, I decided to buy one. I can't believe that he wanted 15€ for a .50 cent umbrella!! I got a little mad and I said, 15?! Something like that costs FIVE euros in Napoli, 3 on a dry day! He then said he wanted only 5 for the small one, but as a matter of principle I walked away even though he chased me a bit to haggle the price. Why do I never see Italians selling umbrellas?!

Rome, overall seems cleaner than Napoli and the subway is the way it should run. I think the most I waited for a train was 3-5 mins. I would consider living in Rome and if I ever have to leave Napoli, or get tired of it here, I would def take it into consideration. Ma tiferei ancora Il Napoli.....TIè!!! XD (i'd still root for Napoli!)

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Friendship

I am somewhat black and white when it comes to friends. But not at first as I usually have a lot of patience with people. After a while though, I take into account all my interactions, nights out, phone calls, everything and I analyze where I stand with people. I suppose the tricky part is to be able to clearly take in all the elements and your perception of reality. Like, have we fully taken into consideration someone's lifestyle or what is going in their lives before we deem them a bad friend?

But this not exactly a happy post so I will get right to the point; I can't stand false friends. This is a tired argument but it is still true in that good friends are hard to find. It's at times hard here in Italy, a triple challenge in the USA. My friend Santos from Rio who lives in CT says I am his only US friend and that doesn't surprise me. What I have learned from having friends here in Italy and having dated a bit is how to look at people's behaviors from a different culture's point of view for which Italians are somewhat good at spotting selfishness, arrogance and insincerity. I was accused of being selfish by my last ex, but when you are already an insecure person who trusts no one, then I question your judgement's of others. But that is another post.....if it ever comes!

I don't wanna name names here but I do have a number of friends whom I thought were better friends than they actually are and ever since I came here to live, it's been interesting to see who has kept in contact with me and who hasn't. One thing is for sure, when I go back to CT in Aug for my annual visit, I am gonna make sure I see people who are worth seeing and not fair weather friends. Living here, I dont expect to be showered with contact every day or even often. But there are some people who after a while have made it clear to me that they just don't make the effort and it's really sad when you consider the lenghty time it takes to send a simple SMS or message on FB or email.

Now, if someone doesn't want to be friends with me or even a friendly aquaintance, that's fine at least they are honest with their intentions. What pisses me off is when people are all palsy palsy with me in person then in the cyber world, I am lucky to get a Hi. I suppose all this explains why I have such unique friends from around the world in the sense that I don't care what your lifestyle is, who u hang out with or if we are worlds apart (I draw the line with people who lead dangerous lifestyles). I'll be friends who anyone who treats me the way I want to be treated. To be friends with someone who only have toys, cars, money and other superficial things to me is bullshit.

This makes me think more of America. It is so hard to find meaningful friends who accept you for who you are without looking for some edge or something to gain from you. As I recall back in America, I rarely had friends who tried to help me find a gf or to meet girls for that matter. (Some did though). I recall once, I was in a bar in my horrible hometown and I saw a dude whom I went to high school with. He was talking to some hot girl and didn't bother to introduce me to her. I can understand getting first dibs on her, but c'mon it's not like we'll be making out 5 mins after I introduce myself!

To not sound hypocritical, I do have friends that I don't see that often or make an effort to see or call. But I'd like to think that I don't do this to my good friends. I try to make the effort to stay in contact with my "inner circle" but sometimes I guess we all have to analyze who is in that circle. In the end though, I dont give people grief or shit if they dont keep up contacts.....that would change though if I got accused of not being a good friend.

My role has been clear to me for a number of years now, and that is that I am usually the one who iniates contact, I am the one who calls first; for the record, I make the effort. I suppose this is at times why I have more female friends than male friends; women seem to be better communicators. To end this, I will quote my father who always says, "If something or someone is important enough, you find the time and you make the time" Parole sante.

I believe I have made my point.

Monday, February 7, 2011

UK vs American English

This wasn't something I really thought about in America but here in Europe it is something that I have taken notice of. Last year I worked and lived with the English. Most of it was a good experience and I even enjoyed hearing their accents. But now 1.5 years into my experience here, that fascination has somewhat worn off. I suppose it depends on the type of English accent. Some of the CDs in my lessons however, offer the British accent and my honest impression, my rough impression is that it is a somewhat overly formal showoffish kinda language.

To say that one style of English is more correct than another is rather ignorant thinking and I would never say that, so when I do hear this it irritate me. To give specific examples from my experiences here, they involve two londonites who at times pissed me off. One was a guy I lived with, the other was an Indian-Brit who supposedly had a posh English accent (like I can tell the diff). While I don't have any ill will towards them they were somewhat of a culture shock for me and I am thus left to wonder if they were a true taste of what awaits me the next time I go to visit London. I've been there before but it's been 12 years.

They struck me as rather cold at times, pushy, arrogant and too anglo for my tastes. What really pissed me off was their attitude and reaction towards differences in the English language. I got a really constipated reaction when I wasnt aware of some of their slang or if I asked a question to which I genuinly did not know the answer to. I told them once...the whole English language does not revolve around what's popular in England! I speak the same language as them, but I am after all from a different country so it's normal to have differences in the language. Doesn't every language change constantly?

