Street Views.

Today I ventured into the Downtown of this little village. I was surprised to find that the streets were mostly empty and shops closed, on a Saturday afternoon! I tried to stop by the post office, but think they closed at 12:30 and I got there at 1:00.

I asked a guy nearby at the ATM if he know if the post was closed, I saw people inside but couldn't open the doors... he tried to help, but alas, spoke no English. Finding an English speaker here is a rarity, I need to brush up on my Italian.

Later I stopped by "Riky's Bar" for a coffee. A cute place with nice ambiance, minus the music. They play an Italian radio station that streams American pop songs, I heard the infamous "call me maybe" song for the first time. 

(Espresso & Croissant in DT Spilamberto for 2 Euro. Wine, chips, olives & nuts in Bologna for 6 Euro). 

Last night the parents took me into the closest big city, Bologna. While they went to go see a movie for their 10 year wedding anniversary I wandered along the streets and found this little sidewalk cafe and enjoyed some red wine & a people watching. I was walking back to meet the parents after the movie and saw an old lady vomiting on the street! (Didn't take a photo of that... ://) I felt so bad for her, no one was stopping to help her, I really wanted to but had to meet the parents. I feel that people in Northern Italy (where I am) aren't as friendly as those in the South. 

Apparently Northern Italians & Southern Italians have a bit of a prejudice against each other. The family I am living with is from North-Central Italy, they say it is a lot safer than the South, there is no mafia, etc. They don't seem to be as trusting of strangers and really stress that I keep aware of who I smile at and talk to in the streets. They are weary of "irregulars" aka, non Italians. The mom told me that she thinks all Asian's look alike and that Africans and Muslims have a different mentality, that they can be "dangerous". I don't think they are coming from a place of hatred when they say stuff like that, they've just lived in Northern Italy all their life and haven't really met many people from different cultures. Hopefully we can teach each other some things. 

The father says that he thinks "I am the most special AuPair yet". He is an academic and works with stock trading, his English is pretty good, best of all the people I have met so far. He asks me how to say a lot of things and says that I have very specific words for things and speak distinctive English. I was the first person to name what an "archway" was. ha! 

(Street view of some shops in downtown Spilamberto, Saturday afternoon. Park bench right outside my street). 

Tonight a photographer friend I met online via Model Mayhem is coming to pick me up to take me to a "fashion party" in Modena. The other large city we are near. Should be interesting!