July 25, 2024 • 32 mins
We’re popping open a bottle of Mirto from Sardinia in celebration of our 50TH EPISODE! First, Dean caps off our prior episode about music and dance with the happiest song he’s ever heard, Jambo Bwana, from East Africa, and with an Italian version of the card game Spoons in which the losing player sings an aria. From there, Dean and Tom explore divisions between the north and south of Italy, the cultural prominence of “la bella figura” across Italy, and the intersection of transactions and personal relationships throughout Italy as well. Lastly, our friends at Licensing check in on all of the celebratory singing going on (and perhaps to enjoy some Mirto too?). Thanks very much for laughing and learning with us over these 50 episodes! Ciao bella, until next time!
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Hosts: Dean Foster & Tom Peterson
Audio Production: Tom Peterson & Torin Peterson
Music: “Little Idea” – Bensound.com
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Here's a cultural thing. So I don't think
the date or the time or anything like,
of the Olympics in in France in Paris.
Has any relevance. Yep. It's just what it...
It's the way it worked out. Yeah. For
You mean it's not being tied into anything.
No. With No. It's not something special happening
the France and that's why it's But when
the Beijing Olympics opened in China, when was
(00:21):
it 2008. That's something like that. Yes. It
was 2008. And that's has cultural relevance. The
drums there over the drums. Yes. Because yeah.
Because it it... Oh, the opening ceremony. The
opening ceremony was on August eighth
of 2008.
Right. At 08:00.
I remember that. U. And that was no
accident. Right. Right. Because culturally, the number 8.
(00:43):
Is
there's the best number for good luck Right.
In China. I've remember the The right interest
talking about the interesting, but ceremony. And So
that was purely a cultural thing. Mh. And
and and and again, they didn't have to
be explained to anybody in China. They all
got it. Right. Sure. But
everywhere else. For me, the Us America, but
(01:04):
the world was looking in. Yeah. Right. Right
in the rest. Yeah. Right. Which they were
very, very aware of, which, of course, that's
you are aware of when you get the
Olympics. Is it's 1 of the reasons you
have the. Right? Yeah. Because so all those
cultural elements to it. Absolutely. Yeah. When and
they are coming back to the United States
in the in the not real near future,
but not too too far away. I don't
(01:25):
know if it's a smart move on the
United States part or not, but we'll find
out. La?
Yeah. Okay.
Is that 20 eights.
Which 1? Is that 20 28?
I 20 30 2II think it's 32, but
I've again, I could be totally wrong. I
can actually But you probably could. That's kind
of why you're here. Is it? But, you
(01:45):
know, look up Olympics facts. U. I didn't
know this. You'd didn't read the small print.
Did you. I I apologize. Yeah. Oil. There
you go.
So
So 20 20 Olympics are in Ellie.
We're not talking about, so we're talking about
our fiftieth and Italy. Oh, I'm sorry. We're
talking about our fifth... Thank you for the
information. It's our fiftieth consoles. Our 50 of.
(02:09):
Can you imagine when we started? We're a
little on each other's nerves here. You just
come to 50 episodes.
It is. It's our fiftieth.
Can you imagine if when we started this
if we said, we're... We'll be... We'll have
50 of these.
You know, it... We did start this?
I knew that. 19 27. That's believe. Was
that a surprise to you? I knew that.
(02:30):
Did you know that? Yeah. Okay. And I
know what we 20 24. And I'm... Yes.
And I knew what we'd be talking about.
Okay. In every episode. Okay. And every very
well all the other we down. Well... No.
Not so much the others, but certainly, in
this 1, because. This is... This is the
fiftieth
anniversary episode of
oops.
(02:50):
Your culture is showing.
And I'm dean foster. I'm Tom Peterson, and
I'm To Happy fiftieth.
Like the candles baby.
Oh,
are you oh, no.
Tom has exploded. But it is our fiftieth
(03:13):
episode. It is our fiftieth episode, and I
wanna take a moment here because in our
last episode, I believe that would be the
40 ninth. Can you check on that tour?
I'll check on it. I was never good
at math, so I'll take your word for
it. Fine.
Let's go with 49.
For now. Dean was about to to offer
a, a question. I was obviously cultural.
Obviously. Some something that was we we talked
(03:36):
about yeah. Culture. Yeah. We we guess, whether
it's we're actually making a point or just
total nonsense, we don't know yet
because we have not heard the entire Things.
You can assume it made a point. I
see. And now we're going to turn it
back over to... Yes. Here he is in
the flesh.
And I wish you cover some of that
Yeah. It's too much flash in my opinion
open Dean foster talking about
(03:59):
the
happiest song. On that's way. What it was
happy song. Right? Oh, the happiest song. I
was gonna say, we no this with this
song. I don't No. You don't remember won't
the time.
No. But now what you mentioned the happiest
song we were talking about music.
We were in the last right. And 1
of the things that came to mind was
when I was
(04:20):
in Africa. U.
There was an... There there was an... The
evening event on that I was invited to,
and this is in Tanzania.
And we got to singing
and dancing, and the band was playing and
this was a a local welcoming song, which
is basically now so well known throughout
(04:42):
not only Tanzania, obviously, but, throughout of the
East Africa as Tanzania
it's not the national anthem, but it might
as well be. Mh. It is the happiest
song I've ever heard. Real. It and it's...
Yeah. It it's just... You got... You gotta
get up and dance, It is totally infectious,
and it was
(05:03):
it was the...
If you're ever feeling down.
And you just need a lift, you know?
Mh. This... It's a gray and
and and and said kind of afternoon. You
just having a fun. Put that on. Just
listen to jumbo.
Nice. Okay. The go go online and watch
half a dozen dance groups doing this song.
(05:25):
And
singing it and
wow. And just to be be able to
be there and participate in this. Yeah. For
me was just absolutely through thrilling. It's
it is truly the happiest song you'll ever
hear. Wow.
Okay. That's quite an endorsement. Okay. We... We've
gotta looked that up we go. We gotta
find that.
(05:46):
Yeah. Jam.
That's enough. No. No. We want... We wanna
actually hear the. We don't wanna pay with
the race.
But what's that wait hold on.
It's legal. I,
really?
Did he too much? No? That no
jump... Been a while since we
learned with licensing I when we talked to
a licensing or even been on the song.
(06:08):
John the jumbo and Sw, which is the
local coastal language. U. Jumbo means welcome. Okay.
Okay. So you're seeing it to people who
wanna welcome to the country joyful. Yeah. It's
very joyful and wanna. You're saying jumbo, like...
No jumbo. Jumbo. Yeah. Like JA0
as opposed to the you. Okay.
(06:29):
It's welcome jumbo. Nice. Nice. Very nice. Yeah.
It's very cool. Yeah. It is. It has
enough things. So welcome to our welcome to
our fiftieth.
Yeah. Welcome to our there
episode celebration episode. That's right. Welcome.
