How to Get Lost in Italy
Hate is a universal language44 total reviews
Comment from lancellot
Hmm, this is interesting. The imagination and time skips mixed in with your observation and personal projections without actually being able to speak the language or have any direct evidence of what you heard makes this not quite non-fiction.
I'm not saying you were wrong but a lot of you've written seemed to come from within you mind and your perceptions, without knowing the current history or climate of the people.
someone wiser than I once said, "Be careful of what you think you see and know, because wherever you go, you always bring your own fears and demons with you."
I only mean. There is no proof of Hate. And that is a really strong word, considering you were not harmed. You don't really know why they seemed angry with you.You may be right or you may not.
An interesting personal observation.
We (had) arrived from Rome by train and rented a student apartment.
- don't need
When I traveled through Italy today
- This is awkward. I would rewrite this. It is hard to get a time reference.
So, this Italian boy at this restaurant stared at me and trembled, as if to say, "Are you gonna eat me?"
- so this was you projecting onto the Italian boy?
reply by the author on 20-Jun-2016
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Hmm, this is interesting. The imagination and time skips mixed in with your observation and personal projections without actually being able to speak the language or have any direct evidence of what you heard makes this not quite non-fiction.
I'm not saying you were wrong but a lot of you've written seemed to come from within you mind and your perceptions, without knowing the current history or climate of the people.
someone wiser than I once said, "Be careful of what you think you see and know, because wherever you go, you always bring your own fears and demons with you."
I only mean. There is no proof of Hate. And that is a really strong word, considering you were not harmed. You don't really know why they seemed angry with you.You may be right or you may not.
An interesting personal observation.
We (had) arrived from Rome by train and rented a student apartment.
- don't need
When I traveled through Italy today
- This is awkward. I would rewrite this. It is hard to get a time reference.
So, this Italian boy at this restaurant stared at me and trembled, as if to say, "Are you gonna eat me?"
- so this was you projecting onto the Italian boy?
Comment Written 19-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 20-Jun-2016
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Thank you, lancellot, for your thoughtful review, personal observations, and corrections. I will incorporate them. Thanks again.
Comment from Lynn27
Thank you for writing this essay, and it was an interesting read. I pulled in by your narrative that had a nice pace and flow. Adding a photo in the piece was a brilliant move too.
Is horse meat common in Italy like cow meat is in the Usa?
Lynn
reply by the author on 20-Jun-2016
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Thank you for writing this essay, and it was an interesting read. I pulled in by your narrative that had a nice pace and flow. Adding a photo in the piece was a brilliant move too.
Is horse meat common in Italy like cow meat is in the Usa?
Lynn
Comment Written 19-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 20-Jun-2016
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Thank you, Lynn, for your generous, six star review. I do not known if horse meat is common in Italy. It may be a Siena thing because the city is best known for its horse races. I am glad you were "pulled in by your narrative that had a nice pace and flow."
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
I think I will follow a guide! lol, that was an incredible story, Cat, and I loved how your imagination took you back in time. I do that when I go to old places, Egypt was best, I was Cleopatra, but I decided not to go as far as her death! I hate snakes. I had a chuckle when you wrote about eating that boy, lol, I could just imagine his face if you had said that. Excellent story, well done, it was a fun read. xsx Sandra
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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I think I will follow a guide! lol, that was an incredible story, Cat, and I loved how your imagination took you back in time. I do that when I go to old places, Egypt was best, I was Cleopatra, but I decided not to go as far as her death! I hate snakes. I had a chuckle when you wrote about eating that boy, lol, I could just imagine his face if you had said that. Excellent story, well done, it was a fun read. xsx Sandra
Comment Written 19-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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Oh, thank you, Sandra, for your review. I am particularly glad that you liked the line about me eating that boy. I had deleted the scene and put it back in at the last minute. I love using my imagination "when I go to old places." Thanks for your review.
Comment from Spiritual Echo
Your story captivated me, and held me, but I couldn't help think of how sad. And, how alien to my Italian visits. But then, I toured as a white Canadian--how different the perspective, and of course, it was before 9/11.
Perhaps, because Africa is so much closer, and considered a Muslim continent--mostly--the African features ignited the prejudice. But herein lies my interesting remembrance. It was a time where the 'ugly American' moniker aptly described noisy US tourists who would get angry when no one understood English--imagine. Either way, there was bias and I walked through it, completely blind that someone's experience could be so different than mine.
Great writing and super story.
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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Your story captivated me, and held me, but I couldn't help think of how sad. And, how alien to my Italian visits. But then, I toured as a white Canadian--how different the perspective, and of course, it was before 9/11.
