Jan Peppler HOME
Exploring Our Connection to People and Place
Coronavirus in Italy, Part 1: Understanding What’s Different About America
Another 793 people died in Italy yesterday. 627 the day before. A total of 53,578 cases nation-wide. Over 6,000 people have recovered and 2,857 are listed as critical. So many numbers. Numbers that equal lives.
A week ago when Italy declared a lockdown on the country, quarantining everyone to their homes, someone asked in a chat group, “Why is it so dramatic in Italy?” Honestly, it’s dramatic everywhere. This pandemic is unprecedented.
And yes, there is something different about Italy. It’s not just the sheer number of people infected and dying, it’s who is dying.
But it’s difficult to understand another nation until we understand our own. Before discussing Italy, we need to first look at the U.S.
The United States is still young. So very young; an adolescent in so many ways. We are every teenager who is so sure they know more than their parents, who thinks anyone over thirty is so ooold. We are enamored with youth. We think we’re hip and cutting edge. All our ideas are brilliant and unique. We’re cocky and dramatic. Everything is drama. Ordinary lives have become theatre for the masses, not as a tool for learning—for understanding our frailty and humanity—but purely for entertainment. We’re the kids who squirm at sex scenes but want to see more. Who fall in love and then give back the ring after a cute new kid transfers into our class. We read Shakespeare only when forced and then laugh at the funny language. History is cool but just when it relates to the young. We’re nostalgic for the 50’s, when rock-n-roll was ‘invented,’ and the 1970’s, when everything was ‘groovy.’
We eschew the wisdom of elders. We roll our eyes at warnings and instructions. We laugh at other people’s pain. Pranks are a national pastime. We bully. We demand things our way. The customer is always right and we have the money, so of course we’re right, now give us what we want. Me First. First in line, always in front. Unless we’re in the back cuz we’re too cool for all that. But then we’re angry if you ignore us.
It’s no coincidence that our President is a man-child who throws tantrums on Twitter. Retreating to his room, he laments his suffering and outrage in his diary. Except his diary isn’t private. He doesn’t want it to be private. Neither do we. We want to see, we want to read, we want to make fun. Nothing is more entertaining to kids than teenagers. Especially when they squirm. It makes us feel better, so much stronger and wise.
Of course, this isn’t 100% true. There are still adults in the room. Only, we’re not listening. As a nation, we don’t respect authority. Robert Bly wrote about this in The Sibling Society, all the way back in 1996, and it’s more relevant today than ever. Sure, we’ve matured a bit. We’re teenagers, after all, no longer kids. We passed the Civil Rights Act (and others), we elected a black president. At the same time, we’ve become more clever and cunning, not so easily persuaded or deceived. Just like teenagers. We found loopholes to skirt the rules. We discovered more creative ways to hide our activities, while simultaneously flaunting our rebelliousness. Even as more of us attend college, we laugh at degrees, positions, and titles. We broadcast our opinions as if they were facts and expect to be respected for what we think but haven’t studied. The only thing that matters is money. Money and fame. Money buys anything. Money makes us important. And fame is reserved primarily for the young, the newest hot “thing,” (because fame is a commodity). We listen to people in front of the camera regardless of their talent or lack of it—but not those reporting the news, historical news outlets are so old-school and the reporters are too old to be trusted. We listen to people with money, regardless of how they made it. Like teenagers, we all want to be superstars and play with piles of cash. We’re each living on dreams, playing the lottery to lift us out of poverty, and waiting for our one big break to change our lonely lives.
Of course, we didn’t elect Hillary Clinton in 2016 and we couldn’t fully support Elizabeth Warren this year either. It’s not just that they’re women, it’s that they remind us too much of Mom. And the only thing we hate more than Dad telling us to cut our hair and be home by ten is Mom telling us to zip up our coat, wear a hat, look both ways before crossing the street, and be nice to our friends. See, we can rebel against Dad but Mom, dammit Mom, we love you, we know you care, but you’re just so damn annoying and you’re really cramping our style. Don’t tell us it’s for our best. We’re almost adults, (why can’t you understand that?), and you’re so out of touch. We can take care of ourselves.
Parents say, “Stay home,” and teenagers say, “It’s my life. I’ll do what I want.” Then we rush to the stores and buy more than we need. We panic like children. We scream, “Me! Me first! Me! Me!” And when adults finally step in and enforce a few rules, we act like puppies placed in a crate. We whimper and whine. But worse than puppies, we shout, “This is martial law! You’re taking away our rights!!”
Why is it so dramatic in Italy? It’s dramatic in the States, not in Italy. Americans are the ones being dramatic. The restrictions in Italy are extreme, yes. Unprecedented. But so is this pandemic.
People in Italy are mourning their dead. They are following the rules of quarantine, terrified of this virus spreading. It’s not just the number of people dying but who is dying. The elderly. Tomorrow we’ll explore what this means in my next post: Coronavirus in Italy, Part 2: Death, Age, and Identity.
On a Lighter Note…
I Found Kleenex!