When we were talking about Italy. Yeah. We
were talking about music before. I was something
about Opera, and then that took us to
(06:50):
Italy.
Exactly. And you're celebrating an anniversary in Italy
this where we're we're planning next year actually,
to to head, but we're in the midst
of trying to plan
our trip to Italy, my wife and I
and and in the hopes of celebrating our
anniversary over there. Fantastic. So perhaps... So we
have celebrations of upon celebrations. And we could
(07:10):
talk about some aspects of Italian culture. Sure.
Right. So when... And Sharon and I were
visiting our friends in Italy.
Many, many years ago, we played a card
game that we learned over there, which is
which was
it cold spoons. And and I think we
played spoons. So we have played spoons. Several
(07:33):
on several occasions. But when we were in
Italy,
you you had to...
The loser of of the game, and it's
irrelevant as to what the game actually is.
It's a card game. But the losers the
game as part of the ceremony
has to get up and sing an Aria.
Right. In that because in Italy, that's what
you did. Mh if you lose the game.
(07:55):
So
Cheryl lost
on round,
and this is late at night after a
grand italian feast. So and
several
bottles of wine. Mh. And
Cheryl breaks
into
this aria from Lob M.
Nice. And I did not know my wife
(08:17):
knew this. I didn't know she could sing
it.
Well, I knew she she's I knew she
was a great singer, mh but I didn't
know she knew this. Mh.
And
our italian friend, Arm is sitting at the
table, and his jaw drops because
he too could not have anticipated that she
knew the the Rf.
(08:38):
I'd I at... And to this day,
if you ask her to sing it, you
know, she'll insist on playing spoons and having
several bottles of wide versa first. Sure Sure.
Sure. That's what you do. Yeah. You're ready
to sing. It's the the only way the
Aria
goes back to mine.
Nice he's very nice.
(08:58):
Well we'll have to do that soon. Yeah.
Absolutely.
So Italy
is a... It's a it's a deep dive.
Wow the culture.
It it... It's a country... It's a it's
a country a name only.
You know, in that Okay. The different sections
of Italy, arc of are so different. Mh.
(09:19):
And so you... We've got for... First, the
the first big division,
culturally speaking is that you've got the north,
and then you've got the south. Mh. And
the 2 never have historically gotten along. And
there's always this north south division in culture
everywhere around the world. Right. Sure. You think
of it. Every every country got it. Yeah.
(09:39):
Sometimes it's east and west, but north and
south mainly because
from the agricultural traditions that all cultures have
to deal with until very recently.
It's going north and going south,
that changes that you chicago
climb top. You don't get that change so
dramatic going east West. Right. So the the
(10:01):
the life that develops
in the north and the south
based on these agricultural traditions.
Can be very, very different. Yeah. Okay. And
and now in Italy, you have this. And
and the joke, of course is that the
northern is look at the southern and call
them terrible names and the southern
look at the northern and they call them
Germans.
And you there's always this rivalry in in
(10:25):
Italy.
It's much more rural
in the south. It it has
traditions that come from,
a deep,
mediterranean heat. Mh
And in the north,
these were consolidated prince states
historically,
that became part of the country of of
(10:46):
Italy. But again, only in in only in
the 18 hundreds. Mh and,
they were once part of France once part
of Switzerland 1 the latest drawing of the
line. Yeah.
And Europe, that's like, yesterday. Right. Exactly. Right.
So
vastly different traditions,
much more
Like, 1 could say sophisticated in the north.
(11:08):
You think of the cities in the north
like Milan, which
you know, is is highly refined,
way of at life. Very fashion that oriented.
Yes.
We were in Milan last year. And coincidentally,
we were there for fashion week.
Didn't a good time didn't know. Didn't didn't
know it the real but they dressed it.
Well, that I'm sure you dressed. Well, as
(11:30):
I did. As you always... Well, my son
sneakers. And then then And nothing else Nick.
But interestingly walking And everybody said, okay. Okay.
Nice sneakers snow. Walking down the street in
Milan. Quite a ape.
Oh boy.
Quite error.
Walking down the street of Milan was a
a true experience because I was impressed to
(11:50):
the fact to the fact that
people were sizing up each other on the
street. Yeah.
With their eyes. Yeah. Based on how they
dressed. Yeah. And they start with the shoes.
Oh, sure. So you always have to have
the finest shoes on. Okay. And then everything
else can be access depending on your personality,
(12:11):
but it's got to be high fashion. Mh.
And your shoes have to be. Bottom up.
And I mentioned this again, to my friend,
arm Man, and he said he said, oh,
yes. When I was growing up in Italy,
he said my mother always said, no matter
how you have to dress. Make sure your
shoes are the best shoes you can afford.
Mh. And and and it was absolutely striking
to me how people were visually looking at
(12:34):
each other's shoes
just walking down the streets and may not
interesting. Do you have a do... Did you
get a sense of why that is or
did Arm to speak to that? It, you
know, it goes to... And, again, they they
could be know, we can give it an
an economic explanation. Yeah that's why Political and
classical
explanation. Yeah. But from a cultural perspective, Mh
It plays right into this, very deep cultural
(12:56):
issue in all of Italy, north and south,
which is La Gu.
It's Okay. Beautiful face.
Mh. 1 must... I think Billy Crystal had
a routine about this. 1 must look beautiful.
All the time. Mh 1 must put on
this
could be fashion.
It could be a sense of style. It
(13:17):
could be a way of
demeanor a way of behaving, but 1 has
to be
doing things
correctly.
And in
La. Good it literally means beautiful face. Okay.
A beautiful figure. And we're we're talking face
in the,
definition of, like,
keeping face or something like that, more of
(13:39):
a broader outlook to the term as opposed
to adjust your fit like pig area. Right.
Right. And and so things must be as
perfect as you want them to be seen
to be. Mh. Including yourself.
If you want respect, to You have to
you have to look like you do. You
have to dress like you do. Sure. You
(14:00):
have to behave in ways that shows that
you know what you're doing. Yeah. And that
you are well connected and that you know
the right people.
Because
Because in Italy, it... It's not
only what you know. And in fact, it
isn't so much what you know
traditionally, but it's who you know. Mh. And
and whether or not you know that you
(14:22):
are entitled to not have to follow the
rules. Right. Everybody else has to follow the
rules. But in Italy, you get great respect
if you don't follow the rules because you
don't have to.
Okay.
It's like,
walk into a... I remember walking into a
bank in rome and waiting online. Okay. A
(14:44):
bureaucracy in in in Italy is staggering.
And it's a beautiful place to visit, but
a terrible place to live and the Italians
will tell you.
Because because of things like
corruption and bureaucracy,
it's
and and and because of La Gu,
because
The Italian culture is 1 where
(15:05):
it's not so much having to follow the
rules and the processes and the procedure and
you go right across the border into Switzerland
where that's what it's all about.