Perhaps, because Africa is so much closer, and considered a Muslim continent--mostly--the African features ignited the prejudice. But herein lies my interesting remembrance. It was a time where the 'ugly American' moniker aptly described noisy US tourists who would get angry when no one understood English--imagine. Either way, there was bias and I walked through it, completely blind that someone's experience could be so different than mine.
Great writing and super story.
Comment Written 19-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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Yes, Ingrid, I was totally taken aback that some Italians treated me as if I were Muslim or a North African immigrant. In light of the recent influx of refugees and the ISIS attacks, I can imagine that Muslims and North Africans and anyone who appears to be such receive more fear, suspicion, and hatred now. Thank you for your generous, six star review.
Comment from Brett Matthew West
Seems you had quite an adventure getting lost in Italy.
Sure you managed to still enjoy the trip and take in some sights along the way.
If you are going to get lost you might as well be with others doing so.
Makes it more fun.
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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Seems you had quite an adventure getting lost in Italy.
Sure you managed to still enjoy the trip and take in some sights along the way.
If you are going to get lost you might as well be with others doing so.
Makes it more fun.
Comment Written 19-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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Yes, Brett, at the time, getting lost in Italy was my worst day in Siena. In retrospect, I am glad I got lost because I have a story to share with you. Thank you for your review.
Comment from Mastery
LOL..." I wanted to scare the fagioli out of the kid and say, "Argh, when I finish this pizza, I'm gonna eat you, too!" I absolutely love this story, Cat.
It's the stuff movies ar made of.
Such great images and the narrative is superb, like:
"I ran, too, but as I approached, the gate closed before me. I pound. "Let me in! Let me it!" And then I heard it--twang, twang, twang. I looked down and saw arrows pierced in the ground around me. I looked up to the wall and saw crossbows aimed at me. And I realized that I, a black man, was the invader. I stood as a barbarian at the gate." (LOL)
And this exchange of humorous dialogue:
"They licked their lips. "What did you bring?"
"Well, I brought some pasta con filleti di cavallo."
"Cavallo? Isn't that horse?"
"Yes."
Great presentation in every way, my friend. Bravo!
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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LOL..." I wanted to scare the fagioli out of the kid and say, "Argh, when I finish this pizza, I'm gonna eat you, too!" I absolutely love this story, Cat.
It's the stuff movies ar made of.
Such great images and the narrative is superb, like:
"I ran, too, but as I approached, the gate closed before me. I pound. "Let me in! Let me it!" And then I heard it--twang, twang, twang. I looked down and saw arrows pierced in the ground around me. I looked up to the wall and saw crossbows aimed at me. And I realized that I, a black man, was the invader. I stood as a barbarian at the gate." (LOL)
And this exchange of humorous dialogue:
"They licked their lips. "What did you bring?"
"Well, I brought some pasta con filleti di cavallo."
"Cavallo? Isn't that horse?"
"Yes."
Great presentation in every way, my friend. Bravo!
Comment Written 19-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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Oh, thank you, Bob. Your generous, six star review cheered me. I have performed various versions of this story three times so far at storytelling open mics before I take it to a live storytelling contest next week. I didn't know how the written version would work. I am thrilled that my story is "the stuff movies are made of." Thank you for your review.
Comment from jmdg1954
Great story based on memories. I liked what you eluded to at the end of your story in that if you turned the right way out of the apartment you may not have had a story to tell. Correct, maps and apps are not always needed. In your case it turned out fine.
Nicely done. John
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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Great story based on memories. I liked what you eluded to at the end of your story in that if you turned the right way out of the apartment you may not have had a story to tell. Correct, maps and apps are not always needed. In your case it turned out fine.
Nicely done. John
Comment Written 19-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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Oh, thank you< John, for your review. Yes, if I had turned right, I would not have a story to tell. I am glad I turned left.
Comment from Dean Kuch
I would love to get lost in Italy, Andre, but I doubt very seriously if I did, I would ever try to find my way back home again, heh-heh.
I didn't fly six thousand miles to spend my first night in Siena stuck in our apartment with my iPhone. I craved food and adventure. ... I'm with you there, my friend. I'd be like, "Okay, let's get going!" ...
I pound. "Let me in! Let meitin!" ... Somehow one of your "ins" turned into an "it", Andre. I hate it when that happens, lol ...
I didn't understand a word they said because I couldn't speak Italian, but I felt what they said. Hate is a universal language. You can tell when people hate you. ... Oh yeah, my friend, it most certainly is. I experienced much the same sort of hatred in Korea while enlisted in the Marine Corps. You do not have to understand what someone is saying to understand they don't like you very much. It's a scary feeling ...