Now, just to be clear, because I wasn’t before, you can find facial tissue in Italy. In small packs. The kind you stuff in your pocket or purse so you don’t look like Grandma with a wad curled up in her sweater sleeve. But those come with plastic packaging. About eight tissues wrapped in plastic, clumped together in packages of six or ten and wrapped in more plastic. I don’t want those, thank you. I’m happy to be like Grandma – or my own mom, for that matter. Like her, when I die, my family will find plenty of tissue wads—clean!—in every purse and every jacket pocket. (But they won’t find money. At least my mother had money mixed in there too.)
I found a BOX of facial tissue! Only one brand, only one choice. Praise be! Course, I had to go to the Supermercati… Honestly, this place is only twice the size as the store on the next block, or the next block over, or the one a block after that. But a different variety. Like I said, they had Kleenex. They also had tomatoes wrapped in plastic (wrong, just wrong).
And gluten-free pasta made from rice and corn! The guy apologized that they only had spaghetti. Are you kidding? I was thrilled. First of all, I really am eating too much gluten. I can feel it. Not cramping, but… ugh. And secondly, it’s made with corn. Now, in the States WAY too much stuff is made with corn. But when it comes to pasta, this is a necessity. It helps the pasta stay firm, al dente. Rice pasta turns to mush. Don’t ever buy rice pasta. You’ll hate it. Trust me on this.
But I digress. You want to know the other wonderful thing I found? Yes, even more wonderful than facial tissue and gluten-free pasta? WINE! Sicilian wine!! In one store, an Amaro – and Italian digestive. Can’t wait to try this. And in another – Five choices! FIVE! I wanted to buy them all, but that’s such an American thing to do. That would be hoarding. It’s only me, alone, drinking. And just for another three weeks. (Theoretically.) I don’t need five bottles of wine, plus the Amaro. So… I bought two. 😉 The first choice, naturally, had to be the one with the label marked “Corleone.” No explanation necessary, right? And the second, a merlot. Now don’t anyone go “Sideways” on me about the merlot. Yes, I’m laughing. Come on, aren’t you just a teeny bit interested in what to know what a Sicilian Merlot tastes like? (I’ll let you know!)
And finally, most importantly, Chocolate! I couldn’t find the Duplo hazelnuts covered in chocolate that I’ve grown to love since being in Italy, so I splurged. Saw this 18-pack of Ferrero Rocher and, despite the hefty $12 tag, I bought it. Drastic times call for drastic measures. And for when I run out of those, I bought Nutella. Have no idea what I’ll spread it on. Wait, silly me. Nutella goes on anything. Like bananas. And spoons.
If you don’t hear from me soon, you can bet I’m in a sugar-induced stupor.
The Ultimatum: Stay or Leave?
The State Department is advising all United States citizens abroad: return home now or stay where you are and wait out this pandemic. If you stay, “you may be forced to remain outside of the United States for an indefinite period of time.”
So, do I stay, or do I return home?
Home. So interesting. This is the subject of my research for many years now. What is home? I wrote my dissertation on this. I was halfway through my book when I arrived in Italy with my latest draft. The psychology of home. The archetype of home. Finding home. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Attachment to place. Imprints from childhood. Mom as our first home. Family as home. The need to leave home. The hero journey that takes us away from home. Leading to, finally, how do we return? What is home when we come back?
The State Department advisory feels like an ultimatum: Come home now or it’s possible you may never. Ever? My mind wanders to the parable of the prodigal son… And the novel by Thomas Wolfe, You Can Never Go Home Again.
I’ve written about what home is to me. Or, at least, I thought I had. About my childhood experiences that left indelible imprints. Grama Baird and the farm in Michigan. My mother, my father, my youth spent in Chicago. My journey to San Francisco, my home as an adult, beginning at age 18. How it all brought me to Idaho, to the Wood River Valley, where I lived for fourteen years, ten of them in Picabo, a town of only six streets.
I tested the theories I had developed in my doctoral work when I traveled through the South, looking for a new place to live, a new place I could call home. I landed in Oklahoma. Yeah, I never saw that coming! But I like Tulsa, I really like it there. It “fits,” it feels right. I’ve felt at home.
And now I’m in Italy. Considering the State Department advisory: come home now or be prepared to stay away indefinitely.
And I keep wondering, why should I return? What does it mean for me to go home? For me to go home now? Two very different questions. So instead, I consider: what do I miss?
My ergonomic pillow. My backyard, which I never used nearly enough. Rubber wine bottle stoppers – the kind that suck the air out of the bottle and keep the wine fresh. A pair of jeans – the green ones removed from my suitcase (I only brought denim capris). One pair of fluffy socks for night while reading. My hot water bottle for sleeping.
Ok, then, what would I have brought with me to make this place feel like home? I think of my things. My art, my books, the tokens on my prayer alter. The few things I kept when I downsized from a three-bedroom house to a one-bedroom apartment. As for all the heirlooms and treasures I sold and gave away, things I had been moving with me for decades, I remember but don’t miss. Even the last few months in Tulsa found me clearing away more things. All things. Things I don’t need. Things I don’t miss.
What do I miss here in Italy? Avocados. Roasted dandelion tea. Cashews.
My own dogs. But then, I missed them in Oklahoma too.