Everybody knows the rules and the processes
procedures. Mh. Right? But you cross into Italy,
and it's No. It's like, rules are made
by people
who
can make those rules. Mh. And if you
(15:26):
are smart enough clever enough and you know
somebody
who can will help you
allow you to not have to follow the
rules.
Then you earn points
for being clever and not having to fall.
Like, you stand on a street corner in
Zurich.
And the light is red and you tried
(15:46):
to cross the street because because the no
cars coming,
and you're gonna get shouted at. Right. It
happens to to me over time when I
do think of something from New York. Right.
You right. Right Yeah. Jerk it doesn't matter
with the long start. Right Right. You And
and little old swiss lady, you know, shouted
at me, and I didn't quite understand what
German, but it... But what she was telling
me is that you can't do that. It's
(16:06):
a red light. Right. Even though there's no
cars coming. Right. Writes no sense. Sure. But
in Italy,
to you. Right now. But in Italy
It's interpretive, I believe. If it's a if
it's a red light. I feel. Even if
there are hard cars coming. Right across the
street street. Right. Because you get brownie points
for being clever enough to know have across
(16:28):
the street without having to get hit by
a car. Yeah. By the cars. So
I've I've walked into a bank once and
I'm standing online, like the, like, the jerk
has to follow the rules because I don't
know any other way.
And
some guy comes into the bank and walks
right up to the front of the line
walks right to a tailor. M. Okay. And
I'm going... Whoa. Wait a minute Wait a
(16:49):
minute. Right yeah. They're a real. I've been
waiting here. Now you're the little swiss woman.
Right. Now I'm the swiss. Right.
I've been waiting online for 20 minutes.
You know, and you walk right up to
the front. Right. What? And... And I'm I'm
not saying this to anybody, but I'm thinking
this. Right? Sure. And I over here that
he's having a nice conversation with the teller.
Of course, they know each other.
(17:11):
And that's why he did it. U. And
it's because they know each other they're also
socializing, Yeah. Taking up more time. Being inefficient.
Right? And nobody says anything. U.
Because this is the way... This is the
way it works. Yeah.
This is the system. This is La Fe.
Okay. U. Interesting. Okay. Yeah. I see. And
(17:33):
for I I would say, you know, Americans
visiting. Italy. I mean, you know, the Italian
brand is very, very strong. And and and
Italians make money on their Italian brand. Mh.
And it is italy incredibly s productive. Mh.
And, you know, you're you're sitting in in
the mediterranean
sunlight, and you're sipping a camp,
(17:54):
and you just
walked out of a church and and seen
the most magnificent art in the world. Also
majestic. And and you are you are seduced.
There's that moment where you are seduced. Yeah.
And then there are these other moments where
it is incredibly frustrating. You're on the line
and you're waiting to be served and
and somebody else gets served. And you can't
(18:16):
say anything about it. Right. Right. Mh.
Because so everyone knows exactly why That they
obviously have Bella Gu. And you don't. Right?
And in a way, that's the rule, the
prevailing rule over the other? That is the
ultimate rule. Yeah. Right. That there that there
are no rules for some people. Right. Right.
(18:36):
Very interesting. Yeah.
And we all know this to some degree,
but in Italy, this this issue is prioritized.
Right. Right. Yeah. I was quite apparent that
it... That exactly. I think it right. It's
it's a part
of other cultures. It's certainly a part of
the culture of the United States.
Sir it's an aspect of of human human
behavior. Right. But in Italy There's also
(18:58):
culture, especially in larger cities and so on.
You that's Right. You get an italian,
influence of the people who came here from
Italy.
So some of that is coming with the
models and and being,
worked into the local culture here Yeah. The
the joke was... I mentioned Billy Crystal in
this. You know, I think he's he had
this
routine had the stick where he was you're
(19:20):
saying, you know
if you look beautiful, you are beautiful.
When he was doing, yes. He was doing
a thing on Saturday night law.
Yes Right. Yep. And But this this is
pervasive.
Mu, the story goes when he was
you know, dictator
during the war,
in order to impress of the populace
(19:43):
of his power and his authority.
He had these meager soldiers
just a handful of soldiers,
walking through the square and walking behind the
square where he was making his address and
coming out again on the other side of
a square to walk through. So it looked
like there were hundreds of soldiers walking through.
Yeah. But it was only the same 20
(20:05):
guys who was just But look good, But
it looked looks there go. So if we
make it look good, it is... That's the
game. Yeah. Yeah.
And you'll see that
Yeah yeah. All time. Yes. Well, ultimately, that's
the problem. You know?
Some great Italian author wrote a book about
this, and it's called the italians. And and
(20:27):
and he says,
you know,
this the the sad fact is that
Italians don't solve the problems.
They simply dress them up and decorate them.
And so you are seduced by it's beautiful
because they look great. They look great, but
the problem when they taste great. Problems whatever
(20:48):
they are. Economic, political, whatever right social
they're there. Yeah. Right. And, of course, when
that's taken to extremes, like with You need
that becomes very dangerous. Yeah. And, obviously, as
you were saying, you know, it it that
happens here in the Us as well. Well,
it does dressing things and when does that.
And, you know, being being the maverick. I
think the phrase
the gray. The phrase that this offer used
(21:09):
was,
italians don't solve the problems of life, we
merely decorate them. Mh. Mh.
And they decorate from beautifully fleets, it's the
most Is 1 of the most gorgeous places
in the world. Very much you ensure in
the culture there. Yeah. Yeah. Interesting.
(21:30):
You know, the things too about Italy.
Is,
I... I have not been into Southern Italy.
I've been into Northern Italy, and and
it's like you're saying the lovely little town
of Porto fe.
Is it it's just a small. Oh 0
my god. It's it's a it's out of
a story book. Yeah. It's in incredible. It's
a it's fascinating.
(21:51):
It's very small, and it's a little a
little port Porto.
It's a little port in there, and it...
It's so it's not like a major,
influencer in the in the in the in
the area, really or even in the... In
any part of there, but it is in
the sense of it looking so good.
Looking so good. And it makes you feel
(22:12):
so good when you're in there,
and and that is... That's huge. There was
an ambassador
to, the United States
on his first posting in an Italian ambassador,
and he came to New York,
and
he was invited out to a dinner, and
he was shocked.
This is an Italian dinner in a restaurant.
(22:34):
He was shocked at the espresso that was
served at the end of the meal had
a lemon peel floating in.
And he said, what is this?
You know, we we don't have espresso with
lemon peels.
Because he was from the north of of
Italy. He was from the ari
in the
Or or the or the... In in the
(22:56):
Venice region, I don't remember exactly where his
family was from.
And in the north, you don't because it
you don't have lemon trees the way you
have them in sizzle or in the south
Okay. More mediterranean climate. Yeah. But the italian
immigration to the United states was mainly from
Southern Italy, not from Northern. Oh, yeah. Okay.
So what Americans associate
(23:19):
Italian traditions are usually southern Italian traditions. Not
all
immigrants, but most during the great migrations Right.
Into America.
