Some observations

Ok so I've been here in Dinami (southern Italy) for week and a half now and there are several things that have really stuck out to me. The following is a list of said things, reasons why southern Italy is super cool.

Terrain:

It's way more mountainous than I was expecting. Imagine bigger than Appalachia and smaller than the Rockies but with beautiful beaches everywhere!

Climate:

It's literally in the 70's and 80's for all but three months out of the year. There's not much humidity, the sun is brighter, the air cleaner, and the earth more nutritious for all flora.

Gelato:

You might be saying to yourself, yeah but it's basically just ice cream! Well maybe but it's super creamy, its served everywhere, you eat it in Italy, and who doesn't like ice cream?!

Popped collars:

That's right, home boy ain't scared to pop that collar real hard. This fashion trend is mostly seen in the college crowd but I've definitely seen some 30 somethings ridin that collar real high. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but now I'm just proud of everyone for really goin for it!

Man purses aka murses:

I mean, they just make me smile. There's even a word for them, borsello: a man's handbag or purse. My friend Brownrygg is about the only person I know who can really pull off the murse but its definitely more the norm here. Brown, if you're reading this know that you would super fit in here!

Dependency on the earth:

Basically everyone has a garden/orchard/olive grove. Every time I've eaten at Guiseppe's or Stefano's, basically everything has been grown, raised, or made by them or a family member. They have respect for the land and what it provides which is something I hope to always hold onto.

Knowledge that is passed down through generations:

All the older people just seem to know how to do everything! From wine making, bread baking, and the cultivation of literally everything to soap making, repairing anything, and of course cooking. Whenever I ask Guiseppe or Stefano or Anna how long they've been doing something or where did they learn, the answer is always that they've been doing it their whole life and were taught by their parents. 

Food:

Lets just talk about this for a second, everything I eat here is incredibly delicious and fresh! (Refer to the previous points for the reasoning behind this) not only that but because we're so close to the sea, you get lots of fresh fish, scallops, mussels, etc along with all kinds of meat, vegetables, and fruit. Pair that with the fact that they feed you until you just have to say no thanks and you've got a few extra pounds!

The people:

The two families that I spend my time with are some of the most caring, giving, and welcoming people I've ever met. I'm sure not everyone in Italy is this way but even the people I interact with in town are super nice and hospitable. Whenever I go to someone's house, for the first time or not, they always have me sit down and give me something to eat and drink. I don't think I'm the only one treated this way either, it's just a very giving community.

Olive oil:

There are olive groves everywhere!!! The olive oil here is so good and so cheap, it's enough for me to want to live here. Right now I have a liter water bottle full of oil that someone just gave to me, yes please!

Pride for country:

Sure, every country has its flaws but Italians love their country and will stand by it. Giuseppe is always showing me around the many, many towns in Calabria (the region Dinami is a part of) and he's always asking me if I like what we're doing or seeing. He's just so excited to show me how incredibly beautiful his country is and I appreciate so much his eagerness to show it off.

The vehicles:

Everyone drives a super small car or truck or Vespas or weird three wheeled truck things. Fiat is literally everywhere! All the cars and trucks are diesel and standard transmissions, they're just more efficient. 

The rustic nature of everything:

So I don't really like using the term "rustic" cause it sounds pretty pretentious, but it definitely defines southern Italy. The earthy colors everywhere, the tomatoes and onions hanging onside most houses, the tiny cobblestone streets, the smells, and the culture in general just define rustic.

Volcanoes:

They have active volcanoes here...for real. They're all of the coast a bit and pretty big. The tallest is around 11,000 ft, that's what's up

Espresso:

It's strong, it's delicious, and its everywhere! Espresso after every meal is just what you do and if you don't like coffee just deal with it!

Few tourists:

Most of the tourists go to northern Italy so that's just nice. I know I'm basically a tourist but it's nice to feel like I'm actually living in the culture. It also helps that Dinami is a town of about 3,000 so it's not exactly a destination but it should be!

In summation, get here cause its unlike anything you'll ever experience.