Okay, I do realize that I am writing another post within an hour of the last one, but I am feeling especially motivated in the moment so I am going to take advantage of it. Today was a pretty typical day. Italian from 9:30-1. I made a delicious omelette for lunch (aged cheese is the key no spices were necessary!) then I "facho a passigieta" - okay I don’t know past tense but that means to go for a stroll, which is exactly what I did! I still cannot get enough of the beauty of this city just from walking around. Then it was time for Rosh Hashanah. I was really nervous because I am far away from home and know no one in the Jewish community here. I have been in contact by email with one woman who invited me to services and two a Rosh Hashanah seder tonight. I went, the entire service I felt really awkward (and it wasn't just the super old weird wooden seats made for people with a half a tush, I guess that's Italia for you) I was sitting by myself and at the end of the service awkwardly standing while people were wishing each other a Shanah Tovah. I have to say it was nice to hear familiar words (aka Hebrew and not Italian) I liked that the cantor sang in the exact same tune that I hear at B'nai Tikvah and that I was able to follow along even though they ran out of Maksors. Luckily after standing around awhile a nice man came up to me and asked if I was alone and introduced himself. When I told him I was by myself he immediately called over two boys who ended being high school students. They were really nice, knew English and I sat with them at dinner. I have to say kids here seem a lot more mature, at least from this impression. We talked throughout the dinner which was exciting because I was able to really get a sense of the viewpoints of Italian teenagers and how they view the surroundings that I am currently in. I learned a lot about the education system as well as what people in Verona were like in comparison to other parts of Italy and Europe. I also talked to them about the Jewish community in Chicago as well as what high school is like back at home. Overall, great experience, will be back there tomorrow for services.
On a completely separate note, I feel it my duty to share my observation on fashion trends /shopping in Verona/ Italy in general for everyone back at home
Rule #1 If your shoes are American, you are really cool
- Converse, Nike etc. are key
Rule #2 if you have skinny jeans, they might not be skinny enough…for the men
- Guys here wear tighter jeans than me!
Rule #3 you don't need to work out, if you're Italian you are just skinny
- The gym here are crap and people barely work out.. What?
Rule #4 It doesn't matter how crooked and cobblestoney the streets are you can still wear heels (yeah right for me)
Rule #5 never buy makeup here, a loreal lip gloss costs 15 euro ( almost $20!!)
Rule #6 I'll never look as cool and stylish as Italians, but they'll still talk to me in Italian so as not to offend me in the small chance that I am Italian
Rule #7 No Shopping trip is complete without gelato
Rule #8 It is totally legit for guys to have purses, in fact it's pretty much a necessity
More rules to come in the future
Ciao and Shana Tovah!
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