What do I need in the States that I don’t have here? Nothing I can think of. Not my health insurance. Yes, I’m paid up through April, don’t worry. But is it really the best health care in the world? I don’t think so. Not today, it isn’t. And it’s damn expensive. And I rarely use it. Acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathic, Ayurvedic, nutritional supplements – all the things I regularly use are still out of pocket. And right now, if I really needed it…? Let’s not go down that road. I’m just not convinced it’s worth returning to the States based on that fear.
So, what? What do I need that I don’t have here?
My family and friends. You are all here with me now. How much we converse and spend time together hasn’t really changed. If anything, it’s better. I can’t hug you, that’s true. But then, how often did we embrace? How often did I see you? Not nearly enough. You live in Chicago, in Idaho, and Oklahoma. In Michigan and California. In Wisconsin, Utah, Colorado and Oregon. In Alabama and Georgia. In Texas and Washington, New Mexico and New York. In South Dakota, Ohio, and Minnesota. In Turkey and Greece, Switzerland, Norway, and Germany. And please forgive me if I’m temporarily forgetting some of the places where you are – the point is, we are already miles apart. We’ve been miles apart for many, many years. Our friendship transcends distance. The love that we share and how much we care, well, I’m tearing up now– it lives in every memory, in every meal, every howl of laughter, every thoughtful discussion, every dance, every smile, every discovery, every touch, every misunderstanding, and, in every remembering. Our moments have always been fleeting, never enough. Visits too short, drives too long, plane flights too expensive, days ‘off’ too few. It doesn’t make sense to come back to the States for you. You’re already here.
We are ALL under quarantine now.
And today, my landlord has suddenly returned.
With Rosalia, his very sweet and silent small dog.
So, for now, or however indefinitely, I think I will stay.
(never doubt how much I love you.)*
And just so you know, I am enrolled in the Safe Traveler Enrollment Plan through the U.S. Department of State. I was already enrolled even before the State Department suggested it with their last advisory. My sister is my emergency contact. They have my Italian cell # as well as my email. And that’s as good as it’s gonna get for now. Don’t panic.
* I almost deleted this, as I don’t want to sound corny. But it’s true. And maybe I don’t say it enough. So I’ll say it again: I love you. Thank you for caring.
Quick Video Update
Hey, I’m new to this whole video thing, so this is rough. But at least it’s short! There’s more I would have said, or would have said differently. Point is: there are still 7 states that have not enacted any regulations & restrictions during this pandemic. Sadly, two of them I call home: Idaho and Oklahoma. PLEASE, take this seriously!! Don’t go out. Don’t go to Costco. Don’t go dancing. Don’t go to restaurants. Yes, I want to support them too. I have lots of friends in the restaurant businesses and this is devastating. And, still, STAY HOME!! This is not a hoax and this is not going away anytime soon. It’s not just about protecting yourself, it’s about protecting others. It shouldn’t take laws for us to do the right thing, to care about our neighbors. We are ALL in this TOGETHER! It’s gonna be a long difficult ride – and – I’m sure there will be incredibly good things that come from this too. Never stop believing. Breathe deeply. Read a book. Rest. Learn something new. Be creative. As the saying goes, boredom is just a lack of imagination. And imagination is a muscle that needs exercise. This is your chance. This is a chance for our entire country to get a LOT more creative in how we do things!
I’m thinking about each of you and sending LOTS of LOVE!
20 Observations From 2 Weeks in Italy
- Showers are small. Really small. For one person only. And forget about shaving your legs cuz you can’t bend over. Seriously, at least half the people I know would not be able to turn around in these things, some might even struggle to get in. Heck I struggle to get out! The hotel in Rome had a fancier (and ever so slightly larger) version of the same idea, but really, all the showers are something like 30”x 30”. That, my friends, is small!
- Mattresses are firm. Like, really firm. I like a firm mattress. I’ve slept in five beds in Italy so far and each was really, really, firm. Felt pretty good for the first twelve nights. (are you reading between the lines here?)
- Pillows are flat. If you like fluffy down pillows, or even a generic version of something fluffy, you better bring your own. Luckily, I don’t. Also lucky that I know how to roll up a towel to place under my neck when sleeping. And good thing I sleep on my back. (See “mattresses” above.)
- Space is used very economically. Slider doors with full-length mirrors. Kitchen stoves that convert into counter space. No bulky appliances. Showers (see above). Balconies just wide and deep enough to stand on and accommodate a chair or two and maybe a small table. Americans could learn a lot from this. The “tiny houses” movement is a step in the right direction. But for those of us who still need more room for books (or…pick your favorite hobby and passion), we need more space. But not so much space.
- Rental cars are manual. Mine was five-speed. Thank you, Papa, for teaching me to drive a stick shift on the expressway during rush hour in Chicago. Best skill ever! Next to typing, that is. I’m so glad I took typing as a summer class before high school, about one year before I learned to drive a manual car. Geez, do they even teach typing anymore? For that matter, does anyone learn to drive a stick anymore?
- I’m still freaked out by Vespas. Okay, maybe freaked out is a bit strong. But these things go fast. Sure it looks fabulous for Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday, but I will not be riding a Vespa anytime soon.
