30 surprises

Watercolor from yesterday

Starting last summer there has been a lot of talk about Jim and me organizing a tour for the Coro Francesco from our town. They are brilliant singers and deserve a wider audience. All last year I was paralyzed by how to even get started. Then I discovered Deb Flanders and Goodspeed and Bach. I don’t know what the choir will decide, but she has helped me get a grip. Last week we had a meeting with the leaders of the choir and our friend Pasquale that started at 10pm.

Last night we got to go see the choir rehearse. Rehearsal started at 9:30pm. People were prompt, but it took a while to get the building alarm to stop and the lights turned on. The second action would re-trigger the first. The women were dressed to the nines. (is this a saying because it was after 9 o’clock?) The men had on nice polo shirts and pressed jeans. There were plenty of high heels.

Practice took place in a beautiful building that was supposed to be a museum for the catacombs. I believe the Vatican decided to take all the artifacts. This area is dark and the pavement is broken up and littered with pieces of broken asphalt and weekds. It is not an environment for the highest heels I have seen this summer. Once we were inside, men quickly built risers out of benches and chairs, others set up the sound system and then there was some talking. But when the singing started all the difficulties and waiting became as nothing. The music soared and paradise descended. Time flew by and suddenly it was 11:30. Now the meeting could begin. This was less pleasant. What is considered a discussion would be described as a fight by most Americans. Finally the discussion shifted to coming to the U.S. This was more like meetings I have been to at schools. The same people say the same thing over and over. At least the leader of the group had the microphone. The end of that discussion was that they would let us know before we leave what they want to do. We left to walk home at 12:30 a.m. Just another typical night in CVS.

Taken long before rehearsal started

30 surprises for the Italians for when they come to the U.S. They may also surprise you, but in reverse:

• bad coffee
• cappuccino, lattes and espressos cost a lot more than plain coffee
• decent wine is expensive
• lunch is a short meal like a sandwich
• lunch is at noon not one
• school continues after lunch
• families do not eat lunch together
• people eat a lot of fast food
• there are a lot less people with a healthy weight
• people eat lunch at their desk or while doing work
• there is no afternoon nap
• businesses stay open all day
• all stores will be open on Sunday
• events do not start at 9:30 at night
• if an event starts more than 10 minutes late, people get restless, 15 minutes lateand they get angry
• people, except in NYC, eat dinner between 6 and 7pm
• everyone is texting, although this is becoming more common in Italy
• people actually wear seat belts, in fact it is the law
• children do not ride on their parents laps in the front seat
• people do not recycle as much
• people put up with bad fruits and vegetables that are too expensive
• good, organic food is too expensive for many people
• people are not attached to where they are from
• soccer is not the biggest sport
• people do not dress up for choir rehearsal
• high heels are not so high
• comfort trumps fashion
• people put their napkins in their laps
• people do not drive like they are at the Grand Prix
• motorcyclists do not make positive fashion statements

Last memory of the day for you