Writings and Travels of Lina Em
3 January 2014
Another rainy and cloudy day hung over us like a sore thumb. I woke up late and quite miserable, wishing I were home. I hadn’t done any art work as I had wanted, my writing was stale, and my photographing halted by obligations. My vacation became less of a vacation. I try my best to be appreciative that someone paid for my trip. I never had to open my pocket for money. But it made me feel trapped and suffocated.
Continue reading “Tanti Auguri with Family Friends”
2 January 2014
If one pays attention, one will find Liguria is a region bustling with elderly. I had thought maybe all the young kids ran off for more successful career but instead, I found out that like Florida is the haven for elderly in the States, Liguria is the Florida of Italy. Its warm climate, year-round, mild temperature, humid when rainy, arid when sunny, its beautiful coast and still within the Italian country was the likely region for retirees to set up their last few years. Many elderly Italians I’ve met rarely know English or any other language, which I find odd considering this notion that Europeans speak more than one language.
Continue reading “Cloudy and Rainy visit to the Cemetery”
1 January 2014
In Italy, it is tradition to wear something red for New Years and of course, in the old days, you would toss something old out the window. Apparently, people started to throw out tv or VCR, causing many deaths outside so there is no more throwing out of the window.
I didn’t have anything to throw out that is old and useless unless I consider throwing out my job. But I didn’t really waking up thinking about my job, which I think is a good thing, considering how much I dread going back.
My boyfriend suggested going to the passeggiata a mare, which he told me is very beautiful. A passeggiata is the Italian word for promenade. Do you think they call a prom, shortened from promenade, a pass, shortened form of passeggiata?
Continue reading “Morning Seaside Walk in Nervi”
31 December 2013
Capodanno, which is New Years Eve in Italy, was relative quiet. However, I woke up starving. For an Asian girl like me, I’m never fully satisfied after a meal that isn’t rice. I was getting slightly homesick for congee and dried beef, papaya salad and fried chicken. Instead, lunch had been a light fare of boiled vegetables, salad, cured meat, and focaccia. Dinner had been an amazing homemade truffle risotto one night and an exceptional pepperoncino squid.
But what I would do for jasmine rice and fried egg with soy sauce. *sigh….
Continue reading “Quiet Capodanno and Buon Anno”