I realized how I got lost in Italy. I had turned left when I left my apartment instead of right. But if I had turned right, sure, I would have found sooner a meal not served on the menu at the Olive Garden, but I wouldn't have a story to tell you. Sometimes, you need to go without the maps and the apps. Sometimes, you need to lose yourself in a city or in a community to find yourself. And sometimes, the best adventures in life are unplanned. You see, I didn't become the person I am today by following maps. ... Amen to that statement, my friend. Risk-takers are some of the most successful people there are in life. Why be mundane or ordinary? Seek out adventure because adventure will never seek you out. Live each day as if there were no tomorrow because, let's face it, none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow.
Great ending to an excellent, well-written story, Andre...
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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I would love to get lost in Italy, Andre, but I doubt very seriously if I did, I would ever try to find my way back home again, heh-heh.
I didn't fly six thousand miles to spend my first night in Siena stuck in our apartment with my iPhone. I craved food and adventure. ... I'm with you there, my friend. I'd be like, "Okay, let's get going!" ...
I pound. "Let me in! Let me
I didn't understand a word they said because I couldn't speak Italian, but I felt what they said. Hate is a universal language. You can tell when people hate you. ... Oh yeah, my friend, it most certainly is. I experienced much the same sort of hatred in Korea while enlisted in the Marine Corps. You do not have to understand what someone is saying to understand they don't like you very much. It's a scary feeling ...
I realized how I got lost in Italy. I had turned left when I left my apartment instead of right. But if I had turned right, sure, I would have found sooner a meal not served on the menu at the Olive Garden, but I wouldn't have a story to tell you. Sometimes, you need to go without the maps and the apps. Sometimes, you need to lose yourself in a city or in a community to find yourself. And sometimes, the best adventures in life are unplanned. You see, I didn't become the person I am today by following maps. ... Amen to that statement, my friend. Risk-takers are some of the most successful people there are in life. Why be mundane or ordinary? Seek out adventure because adventure will never seek you out. Live each day as if there were no tomorrow because, let's face it, none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow.
Great ending to an excellent, well-written story, Andre...
Comment Written 19-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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Thank you, Dean, for your generous, six star review. I didn't know how a written version of my story would work. I am cheered that it moved you. Thank you for wishing me success in the Story Showdown. This is my first invitation. $400 is at stake.
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You're more than welcome, Andre. I hope you knock-em dead, my friend. Not literally, but ... Oh heck, you know what I mean, heh-heh...
Comment from jpduck
I loved this vivid, atmospheric piece. Superbly put together.
Typos/SPAGs. (Square brackets indicate suggested deletions, and asterisks, suggested insertions):
'I left the apartment entered the night.' (I think you need either 'and' or an emdash between 'apartment' and 'entered').
'if the walls are [breeched] *breached*' ('breeched' means 'wearing britches' -- to use the American word).
'Let me in! Let me i*n*!'
Adrian
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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I loved this vivid, atmospheric piece. Superbly put together.
Typos/SPAGs. (Square brackets indicate suggested deletions, and asterisks, suggested insertions):
'I left the apartment entered the night.' (I think you need either 'and' or an emdash between 'apartment' and 'entered').
'if the walls are [breeched] *breached*' ('breeched' means 'wearing britches' -- to use the American word).
'Let me in! Let me i*n*!'
Adrian
Comment Written 19-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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Thank you, Adrian, for your superb, six star review and corrections on my " vivid, atmospheric piece>' I deeply appreciate them. Thanks again.
Comment from Zue65
I enjoyed your journey in Italy and your misadventure looking for food in Siena. Sometimes, we have to wear the shoes of the people who have developed fear of the Muslims. Perhaps, they have been victims themselves, harassed by Muslims too, in their own country. Thanks for sharing.
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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I enjoyed your journey in Italy and your misadventure looking for food in Siena. Sometimes, we have to wear the shoes of the people who have developed fear of the Muslims. Perhaps, they have been victims themselves, harassed by Muslims too, in their own country. Thanks for sharing.
Comment Written 19-Jun-2016
reply by the author on 19-Jun-2016
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And thank you, Nassus, for reviewing. Before the rise of Islam in the seventh century, the Roman Empire defeated the Empire of Carthage on the North African coast, and then incorporated the entire coast from present day Morocco to Egypt. Italians today will not let anyone forget that it was once an empire. The harassment between groups and cultures stretches back centuries.
