I tend to avoid generalizing about people and it always bugs me when other people do so. You know, the statements like “I’m supposed to have a bad temper (or talk loud), I’m Italian” or “I like to drink because I’m Irish” – those kind of stupid statements. For the record, not all Italians have [...]
Posts under ‘Miscellaneous’
Hugging a Toddler
At one time I really did pay attention to what was going on in the world, honest. It wasn’t that long ago either. Even after chucking it all in and moving to small town Italy four years ago, I kept abreast of current events. The internet was one source, of course, but I also read [...]
Blue Flag
The Blue Flag Program awards the corresponding Blue Flag to beaches throughout 41 countries. In order to earn the flag, there are 32 criteria that the beaches and marinas must meet regarding water quality, environmental management and safety. Photo by Tim Parkinson The awards are made each year on June 5 for beaches in Europe [...]
Above the law
Italy is my home. I’ve chosen to live here, not only because O lives here, but also because I love it, warts and all. Sometimes those warts can seem pretty big though. So big, in fact, that no amount of Compound W is going to get them to go away. With the recent problems in [...]
No story time
I have fond memories of curling up next to my mom as she read me stories. Then I remember being eager to learn so that I could read books all by myself. Thus I had visions of me reading to Luigi at bedtime and imagined him quietly dropping off to sleep as he listened to [...]
Chocolate Overload
Easter has come and gone but it has left behind more than just memories. At our house it has left behind an overload of chocolate. Now I admit that I did buy a couple of chocolate bunnies because they were cute, but the majority of the chocolate came as gifts. Cute wrapped chocolate eggs with [...]
Banana keeper
I don’t know about you, but this isn’t one of those things that I’ve been yearning for. In fact, it’s not even one of those things that inspires me to say, “Wow, what a good idea!”. Instead, it makes me chortle. Just what everyone needs, a banana keeper.
S is for Sagging
That’s what I seem to be doing…. All over. When I look at myself in the mirror, I try to use the excuse that it takes older women longer to recover from pregnancy and childbirth. But, almost two years later and I still have a pouchy belly. The sad part is that I weigh about [...]
The taxman’s coming
The United States is the only country in the world that requires its expat citizens to file an income tax return and to pay taxes if they’re income is above a certain level. I have to admit, that I find it annoying that I have to file an income tax return when I already pay [...]
Expat Chat: How the Internet is Changing the Expat Experience
I’m pleased to host a guest blogger today; Cherrye Moore is a fellow expat who lives in the beautiful region of Calabria where she and her husband run a Bed & Breakfast. Cherrye is also a southern travel consultant and freelance writer. Today Cherrye discusses how the internet makes the expat experience a bit easier. [...]
