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Life & Manners


The Accidental Miscreant
As I've mentioned earlier, Italians love to scold. They'll shake their heads, wag their fingers, cluck their tongues at you for all kinds...
Jan 27, 20205 min read


The importance of buon giorno
I've just been looking through old notes about my experiences years ago in Florence, when I took an 8-week crash course in Italian...
Dec 28, 20193 min read


Not Quite at Home Yet
The more time I spend in Italy, the more I’m aware of what a stranger I am, culturally. It’s funny to say that because I think of Italian...
Feb 6, 20196 min read
Culture Quiz, Exercise I
According to Italian mothers, which of the following threats to life and limb is MOST to be feared? a) drafts b) damp skin (from...
Nov 1, 20183 min read
Taking de-bate
There are certain observations Antonio or I will make in the other’s presence that never fail to trigger a lightly combative response,...
Oct 25, 20181 min read
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