Female Conference Attendee: “Where’s the cook? This food is amazing, and I want to give my regards to the cook.”
Me: “That’s great to hear – if you wait a moment, I’ll get him out of the back.”
(I return with the cook.)
Me: “This is ****, and he is our head cook.”
Attendee: *looking behind the head cook* “No, seriously – where’s the cook? I need to talk with her.”
Cook: “Ma’am, I am the cook. How can I help you?”
Attendee: *looking askance* “You are NOT the cook. You cannot BE the cook. The food here is so wonderful, so full of love – it MUST be cooked by a woman.”
Cook: “All right, you caught us. The real cook has her day off today. We’ll thank her when she gets back tomorrow.”
Attendee: “Yes, you will.” *muttering as she walks away* “Men who cook…sheesh.”
****
I went out again on Saturday. This time I didn't have to be dressed up by someone else, but took the initiative into my own hands and bought a shiny top.
Again I went over to Fernanda's house for dinner and to get dressed. This time was much less chaotic, as not only did I get there all by myself (I even remembered the street!) but it was apparent that my Italian has improved because I was able to follow a lot more that was happening linguistically speaking. Hooray for tangible improvements!
Just like last time some old guy with a car picked us up (it was a mercedes). The club ended up being really close to my house (for once, something nearby me!) and I was the only one who had ever heard of the street, so I was the one giving directions, ironically. Of course I thought it was a different street than it actually was, which meant that my directions ended up being wrong, but it was okay because this being Italy, when we got to the door it was still closed. Things start very late here.
While waiting for the club to open we ran into the people we were supposed to meet (three men--are we sensing a theme here?). They were very cordial and we started having a great conversation about South Park, Florentine offal sandwiches (yum!), and Obama (everyone wants to talk about Obama here).
Even though we were in Italy, Halloween was still an event. It seemed like guys liked to wear the pointed hats, while women were dressed up mostly in angel and devil costumes, though I saw some other outfits on occasion. However it was definitely a very small majority of people who had dressed up for the event. I considered the fact that I had put on eyeliner costume enough.
At the club we had gotten a table reserved, which meant that we had to pay a lot more. However Fernanda explained that that was what the guys were for. She was very adamant about that part, and even when it came time to leave and they were short a little bit, she made it seem like us ladies were not supposed to contribute. I contributed anyway.
Just like last time, the music started out really fun (the Black Eyed Peas song is really really popular right now, hence the title. Also some song that I have started to identify as the "Ba da dah dah dah" song, because those are the majority of the lyrics, but its such a great melody that everyone sings along, and it suits drunken voices rather well. It may or may not be in Spanish. If I discover what it is, I'll let you know) and as the night went on the melodies went away and the music became very repetitive and rather boring. Its really sort of odd that the music gets so much work every night, though it seems like other people don't mind the degeneration and actually seem to like it. Philistines. In this picture is Maya, Fernanda, and me, in that order. Maya is Fernanda's roommate.
Of the guys we were with, one I hardly talked to, one talked to me too much and too obnoxiously, and one asked me for translations of the lyrics of many songs. The one who was obnoxious was not just obnoxious in speech, but as the night went on he was obnoxious in conduct as well. It is not appropriate to grab someone's head in your hands when dancing, and never should you shove a hand in someone's face. I started faking being tired so that he could stop harassing me. If he wasn't Fernanda's friend I would have been much more rude. Here's your mug shot for anyone who ever finds themselves in a Florentine club. Note the closeness of him shoving into me.
I think these experiences are really anthropological in many ways. While I enjoy going out for about an hour, after that hour I'm really ready to leave as I'm hot, tired, and usually the music has taken a turn for the worse. But its interesting to watch everything happening, and to attempt conversations with people, at least until your throat gets sore from shouting. I'm definitely a prop for the girls when we go out, their american friend to use as a shield from ex boyfriends (as Maya did), or as an excuse to take a ridiculous number of photos of herself (as Fernanda did). But I honestly do enjoy myself, even if I don't enjoy everything about the experience. And this time I got to go home to sleep in my own bed!
