Comments on: Dodging the Draft and other Southern Italian Myths http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/ Living and Traveling in Calabria, Italy Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:49:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Fran http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-19315 Fran Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:08:43 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-19315 I found your article slightly offensive. Firstly I quite agree with Pat, there is a reason why certain people believe in certain things and that should be respected. Particularly as the reasons are usually linked to poverty and not great living conditions of the past. Secondly, although IT IS an exageration that one would die, some things ARE very true. Such as the cold water during the digestion process. Whilst it is true that if you have a small meal nothing bad happens if you go swimming, you must remember that 'southern' Italians rarely do 'small' meals. You will find several articles and research that tells you about how drinking cold water (for example) after having eaten meat, fish, poultry, cheese, slows down the digestive process. Food that has not yet been digested properly is pushed out of the stomach into the small intestine where it can no longer be processed as it should and therefore starts fermenting/putrefying thus causing bloating, diahorrea, upset stomach due to a number of toxic chemicals being produced. As you can see there is an element of truth there, and I've only just given you 1 example. Perhaps do you research better prior to ridiculising other cultures as no doubt each and every culture in the world has its 'stupid beliefs' but that doesn't give us the right to publicly laugh at them. Regards Fran I found your article slightly offensive. Firstly I quite agree with Pat, there is a reason why certain people believe in certain things and that should be respected. Particularly as the reasons are usually linked to poverty and not great living conditions of the past.
Secondly, although IT IS an exageration that one would die, some things ARE very true. Such as the cold water during the digestion process. Whilst it is true that if you have a small meal nothing bad happens if you go swimming, you must remember that ‘southern’ Italians rarely do ‘small’ meals. You will find several articles and research that tells you about how drinking cold water (for example) after having eaten meat, fish, poultry, cheese, slows down the digestive process. Food that has not yet been digested properly is pushed out of the stomach into the small intestine where it can no longer be processed as it should and therefore starts fermenting/putrefying thus causing bloating, diahorrea, upset stomach due to a number of toxic chemicals being produced.
As you can see there is an element of truth there, and I’ve only just given you 1 example.
Perhaps do you research better prior to ridiculising other cultures as no doubt each and every culture in the world has its ‘stupid beliefs’ but that doesn’t give us the right to publicly laugh at them.
Regards
Fran

]]> By: chris http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-17820 chris Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:00:13 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-17820 WAIT.i honestly believed the gum thing until right now, im 31,,,,are you serious? i just never researched this and always believed it.hahahaha MINCHIAAAAAAAAAAA! thanks ma!!!!!! WAIT.i honestly believed the gum thing until right now, im 31,,,,are you serious? i just never researched this and always believed it.hahahaha MINCHIAAAAAAAAAAA! thanks ma!!!!!!

]]> By: ciao http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-17735 ciao Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:21:45 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-17735 I never make bath unless I wait almost two hours or I will sure die. Everyone in Italia knows it, look how many people make sea bath at 4 o'clock, it's when the digestion of lunch is over! Before that time the sea is empty! I give you another one: NEVER NEVER EAT ORANGES OR CLEMENTINE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEY GIVE YOU ACID AND THEY MAKE YOU SICK!They are really good at every time of the day but not before you go to bed... I ate one clementina before sleep and soon after my stomach hurted a lot and I rushed to the bathroom and I leave the rest to your imagination... I never make bath unless I wait almost two hours or I will sure die. Everyone in Italia knows it, look how many people make sea bath at 4 o’clock, it’s when the digestion of lunch is over! Before that time the sea is empty! I give you another one: NEVER NEVER EAT ORANGES OR CLEMENTINE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THEY GIVE YOU ACID AND THEY MAKE YOU SICK!They are really good at every time of the day but not before you go to bed… I ate one clementina before sleep and soon after my stomach hurted a lot and I rushed to the bathroom and I leave the rest to your imagination…

]]> By: Laurel Conran http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-17522 Laurel Conran Fri, 18 Mar 2011 23:10:12 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-17522 Thanks for these insights! After hosting 4 Italian exchange students, they taught me many of these "warnings" as you mentioned. However, I find many to be true!!!! What you say about the water and A/C is very true! mmmm...I think the Italians are on to something! baci! Thanks for these insights! After hosting 4 Italian exchange students, they taught me many of these “warnings” as you mentioned. However, I find many to be true!!!! What you say about the water and A/C is very true! mmmm…I think the Italians are on to something! baci!