- Everyone hangs their laundry. Every balcony comes equipped with clothes pins. Even my first apartment had a clothes rack hanging outside of the kitchen window. In hotels, a clothesline reaches three feet from one end of the tiny bathroom to the other. Unless you live in the country or maybe if you have an enclosed backyard, we WASPs definitely have a thing about not wanting folks to see our laundry. Even clean laundry, when hanging outside, is somehow considered “dirty.” It’s too private, too personal. Or maybe too closely associated with poverty. But not here. Even underwear is hung to dry in the breeze. Of course, this also has to do with #4: Economical Use of Space.
- Bath towels are LARGE. I mean, beach towel size. Now, this cracks me up because remember what I said about the showers? People here are generally not that big. The towels seem disproportionate to the size of the showers and even the size of the bathrooms. But maybe the real question is, why are our standard towels so small in the States? I mean, really, why?? We are so generous with space, we super-size everything, and yet the standard towel in the store and in hotels is barely big enough for a teenager. WHY???
- Kleenex doesn’t exist. Okay, maybe it’s somewhere in Italy, but I haven’t seen it. I’ve had allergies since I was seven. Even on good days, I still blow my nose. Recently, I’ve had a little drip. Not a cold, not allergies. Just a drip. This is the same reason I’m not good at cross-country skiing (or any winter sports): Every few minutes I have to stop and wipe my nose. So naturally, facial tissue is a staple in my home. Like, in every room. But not here. Only toilet paper. It’s a bit unsettling to use the same paper (albeit soft) that I use to wipe my butt to also wipe my nose. But I’m acclimating.
- Spices are hard to come by. At least here in Balestrate, where I’m finally cooking. The only thing I can find on the shelves is salt. Lots and lots of salt. Black pepper is a distant second. Then fennel. Who cooks with fennel? Am I missing something? I was super lucky to finally find red pepper flakes. Huge score! And luckily, there’s one place that sells fresh basil (basilico). So, when in Italy… use garlic! Lots and lots of garlic. Garlic in everything. I know, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Ok, so much for ayurvedic protocol. I’m on the Mediterranean diet now!
- Produce shops are full-service. Like a full-service gas station, except that these days this only means someone pumps your gas. In Italy, they pump your gas. They also pick your produce. I’ve been scolded twice over this. The shop owner, an older woman, waving her fingers and shaking her head at me. First it happened over the mushrooms, so I was smart enough to not try picking my own zucchini. But the oranges, I figured were safe game. No! A sharp reprimand, more shaking and waving. This is a weird thing for an American. Not being able to pick and choose for oneself. Basically antithetical to the American way – we’re all about choices. But ok, at least I got oranges.
- Produce tastes better when it’s bought from a small store. Just like when it’s bought from a Farmer’s Market in the States. Freshly harvested food is still bursting with flavor. Unless you’re canning your own vegetables, eat fresh. Slow down. Savor the orange. Stop buying in bulk. Eat what’s in season. (I know this sounds preachy, forgive me. And I know we all have good reasons for buying frozen foods or in bulk. I’m just saying maybe we need to look at those reasons. Maybe our cultural ways of operating need a revision.) Which leads me to…
- Shop small. Bakeries, butchers, newsstands, and more: small shops are wonderful. There is incredible satisfaction shopping in small stores instead of one large supermarket. Supporting individuals who focus their work on what they love, what they do best, and providing what other people need: This is the real heart of community. We’ve been saying this for quite a while now: shop locally. But the truth is deeper. This is how we get to know our neighbors, how we develop relationships with others whose work impacts our lives. When currency crumbles, we will still have this: the ability to share our talents. Not a dollar for dollar kind of bartering but a value exchange of what sustains us emotionally and physically. Sing me a song and I will cook for you. Knit me a scarf and I will massage your shoulders. Oranges for eggs. Tutoring for baked goods. A story for hanging my shelves. Utopian? Maybe. But our current system in the states isn’t working, so why not return to something simpler?
- I love freshly baked goods. Oh my heavens, what a treat to eat a croissant again! And today, I will risk a baguette with prosciutto and cheese. I’ve been gluten-free since 2008. I’m not celiac, but certainly have a profound sensitivity, what I’ve long called, “intense intestinal distress.” When it hits, I’m doubled over in pain. The cramping, bloating, and gas is off the charts. Ah, but in Italy! Every single day I have indulged in a pastry. I am still taking enzymes, probiotics, and prebiotics. But something about the gluten is different here. Now if only I could get my hands on some cannoli!
- Fresh air is a necessity. Even when you can’t go out and walk the streets or stroll in the park. Open your windows. Put on a jacket. If you have a balcony, stand on it. If you have a back yard, sit in it. We all need fresh air. The earth is grateful for this break from all our activity. Slowly, slowly, she is recovering. She needs this rest as much as we do; she is healing. We will too.
- People are people everywhere. Some are nice. Some are enthusiastic. Some look at me with suspicion. Some only mumble a greeting after I cheerily say, “Buongiorno!” Some say nothing at all. Others just turn away. And then, just now, as I’m writing, an old man walking his dog in the train station lot below stops and looks up at me. I wave. He waves back. Meanwhile, my neighbor across the street on her balcony tries to ignore me. And then, as if tuned into my thoughts, another woman walking her dog in the same lot below also looks up at me. I smile and say, “bella cane” (beautiful dog). She smiles. She says, “English?” Her command of the language is less than mine of Italian, but when she asks if I am on holiday, I tell her I am here for four weeks and she is pleased. Very pleased. She smiles brightly and lingers a bit longer while we both watch her dog run in circles. And then she waves and says, “Good-bye!”
