A journal excerpt by Jennifer Pesonen

"Cagli is like a lake in the middle of a swiftly moving river. It allows you to float around carelessly for a little while and think about your life. It's very important to think." Sitting in Franco Mansi's Italian class in the Atrium Intituto di Lingua Italiana, I intently listen to him speak about the Italian culture, the 'dolce vita' and how it compares to everything Americans are used to. To me, this stuff is more interesting than determinative and indeterminative articles anyday. What struck me was the comment Franco made about thinking. "I think it is very important to think," he said in a hushed voice. But the major difference I've seen between Italian thinking and American thinking is that Uncle Sam's capitalists focus too much on the future, what has to be accomplished, and how much money can be made doing it.
 
  Italian thinking is more of a recreation. It allows someone to ponder events of the day for hours, while savoring some vino and watching the others in the piazza who are also 'thinking.' It helped me realize that people like myself, my kindred American spirits, can be too scheduled, rigid and self demanding. We don't take the time out of our day to enjoy the present. We have on blinders and our finish line is the future, whenever it comes. And although we may be able to conceive a clear picture of what the next week, month, or year will hold, we have a very muddled view of what is actually going on around us everyday. Slowly, I am adapting to the relaxed lifestyle of not worrying about tomorrow and playing things by ear, enjoying my time and 'thinking.' I know it will be difficult to continue this leisure practice once I return back to the United States, but I plan on taking Franco's softly spoken words with me. Hopefully thoughts of Cagli will remind me to live in the present and not too worry so much. To enjoy the caffe. Sit down, relax. And think.

Top-Italians remember the past but live in the present.

Bottom-Cagli is a beautiful city, perfect for relaxation and reflection on life.






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