Spazzatura

It’s getting harder and harder to bring myself to update this thing. I pretty much do the same thing every day here. In the mornings we get terrorized by first graders, then come home and eat way too much, then rest a little and go to class. After class I surf the internet, which lately has meant catching up on some Gray’s Anatomy, then come home and eat yet again. Finally I finish the day with a shower then uscire with Enrico. So there you have it.

The last few days I’ve been trying to also update my Italian journal, which will serve as our final project for Giuseppe’s class. Yesterday I had to meet with him and show him where I’m at before I turn it in next week. So I’ve been trying to catch up on a month in Rogliano as well as doodling in it to make it look personal. I printed out all my blog entries for May and summarized those into Italian. It was a pretty daunting task, I’m still only up to the 8th of May.

Sunday we went once again to the beach. I spent the morning working on my journal, then we left around 11 to go to the grandparent’s house for lunch. I again stuffed myself, except this time it was with chicken breast and French fries! And the nephew Giuseppe, who was a real jerk last time, was a little tiny bit more courteous this time. We started talking about music, and he thought I had good taste—except the guy likes Avril Lavigne so his judgment is evidently questionable. After lunch it was straight on to the beach in Falerna, about 20 minutes from Rogliano. I slept under the umbrella for a bit while the rest of the family cooked themselves. Then I joined them in the sun, and soon after in the water. This time we were on the Mediterranean, and the water was quite a bit warmer than the last time we went to the beach. It was also surprisingly salty; I don’t know if it was the extra salt or the extra fat that made me float so well. And when I took a shower that night I could taste the salt in the water that came off my hair. We ended up playing catch with my rubber duck (paperella) and with a soccer ball, then went back on the sand for a few more hours in the sun. We didn’t get home until about 8pm. But the best part was that I didn’t burn a single bit.

Finally, the only other notable part of the week has been some issue with the trash bins in the neighborhood (called spazzatura). Across the street there were a few dumpsters for the people who live her to put their trash in. As far as I can tell from what I pick up while they yell at each other in Italian, there are people who don’t live on this street coming by and dropping off their garbage. So much so that it’s overflowing onto the street next to the bin. I really don’t see what the big deal is, but Marilena and others have taken to calling people out when they come by with trash in hand. When they have “discussions” with each other here, it always sounds like they’re fighting. Absolutely every time. Then at the end of their talk they say friendly things along the lines of ‘bye, see you soon, take care.’ A few times I’ve asked Marilena afterward if they were arguing or not, and she always says no, in fact that’s a friend of hers. Anyways, can’t get used to how they talk to each other here.

The trash issue has turned into a real crisis, though again I don’t see the big deal. Today a cop even came by and the neighbors all complained about the happenings with the trash. Yesterday the trash guys took the dumpsters away (don’t have a clue why), and now when people walk by with stuff to throw out Marilena and others have to tell them to go home or “talk” to them when they leave it on the ground. The trash guys also went around trying to explain recycling the other day, and passed out handouts about what goes with what. The family seemed unsure, so I said I’d help. So far they’re kind of struggling with it; they keep asking me if different things can go in different bins. But it’ll be nice to finally be able to recycle in the house. I’m so institutionalized, every time I threw away a glass bottle or water bottle I felt incredibly guilty. Walking home the other day Kevin threw some of my trash on the ground, and I stopped and picked it up, and without thinking told him “Common Kevin! I’m from Seattle, that’s basically against my religion.” Then I had to pause and translate it so he’d understand…

Ok I think that’s all I’ve got for now. Manuel told me to tell you all "vi salutano Manuel e Kevin" (Manuel and Kevin say hi). Ciao