And if you are thinking that my perception is in any way biased, here are a few instances from Canadians, North Americans and Italians, just backing my appeal:
- In Rome, one day while having breakfast, since there were no free tables, I shared my table with a Canadian family, including two sisters in their twenties. We chatted, shared info, and stayed in touch. They were going on a cruise. Their verdict on Italians, post-vacation: “We can’t believe how pushy they are! They are not even a bit more tactful outside of their country. They are aggressive compared to Greeks!” (and to me, humble blog-author, knowing Greek and Italians, this is quite a BOLD statement!).
- I shared some of the anecdotes with a very good male friend of mine in the US, 100% North American boy, charming-cool-and-classy American young man. His verdict: “Definitely you don’t want to be out at night alone if they are so creepy. You gotta work with them on the ice-breakers. These European guys have no game!” I, humble blog-author, was surprised by his fast yet accurate conclusion. My friend -maybe since he is a true Master in the fascinating art of enchanting- managed to immediately identify the root of my frustration: there is no game, there is no playing, they make the game so massive and vulgar that it becomes the opposite of what it is meant to be: a turn off and displeasure!
- A 40-year old gorgeous woman from Bologna, who I met at a dinner-party at her in-laws’ home in Sant’Agnello, Sorrento; married, one kid, however did not look happy with life. We were a group of about a dozen people in their 30s and 40s- and I was the only foreigner. When they learnt I am on a sabbatical and started asking about my romantic status and my sabbatical plans, they immediately started making suggestions for my lack of plans, guys being top-participants: get an Italian boyfriend! To what this gorgeous woman immediately jumped in seemingly jerk reaction: “NO! Italians, NO! No Italian men!” I found this to be a powerful statement, particularly coming from an Italian woman, married to an Italian man. Maybe that’s one of the causes of the shadow of discontent on her face?
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