What an utter delight to read Amelia's excellent "practical" advice! Being up-for-a-challenge, being open, and having a willingness to really dive into a new culture (and learn a language sufficiently to make new friends) can be richly rewarding, as Amelia AND her Italian neighbours experienced. Amelia's notes are so, so much better than the usual palaver that bureaucrats write about overseas postings. (When I was posted to Vienna, the posting notes from the Canadian Government at that time stated "Purchase a black cocktail dress, as it will serve you well." I dutifully obeyed. It hung in the closet, and I found that what I really needed were cocktail dresses. So much for the fashion advice of what was probably a male. It would have been far more helpful to have stated "Leave the sweat-pants and white sneakers at home".)
Amelia's notes are a treasure. Thank you for taking time to post them for the benefit of many people.
Amelia: You wrote "Then she launches into an explanation about the difference between Befana and Strega Nonna & I’m actually getting it." Can you please explain this to me? My grandmother used to mention both and I know what the Befana is but I never did get an answer to what exactly Strega Nonna was.
According to Katerina, Strega Nonna is an old witch sort of like our boogie man. Katerina came from one of the high mountain villages in the Carnia- sort of like Friuli's version of a West Virginia holler- and the story sounded a lot like Hansel & Gretel. Being so close to Austria and having more Germanic and Slavic influence, that makes sense. Strega Nonna seems to be what Italian (or at least Friulano) parents threaten children with whereas Befana brings presents and is always carrying a broom because she was too busy cleaning to go with the wise men to see the Christ child. I'm still not sure how either of those characters relate to the kitchen witches who are supposed to bring good luck if hung in one's kitchen - those were seen in Friuli and all over Austria and Bavaria.
Another folk story was that the popular version of Pinnochio is totally wrong and that Pinnochio in fact came from the Carnia. The village of Claut was what Disney based the village in their cartoon upon and the seaside stuff does look a lot like Trieste to me. Anyhow, the story is that Pinnochio was a real boy and rather than obey his father, ran off, got into trouble, and died. His father, not knowing of his son's fate, whittled an exact likeness of the son and prayed to the Virgin Mary that his son be returned safely to him. The prayers were answered and the boy miraculously resurrected and translated to his home village. Whatever the truth, if you go to Claut, there are Pinnochios everywhere!
Amelia
Posts: 92 | Location: Alaska | Registered: 24 November 2003
Thank you Amelia! Your notes on Italy made me smile and I have butterflies in my stomach about our move! Good butterflies! Even though I am leaving good friends and family behind here in Texas, I know there are good friends to be had. We spent two weeks in Italy last summer and I was completely enchanted! Thanks for the tip on public school. I am really considering public vs. DoD even though I've been told I'm crazy to do that to a 5 year old. Thanks again and I hope you are back in Italy soon!
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