- We are not alone. We are never alone. Even when you feel lonely. Reach out. There is way too much technology now to stay isolated. Not globally, not individually. Every single person matters. People want to hear from you. We need to hear from you, from each other. Wave. Smile. Say hello. Stay in touch. Four hundred years ago, John Donne wrote, “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” This Me First mentality that has swept the United States needs to stop. We’re all in this together. “Do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.”
And finally,
18. I really only need 1 pan, 1 pot, 1 plate, 1 bowl, 1 cup, 1 glass, 2 knives, 2 forks, and 1 large wooden spoon. Of course, if you visit, I’ll need double. And if more visit, we can each bring our own supplies.
19. Toilet paper rolls are small. Like smaller than I ever remember seeing in the states, way before “double-roll” became a thing. Really small. Which leads me to my last observation:
20. Bidets. We all need a bidet.
#coronavirusinItaly #americaninItalyduringcoronavirus
#MeToo – Another Lesson Learned During Coronavirus in Italy
Punto! Enough. No more. We’re done. This conversation is over.
It’s the strongest word I know in Italian. And I just wrote it to one of the few Italians I actually know.
I didn’t come to Italy for romance. A few friends said, “Maybe you’ll meet an Italian and stay!” No. Absolutely not. Of course, I would say that and then laugh. If I said it as strongly as I felt it, people would think I was upset. Instead, I tried to be nice in my response, to laugh, smile, brush it off. People in general are often put off by my directness. Maybe because they are first drawn in by my smile. When I am firm in my response, my voice often drops an octave and then people pull back. If I was a different person, I might enjoy that. But I’m a person whose life purpose is to connect. I’ve spent my entire adult life trying to soften my approach. I don’t want people to feel I’m harsh or rude or unkind.
Anyway, I didn’t come to Italy for romance. No secret hopes of a chance meeting that leads to falling in love. No brief and exciting escapade that ends up in bed with a dark, handsome, man. No. Definitely not interested. That’s not what I want. I’m not ruling out the chance that someday I may fall in love again – but at the moment, that’snot what I’m looking for. I LOVE my life. I love being single. And, in the States, I think I’ve finally learned how to navigate this status. I think.
The #MeToo movement has helped tremendously. No more slimy innuendos from men. No more inappropriate comments. Or rather, I encounter less of them now. And when I do, I feel more confident. More justified in feeling creeped out and disgusted. I’m just a little more emboldened to say something like, “Does your wife know you’re talking to me / saying these things to me?” or “You’re making me uncomfortable.” Okay, now that I think about it, I’m not sure I’ve had the nerve to actually say that in the moment. But I have written it – In an email or in a text.
Fast forward and I decide to finally visit Italy. A country where people have largely responded to #MeToo “with scorn and skeptism.”[i] No problem. As friends would say, if anyone can fend for themselves, it’s me. I’m direct. (remember?)
Except that I’m not. Not as much as I’d like to be. Not when it comes to me.
I have zero problem standing up for another person. When I hear something inappropriate being said, or see something wrong happening, I quickly jump in. My mouth engages before consulting my brain. I’ve interrupted and diffused many a potentially violent situation. But standing up for myself is something altogether different.
I don’t know if I was culturally trained not to hurt people’s feelings, if it’s a woman thing, if it has something to do with my father, or if I’m just overly sensitive to not wanting others to feel bad. But my entire life I’ve had men make sexual innuendos to me and instead of telling them to stop, I’ve just tried to ignore it. My first memories begin at age ten. A family friend, a music teacher, bosses, clients, guys that I thought were my friends and, of course, countless random men. Then, in graduate school, I was sexually harassed for almost three years by a woman older than me. And like all the times before, I couldn’t find the words to stay stop. To firmly declare, “You’re out of line.” Instead, I tried to brush it off, to laugh, maybe shake my head, but always still smile.
So here I am in Italy. Just being me. I’m smiling at strangers. And strangers are smiling back. No problem. Or so I thought.
The only time during my entire trip that I’ve actually engaged with a group of people was at a small gathering for folks who travel. We met in a restaurant in Rome. Most were local Italians. I spoke to a man from Naples, a man from Sicily, a man from Calabria, two men from Puglia. This is fantastic! All places I want to visit. And then there is one man, I can’t remember where he is from, but he has visited the States a few times. A day or two later, I notice he is following me on Instagram. And then the message, “You have sexy feet.” Or maybe he said cute feet, I can’t remember. In my disgust, I deleted it. Now to be clear, only 18% of all my posts on Instagram have photos of me and one of those is my feet. That’s the one he comments on. Really?
So I didn’t respond. I ignored it. I heard nothing more. Until several crazy days later after I’ve settled in Sicily and post a photo of me resting in the sun by the water with the text, “Technically I shouldn’t be out here.” Then this guy writes, “Respect the country.” No personal message this time. No, “How are you?” No, “Glad you’ve made it to a safe place.” Nothing but a very direct and public “Respect the country.” It felt like a scolding. This guy, whom I don’t even really know and who had the nerve to comment on my feet, scolds me for resting in the sun.