So, they were mainly from Southern Italy. So,
of course, in cities like New York and
Chicago,
where you have the Italian influence, it was
southern Italian influence, and everybody drinks their espresso
(23:41):
with a lemon peel in it.
U. But he had to come to America.
To ask what is this? We we've experienced
it. Right to even experience it, and he
was he was from
from Italy. He was Italian born. Sure. Yeah.
Interesting. Sure.
It's... I would like some lemon peel and
my espresso. It sounds like. Oh, we'll we'll
get some for you right now. I... If
you could right now. Sure. Let me get
(24:01):
some of the people here to to get
pick it up for you. Okay? Thank you.
Let's get a, like, a licensing or legal
or whatever the department's called. That's right Get
legal. Not don't do anything else. So they
to help me out with that. We're not
gonna be singing, but there's no guarantee of
that. No. Definitely not. But. Anyway, you were
in... You not recent. Right? You were recently
in other parts of italy too. Weren't you
(24:24):
in Venice, Venice and Venice...
Yeah, In the North. No, in the north.
I wanna... Oh, but then also we were
in Sa. Sa. I thought you were on
a separate trip.
And okay. The... Sa
usually not
an area that
that that tourists, and and even in business
people too unless you have some very specific
(24:45):
business, it's a it is it is part
of Italy, but it's a it's an island.
Right. Off the coast. Mh, a a very
large island and well off the coast. Mh.
So it's not part of mainland, Italy.
Mh. Yeah.
And it's a very distinctly different culture because
of that. Mh
more of of a culture that was determined
(25:05):
that that that results from a mix of
Spanish.
Northern Italian, southern Italian,
malt,
even. Mh.
So it's a very
unique mix, and they
a a lot of folks there
trace their Italian heritage, but they also straight
(25:26):
trace their Spanish heritage. They cut catalan, Here
job from the from the Northeast coast of
Spain. Mh.
There's a town in Sa,
A alfredo.
It looks like a town on the
on the,
northeastern eastern coast of Spain.
(25:46):
Okay. And they speak a dialect of Italian
which sounds more span more catalan and more
Spanish than Italian.
Because all of those people came from Spain,
not from Italy. Sure. Yeah. Very unique and
beautiful island. Mh. Sa. Nice.
Nice. Okay. Yeah. Go. I just looked it.
Yeah. Yeah.
(26:06):
Was there a an experience that you had
there that stood out
that you can recall at this point? In
A?
Or in Sa?
Didn't... In hold on. Yeah. Take 3.
Action.
Never mind. Go ahead.
I wanted to buy a bottle of this
local,
(26:27):
liqueur
called mer.
Mer,
I guess it was... You could say it
was the Italian translation for Myrtle.
But it's... I... As I understand, it's not
just made from myrtle leaves from the Myrtle
tree. Mh. But it's made from,
the brush
(26:48):
that covers most of the island, Mh. Which
is kind of a spicy,
fragrance has a beautiful spicy fragrance to it.
Anyway, walked into this shop,
and there were rose a rose of merit
on the shelf.
And
so I wanted to get a bottle and
move on,
(27:09):
because it was not just myself, but there
was... We were traveling with friends,
and they were being patient with me while
I went into the store to by the
bottle. And bring it back. Mh And I
was, I guess, sending off impatient fives.
Okay. And the store keeper was becoming very
very impatient with me. Oh, dear. And this
(27:30):
doesn't sound like it's going well. Well, mh.
Actually, it it did... It it It all
turned out. Okay. A few. But
the more impatient... A cliff hanger they for.
I really remember More impatient I became the
more insist he was that I taste the
myrtle fast.
And he happened to have a bottle that
was open already. To have 1. Yes. I
(27:52):
mean, this was the... It was, like, it
was difficult
to just have a transaction. Yes. This was
because
transactions without a personal
relationship. Mh. And
in the Mediterranean.
Are difficult. Mh. On this island off the
coast of Italy, even more rural and more
(28:14):
separated from
northern
instruments mh. Was even more the case. Mh.
And I was challenging his ability
to actually
behave in a way that was different from
what he was comfortable. Mh. Right. Yeah. Right
yeah. And
and and I realized what was happening of
(28:35):
course. And I was enjoying that that he
was wanting to impress me with the mayor
that I was willing to just buy
un taste it. Mh Sure. Mh. Yeah. Yeah.
Of course And, I finally relaxed with it.
Mh. And I said to myself, well, if
if they're waiting for me outside fine. And
if they're not... I'll figure out where they
went. Yeah. Yeah. When in Sa do is
when do that Exactly.
(28:57):
And 20 minutes later.
Of course.
Because he did have a transactional goal in
mind. Mh. Yeah. That I was to walk
out with not only with the bottle that
I had intended to want. Mh. But with
also several other bottles. Sure. Other things that
he was going to entice me. Of course.
Right? So this was gonna be a grand
experience for both of us. Right going he
(29:17):
was gonna he was going to to to
sell more. Mh. Than I had got intended
to buy.
And I was going to enjoy myself in
the process.
Right? Right? Right? Win win. Okay. I mean,
Yeah.
And about like a worse thing. Did you
buy more bottles? I did. There was day
go. I did And I walked out with
3,
(29:38):
and,
Cheryl, and our friends were not around in
the square. Mh. I I think they made
the had actually flown back to the United
States. Give me I made the correct judgment
call that Dean is in the wine shop.
And we like how Not not that's gonna
be a while. Yeah. Actually, 20 minutes is
pretty good. Not not terrible. Yeah. I just
looked up Mir. Yeah. MIRT0
(30:00):
for those yes no. Yeah. How to spell
it Yeah. In that does it's is it
a myrtle based... From the myrtle plant, which
is... Yes. Grows freely inserted you. That's right.
Nice.
Very sweet, very lovely after dinner, liqueur. I
don't believe I've ever
had a had the opportunity To have any
of that. I have not either... Well, there's
a bottle waiting for. Is there? No alright.
(30:24):
Great. Yeah. Excellent. Well, in celebration of our
fiftieth episode? No. Sure. Happy fiftieth. Happy fiftieth.
And let let's break that open right now.
Okay. Right? Here we go. And there it
is.
I don't know if it that actually has
a quirk like that and it would there
it does it does. Yeah. And or now
it doesn't, actually, because it can popping out.
So I have a question. Do we have
more to talk about with Italy do we
(30:45):
need a a part 2?
There's always more to talk about. I would
think Italy.
I feel like there's so much there so
much
We do.
Go on. Absolutely. Great. I think so too.
Buenos
until next time. There you go. Here we
go Alright. Child child babies.
(31:05):
I think it's time to get out right
now. Yeah. Yeah. So
as always
Ciao bella.
Okay. Here we go. Here he's not too
much, Better. Yeah. I'll watch too much. Shit
He's bus wrong in the ball for himself.
He's.
I wonder what that Iv hook up there.
I Is really do it.
