Memories

I saw some hydrangaes this week.

I love these plants, they remind me of my maternal grandparents.

Heaven and Hell

I’m teaching quite a bit now. The school have offered me an opportunity to teach off site six hours, five days a week. With the summer quickly approaching, I can’t afford not to do it as I expect things to be quiet for the last half of July, and the school is closed for August. So, it looks like I’ll be commuting back and forth, and squeezing most of the writing and fun into the weekends. I hope that the classes will be interesting and the students entertaining.

In the meantime, here is a photo of a T-shirt kindly provided by one of my students, Francesco.

There really is no such thing as a European. It is such a diverse continent. The T-shirt neatly sums up some of the stereotypes.

Nero at the Amphiteatre

On Sunday afternoon, my lovely friend Francesca invited me to join a scout group on a tour of a Roman/Greek theatre. It was originally an amphitheatre seated an audience of 5000. The theatre was partly demolished and built over in order for new housing to be established. It was customary that old buildings be destroyed, which is in direct contrast to our current thinking that old buildings, structures and ruins are to be restored and preserved.

The famous emperor Nero enjoyed performing in this amphitheatre as an actor in religious dramas. Our guide informed that he paid the audience to attend. His artistic endeavours were considered scandalous by the aristocracy and his army.

Nero was said to be responsible for the burning of two thirds of Rome in 64 AD, although modern scholars continue to debate this. It was true however that in order to gain power he murdered many of his political enemies and ordered the execution of his mother and wife. In 68 AD, the Roman senate declared him an enemy of the state and he committed suicide.

We entered the building, into what was a private apartment. A bed was pushed back into the kitchen and this revealed a door in the floor that opened up. A staircase led down into the amphitheatre underneath the house. Only part of the original amphitheatre is accessible as much of it has been filled in or is blocked off by the foundations of adjoining buildings.

Nevertheless, it was fascinating to stand where Neapolitans stood some 2000 years ago, enduring what was surely yet another horrendous performance by the fifth emperor of Rome.

Even more fascinating was listening to the eager boy scouts ask questions about the theatre and its history. Our guide eventually told one boy not to believe everything that he sees on television and the movies. It seemed that most of his knowledge was gleaned from the screen, making him a historical expert, in accordance with the ways of all ten-year-old boys.

I’m sure he would have had something to share with Nero too had the opportunity arisen.

Ah Napoli!

Here's an insight into why the locals put beauty ahead of just about everything else.

Aussie Friends vs WOG Friends

This was sent to me by an Aussie friend who happens to have WOG (read Italian, Greek, Mediterranean) heritage. It is a pretty good example of how different the two cultures are...and it's pretty funny, especially for someone like me caught in a timewarp somewhere in the middle of both.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: Move out when they're 18 with the full support of their parents.

WOG FRIENDS: Move out when they're 28, having saved for that nice house and are a week away from getting married...unless there's room for the newlyweds at home.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: When their mum visits them she brings a nice bunt cake and you sip coffee and chat.

WOG FRIENDS: When their mum visits them she brings 3 days worth of food and begins to immediately tidy up, dust, do the laundry or rearrange the furniture.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: Their dads always call before they come over to visit them and it's usually only on special occasions.

WOG FRIENDS: Are not at all fazed when their dads come over, unannounced, on a Saturday morning at 8:00am and start pruning the trees with a chainsaw or renovating the garage. AUSSIE FRIENDS: You can leave your kids with them and you always worry if everything is going to be ok plus you have to feed them after you pick them up.

WOG FRIENDS: No problem, leave the kids there and if they get out of line the WOG friend can set them straight...plus they get fed.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: Always pay retail and look in the yellow pages when they need something done.

WOG FRIENDS: Just call their dad or uncle and ask for another dad's or uncle's phone number to get it done...cash deal, U know what I mean.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: Will come over for cake and coffee and expect cake and coffee, no more. WOG FRIENDS: Will come over for cake and coffee and expect an antipasto, a few bottles of wine, a pasta dish, a choice of two meats, salad, bread, potatoes, a nice dessert cake, fruit, coffee and a few after dinner drinks...

AUSSIE FRIENDS: Think that being a wog is a great thing.

WOG FRIENDS: KNOW that being a wog is a great thing.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: Never ask for food

WOG FRIENDS: Are the reason you have no food.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.

WOG FRIENDS: Call your parents mum and dad.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: know a few things about you.

WOG FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: Are for a while.

WOG FRIENDS: Are for life.

AUSSIE FRIENDS: Will ignore this.

WOG FRIENDS: Will share this with other wog friends.