I was mad. I wrote him back. I tried to explain. I wrote my blog. And in the end, the truth is, he was right. Lockdown means lockdown. Giving the impression that I am on holiday, breaking the law, doing whatever I wish, was wrong. Bad form. But ultimately that isn’t what upset me.
You want to know why I was mad? What really got under my skin? He was able to be direct. To just say what needed to be said, without any consideration of niceties. He did what I should have done when he mentioned my feet. But I was cowardly. I ignored him. And when the time came for him to ignore me, to just brush off my behavior, he didn’t. He called me out. And he did it without any concern for my feelings.
Meanwhile, I texted another Italian I know – the fellow who hosted the gathering of travelers. I asked for his advice. He told me: “You are too nice. Don’t smile at men until you can trust them. In Italy, it’s okay for a woman to be rude.”
Well there you go. I need to stop worrying about men being sensitive to me being direct.
Add that to the list of blessings and lessons learned during #AmericanInItalyDuringCoronavirus.
[i] See NPR’s article from 18 January 2018 (as just one example) https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2018/01/18/578562334/in-italy-metoo-falters-amid-public-scorn?t=1584284623265
Following the law / Italy during the Coronovirus
According to Italian law, enacted on the 9th of March, 2020, you are no longer allowed to leave your dwelling, to go out, stroll the streets. No gathering in parks, no chatting with neighbors on street corners or at the local bar (for coffee). Lockdown means lockdown. This is why the recent videos of residents singing from their balconies is going viral. Humans will always find a way to connect. Our spirits are always lifted when we realize we’re not alone.
When you do leave your home, you must fill out the appropriate form and carry it with you, in case you are stopped by the police. The form includes your name, date of birth, where you live, and your telephone number. It states that you are “aware of the criminal consequences in the case of false declarations…” and provides four acceptable reasons for not being at home:
- Going to work (for those that are still working)
- Situations of necessity, which includes buying groceries. Only food and drug stores are allowed open under the current law. All restaurants are closed.
- Health reasons, identified later on the form as “taking a medical examination.”
- Returning to your home
You then must sign, date, and time the form. And, if stopped by police, the policeman will sign it as well.
I returned my rental car within 36 hours after this law went into effect. Clearly, my hopes of driving around nearby towns would not come to fruition. No last-minute drive to Marsala to stock up on wine. There would be no sight-seeing for the foreseeable future. No reason to have a car.
I didn’t have the form on me when I arrived at the Palermo airport. The Avis employees were shocked. Finally, they provided me a blank one and insisted I fill it out before heading “home.” Less than twenty people at the airport. Only two other people were on the train, plus the conductor.
The only people I see out on the streets are those walking their dogs. Plus a few others walking along the dock or beach for exercise. (I think this must apply under either health reasons or situations of necessity.)
Yesterday, after reading about Americans stocking up on toilet paper and hand sanitizer, I decided it was probably a good idea to get more rations, just in case further restrictions were imposed. Ok, honestly, there was also a very tiny fear that Italians might start acting like crazy Americans and begin hoarding / clearing off shelves. Plus, I had run out of cheese, salami, and olives. I was definitely going to need more food!
I left my apartment at 8:30 Saturday morning. An easy stroll down narrow streets in the early sunshine. About ten blocks past laundry already hanging from balconies to a more commercial street with closed restaurants and a few stores. When I reached the butcher (which I hadn’t seen previously), I discovered one person inside and one car on the street waiting. Under the new restrictions, only one person is allowed in a store at a time. Others wait in a line outside for their turn. Lucky for me, the car was waiting for the woman inside. When it was my turn, all I bought was cheese and eggs. Lots of cheese. I tried to give the butcher my re-usable shopping bag that I had brought from home and he panicked. “No! No!” he said as my bag touched the top of the glass case. I froze and apologized. “Mi dispiace,” I said. I’m sorry. To which he responded, “Va bene. Ma polizia, la polizia.” It’s okay, but the police, the police. What did he mean? My Italian is too poor for me to understand or to ask for clarification.
My next stop was one door over for more vegetables and more fresh basil. The old woman who runs the shop was clearly surprised to see me again. Her eyebrows raised over her face mask and she nodded. Next door the bakery was open! Yay!! Gluten be damned, I wasn’t going to miss this chance to stock up on baked goods. First, I bought three croissants and then I just started pointing at things. I filled an entire bag with cookies and croissants.
A few more blocks and I found the same grocery store I had previously visited, where I purchased more supplies: canned tuna, capers, tea, boxed wine, chocolate, and body lotion. This shop owner recognized me as well and was very friendly, even offering me a slice of cheese to taste before buying. Such a small gesture, one we not only take for granted but expect in the States. Here, it took me by surprised. I swear I could feel my heart expand and I fumbled to express a few thoughts in Italian, more than the standard “Grazie.”
