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2006年02月09日
Italian Virtue
The foreign perception of Italy is very romantic. People imagine delicious pasta, architectural charm, and a common, passionate joi de vivre. I find the delicious pasta unaffordable, the charm buried under graffiti and garbage, and the joi de vivre simply a euphemism for indolence. There is, however, one thing I perpetually anticipate when returning to Italy.
"A Persian flaw" is one of my favourite expressions. I cannot recall precisely where I first encountered the phrase but I believe it was either while reading Nietzsche or watching "The English Patient". Since so few people seem to have heard this expression, I am inclined to believe it was the former. It refers to the historic practice by Persian rug makers of incorporating a deliberate flaw into each work so as not to presume perfection, the domain of Allah.
Italian yoghurt is fantastic. Compared with the artificially sweetened, fat reduced, synthetic mush we find in the Canadian supermarket, Italian yoghurt is rich, creamy, and comes in a spectrum of delicious flavours. My favourite flavour is "cereali" or cereals. So far Italy is the only place I have found it.
A fragrant lily blooming defiantly in the swamp, cereal flavoured yoghurt is the panacea of my Italian purgatory. The complimentary opposite to a Persian flaw, one good feature in a sea of bad. For this condition, I propose a new expression: an "Italian virtue". Use in a context similar to "Every cloud must have a silver lining" but with slightly more precision and a touch of ethnic slur.
Posted by William at 2006年02月09日 08:02
Comments
Haha, I'm using that from now on...well both terms, never heard of a Persian Flaw before either.
Posted by: Haran at 2006年02月09日 15:35
I'm so sorry William, but Milan is the WORST
place to live in Italy!!!!
"Grey" atmosfere....only business everywhere
and rich people who like to show off their
money!
That's is no real Italians joy of living!
Go to Rome or to any other city!
Posted by: Alex at 2006年02月09日 16:57
Hi Alex, you're right. Milan is worse than anywhere else, but "Milanese virtue" doesn't have the same ring to it.
Posted by: William at 2006年02月09日 18:56