Posted on 2009.02.21 at 10:25
Current Mood: 
amused
Current Music: The Wombats - Backfire at the Disco
Last night I went to Cafe'Loop, which is a little place where they have live shows, poetry readings, etc. It's kind of the hangout for the bohemians here in Perugia. Last night there was a band playing. Just a small four-man group. They were pretty good. Not great, but good.
But what came before them completely overshadowed anything they could have played. Actually, it would have taken something along the lines of a surprise Led Zeppelin reunion, or Graham Chapman showing up claiming "I was dead, but I got better" to top what came before the show.
As with many Italian towns, Perugia has it's fair share of colorful personalities, some who have gained a certain degree of infamy amongst the locals. There's the accordion guy (who claims to have helped Yann Tiersen write the music for Amelie which would explain why he plays it all the time). There's the guy in the tracksuit who hangs around the piazza with the great thick beard. I'm actually still not sure as to the nature of his schtick.
And there's Paolo. Or, more specifically, Paolo the Communist.
The guy is a DIE-HARD communist, famous for his speeches in the town square. He's not homeless, and he's not crazy. He's just very passionate about his beliefs. I don't think too many people take him seriously, and he's quite liked amongst the townspeople.
Before the band started playing, he stood on the stage and proceeded to deliver a sort-of free verse poem encouraging the workers of the world to rise up in a peaceful revolution to overthrow capitalism, invoking the names of pretty much every leader and country in the Western world. After five minutes of this, he introduced the band and was applauded by the audience.
Afterwards, me and a friend were waiting outside for some others. Paolo the Communist was saying goodnight to some friends and making his exit. As he walked by us, he turned to us, tipped his hat and said:
"Buona notte, compagni."
"Good night, comrades."
This...is probably one of the more awesome things to happen to me in Perugia. I felt like we should have all been in black and white with pistols tucked away in our trenchcoats and cigarettes hanging loosely from our lips.
Oh, Paolo the Communist. You've declared a worker's revolution...in our hearts. *sniff*
Posted on 2009.02.12 at 15:59
Current Mood: 
tired
Current Music: Cafe' Guy's Jams
The cafe' that I use my computer at has a satellite music station playing all the time (except when there's a soccer game on, then it's all business).
It mostly plays whatever is popular the moment. I've grown really tired of The Killers "Human", Beyonce "If I Were a Boy", and Hillary Duff "Touch Me".
The cafe' owner (let's call him cafe' guy) clearly enjoys a LOT of the music that plays. But there's a particular group of songs that are a head above the rest, the creme' de la creme' so to speak. You know it's a cafe' guy favorite, because he grabs the remote and turns the volume up.
And if he's REALLY into it, he'll bob or nod ever so slightly behind the counter to show his approval.
I'll keep an ongoing record of Cafe' Guy's Jams. So far, the list comprises of:
Frank Sinatra - My Way
Eve - Who's That Girl?
It's going to be an eclectic list.
Posted on 2009.01.31 at 13:15
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Deus Ibi Est
Yesterday in class, we were asked to write something concerning either the beginning or ending of a relationship. It could be anything: dialogue, a story, a letter...the only limit was our own imagination.
So, the class furiously scribbled for 45 minutes, and then we all shared. I decided to write a fairy tale about the Prince of Outer Space who decides he prefers cleaning over adventures, and finds a princess who prefers adventures over cleaning (oh, sweet irony).
"HA!" I thought to myself. "Try and top THAT bit of creative comedy."
Oh, but readers, life had quite the curveball for YHN.
There's an older Chinese chap in my class. Nice guy. Very good grasp of Italian grammar, but he writes and speaks a little stilted (as I'm sure I do too).
So, he starts to read his paper. It's a story, about the break-up of a marriage. A husband comes home after a long day from work. It was read with the same tone as a 4th grader might read "What I Did for Summer Vacation", and it didn't help that the dialogue doesn't really convey the seriousness of the subject matter.
"We need to talk," says the husband.
"Ok," says the wife.
They sit down.
"I'm afraid it's serious," said the husband.
"I see," said the wife.
"I no longer love you," he said.
The wife started to cry.
"Ok," she said, "Let's divorce."
The End
Well, it was that last line that was straw that broke the camel's back. I shouldn't have laughed, but I couldn't help it. The dam broke and I was burying my face in my arms to muffle my laughter and wiping away tears. It also didn't help that I had a mirthful Libyan sitting in front of me fighting for air because he was laughing. I'm pretty sure the Chinese guy knew it wasn't a very realistic portrayal of marriage. He had a big grin on his face as he returned to his seat.
While "Prince of Outer Space" was pretty much forgotten by now, I bore no ill will towards my Chinese classmate for one-upping me in the comedy department. He had certainly made my day a lot brighter.
Posted on 2009.01.27 at 14:50
This cat lives outside my apartment.
She's the fluffiest cat I've ever seen. I just want to put a ribbon on her and make her sit on a plush pillow all day long.
I've decided her name is probably Miss Precious Perfect.
Be sure to stay tuned for MPP sightings around the clock!
Posted on 2009.01.25 at 17:07
Current Mood: 
annoyed
Current Music: Franz Ferdinand - What She Came For
Classes have started, and have been going swimmingly. I really enjoy my grammar and speaking classes. I have two really great profs who are knowledgeable and do everything with a sense of humor.
*sigh* And then there's my culture class.
I was quite looking forward to this, and it has been a huge letdown (to put it mildly). The professor (hereon referred to as "Batty McBedlam") has turned what should have been a simple lecture and discussion course into a podium from which she shoves her views down our throats. If I had to guess, I'd say she's in her late 50's/early 60's, and I have a feeling she has not worked outside of academia for a long, LONG time.