In all, I saw maybe twelve people during my entire excursion. There was no one on the streets. Only two cars drove by. Everyone now wears gloves and a mask. Luckily, I have a few with me (the gloves I wash with soap and water when I return home, dry them, and reuse). It would be disrespectful to not wear these things, I think. Even if we are at safe distances, even if we’re told face masks don’t really work. I don’t want to be the rude foreigner perceived as spreading the disease.
Which is why I was so taken aback this morning when the only Italian I know who follows me on Instagram responded to my last post by writing, “Respect the country.”
The apartment where I am staying is in a small coastal town outside of Palermo. Normally, it is filled with tourists or Italians on holiday. The building has five apartments, all of which are empty, except mine. I have a balcony that looks out at the water. It is beautiful. I truly am fortunate to have landed here.
And, I am accustomed to exercise. To walking and dancing. Sunshine is beautiful through the windows. On the balcony, it comes with cool wind. I think the best thing would be to walk a bit along the water. Go see the boats docked below. I text my landlord (residing in Palermo) and he says okay. “Yes, exercise is important. Just don’t stay out too long, stay away from other people, and make sure to bring the completed form.”
So I do this. I walk down to the water. Not to the boats, but nearby to a stretch of rocks completely abandoned. I am alone to eat my oranges and listen to the waves. Eventually I lie down to feel the sun on my face.
It is this photo I take and post on Instagram. Me lying in the sun. With a note that says “I’m technically not supposed to be there, lockdown really does mean lockdown.”
And this morning I awake to the response, “Respect the country.”
This post is my response. This post is my way of sharing what things are really like here, apart from the great posts you see on social media of people singing from their balconies. Truly, I am so grateful to be here at this time. I intend to follow the law and stay put. I also intend to keep enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.
And keeping eating oranges.
Now if only I had a dog.
On Being Alone
13 March 2020
Adulting is hard. No doubt about it, There are absolutely days when being an adult can feel overwhelming. And yes, there are times when I wish I had someone – a partner – to help me make decisions.
This is not one of those times.
Just like most folks, there are days when I want to relinquish responsibility. I want someone else to just make the decision. Should I have bought insurance for this trip? Do I book this flight or that one? Do I argue with Avis about their astronomical and unprecedented high fee? Or what about AT&T screwing up my order, leaving me high and dry and then charging me anyway? Yeah, those kinds of things. But those times when I want someone else to take over only come when I am afraid. When the six-year-old inside me starts to panic, when I forget who I am, and the little girl takes over. And you know, when your inner child has the upper hand, that’s never the right time to want a partner. If we’re honest, what we want is a parent. But a parent as your life partner is never a good idea. That kind of relationship is bound to fail. It keeps you stuck as a kid and every kid eventually acts out or, at the very least, wants to grow up. So I’ve learned to allow my kid to express – and – I’ve learned that I’m the only one who can comfort her. Essentially, I parent myself. Which somehow seems easier than just being an adult. It’s easier to be strong and to make decisions because someone else needs you than it is just to do it for yourself. At least, that’s true for me.
So here I am in Sicily during a complete lockdown, and I do mean complete. Nothing is open. Only grocery stores and drug stores and gas stations. No bakeries. No restaurants. No hair salons or clothing stores or bars or schools. Where are all the people? Not on the streets. One on the beach, four on the pier, one or two walk by with their dogs, a few peep out from their homes to hang their laundry.
I’m no stranger to being alone. I’ve been single a long time. More than that. I lived by myself in a town of 65 people, twenty miles away from the county seat (in a county of only 21,000) for ten years. It was rare to have a visitor and entire days could go by without someone calling. Of course, there were my dogs…
Admittedly this is different. There is a certain eerie quality to this solitude. My Airbnb host left for Palermo the day after I arrived, saying he’d be back in three days. But then the Prime Minister ordered everything closed and papers are required to move from place to place. He feels unable to return. So I am alone in a building of five empty apartments, sequestered in this tiny coastal town that I never intended to visit and hadn’t even heard of until a few days ago.
In response to these circumstances a few friends have written, ever so kindly and with well-meaning, “I wish you weren’t alone.”
This has given me pause. I consider the alternatives. Do I wish someone else was physically here with me? A partner, a best friend, a sibling? No, not really. This was my choice. I didn’t know it would be quite like this, but I did know I was choosing to stay here, by myself, in a foreign country during a global health crisis. I’m responsible for that. And when my six-year-old starts to get scared, I comfort her. Mostly, at least during the daylight, we just enjoy the silence and find exploring our surroundings to be a curiosity and small adventure.
But here’s the real surprise: I’m not alone. I thought I would be. A part of me even wanted to be (see my first post). But, unexpectedly, I’m not. There are well over one hundred of you now that have reached out. You’ve liked my posts, replied with encouragement or messaged me. You are thinking of me, holding me in prayer, sending me love and light. Some of you I’ve known for more than half my life, others for only a few days. It really is quite overwhelming to feel this much love. Not the normal Facebook likes that can feel so superficial, but genuine, heartfelt, honest love. I can feel it. Truly. All of it. Your love washes over me, wraps around me, and pierces my heart.