(31:27):
So you know what, Dean?
Oops.
Your culture showing.
Hey.
Smell you.
Before you run off and disappear back into
your own cultures.
(31:49):
Let me give you some information about something
we really want you to know, and that's
how to get hold of us.
Give us your question, your comments, anything along
those lines By email, it's oops,
culture show at gmail dot com, and be
sure to follow us on whenever social media
you use at oops Culture show.
(32:11):
Thanks.
Ios
Here's a cultural thing. So I don't think
the date or the time or anything like,
of the Olympics in in France in Paris.
Has any relevance. Yep. It's just what it...
It's the way it worked out. Yeah. For
You mean it's not being tied into anything.
No. With No. It's not something special happening
the France and that's why it's But when
the Beijing Olympics opened in China, when was
(00:21):
it 2008. That's something like that. Yes. It
was 2008. And that's has cultural relevance. The
drums there over the drums. Yes. Because yeah.
Because it it... Oh, the opening ceremony. The
opening ceremony was on August eighth
of 2008.
Right. At 08:00.
I remember that. U. And that was no
accident. Right. Right. Because culturally, the number 8.
(00:43):
Is
there's the best number for good luck Right.
In China. I've remember the The right interest
talking about the interesting, but ceremony. And So
that was purely a cultural thing. Mh. And
and and and again, they didn't have to
be explained to anybody in China. They all
got it. Right. Sure. But
everywhere else. For me, the Us America, but
(01:04):
the world was looking in. Yeah. Right. Right
in the rest. Yeah. Right. Which they were
very, very aware of, which, of course, that's
you are aware of when you get the
Olympics. Is it's 1 of the reasons you
have the. Right? Yeah. Because so all those
cultural elements to it. Absolutely. Yeah. When and
they are coming back to the United States
in the in the not real near future,
but not too too far away. I don't
(01:25):
know if it's a smart move on the
United States part or not, but we'll find
out. La?
Yeah. Okay.
Is that 20 eights.
Which 1? Is that 20 28?
I 20 30 2II think it's 32, but
I've again, I could be totally wrong. I
can actually But you probably could. That's kind
of why you're here. Is it? But, you
(01:45):
know, look up Olympics facts. U. I didn't
know this. You'd didn't read the small print.
Did you. I I apologize. Yeah. Oil. There
you go.
So
So 20 20 Olympics are in Ellie.
We're not talking about, so we're talking about
our fiftieth and Italy. Oh, I'm sorry. We're
talking about our fifth... Thank you for the
information. It's our fiftieth consoles. Our 50 of.
(02:09):
Can you imagine when we started? We're a
little on each other's nerves here. You just
come to 50 episodes.
It is. It's our fiftieth.
Can you imagine if when we started this
if we said, we're... We'll be... We'll have
50 of these.
You know, it... We did start this?
I knew that. 19 27. That's believe. Was
that a surprise to you? I knew that.
(02:30):
Did you know that? Yeah. Okay. And I
know what we 20 24. And I'm... Yes.
And I knew what we'd be talking about.
Okay. In every episode. Okay. And every very
well all the other we down. Well... No.
Not so much the others, but certainly, in
this 1, because. This is... This is the
fiftieth
anniversary episode of
oops.
(02:50):
Your culture is showing.
And I'm dean foster. I'm Tom Peterson, and
I'm To Happy fiftieth.
Like the candles baby.
Oh,
are you oh, no.
Tom has exploded. But it is our fiftieth
(03:13):
episode. It is our fiftieth episode, and I
wanna take a moment here because in our
last episode, I believe that would be the
40 ninth. Can you check on that tour?
I'll check on it. I was never good
at math, so I'll take your word for
it. Fine.
Let's go with 49.
For now. Dean was about to to offer
a, a question. I was obviously cultural.
Obviously. Some something that was we we talked
(03:36):
about yeah. Culture. Yeah. We we guess, whether
it's we're actually making a point or just
total nonsense, we don't know yet
because we have not heard the entire Things.
You can assume it made a point. I
see. And now we're going to turn it
back over to... Yes. Here he is in
the flesh.
And I wish you cover some of that
Yeah. It's too much flash in my opinion
open Dean foster talking about
(03:59):
the
happiest song. On that's way. What it was
happy song. Right? Oh, the happiest song. I
was gonna say, we no this with this
song. I don't No. You don't remember won't
the time.
No. But now what you mentioned the happiest
song we were talking about music.
We were in the last right. And 1
of the things that came to mind was
when I was
(04:20):
in Africa. U.
There was an... There there was an... The
evening event on that I was invited to,
and this is in Tanzania.
And we got to singing
and dancing, and the band was playing and
this was a a local welcoming song, which
is basically now so well known throughout
(04:42):
not only Tanzania, obviously, but, throughout of the
East Africa as Tanzania
it's not the national anthem, but it might
as well be. Mh. It is the happiest
song I've ever heard. Real. It and it's...
Yeah. It it's just... You got... You gotta
get up and dance, It is totally infectious,
and it was
(05:03):
it was the...
If you're ever feeling down.
And you just need a lift, you know?
Mh. This... It's a gray and
and and and said kind of afternoon. You
just having a fun. Put that on. Just
listen to jumbo.
Nice. Okay. The go go online and watch
half a dozen dance groups doing this song.
(05:25):
And
singing it and
wow. And just to be be able to
be there and participate in this. Yeah. For
me was just absolutely through thrilling. It's
it is truly the happiest song you'll ever
hear. Wow.
Okay. That's quite an endorsement. Okay. We... We've
gotta looked that up we go. We gotta
find that.
(05:46):
Yeah. Jam.
That's enough. No. No. We want... We wanna
actually hear the. We don't wanna pay with
the race.
But what's that wait hold on.
It's legal. I,
really?
Did he too much? No? That no
jump... Been a while since we
learned with licensing I when we talked to
a licensing or even been on the song.
(06:08):
John the jumbo and Sw, which is the
local coastal language. U. Jumbo means welcome. Okay.
Okay. So you're seeing it to people who
wanna welcome to the country joyful. Yeah. It's
very joyful and wanna. You're saying jumbo, like...
No jumbo. Jumbo. Yeah. Like JA0
as opposed to the you. Okay.
(06:29):
It's welcome jumbo. Nice. Nice. Very nice. Yeah.
It's very cool. Yeah. It is. It has
enough things. So welcome to our welcome to
our fiftieth.
Yeah. Welcome to our there
episode celebration episode. That's right. Welcome.
When we were talking about Italy. Yeah. We
were talking about music before. I was something
about Opera, and then that took us to
(06:50):
Italy.
Exactly. And you're celebrating an anniversary in Italy
this where we're we're planning next year actually,
to to head, but we're in the midst
of trying to plan
our trip to Italy, my wife and I
and and in the hopes of celebrating our
anniversary over there. Fantastic. So perhaps... So we
have celebrations of upon celebrations. And we could
(07:10):
talk about some aspects of Italian culture. Sure.
