Lucky Seven & More

In just seven days I'll be aboard British Airways flight #### (never know what psychos read this) on my way home. One would think that I really can't stand living in Florence, given that I have been counting down the days until I go home for at least three weeks. I promise that's not the case! I just love seeing my family and friends, especially at Christmas. I also love the whole experience of flying. I look forward to sliding my toes into my comfy slippers, flipping through the movie channels, and of course, sleeping. :) It's also fun to stare and make up imaginary lives in my mind about fellow passengers, too. I admit this is a hobby of mine. :0

Tonight, C, TH and I are all going to out to eat. It seems like we haven't been out to eat at an Italian restaurant in forever. Lately when we've gone out to eat it's always been either Indian or Japanese. And since C is a chef, we do a lot of Italian at home. I'm really looking forward to checking out La Pentola d'Oro, one of Florence's best (supposedly) Tuscan cuisine restaurants. I'll let you know what I order on tomorrow's blog.

I had an interesting experience today at the Office of Immigration. I was supposed to pick up my very-much-anticipated permesso di soggiorno (permit of stay). It's what you have to apply for as a foreigner after you already have a visa in the first place. The whole process is absurd and frustrating because it takes forever to get one in the first place. For example, I applied for my permit of stay in January of this year and it is just now ready in DECEMBER. The government is more or less a year behind on these things. Not only that, but it expires in four weeks from now. So I will have what is worth a large piece of gold to most foreigners/immigrants for a total of four weeks before I have start the whole process over again in 2009. Ridic!

The only positive part of this experience is that every time I go to this office where I wait in line with hundreds of other immigrants and foreigners, I always leave with a a little more perspective on my life. Today I was keenly aware I was the only native English speaker as I waited in line with others from China, Somalia, Morocco, Chad, Sudan, Algeria....I realize that these people are fleeing something so much bigger than I could ever imagine. They are from war-torn and communist countries, trying to make a better life for themselves in Italy. This is their freedom. This is their chance to make it. They work in factories, clean people's homes, and do whatever else they can do get by here. My question is do they ever "make it?" It's so hard here for foreigners and the "system" doesn't make it any easier. Italy's battle with immigration is fairly new and they still have a long road ahead of them. There are still so many Italians who are scared of immigrants. It reminded me of the IHT article I read yesterday that discussed the immigration in Spain. Anyway, it makes me feel so lucky to be from the U.S and as cliche' as that sounds, I really do mean it. So many people escape so much more than I'll ever understand and it makes me feel so thankful to be where I'm from. :)

Okay, so going back to The Wait. In the flourecent light-filled room where everyone was waiting for their permit, someone had tacked a piece of paper on the wall that said "La wc non funziona. Questo e' una grande vergogna italiana." (The toilet doesn't work. This is a big Italian embarassment). It might seem like this person was exaggerating the fact that the one public toilet in the whole establishment was broken. But the meaning was deeper than that. I believe that the person who posted the sign was personally offended because it was as if someone spat in the face of The Immigrant. If The Official Government Building for Foreigners couldn't even have a working toilet, then what gives, Italy?