The Way Things Were (The Mail, 9)

The fine print says:  Last collection 12:00a.m.

Whoever said that Italians were lazy apparently didn't know that il postino (the mailman) is out picking up the mail in country towns at midnight.  At least that's what the fine print says.  If only it were true.  For those of us in the know, the last pick up is really at noon (a bit early in my opinion).  And if you miss it on Friday you'll be waiting until Monday because there's no service on Saturday either.

                            

The Beginning of The Way Things Were
Call me what you will, but I call myself an emigrant....an emigrant who should stop talking about her homeland every day.  (Expat has too many rich, white person connotations and immigrant is what my Italian friends call me.)  Many years ago, my foreign (expat) friends in Chicago continually pointed out the differences between life in their countries and life in Chicago.  I might be mistaken, but their use of the word 'different' often sounded a bit like 'better'. 

Not long after moving to Italy (about three hours) I started doing the same thing.  It has finally dawned on me that if my friends in Italy think like I used to think (if it's better in your country why don't you go home?) it might be wise to keep my American mouth shut in Italy and share my thoughts with the other side of the world.  Hereafter, when I notice something different, be it better or just different, I'll (try to) hold my tongue and add it to my list of The Way Things Were.

My goal is to keep it simple with a few words and a photo,  giving the readers the choice of better...or just different.   With more reflection I'll probably realize that some of the "betters" are here and some of the "betters" are there.  In the end maybe they really are just "differences."