culture

   Ah, the holidays in December, the wonderful time of year when you accidentally jam your mother-in-law’s head in a hair dryer, that lovely month where your mom gives you a framed family picture that she’s photoshopped your dead brother…

It isn’t uncommon for moms everywhere to be on top of their kids like, “flies on shit,” as my mom would so eloquently say and Italian moms are no different. Italy is famous for the food, the beauty, and the…

When my in-laws were here last Christmas (some of you remember that insane three week period of my life), Francesco and I took them to Las Vegas for a few days. After our hotel lost our reservation, twice, and gave…

“Yeah, but does the place have real Italian food? I mean, is it authentic in your opinion?” my friend asked when I told her about this new restaurant that was opening in our home town. Since moving to Italy in…

  Italian coffee shop etiquette, I have learned, is not the same as American coffee shop etiquette. There are rules. Sometimes they will tell you the rules and sometimes they will not. If you’ve never felt like a total dumbass…

1. Everyone is trying to steal from me. This includes children, animals, and department stores. 2. The best way to get something done is by going through a long network of connections. “I know a guy,” means, “this will take…