Me: “That’s great to hear – if you wait a moment, I’ll get him out of the back.”
(I return with the cook.)
Me: “This is ****, and he is our head cook.”
Attendee: *looking behind the head cook* “No, seriously – where’s the cook? I need to talk with her.”
Cook: “Ma’am, I am the cook. How can I help you?”
Attendee: *looking askance* “You are NOT the cook. You cannot BE the cook. The food here is so wonderful, so full of love – it MUST be cooked by a woman.”
Cook: “All right, you caught us. The real cook has her day off today. We’ll thank her when she gets back tomorrow.”
Attendee: “Yes, you will.” *muttering as she walks away* “Men who cook…sheesh.”
****
I went out again on Saturday. This time I didn't have to be dressed up by someone else, but took the initiative into my own hands and bought a shiny top.
Again I went over to Fernanda's house for dinner and to get dressed. This time was much less chaotic, as not only did I get there all by myself (I even remembered the street!) but it was apparent that my Italian has improved because I was able to follow a lot more that was happening linguistically speaking. Hooray for tangible improvements!
Just like last time some old guy with a car picked us up (it was a mercedes). The club ended up being really close to my house (for once, something nearby me!) and I was the only one who had ever heard of the street, so I was the one giving directions, ironically. Of course I thought it was a different street than it actually was, which meant that my directions ended up being wrong, but it was okay because this being Italy, when we got to the door it was still closed. Things start very late here.
While waiting for the club to open we ran into the people we were supposed to meet (three men--are we sensing a theme here?). They were very cordial and we started having a great conversation about South Park, Florentine offal sandwiches (yum!), and Obama (everyone wants to talk about Obama here).
Even though we were in Italy, Halloween was still an event. It seemed like guys liked to wear the pointed hats, while women were dressed up mostly in angel and devil costumes, though I saw some other outfits on occasion. However it was definitely a very small majority of people who had dressed up for the event. I considered the fact that I had put on eyeliner costume enough.
At the club we had gotten a table reserved, which meant that we had to pay a lot more. However Fernanda explained that that was what the guys were for. She was very adamant about that part, and even when it came time to leave and they were short a little bit, she made it seem like us ladies were not supposed to contribute. I contributed anyway.
Just like last time, the music started out really fun (the Black Eyed Peas song is really really popular right now, hence the title. Also some song that I have started to identify as the "Ba da dah dah dah" song, because those are the majority of the lyrics, but its such a great melody that everyone sings along, and it suits drunken voices rather well. It may or may not be in Spanish. If I discover what it is, I'll let you know) and as the night went on the melodies went away and the music became very repetitive and rather boring. Its really sort of odd that the music gets so much work every night, though it seems like other people don't mind the degeneration and actually seem to like it. Philistines. In this picture is Maya, Fernanda, and me, in that order. Maya is Fernanda's roommate. 
Of the guys we were with, one I hardly talked to, one talked to me too much and too obnoxiously, and one asked me for translations of the lyrics of many songs. The one who was obnoxious was not just obnoxious in speech, but as the night went on he was obnoxious in conduct as well. It is not appropriate to grab someone's head in your hands when dancing, and never should you shove a hand in someone's face. I started faking being tired so that he could stop harassing me. If he wasn't Fernanda's friend I would have been much more rude. Here's your mug shot for anyone who ever finds themselves in a Florentine club. Note the closeness of him shoving into me.
I think these experiences are really anthropological in many ways. While I enjoy going out for about an hour, after that hour I'm really ready to leave as I'm hot, tired, and usually the music has taken a turn for the worse. But its interesting to watch everything happening, and to attempt conversations with people, at least until your throat gets sore from shouting. I'm definitely a prop for the girls when we go out, their american friend to use as a shield from ex boyfriends (as Maya did), or as an excuse to take a ridiculous number of photos of herself (as Fernanda did). But I honestly do enjoy myself, even if I don't enjoy everything about the experience. And this time I got to go home to sleep in my own bed!
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