Right. So when... And Sharon and I were
visiting our friends in Italy.
Many, many years ago, we played a card
game that we learned over there, which is
which was
it cold spoons. And and I think we
played spoons. So we have played spoons. Several
(07:33):
on several occasions. But when we were in
Italy,
you you had to...
The loser of of the game, and it's
irrelevant as to what the game actually is.
It's a card game. But the losers the
game as part of the ceremony
has to get up and sing an Aria.
Right. In that because in Italy, that's what
you did. Mh if you lose the game.
(07:55):
So
Cheryl lost
on round,
and this is late at night after a
grand italian feast. So and
several
bottles of wine. Mh. And
Cheryl breaks
into
this aria from Lob M.
Nice. And I did not know my wife
(08:17):
knew this. I didn't know she could sing
it.
Well, I knew she she's I knew she
was a great singer, mh but I didn't
know she knew this. Mh.
And
our italian friend, Arm is sitting at the
table, and his jaw drops because
he too could not have anticipated that she
knew the the Rf.
(08:38):
I'd I at... And to this day,
if you ask her to sing it, you
know, she'll insist on playing spoons and having
several bottles of wide versa first. Sure Sure.
Sure. That's what you do. Yeah. You're ready
to sing. It's the the only way the
Aria
goes back to mine.
Nice he's very nice.
(08:58):
Well we'll have to do that soon. Yeah.
Absolutely.
So Italy
is a... It's a it's a deep dive.
Wow the culture.
It it... It's a country... It's a it's
a country a name only.
You know, in that Okay. The different sections
of Italy, arc of are so different. Mh.
(09:19):
And so you... We've got for... First, the
the first big division,
culturally speaking is that you've got the north,
and then you've got the south. Mh. And
the 2 never have historically gotten along. And
there's always this north south division in culture
everywhere around the world. Right. Sure. You think
of it. Every every country got it. Yeah.
(09:39):
Sometimes it's east and west, but north and
south mainly because
from the agricultural traditions that all cultures have
to deal with until very recently.
It's going north and going south,
that changes that you chicago
climb top. You don't get that change so
dramatic going east West. Right. So the the
(10:01):
the life that develops
in the north and the south
based on these agricultural traditions.
Can be very, very different. Yeah. Okay. And
and now in Italy, you have this. And
and the joke, of course is that the
northern is look at the southern and call
them terrible names and the southern
look at the northern and they call them
Germans.
And you there's always this rivalry in in
(10:25):
Italy.
It's much more rural
in the south. It it has
traditions that come from,
a deep,
mediterranean heat. Mh
And in the north,
these were consolidated prince states
historically,
that became part of the country of of
(10:46):
Italy. But again, only in in only in
the 18 hundreds. Mh and,
they were once part of France once part
of Switzerland 1 the latest drawing of the
line. Yeah.
And Europe, that's like, yesterday. Right. Exactly. Right.
So
vastly different traditions,
much more
Like, 1 could say sophisticated in the north.
(11:08):
You think of the cities in the north
like Milan, which
you know, is is highly refined,
way of at life. Very fashion that oriented.
Yes.
We were in Milan last year. And coincidentally,
we were there for fashion week.
Didn't a good time didn't know. Didn't didn't
know it the real but they dressed it.
Well, that I'm sure you dressed. Well, as
(11:30):
I did. As you always... Well, my son
sneakers. And then then And nothing else Nick.
But interestingly walking And everybody said, okay. Okay.
Nice sneakers snow. Walking down the street in
Milan. Quite a ape.
Oh boy.
Quite error.
Walking down the street of Milan was a
a true experience because I was impressed to
(11:50):
the fact to the fact that
people were sizing up each other on the
street. Yeah.
With their eyes. Yeah. Based on how they
dressed. Yeah. And they start with the shoes.
Oh, sure. So you always have to have
the finest shoes on. Okay. And then everything
else can be access depending on your personality,
(12:11):
but it's got to be high fashion. Mh.
And your shoes have to be. Bottom up.
And I mentioned this again, to my friend,
arm Man, and he said he said, oh,
yes. When I was growing up in Italy,
he said my mother always said, no matter
how you have to dress. Make sure your
shoes are the best shoes you can afford.
Mh. And and and it was absolutely striking
to me how people were visually looking at
(12:34):
each other's shoes
just walking down the streets and may not
interesting. Do you have a do... Did you
get a sense of why that is or
did Arm to speak to that? It, you
know, it goes to... And, again, they they
could be know, we can give it an
an economic explanation. Yeah that's why Political and
classical
explanation. Yeah. But from a cultural perspective, Mh
It plays right into this, very deep cultural
(12:56):
issue in all of Italy, north and south,
which is La Gu.
It's Okay. Beautiful face.
Mh. 1 must... I think Billy Crystal had
a routine about this. 1 must look beautiful.
All the time. Mh 1 must put on
this
could be fashion.
It could be a sense of style. It
(13:17):
could be a way of
demeanor a way of behaving, but 1 has
to be
doing things
correctly.
And in
La. Good it literally means beautiful face. Okay.
A beautiful figure. And we're we're talking face
in the,
definition of, like,
keeping face or something like that, more of
(13:39):
a broader outlook to the term as opposed
to adjust your fit like pig area. Right.
Right. And and so things must be as
perfect as you want them to be seen
to be. Mh. Including yourself.
If you want respect, to You have to
you have to look like you do. You
have to dress like you do. Sure. You
(14:00):
have to behave in ways that shows that
you know what you're doing. Yeah. And that
you are well connected and that you know
the right people.
Because
Because in Italy, it... It's not
only what you know. And in fact, it
isn't so much what you know
traditionally, but it's who you know. Mh. And
and whether or not you know that you
(14:22):
are entitled to not have to follow the
rules. Right. Everybody else has to follow the
rules. But in Italy, you get great respect
if you don't follow the rules because you
don't have to.
Okay.
It's like,
walk into a... I remember walking into a
bank in rome and waiting online. Okay. A
(14:44):
bureaucracy in in in Italy is staggering.
And it's a beautiful place to visit, but
a terrible place to live and the Italians
will tell you.
Because because of things like
corruption and bureaucracy,
it's
and and and because of La Gu,
because
The Italian culture is 1 where
(15:05):
it's not so much having to follow the
rules and the processes and the procedure and
you go right across the border into Switzerland
where that's what it's all about.
Everybody knows the rules and the processes
procedures. Mh. Right? But you cross into Italy,
and it's No. It's like, rules are made
by people
who
can make those rules. Mh. And if you
(15:26):
are smart enough clever enough and you know
somebody
who can will help you
allow you to not have to follow the
rules.
Then you earn points
for being clever and not having to fall.
Like, you stand on a street corner in
Zurich.
And the light is red and you tried
(15:46):
to cross the street because because the no
cars coming,
and you're gonna get shouted at. Right. It
happens to to me over time when I
do think of something from New York. Right.
