Buono Tempo

In Italian, "tempo" means both weather and time (it's also a brand of tissues but we're gonna look past that for now). Are you serious? Cheesy analogies are kinda my thing so there's no way I'm passing this one up. 

I'm not sure what I would do with myself if a meteorologist accurately predicted the weather for a whole week. Heck, I'd take two days in row for that matter. It's just so unpredictable even with technology so advanced it can predict whether I should start An extra running back or wide receiver this week in my fantasy football league. I think that unpredictability makes it that much more incredible, intemidating, and sometimes dangerous. I wish I had my own personal life-ologist who could make predictions on what was coming up for the week. He'd pop in sometime during breakfast and be like, "Hey Ryan so probably don't eat Taco Bell later today cause you'll regret it after. Waffle House on the other hand is totally fine!" This guy gets me, unfortunately there's no random person coming over to let me know what's up. Time, more specifically what happens in our time, is frustratingly/wonderfully unpredictable. Recently I find myself wanting more and more to just know what's going to happen. Questions like, should I take this job, should I move to this new place, should I spend this money, or should I date this girl run through my head. Like any other person, I fear failure which isn't all bad but this fear sometimes prohibits me from progressing in life. The unpredictability causes me to dig in, get comfortable, and wait it out. If you ask any of my climbing partners what are some of the most memorable we've had in the gorge, they would probably say the days that we went when the weather looked terrible/it was raining when we left and it turned out to be a perfect climbing day. I can't let unpredictability hold me back.

We have all these sayings that center around time. Times flies when you're having fun, time is money, time heals all, and...well I thought I knew more, for the sake of the blog let's just assume there's an agregious amount of sayings centered around time. Why is this? Maybe time is just super relevant in many aspects of our life or I'm over thinking this or we just like a good catchphrase. I think time, like our heartbeat or breathing or having non-expired milk, is one of those things we take for granted until something goes wrong. When that does happen, i find myself doing all that I can to extend the time that I have which sometimes causes me to just overlook what's happening in front of me. Wow, rambling much? 

What am I trying to say? I have no idea, this blog feels super disconnected and wordy. All I know is that as I sit here writing this, I'm watching one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen. Time scares me, sometimes weather scares me but if I let that fear always dictate how I live, I could miss out on the beautiful/exciting/unknown things in life. I want as little regret as possible in my life, I already have way more than I'd care to have, and I think accepting the changing time and just going hard can help with that. 

I say all these things with the knowledge that I have a God that actually does know what's happening. It's super hard to believe that sometimes, but I should find peace in this.

Meh, not so much

So I figured that since I made a list of things I liked about Italy, there should be a list of the opposite. So here's a list of things that, through my American eyes, could be better.

The euro

It just frustrated me when I exchanged my dollars for euros and got way less back. I mean, come on Europe, we already view you as kind of uppity then you have to go and be like "oo la la our money is way better than yours!" Whatever, it doesn't even look like real currency with all it's colors and shiny things. It's basically like kids play money....I feel better now

Men in tight clothing

Whoa, for real though just buy a size or two or three bigger. I know it's a trend but it just looks uncomfortable and not all the guys with these super tight/deep v-necks are neccesarily trim if you know what I mean. The pants and shorts are tight as well to complete the vaccumed look. Sure , I'm used to skinny jeans but do you have to wear incredibly tight shorts as well? Maybe I should give it a try...or I could continue have good circulation throughout my entire body!

No HIMYM (How I Met Your Mother)

For those of you that don't know, I'm a big himym fan and I love getting to watch it with some of bestest friends (shout out to Jason, Allison, Seth, and Jake but not you Jen or Erin cause you're never there!). The 9th and final season just started and I was really missing being with those people and watching the first episode of a great sitcom. If you don't watch it, you should and that's the only reason you need!

Hair product

Whoever sells this stuff has got to be making a fortune off Italians. Sure, I went through my hair gel phase in high school but not to this level and that was high school. There are massive faux-hawks, extreme combovers (yes it's possible), hair slicked back so tightly it might rip the scalp off, and gelled swoops that look kinda icky. It just looks like they wash their hair with grease and I don't want that! Claudio, if you read this via google translate, don't be offended cause you definitely rock the faux-hawk.

Bike pedals

I borrowed Fabio's bike to ride around while I'm here which I was super excited about cause it would allow me to see more of the area. The first time out however, I was pedaling up a hill just doin work when snap! My pedal decides to break and I have to walk up a monster hill. Turned out to be a good thing cause I got to forage for mushrooms, oregano, and random fruit. Still not happy about the pedal though! Ps, haven't told anyone yet cause I'm trying to figure out how to say "hey I broke this pedal but it was the cheap Italian plastic's fault so yeah, sorry bout that" in Italian.