]]> By: Patrice http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-12483 Patrice Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:25:26 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-12483 I can't resist this one, since my house is like old wives' tales gone wild. 1) A pregnant woman must never, EVER, reach her arms above her head. This will result in the child getting entangled in its umbilical cord, and it will be all mom's fault. I've been fighting with my mother all these years about this one, until my third child decided to be completely wrapped in the dern thing. 2)Never put shoes on the table. This has nothing to do with hygiene. It is a sure sign of impending death or illness (maybe because of the microbes on the table?). 3) If a pregant woman has a craving, the child will have a birthmark on its body unless mom-to-be is indulged. Usually this mark is in the form of the thing desired, so be careful what you wish for. 4) The foot of the bed should never face the door of the room (because, of course, you will be going out feet first). I don't play around with this one--all of our beds face away from the doors. I can't help myself. <strong><em>Oh dear, I've never head the hands over your shoulders thing. Gulp. </em></strong> I can’t resist this one, since my house is like old wives’ tales gone wild. 1) A pregnant woman must never, EVER, reach her arms above her head. This will result in the child getting entangled in its umbilical cord, and it will be all mom’s fault. I’ve been fighting with my mother all these years about this one, until my third child decided to be completely wrapped in the dern thing. 2)Never put shoes on the table. This has nothing to do with hygiene. It is a sure sign of impending death or illness (maybe because of the microbes on the table?). 3) If a pregant woman has a craving, the child will have a birthmark on its body unless mom-to-be is indulged. Usually this mark is in the form of the thing desired, so be careful what you wish for. 4) The foot of the bed should never face the door of the room (because, of course, you will be going out feet first). I don’t play around with this one–all of our beds face away from the doors. I can’t help myself.

Oh dear, I’ve never head the hands over your shoulders thing. Gulp.

]]> By: Lucia http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-11938 Lucia Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:35:45 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-11938 I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often. Lucia <a href="http://www.modernfurniture4home.com" rel="nofollow">Italian bed</a> <strong><em>Thank you.</em></strong> I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Lucia
Italian bed

Thank you.

]]> By: OrangePolkaDot http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-11930 OrangePolkaDot Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:19:07 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-11930 My husband, Argentine of Southern Italian descent, swears that you cannot go swimming for 2 hours after eating. His mom made him and his brother wait 2 hours after they ate before swimming because you could die or stop digestion. I told him, I think your mom wanted a siesta! Two hours seems a bit extreme. <strong><em>Ha! So funny. My husband believes that one, too!</em></strong> .-= OrangePolkaDot´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OrangePolkaDot/~3/Grk-aSqCvuk/barcelona-festivals-sa-pobla-in-gracia.html" rel="nofollow">Barcelona Festivals: Sa Pobla in Gràcia</a> =-. My husband, Argentine of Southern Italian descent, swears that you cannot go swimming for 2 hours after eating. His mom made him and his brother wait 2 hours after they ate before swimming because you could die or stop digestion. I told him, I think your mom wanted a siesta! Two hours seems a bit extreme.

Ha! So funny. My husband believes that one, too!

.-= OrangePolkaDot´s last blog ..Barcelona Festivals: Sa Pobla in Gràcia =-.

]]> By: Katja http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-11916 Katja Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:05:14 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-11916 I have to say I'm with the Italians on air-con and iced water. As a one-time professional singer, I don't ever drink really cold water, as it makes my throat close up. (Also, it hurts my teeth, but that's by the by!) I'm the girl who fishes ice cubes out of my drinks in restaurants - can't bear the things unless they're in a G&T, in which case all bets are off. ;) Air-con just seems to dry me out. My skin gets itchy and my throat gets, if not sore, definitely dry and parched. Of course, I haven't yet done a summer here, so I'll wait to see how I do without it in June hehehe. <strong><em>Oh it gets hot down here, trust me. Strangely enough, though, I have a hard time sleeping with the AC on now when I am in the US. Mah!</em></strong> .-= Katja´s last blog ..<a href="http://drivinglikeamaniac.blogspot.com/2010/01/hear-no-evil.html" rel="nofollow">Hear no evil</a> =-. I have to say I’m with the Italians on air-con and iced water. As a one-time professional singer, I don’t ever drink really cold water, as it makes my throat close up. (Also, it hurts my teeth, but that’s by the by!) I’m the girl who fishes ice cubes out of my drinks in restaurants – can’t bear the things unless they’re in a G&T, in which case all bets are off. ;)

Air-con just seems to dry me out. My skin gets itchy and my throat gets, if not sore, definitely dry and parched. Of course, I haven’t yet done a summer here, so I’ll wait to see how I do without it in June hehehe.

