Friday, March 07, 2008

Identity

One of the housemates has an Irish heritage, that on one side, goes back to 1160 and on the other back to G-d, apparently!
So imagine her surprise when she received an invitation to join the local Anglo Italian Society.
The name does look and sound totally Italian but is ancient in Ireland.
The Irish got about a bit while they served in the British Army, even more so during The Famine.
It wouldn’t be beyond reason that a few ended up in Italy and Spain.

She was a bit miffed to discover that she had missed the monthly presentation,
“How to dress and present yourself - The Italian Way”.
We did wonder how much this would differ from the Irish Club presentation of the same thing.
We decided it came down to an age group and a look.
Those with a Headscarf, Rosary Beads, judgement in their eyes with optional Wellies are the same in both cultures.

For the younger generations:
Irish = Clothes that booze and food stains come out of in 1 wash.
Italian = A thousand ways to tie a Hermes scarf.

Trips:
Irish = 3 day debauched piss up in Dublin or 3 days on your knees at Knock/Lourdes/Fatima.
Italian = 7 day Food and Wine holiday in Puglia, Wine tasting in Umbria or 3 days in Rome/Lourdes/Fatima.

Raffle Prizes:
Irish = 1st A milk churn of Guinness
2nd Six Rashers
3rd Basket of Pot Pourri
Italian = 1st Five days Wine tasting in Tuscany
2nd A Parma Ham
3rd Italian Food Hamper.

I’m now sharing a house with someone practising an Italian accent at a Joe Dolce level and copying the hand movement as seen on ‘Football Italia’.
The real splitter was the letter was signed by some bloke with the surname,
‘ Mcavoi’.

A story that nearly slipped me by was about a Jewish School in London.
The students there refused to sit the English exam because they ‘could have’ studied The Merchant of Venice.
Their complaint was the negative racial stereotyping of Shylock.
I like to think that this was an intelligent protest.
I like to hope they are trying to point out that Shakespeare, by having knowledge of and writing about The French, Italians, Danes, Jews and Moors; may have lived in a quite a multi-cultural 16th century.
You never know.

I invented a new word this evening,
‘Fish Butcher’.
I was too stoned to pull Fishmonger from my memory.
I kind of like it better.
‘Monger’ sounds a bit yukky.

8 comments:

Schneewittchen said...

Yeah...but fishmongers are a bit...well, less than fragrant.

Shakespeare's women aren't always that liberated either, the trick is to see it for what it is.

My parents were always receiving begging letters from 'The Friends of Israel' on account of them being called Esther and David plus our surname.

Sassygril said...

Oooh, I would've been up for the Italian dressing thing. I'm sure there's a latin connection somewhere in my family mix. I would be particularly interested in the whole pop sox, tights, stockings thing.

But be careful with the hand gestures from Football Italia - that could be problematic and I would urge the use of a translator to avoid upset and punch ups.

Sleepy said...

Anathema = pop sox, tights, stocking thing.

They also offer proper cheap holidays to Italy!
Although, "Memories of Sicilia" might have been interesting, even if it was just for clocking the local Mafia!

Sassygril said...

Hmmm...memories of Sicilia sounds a bit like a soft porn movie...

Sleepy said...

Ha Ha ! Yeah!
Featuring a pornstar who is now an Italian MP.

Sassygril said...

Cicciolina! 'Touched by the Hand of Cicciolina' - now who the fuck sang that in the late 80s?

Sassygril said...

Pop Will Eat Itself. Of course
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9PHQ3yGcCmU

Sleepy said...

Christ! I'd forgotten them!