Jean shorts aka Jorts

Let's admit it, jorts can be awesome. Climbing in a nice pair jorts that I made myself out of a pair of jeans I loved and wore so much they couldn't be appropriately worn in public and therefore became said jorts is one of my favorite things to do! (Yeah, that was a long sentence, but hey my blog my grammar.) However, Italian jorts were never full grown jeans. People are walking around in these tight, hemmed, washed out, attempting to look stylish jorts! Jorts should be dirty, ragged, have little strings hanging from where they were cut, and only be worn for extreme sports/activities!

Shower curtains

I just hate mine, period. It simply doesn't contain the water of my 2x2 foot shower so, no matter how hard I try, I practically flood the bathroom every time I shower. I have remedied this by showering approximately .75 times a week, don't hate I'm just adapting.

Lack of climbable rock in the area

All I want is for my hands to be one big calus again, to have my forearms beg for mercy so I can tell them to suck it up and work harder, to eat at Miguel's after a great day of climbing with great people, and I don't want James, Trent, and Neil to kick all of my butt when I get back! My climbing workout here consists of climbing up and down the underside of my exposed steps, it'll have to do.

Let me reiterate that most of these dislikes are from me being culturally insensitive and they're not even a big deal, guess I just needed to complain about something. When I am bothered by any of these things, I try to take a moment and remember where I am and how incredibly blesses I am to be here. I should probably do that no matter where I am...

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.

Life lessons with Guiseppe

"Piano Ryan, piano." This is a phrase that i've heard from Guiseppe on more than one occasion. Piano, pronounced pee-yah-noh, means slowly. I hear it sometimes when we're walking, or I'm trying to help with something, or Guiseppe is repeating a word/phrase to me for the third time. Im realizing that here in Dinami, life in general is much slower than what I'm used to and this is allowing me to live in every moment. I'm not saying this to sound deep or profound because it literally feels like I've been here for two or so weeks when it has only been five days. The days don't drag by I just lose track of time, as in it never fails to be a couple hours later than I think it is. This lifestyle has been a great change for sure, not that a fast paced life is bad, I'm just realizing how much more can be experienced if you just slow down. Piano, piano.

Examples of living piano that I've seen/experienced:

• meals always last at least an hour and are filled with food, laughter, stories, and more food.

• just about everyone here has an extensive garden and orchard and relies heavily upon them for food throughout the year. Obviously much time is spent on that garden to table process

• Guiseppe made wine yesterday using an old process that, according to Fabio, isn't being learned by the next generation. It involved boiling the juice in giant pots over a wood fire for about four hours, this being one step among many. 

• everyone has a clothes line, self explanatory 

• whenever Guiseppe and I are walking around town, we always take time to stop and talk to literally everyone 

Piano. 

Big ol bite

"Dove siamo?" I ask the man sitting next me on the train. Having fallen asleep in en route I needed to know where we were. Fortunately I hadn't missed my stop and this the train ride continues. See what's crazy is that I'm on a train traveling through Italy...how did that happen? 

Ho molto lavoro! In Italian this means "I have a lot of work to do" and I for one definitely have a lot of work to do in regard to many things. One of my greatest fears is that ill go through life without actually living so why not do something about it! I never really liked all the sayings about life giving you lemons but if i was to come up with one it'd probably be something like this. "If life gives you a lemon, laugh in its face and tell it you'll be having grape drank!" P.s if grape drank doesn't mean anything to you but this is my blog and all dave chappelle references are in. Not quite sure how to interpret that lemon saying but I think I'm trying to say that no matter what juice or drank you're making, you'll still drink juice in the end. Basically I can't let life choices overwhelm me or be bogged down by the countless paths one can take in life. As long as I'm not being stagnant, I capitalize on opportunities, I pour into people, and I go hard in whatever I'm doing, ill end up experiencing life and not just going through the motions. I have a lot of work to do.

Kind of just going for it got me a job at bluegrass baking company and working there opened up this opportunity to work at a bakery in Italy which is why I'm on a train in Italy if you didn't know that already. I don't have much of an idea of what I'll be doing but I'm super excited at the prospect gaining European baking skills. Stefano, the baker, uses a wood fired stove so ill probably be chopping wood hopefully along with the baking. I will have a lot of work to do. I titled this post big ol bite cause right now as we travel through the Italian country side, past vineyards, red roofed villages, and rolling hills, I truly feel like I'm taking the biggest bite out of life that I can.