The Way Things Were (Sales, 3)

SALDI....Sales

When I shopped in Chicago my first stop was always at the sale rack in the back of the store (if I was someplace other than Goodwill or Salvation Army).  Be it April, June or November I could almost always find something for $9.99.  In Italy that opportunity only comes twice a year.  Instead of a little treat on a rainy day in spring, shopping for something on sale in Italy feels like an obligation.  If my running pants will be ruined by next November, I'd better remember  to buy them now or I'll be without until January 2018.  T-shirts?  Underpants?  Plan ahead.  Get 'em now.  Back-to-School specials?  Nope.  Sales are regulated by the country.  They're twice a year.  Once in the winter.  And once in the summer.  Period.   



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."