One aspect of UK English that I dont like is how they tell time. Their usage of the word, "past" at times confuses me like for 6:30 they'd say half past 6. I think the American way is more practical: hours and mins....that's it. Another is using the present perfect when we dont use it. Ex: I've had a shower this morning......vs. I had a shower this morning. Both are correct really so I can't discourage my students from saying it the UK way.

One thing I refuse to do is to go around saying that USA English is better than UK English. It's simply a different way of talking. As for personal preference, I do prefer to hear British accents when you compare them to certain American accents which at times get on my nerves. One particular American way of talking that makes me cringe is hearing young American girls talk. Not all of them are this way of course, but so many have this cutesy way of talking as if they are making a deliberate attempt to sound extra girly and in some instances, this affects the tone of their speech, meaning they at times sound like they're asking a question when it's really an affirmation. I remember once some girl came to my cell phone store and said, "My phone is broken?" Are you asking me or telling me??? And then there is the classic , " Like OMG. " Such a pleasure it is to never hear that over here !!

I dunno, the American way of talking to me just doesn't seem like an intelligent one. Let's face it, I got a problem with English....PERIOD!! heheheh. But it is a useful language and my lifeline here in Italy.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Smoking

I hate smoking! I hate it and this is my area to rant about it; we all need a rant every now and then. Perhaps what I hate the most is not so much the cigarettes themselves, but how when and where people smoke them. If you want to smoke, fine go ahead and kill yourself, but why are you dragging me and every other healthy lung into your cancer quest? If you want to smoke, go off in some corner where there isnt the chance of another person to inhale it or better yet, dont smoke in public at all!

I can't stand it when I see someone light up in public, in places where it is nearly impossible to not inhale smoke, in particular while walking along the sidewalk. To me this a selfish act and a form of force, the fact that I am being forced to breath someone's poor choice in life. What is even more appalling is when I see parents smoking around their children (we're not even gonna touch women who smoke while pregnant) who otherwise seem like somewhat decent people. I understand it is an addiction, but it doesn't change the fact that you are still forcing others to inhale your addiction.

Since this is a blog dedicated to Napoli, I must mention that smoking here reminds me of how things were in America when I was child and probably resembles America back in the day when smoking was even fashiobable. I don't understand at all why napoletani smoke so much. Italians in general are people who pay a lot of attention to their health and know exactly what is good and what is bad for them. How they ignore all the modern day health warnings and dangers of nicotine is something that really illudes me. It's such a shame when I see young people with cigarettes in their mouths. One thing that seems to be the same all over the world are the anti-society people, metalheads, anarchists or just people who are against the grain; they all smoke. They try to be different from society yet the majority smoke!

Some people say they could never date a person who smokes. I'd like to say that's true in my case but it isnt. Giovanna, my gf, is a smoker unfortunately and for as much as hate her addiction, I can't bring myself to tell her "o smetti o ti lascio......either I quite or we break up". I put up with it because it doesn't ruin 100% the times we spend together but if she did anything more than smoke cigarettes then that is where I would draw the line.

I remember once, my Aunt's husband (he doesn't feel like an uncle to me) complaining about having to defend his smoking. Well he should! If you smoke these days, there is absolutely no logical argument that I can think of which justifies what you do and the health risk that you pose to the general public and furthermore every smoker should be held accountable for what they do. Typical smoker justifications are that it helps them relax or it helps to slow down their metabolism and the classic "it doesn't always cause cancer". I do believe that smoke causes a physical reaction which is what the main attraction must be to smoking (I dont feel anything except nausea), but there are many other ways to relax and lose weight. There is always an alternative to lighting up. As for cancer, it is not a guarantee that you will get cancer, but why risk it?

Aside from the risk of lung cancer, the immediate effects of smoking that I personally find revolting are these: the absurd cost for a pack of smokes, the yellowing of the teeth and the overall smell that remains on your breath and clothing.

I do my best to avoid smokers, and perhaps I did not come to the right part of the world to teach English. But I will never back down or feel guilty about expressing my opinons about smoking.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

First post of 2011

At the suggestion of a friend, I will keep this blog alive and attempt to add to it once in a while.

I find myself at a crossroad here, one I didn't really expect myself to be at, but it isn't necessarily a bad thing. What brought about this fork in the road is due to the fact that Inlingua canned me and thus I had to re-evaluate my situation here in Naples. In summary, I was let go from Inlingua for 2 reasons, one being my own damn fault and the other I give to the school. I had become lax in my job and it showed when they observed one of my lessons. But what I don't like however about Inlingua is they have a policy of not telling the instructors when a complaint is made about them or any kind of negative feedback for that matter. So it's impossible to know if you are doing a bad job as they tell you nothing!

But life goes on. My last link to Inlingua is my last check which no no doubt will make me cry due to the shortened month in Dec because of the holidays and my working with the British in Marano. I also got hired by the Wallstreet Institute here in Napoli and I should start with them soon. I do offer private lessons and they should resume soon and hopefully with some new students.

Life observation: In the USA, I often saw immigrants and people from other countries, some were even my friends. I was used to them being in my house and me having the upperhand linguistically. Here, it's somewhat different. I see immigrants every day from all over the world, mostly Africans, Arabs and Asians and in a way we have something in common being that Italy is not our first and primary country. As I have mentioned in past blogs, I feel right in between both countries, the USA and Italy so my being here is not without some logic or reason. Why people from other countries choose Napoli I'll never know! Perhaps it's due to its rather pleasant climate and the fact that people here are lax on the rules.