You right. Right Yeah. Jerk it doesn't matter
with the long start. Right Right. You And
and little old swiss lady, you know, shouted
at me, and I didn't quite understand what
German, but it... But what she was telling
me is that you can't do that. It's
(16:06):
a red light. Right. Even though there's no
cars coming. Right. Writes no sense. Sure. But
in Italy,
to you. Right now. But in Italy
It's interpretive, I believe. If it's a if
it's a red light. I feel. Even if
there are hard cars coming. Right across the
street street. Right. Because you get brownie points
for being clever enough to know have across
(16:28):
the street without having to get hit by
a car. Yeah. By the cars. So
I've I've walked into a bank once and
I'm standing online, like the, like, the jerk
has to follow the rules because I don't
know any other way.
And
some guy comes into the bank and walks
right up to the front of the line
walks right to a tailor. M. Okay. And
I'm going... Whoa. Wait a minute Wait a
(16:49):
minute. Right yeah. They're a real. I've been
waiting here. Now you're the little swiss woman.
Right. Now I'm the swiss. Right.
I've been waiting online for 20 minutes.
You know, and you walk right up to
the front. Right. What? And... And I'm I'm
not saying this to anybody, but I'm thinking
this. Right? Sure. And I over here that
he's having a nice conversation with the teller.
Of course, they know each other.
(17:11):
And that's why he did it. U. And
it's because they know each other they're also
socializing, Yeah. Taking up more time. Being inefficient.
Right? And nobody says anything. U.
Because this is the way... This is the
way it works. Yeah.
This is the system. This is La Fe.
Okay. U. Interesting. Okay. Yeah. I see. And
(17:33):
for I I would say, you know, Americans
visiting. Italy. I mean, you know, the Italian
brand is very, very strong. And and and
Italians make money on their Italian brand. Mh.
And it is italy incredibly s productive. Mh.
And, you know, you're you're sitting in in
the mediterranean
sunlight, and you're sipping a camp,
(17:54):
and you just
walked out of a church and and seen
the most magnificent art in the world. Also
majestic. And and you are you are seduced.
There's that moment where you are seduced. Yeah.
And then there are these other moments where
it is incredibly frustrating. You're on the line
and you're waiting to be served and
and somebody else gets served. And you can't
(18:16):
say anything about it. Right. Right. Mh.
Because so everyone knows exactly why That they
obviously have Bella Gu. And you don't. Right?
And in a way, that's the rule, the
prevailing rule over the other? That is the
ultimate rule. Yeah. Right. That there that there
are no rules for some people. Right. Right.
(18:36):
Very interesting. Yeah.
And we all know this to some degree,
but in Italy, this this issue is prioritized.
Right. Right. Yeah. I was quite apparent that
it... That exactly. I think it right. It's
it's a part
of other cultures. It's certainly a part of
the culture of the United States.
Sir it's an aspect of of human human
behavior. Right. But in Italy There's also
(18:58):
culture, especially in larger cities and so on.
You that's Right. You get an italian,
influence of the people who came here from
Italy.
So some of that is coming with the
models and and being,
worked into the local culture here Yeah. The
the joke was... I mentioned Billy Crystal in
this. You know, I think he's he had
this
routine had the stick where he was you're
(19:20):
saying, you know
if you look beautiful, you are beautiful.
When he was doing, yes. He was doing
a thing on Saturday night law.
Yes Right. Yep. And But this this is
pervasive.
Mu, the story goes when he was
you know, dictator
during the war,
in order to impress of the populace
(19:43):
of his power and his authority.
He had these meager soldiers
just a handful of soldiers,
walking through the square and walking behind the
square where he was making his address and
coming out again on the other side of
a square to walk through. So it looked
like there were hundreds of soldiers walking through.
Yeah. But it was only the same 20
(20:05):
guys who was just But look good, But
it looked looks there go. So if we
make it look good, it is... That's the
game. Yeah. Yeah.
And you'll see that
Yeah yeah. All time. Yes. Well, ultimately, that's
the problem. You know?
Some great Italian author wrote a book about
this, and it's called the italians. And and
(20:27):
and he says,
you know,
this the the sad fact is that
Italians don't solve the problems.
They simply dress them up and decorate them.
And so you are seduced by it's beautiful
because they look great. They look great, but
the problem when they taste great. Problems whatever
(20:48):
they are. Economic, political, whatever right social
they're there. Yeah. Right. And, of course, when
that's taken to extremes, like with You need
that becomes very dangerous. Yeah. And, obviously, as
you were saying, you know, it it that
happens here in the Us as well. Well,
it does dressing things and when does that.
And, you know, being being the maverick. I
think the phrase
the gray. The phrase that this offer used
(21:09):
was,
italians don't solve the problems of life, we
merely decorate them. Mh. Mh.
And they decorate from beautifully fleets, it's the
most Is 1 of the most gorgeous places
in the world. Very much you ensure in
the culture there. Yeah. Yeah. Interesting.
(21:30):
You know, the things too about Italy.
Is,
I... I have not been into Southern Italy.
I've been into Northern Italy, and and
it's like you're saying the lovely little town
of Porto fe.
Is it it's just a small. Oh 0
my god. It's it's a it's out of
a story book. Yeah. It's in incredible. It's
a it's fascinating.
(21:51):
It's very small, and it's a little a
little port Porto.
It's a little port in there, and it...
It's so it's not like a major,
influencer in the in the in the in
the area, really or even in the... In
any part of there, but it is in
the sense of it looking so good.
Looking so good. And it makes you feel
(22:12):
so good when you're in there,
and and that is... That's huge. There was
an ambassador
to, the United States
on his first posting in an Italian ambassador,
and he came to New York,
and
he was invited out to a dinner, and
he was shocked.
This is an Italian dinner in a restaurant.
(22:34):
He was shocked at the espresso that was
served at the end of the meal had
a lemon peel floating in.
And he said, what is this?
You know, we we don't have espresso with
lemon peels.
Because he was from the north of of
Italy. He was from the ari
in the
Or or the or the... In in the
(22:56):
Venice region, I don't remember exactly where his
family was from.
And in the north, you don't because it
you don't have lemon trees the way you
have them in sizzle or in the south
Okay. More mediterranean climate. Yeah. But the italian
immigration to the United states was mainly from
Southern Italy, not from Northern. Oh, yeah. Okay.
So what Americans associate
(23:19):
Italian traditions are usually southern Italian traditions. Not
all
immigrants, but most during the great migrations Right.
Into America.
So, they were mainly from Southern Italy. So,
of course, in cities like New York and
Chicago,
where you have the Italian influence, it was
southern Italian influence, and everybody drinks their espresso
(23:41):
with a lemon peel in it.
U. But he had to come to America.
To ask what is this? We we've experienced
it. Right to even experience it, and he
was he was from
from Italy. He was Italian born. Sure. Yeah.
Interesting. Sure.