The first class with her, I knew she was nuts. During introductions, Prof. McBedlam segued into talking about Dante and Eminem, culminating with her rapping a canto from 'The Divine Comedy'. Ok, not so bad, right? A bit crazy, but at least it was interesting.
Next class, we sped through Italy's history from Etruscans to unity (completely skipping the Renaissance, mind you), and here's where it gets a bit weird. Talking about the Romans, she went on a 45 minute tangent about how how we shouldn't enjoy the Colosseum or the Pyramids because they were built with the blood and sweat of slave labor.
I'm all for discussion and opinions, but I think there has to be some kind of statute of limitations on feeling outraged about certain things. I mean, otherwise, we probably couldn't enjoy anything ever.
"You know, I just couldn't enjoy the museum. How could they dig up and display those poor dinosaur's bones for other people's education and enjoyment? Someone should do something!"
During last weeks classes, discussing the Italian family, she went on yet another tangent about how she loves being single n' sassy.
I guess I wouldn't care so much, except it's just her talking rather than trying to engage in a discussion about these things.
Anyway, I'm sure Batty McBedlam will give me lots more to write about as the weeks go on. That is, if I don't decide to stop going all together due to a lack of sanity.
The silver lining is, I understood enough Italian to understand and be annoyed by all of this. Hooray for me!
Posted on 2009.01.13 at 14:56
Current Mood: tired
Current Music: The Pillows - Little Busters
After six years, I have returned to Italy.
It was rather bittersweet. Doubtless, years of fond memories have given me a rose-tinted view of everything. Arrival at the airport and transporting four heavy bags between destinations was no walk in the park, that's for sure.
( More within... )
Posted on 2008.05.25 at 16:01
Current Mood: sad
Current Music: Some Italian Band - Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying
This is a story I think anyone can relate to.
Sometimes, making your way in the world today takes everything you've got and taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot. And sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name...and they're always glad you came. Where all our troubles are the same. Well, I had that place. Erm...sort of. Nobody knew my name, but I was pretty sure they were glad I came.
My own little ramen bar, conveniently located right next to the train station. Fast, cheap, and most importantly, delicious. All run by a single man. A man with no name, who rode into town on a pale horse dispensing his own brand of boiled noodles in broth. He may very well have had a name like "Steve" or "Hector", but to us he was just...Ramen Guy.
Tirelessly devoted to his craft and service, the man served up some of the best ramen I've had, and I've had it all, from Narita to Naha. Stoic and speedy, he would always serve up a bowl in a matter of minutes whenever I dropped in, which was at least once a week. Yes, Ramen Guy, whose past was shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Never a word was exchanged between us that wasn't related to our food/money transaction.
And it stayed this way, with nothing known about him save that the man made a mean bowl o' ramen. Nothing was known about Ramen Guy. And so the legend grew, as word passed from mouth to mouth of this artisan in the tiny Ramen Shop. The bowl was his canvas and the noodle tongs his brush, and with it he created masterpiece after masterpiece while nary a word was spoken.
That is, until a month ago.
After my game of backgammon at the gentleman's club, I stopped in for my usual bowl of ramen, the restaurant filled with its usual smells. Ramen Guy too my order as he had done dozens of times before. I never would have guessed what would come next.
Ramen Guy spoke...to me...in ENGLISH.
"Sank you, berri much!"
I was shocked into silence, paralyzed by wonder and fear. What dire situation could warrant him talking, let alone his use of English?
"May, 6...this shop...will close...FO-EB-A!"
Like a double punch to the gut, I was left stunned. He held up a calendar with a big red circle around May the sixth, just to be sure his point had been properly conveyed. His duty done, he switched back to Japanese, thanking for my dedicated patronage and rewarded me with a free can of cola. No can of cola could wash away the bitter taste in my mouth though.
My bowl of ramen that evening was a bit saltier for all the tears I shed. An institution I had frequented since my first week in Japan would soon be no more. So, as of this post, Ramen Guy's Bar is no more. The other day, I rode my bike past it, and felt a little lump in my throat looking at the steel door that had once been so inviting with it's red lanterns and warm glow.
An empty shell of what was once a regular haunt. Some nights, I still look up at the stars, and wonder what Ramen Guy is doing. I can still hear his "irasahimase" echoing in the mountains, blowing through the trees.
Farewell, Ramen Guy. May the Ramen gods bless your hands in your new endeavors as much as they did in your previous profession.
Posted on 2008.05.14 at 22:30
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: The Pillows - Another Morning
This pictures makes none.
Why is ET wearing a cape? And holding a staff? And is that hand gesture some sort of ET equivalent of giving me the finger?
This is just the tip of the iceberg though.
( Probably shouldn't click this )
Posted on 2008.05.12 at 21:08
Current Mood: good
Current Music: Eagles of Death Metal - I Only Want You
After leaving the monkey park, we continued to explore Arashiyama.
( Read more... )
Posted on 2008.04.20 at 17:27
Current Mood: 
busy
Current Music: The Long Winters - Clouds
The next day we went to one of my favorite areas of Kyoto, Arashiyama. It's a bit more rural with lots of trees and is especially beautiful in the fall. Today, however, we had one location in mind. A place that I hadn't been to in over two years.
The famous...
...the irreplaceable...
...the one, the only...
..ARASHIYAMA MONKEY PARK!!
And, as if it already wasn't great enough that I was going to see monkeys with my brother, my friend Justin came along too.
( Read more... )
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