Oh it gets hot down here, trust me. Strangely enough, though, I have a hard time sleeping with the AC on now when I am in the US. Mah!

.-= Katja´s last blog ..Hear no evil =-.

]]> By: Pat http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-11879 Pat Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:30:15 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-11879 Here we go again, this is like the expat mantra for you people...it must be that time of year again..anyway I understand this, my grandmother would chase me down the stairs to the door with a towel screaming that I would die from pneumonia in the cold with my wet head, true story...anyway, you people are very unfair to them. My grandmother's aunt buried four children, all under seven years of age, including her only daughter, from pneumonia in the 1920's, because their house was literally too cold. The kids caught pneumonia and died because there were no antibiotics at that time...my grandmother's aunt died in her 40's, and her sister always said that each child she buried took a decade off of her life in heartbreak...my great aunt and great uncle almost died as toddlers from pneumonia as well in the 1910's...the doctor said the cause was the constant cold and damp of the house in winter...my great grandmother could afford to move, they did and the kids lived. Pneumonia could be a death sentence in those days. There's a historical memory in those people and those places that deserves our respect. <strong><em>Oh, Pat, I don't think you are being fair to "us people," either. Many of the things Italians believe are very different from what medicine and science teach us as truths today. I am sure there are cases in the US that are similar to your great grandmother's and people from that generation in the US would no doubt (have) agreed with the Italians. It is not a disrespect thing, more of a mystery to me why the new generation still believe it. </em></strong> Here we go again, this is like the expat mantra for you people…it must be that time of year again..anyway I understand this, my grandmother would chase me down the stairs to the door with a towel screaming that I would die from pneumonia in the cold with my wet head, true story…anyway, you people are very unfair to them. My grandmother’s aunt buried four children, all under seven years of age, including her only daughter, from pneumonia in the 1920′s, because their house was literally too cold. The kids caught pneumonia and died because there were no antibiotics at that time…my grandmother’s aunt died in her 40′s, and her sister always said that each child she buried took a decade off of her life in heartbreak…my great aunt and great uncle almost died as toddlers from pneumonia as well in the 1910′s…the doctor said the cause was the constant cold and damp of the house in winter…my great grandmother could afford to move, they did and the kids lived. Pneumonia could be a death sentence in those days. There’s a historical memory in those people and those places that deserves our respect.

Oh, Pat, I don’t think you are being fair to “us people,” either. Many of the things Italians believe are very different from what medicine and science teach us as truths today. I am sure there are cases in the US that are similar to your great grandmother’s and people from that generation in the US would no doubt (have) agreed with the Italians. It is not a disrespect thing, more of a mystery to me why the new generation still believe it.

]]> By: JA Getzlaff http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-11873 JA Getzlaff Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:34:36 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-11873 Just after I moved to France, I acquired a terrible sinus infection and everyone kept scolding me for not wearing a scarf. And by everyone, I don't just mean the French — every European in my French classes blamed my sickness on my lack of scarf. Also, whenever the wind blew my fellow students would scoot their chairs away from the window; never mind that the window was closed, or that it was 65 degrees outside. Some wives tales, I think, are Continental. Although I must admit that, having been here a while, I now tend to agree with them. And I never liked air conditioning or ice cubes much anyway ... <strong><em>Ha, isn't that funny how they can rub off on you. I wrote a post a few months ago about how I'm coming around to some of these, too! ha</em></strong> .-= JA Getzlaff´s last blog ..<a href="http://foreignparts.typepad.com/foreign_parts/2010/01/%C3%A0-d%C3%A9tester-les-soldes-dhiver.html" rel="nofollow">À DÉTESTER: Les Soldes</a> =-. Just after I moved to France, I acquired a terrible sinus infection and everyone kept scolding me for not wearing a scarf. And by everyone, I don’t just mean the French — every European in my French classes blamed my sickness on my lack of scarf. Also, whenever the wind blew my fellow students would scoot their chairs away from the window; never mind that the window was closed, or that it was 65 degrees outside. Some wives tales, I think, are Continental. Although I must admit that, having been here a while, I now tend to agree with them. And I never liked air conditioning or ice cubes much anyway …

Ha, isn’t that funny how they can rub off on you. I wrote a post a few months ago about how I’m coming around to some of these, too! ha

.-= JA Getzlaff´s last blog ..À DÉTESTER: Les Soldes =-.