It's... I would like some lemon peel and
my espresso. It sounds like. Oh, we'll we'll
get some for you right now. I... If
you could right now. Sure. Let me get
(24:01):
some of the people here to to get
pick it up for you. Okay? Thank you.
Let's get a, like, a licensing or legal
or whatever the department's called. That's right Get
legal. Not don't do anything else. So they
to help me out with that. We're not
gonna be singing, but there's no guarantee of
that. No. Definitely not. But. Anyway, you were
in... You not recent. Right? You were recently
in other parts of italy too. Weren't you
(24:24):
in Venice, Venice and Venice...
Yeah, In the North. No, in the north.
I wanna... Oh, but then also we were
in Sa. Sa. I thought you were on
a separate trip.
And okay. The... Sa
usually not
an area that
that that tourists, and and even in business
people too unless you have some very specific
(24:45):
business, it's a it is it is part
of Italy, but it's a it's an island.
Right. Off the coast. Mh, a a very
large island and well off the coast. Mh.
So it's not part of mainland, Italy.
Mh. Yeah.
And it's a very distinctly different culture because
of that. Mh
more of of a culture that was determined
(25:05):
that that that results from a mix of
Spanish.
Northern Italian, southern Italian,
malt,
even. Mh.
So it's a very
unique mix, and they
a a lot of folks there
trace their Italian heritage, but they also straight
(25:26):
trace their Spanish heritage. They cut catalan, Here
job from the from the Northeast coast of
Spain. Mh.
There's a town in Sa,
A alfredo.
It looks like a town on the
on the,
northeastern eastern coast of Spain.
(25:46):
Okay. And they speak a dialect of Italian
which sounds more span more catalan and more
Spanish than Italian.
Because all of those people came from Spain,
not from Italy. Sure. Yeah. Very unique and
beautiful island. Mh. Sa. Nice.
Nice. Okay. Yeah. Go. I just looked it.
Yeah. Yeah.
(26:06):
Was there a an experience that you had
there that stood out
that you can recall at this point? In
A?
Or in Sa?
Didn't... In hold on. Yeah. Take 3.
Action.
Never mind. Go ahead.
I wanted to buy a bottle of this
local,
(26:27):
liqueur
called mer.
Mer,
I guess it was... You could say it
was the Italian translation for Myrtle.
But it's... I... As I understand, it's not
just made from myrtle leaves from the Myrtle
tree. Mh. But it's made from,
the brush
(26:48):
that covers most of the island, Mh. Which
is kind of a spicy,
fragrance has a beautiful spicy fragrance to it.
Anyway, walked into this shop,
and there were rose a rose of merit
on the shelf.
And
so I wanted to get a bottle and
move on,
(27:09):
because it was not just myself, but there
was... We were traveling with friends,
and they were being patient with me while
I went into the store to by the
bottle. And bring it back. Mh And I
was, I guess, sending off impatient fives.
Okay. And the store keeper was becoming very
very impatient with me. Oh, dear. And this
(27:30):
doesn't sound like it's going well. Well, mh.
Actually, it it did... It it It all
turned out. Okay. A few. But
the more impatient... A cliff hanger they for.
I really remember More impatient I became the
more insist he was that I taste the
myrtle fast.
And he happened to have a bottle that
was open already. To have 1. Yes. I
(27:52):
mean, this was the... It was, like, it
was difficult
to just have a transaction. Yes. This was
because
transactions without a personal
relationship. Mh. And
in the Mediterranean.
Are difficult. Mh. On this island off the
coast of Italy, even more rural and more
(28:14):
separated from
northern
instruments mh. Was even more the case. Mh.
And I was challenging his ability
to actually
behave in a way that was different from
what he was comfortable. Mh. Right. Yeah. Right
yeah. And
and and I realized what was happening of
(28:35):
course. And I was enjoying that that he
was wanting to impress me with the mayor
that I was willing to just buy
un taste it. Mh Sure. Mh. Yeah. Yeah.
Of course And, I finally relaxed with it.
Mh. And I said to myself, well, if
if they're waiting for me outside fine. And
if they're not... I'll figure out where they
went. Yeah. Yeah. When in Sa do is
when do that Exactly.
(28:57):
And 20 minutes later.
Of course.
Because he did have a transactional goal in
mind. Mh. Yeah. That I was to walk
out with not only with the bottle that
I had intended to want. Mh. But with
also several other bottles. Sure. Other things that
he was going to entice me. Of course.
Right? So this was gonna be a grand
experience for both of us. Right going he
(29:17):
was gonna he was going to to to
sell more. Mh. Than I had got intended
to buy.
And I was going to enjoy myself in
the process.
Right? Right? Right? Win win. Okay. I mean,
Yeah.
And about like a worse thing. Did you
buy more bottles? I did. There was day
go. I did And I walked out with
3,
(29:38):
and,
Cheryl, and our friends were not around in
the square. Mh. I I think they made
the had actually flown back to the United
States. Give me I made the correct judgment
call that Dean is in the wine shop.
And we like how Not not that's gonna
be a while. Yeah. Actually, 20 minutes is
pretty good. Not not terrible. Yeah. I just
looked up Mir. Yeah. MIRT0
(30:00):
for those yes no. Yeah. How to spell
it Yeah. In that does it's is it
a myrtle based... From the myrtle plant, which
is... Yes. Grows freely inserted you. That's right.
Nice.
Very sweet, very lovely after dinner, liqueur. I
don't believe I've ever
had a had the opportunity To have any
of that. I have not either... Well, there's
a bottle waiting for. Is there? No alright.
(30:24):
Great. Yeah. Excellent. Well, in celebration of our
fiftieth episode? No. Sure. Happy fiftieth. Happy fiftieth.
And let let's break that open right now.
Okay. Right? Here we go. And there it
is.
I don't know if it that actually has
a quirk like that and it would there
it does it does. Yeah. And or now
it doesn't, actually, because it can popping out.
So I have a question. Do we have
more to talk about with Italy do we
(30:45):
need a a part 2?
There's always more to talk about. I would
think Italy.
I feel like there's so much there so
much
We do.
Go on. Absolutely. Great. I think so too.
Buenos
until next time. There you go. Here we
go Alright. Child child babies.
(31:05):
I think it's time to get out right
now. Yeah. Yeah. So
as always
Ciao bella.
Okay. Here we go. Here he's not too
much, Better. Yeah. I'll watch too much. Shit
He's bus wrong in the ball for himself.
He's.
I wonder what that Iv hook up there.
I Is really do it.
(31:27):
So you know what, Dean?
Oops.
Your culture showing.
Hey.
Smell you.
Before you run off and disappear back into
your own cultures.
(31:49):
Let me give you some information about something
we really want you to know, and that's
how to get hold of us.
Give us your question, your comments, anything along
those lines By email, it's oops,
culture show at gmail dot com, and be
sure to follow us on whenever social media
you use at oops Culture show.
(32:11):
Thanks.
Ios
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