Month One: Lessons Learned
Time does fly. I have been living in Italy now for one month, which amazes me. I can’t believe it has already been that long. Here are just a few of the lessons I have learned:
1. You know you’re Italian when you eat gelato when it’s cold and rainyIn the US, we spend $178 million on curing obesity and we we waste 40% of what we buy.
2. Italian washing machines:They are incredibly loud and take forever. Do not start a load before bed if you want to be friends with your neighbors.
3. Only 4-5 varieties of apples represent 90% of what we eat world wide…I really want to try the other varities
4. In Torino you will learn your numbers in Genoa you will learn how to curse… Ok so that may not be the case for everyone but it was for me
5. Want to make God laugh? Make plans in Italy
6. Italians use both Thermophylic bacteria and Mosphylic bacteria in their cheese making which is why they have more cheese varities that other countries. 400-450 different cheeses!
7. I don’t think it’s possible to get sick of pasta but I have gladly accepted the challenge
8. Just because the Internet says there will be a train it doesn’t mean it’s true.
9. If you ride your bike in the rain you will kick muddy water all up your backside and it does dry brown … It can confuse people when you’re not on your bike.
10. While we have 1,000 genes for receptors in our nasal cavity only 350 are active. A mouse has 1,036 active receptors and a dog has 850 receptors.
11. It is always a good time for cheese. Always.
12. You pay your electric bill AT the post office
13. Everybody loves pancakes and brunch is universal
14. Cinque slices of mortadella and due cartini of mortadella are not the same measurement, you will be eating mortadella for a week
15. I never knew taking out the trash could be so complicated… Compost, plastic, glass paper on Wednesday but Friday is also compost, trash and ….wait what am I taking out again?
16. In 1891, Pellegrino Artusi wrote “The Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well” aka the 1st modern Italian cookbook
17. Amaro mixed with sparkling water will satisfy a soda craving, well only if you like your soda to taste like amaro
18. Old Italian men think brightly colored polka doted socks are not sexy. (Mom, I will explain later)
19. Best job tittle ever: Maestro Salatore (the one that salts the proscuitto)
20. Don’t climb to the top of the clock tower two minutes before the top of the hour
21. Get someone talking about their favorite food and doesn’t matter the language, passion is understood
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