]]> By: Debra http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-11859 Debra Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:46:17 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-11859 What about getting "cold on your stomach"? If you eat a meal and don't cover your stomach with several layers of sweaters before going out, it will halt your digestion and, of course, you will die! <strong><em>Oh noooo, I haven't heard this one. I'll be careful!</em></strong> What about getting “cold on your stomach”? If you eat a meal and don’t cover your stomach with several layers of sweaters before going out, it will halt your digestion and, of course, you will die!

Oh noooo, I haven’t heard this one. I’ll be careful!

]]> By: Diana http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-11858 Diana Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:16:22 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-11858 I have to admit that I have always hated drafts. I never thought they would make me sick, but I "just don't like air blowing on me". So I guess I'll fit right in. <strong><em>Funny, I never did, either. Not that I was scared, though! I promise.</em></strong> I have to admit that I have always hated drafts. I never thought they would make me sick, but I “just don’t like air blowing on me”. So I guess I’ll fit right in.

Funny, I never did, either. Not that I was scared, though! I promise.

]]> By: amber http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-11857 amber Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:41:28 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-11857 It's just as bad in Tuscany, my friend. My MIL supposedly got pnemonia from Air conditioning on a trip to Bologna. It couldn't possibly have started from the cold/flu that she had and didn't take care of! Of course not! It's the cross breeze (corrente) for us here. If G-d fordbid there is more than one window open in the house we have to put on our winter coats! And I have to listen to them yell at me for not protecting my son! I always joke with them and say, don't worry. We're American and immune to (whatever it is that I am getting yelled at for at that moment.) <strong><em>Oh that is funny. I like your American immunity defense!</em></strong> It’s just as bad in Tuscany, my friend. My MIL supposedly got pnemonia from Air conditioning on a trip to Bologna. It couldn’t possibly have started from the cold/flu that she had and didn’t take care of! Of course not! It’s the cross breeze (corrente) for us here. If G-d fordbid there is more than one window open in the house we have to put on our winter coats! And I have to listen to them yell at me for not protecting my son!

I always joke with them and say, don’t worry. We’re American and immune to (whatever it is that I am getting yelled at for at that moment.)

Oh that is funny. I like your American immunity defense!

]]> By: jmisgro http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-11855 jmisgro Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:33:16 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-11855 All of those are true here in Sicily! My husband's family had a bird the first time they saw me go out in the cold (70 degree F) with wet hair. They cannot believe that I do not own a blow dryer....I was expecting to see one on Christmas Day. Thank God that didn't happen. Everyone here is cold...they are out in coats and hats and scarves and such. Most of the time we don't wear anything because it is not cold to us. Maybe it will be next year. Today we went to Ipercoop and I just had a on a short sleeve shirt. You should have seen teh looks i got! Great post! <strong><em>Oooh, you rebel you!</em></strong> All of those are true here in Sicily! My husband’s family had a bird the first time they saw me go out in the cold (70 degree F) with wet hair. They cannot believe that I do not own a blow dryer….I was expecting to see one on Christmas Day. Thank God that didn’t happen.
Everyone here is cold…they are out in coats and hats and scarves and such. Most of the time we don’t wear anything because it is not cold to us. Maybe it will be next year. Today we went to Ipercoop and I just had a on a short sleeve shirt. You should have seen teh looks i got!
Great post!

Oooh, you rebel you!