I hope you can feel my love in return. Meeting you in an embrace that isn’t cut short by awkwardness or social norms. A long embrace. A focused, ten-second embrace that ripples through every cell of our bodies and boosts the immune system. Each time I hear from you, I allow myself to feel this. I take it all in. Against the laws of geographical distance I hold each of you, independently, with so much gratitude.
You are with me. Your presence provides a safe container for my fears and amplifies my joys. And really. I don’t need anything more than this. This is everything.
Well, okay, this and maybe a dog.
Ok, definitely a dog.
But as long as I have you, right now, I’m good.
The beginning
10 March 2020
It was never my intention to stay in touch. Six weeks in Italy and I wanted to disconnect, to fully immerse myself in this place where I had never been. I wanted to discover new things, things I had read about, things which I had a sense or feeling for but couldn’t explain, couldn’t yet articulate.
Everyone who knows me well understood. I have always been this way. In years past, when I returned from a trip abroad, it would take some time for me to reengage. Always struggling with the excitement of those who greeted me, wanting to hear everything, to share my stories, to show my photos. I needed silence for a bit—sometimes even days—before I could return to my animated self. Of course, this was all before cell phones and internet, and video chat was only something used on The Jetsons. My last big trip abroad was to Ethiopia in 2011 for four weeks. I sent a few emails to folks states-side, updating them on the nonprofit work in which I was engaged, but photos and Facebook? I grimaced at the thought of it. And this time I had all but given up Facebook a few months ago. But then the coronavirus hit.
At the end of February, just days away from my departure, the questions began: Are you still going? The question seemed ridiculous. Of course, I was still going. From the very beginning, seven months prior, I was pretty clear that I would only travel in the south (with one small exception to the southern part of Umbria for maybe two days). Yes, there is so much beauty and history to see up north. And that would have to wait. This trip wasn’t about the art. This trip was about really being in Italy. Not always on the go, skimming the surface, seeing as much as I could. Instead, I wanted to really get a feel for the place. And hopefully, have time to write. Besides, the coronavirus was up north. How wise I was (thought I, rather smugly) that my travel plans had never included the north.
In the last two weeks before departure I was almost out of my skin ready to go. This time, exactly at this time, was when I needed to be there. I knew that somehow. Rationally, I figured March and April would be off-season for tourists and the weather would be pretty good. And theoretically it would give me time to prepare: to research, save money, and learn the language (the latter of which I did not do, alas.) More than that, I just had a feeling. Now, I would call it intuition. But earlier, it was just a sense. So when I lost my job in October and several friends suggested I go to Italy then, I declined. It wasn’t the right time.
And then came the coronavirus. And Italy became the third highest rate of infection around the globe. And still I came. My only concession was this: I would use WhatsApp to stay in touch with my family and closest friends and I would post a little on Facebook. And ok, for those who used neither, I would even send an email or two to assure I was okay. And then the day before I left, (a lot of ‘and’s to this process!) I acquiesced a bit more: I contacted AT&T to set up International Passport plan that allowed for unlimited texting. But AT&T failed me as soon as I reached Toronto, so I purchased a TIM card immediately upon landing in Rome. I thought I had my bases covered. I thought all of this was not that big of a deal.
I was wrong. At least about the virus. Six days in Italy and everything moved so quickly. By the morning of the seventh day, everything would be different. Very, very, different.
The World Needs Your Courage
The truth is, today I am a bit raw. Fatigued. Slept 10 hours. I know I will need several days to recalibrate and adjust. I am grateful – always grateful – and, yes, this is not what I expected for this trip. Today the tears come. Tears which are the luxury of safety. The adrenaline of the past few days, alone in a new country where I don’t speak the language, only me to rely on to make decisions and make them quickly, simply doing what I always do: stay positive & get the job done. I did. Now I’m here. And now the tears come.
I’ve been accused so many times in my life of not showing my vulnerability. Fair judgement – it’s true. I’m also told repeatedly that I’m courageous. Which I don’t feel – I’m just being me. The real courage, in my case, is being authentic with all of you. Not seeing your faces, speaking 1:1 –b/c then, as you know, I am always forthcoming, honest, authentic. But to write to you this way, in this medium – this is challenging for me. Very challenging. Wrestling with self-doubt and other various monsters. This, for me, takes courage.
Your responses touch me. I am more grateful than you can possibly know. Thank you. And so it is with your encouragement -and with a good amount of trepidation- that today I stick my toes into the big sea possibility of writing a blog… (and if you have any ideas for a name, let me know) While researching how to do this, and googling possible versions of my name, I found this and it took me by surprise. (Didn’t realize it had been uploaded to the ether of the internet.) I’m always uncomfortable hearing my voice – (and please, my Jungian friends, let’s not discuss right now what that means psychologically!) But I went ahead and listened to this and damn if it didn’t hit home. Me today needed to hear these words from me a few weeks ago.
So the truth is, friends, I don’t have any of this figured out. Really, none of us ever do. The best we’ve got is following our inner compass, stumbling along in our vulnerability, dwelling in possibility, choosing love over fear. Thank you for joining me on this journey. Thank you for helping me be courageous.
Oh, and if you do listen to the link, the song prior to my talk was “Let Me Fall” from Cirque du Soleil’s “Quidam” show. See below for the YouTube video that was used in the service. It’s amazing.
Jan Peppler HOME 