]]> By: mental mosaic » Blog Archive » Rebel without a Rhinovirus http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-3154 mental mosaic » Blog Archive » Rebel without a Rhinovirus Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:44:54 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-3154 [...] Fellow Naples-dwelling expat, Delina, knows firsthand how Italians feel about soaking wet hair, while Cherrye, over at her blog “My Bella Vita” explains these Italian attitudes in hilarious detail. [...] [...] Fellow Naples-dwelling expat, Delina, knows firsthand how Italians feel about soaking wet hair, while Cherrye, over at her blog “My Bella Vita” explains these Italian attitudes in hilarious detail. [...]

]]> By: proverbs31 http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-1491 proverbs31 Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:45:00 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-1491 LOL! Oh Zia M would NOT like me!! We Texas gals LIKE our air conditioning and ice water, yes? In fact there are days when even sweet iced tea is not good enough and I MUST have a tall glass of extremely cold ice water to quench my thirst! <br/>However, having said that, it IS true that if you get over-heated, you should not GULP cold water. You should sip it slowly. So it's not COMPLETELY crazy. IF you have heat exhaustion. ;) (Google "heat exhaustion do not gulp water.")<br/><br/>I got 80% on the quiz! I should have gone with my first instinct on the other two. :) LOL! Oh Zia M would NOT like me!! We Texas gals LIKE our air conditioning and ice water, yes? In fact there are days when even sweet iced tea is not good enough and I MUST have a tall glass of extremely cold ice water to quench my thirst!
However, having said that, it IS true that if you get over-heated, you should not GULP cold water. You should sip it slowly. So it’s not COMPLETELY crazy. IF you have heat exhaustion. ;) (Google “heat exhaustion do not gulp water.”)

I got 80% on the quiz! I should have gone with my first instinct on the other two. :)

]]> By: Cherrye http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-542 Cherrye Mon, 14 May 2007 08:32:00 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-542 NYC - you are lucky your mom told you the truth - my mom is the one who told me about not crossing my eyes! ha<br/><br/>Enza! Welcome and thanks for coming over. I bet you have even more wive's tales you could share.<br/><br/>Cheeky - Feel free to use said expression whenever you feel, well, plum pissy!!<br/><br/>Erin - I know, that is why I think we have to warn everyone else. Last night I went out with wet hair and Peppe's cousin said, "She is going to get a headache!" I just smiled!<br/><br/>Yours Truly - 80%? That is what I got, too...I was proud!<br/><br/>Susan D - thanks for stopping by. That toilet seat thing is an ugly idea...yuck yuck yuck!!! NYC – you are lucky your mom told you the truth – my mom is the one who told me about not crossing my eyes! ha

Enza! Welcome and thanks for coming over. I bet you have even more wive’s tales you could share.

Cheeky – Feel free to use said expression whenever you feel, well, plum pissy!!

Erin – I know, that is why I think we have to warn everyone else. Last night I went out with wet hair and Peppe’s cousin said, “She is going to get a headache!” I just smiled!

Yours Truly – 80%? That is what I got, too…I was proud!

Susan D – thanks for stopping by. That toilet seat thing is an ugly idea…yuck yuck yuck!!!

]]> By: susan d http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-527 susan d Sun, 13 May 2007 01:31:00 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-527 That was funny. Found your blog connected to Poppy Fields who popped up on ??? You know how it goes, you start linking to people through their comments on other's blogs.<br/>Got 90%.<br/>But I do know for a fact you can diseases (which ones??) from sitting directly on toilet seats. That's why they invented those rotating toilet seat covers in the airports. That was funny. Found your blog connected to Poppy Fields who popped up on ??? You know how it goes, you start linking to people through their comments on other’s blogs.
Got 90%.
But I do know for a fact you can diseases (which ones??) from sitting directly on toilet seats. That’s why they invented those rotating toilet seat covers in the airports.

]]> By: yours truly B http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-523 yours truly B Sat, 12 May 2007 17:30:00 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-523 I got 80% pretty good for the first time I got 80% pretty good for the first time

]]> By: Erin http://my-bellavita.com/2010/01/06/dodging-the-draft/comment-page-1/#comment-519 Erin Fri, 11 May 2007 16:17:00 +0000 http://my-bellavita.com/?p=87#comment-519 I can't believe there aren't dead bodies and sick people everywhere with all those warnings! That was so funny! It makes you wonder if some people just were not given their dose of common sense... I can’t believe there aren’t dead bodies and sick people everywhere with all those warnings! That was so funny! It makes you wonder if some people just were not given their dose of common sense…

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