We have now been in the United States for three+ days. The houses are strange (an eclectic variety of styles and materials that evoke everywhere and everytime without actually being anything, a collection of mini domestic kingdoms named Cape Cod, Georgian, Neo-Classical, Spanish Colonial Revival, Clapboard Bungalow…). The roads are needlessly wide; there are lawns everywhere, and they are trimmed and edged; people pick up after their dogs. People talk loudly with Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia accents–vowels are strong, angled, harsh. Everything is bigger: cars, buildings, portions, people.
There are fragments and reflections of Italy here on the East Coast — at Uncle Gino’s Pizza in Margate, the restauranteur noticed Simon’s Juventus jersey and Simon was able to practice his Italian (though not try the pizza; he wasn’t ready for that). We saw stracciatella on the boardwalk in Ocean City, but no one wanted it, at risk of modifying the memory of the divine products from our beloved Gelateria Gambrinus in Perugia. As we go west, even those embers will wink out.
We may be putting up a few more posts — stories and images we didn’t have time to share as we packed up. For now, the boys have decided to start a YouTube channel that is meant to introduce kids in America to European soccer; to share, peer-to-peer, their observations and insights. It’s called “Soccer Stuff”, and episode 1, though a little long (they need to get each show down to 5-8 minutes), is below. It’s about the World Cup. They begin to find their stride about halfway through.
Hi. Just watched “soccer stuff” from my motel room in Australia ( am on a wee holiday)
Quite the double act – I would like to meet these two in person. Very entertaining – and this from a non soccer mad person ( despite a husband from Liverpool who is a fan of same ) . Perhaps, a little two long but enjoyed Simon and Jakob more than our dull commentators over here. I watched a bit of the Cup and decided to support Mexico. Being a Brit I was very disappointed with England, but enjoyed the physiotherapist being carted off on a stretcher. The thing about football – I got up early to watch the final…… no score……then left room for just two minutes to make a cup of tea and bamm missed THE goal!
So, well done lads.
And also well done mom – my thoughts go out to Rebecca, their “soccer mum”. If you ever need a break from soccer come on down to NZ – where it all about the rugby!
X
Hey, Simon, everyone! haven’t talked for a while!
Well,I have some good news and bad news. The good news is that I can contact everyone
at “shades of umbria”. The bad news is that I can’t open my mail because of some password problem. So I haven’t seen my mail from anyone for months!! Sorry,Simon! But if you’ve sent me mail during these past few weeks, I haven’t seen it. I’m not ignoring you! I just can’t open my mail.
By the way, I heard you say that you want something to talk about. Why don’t you talk about your first year in middle school? I really want to know what happened after I went to Japan!
I hope you see this comment.
三年前はごめんなさい。とても反省しています。許してください。
(I’m sorry about three years ago. I’m very sorry about what I said. Please forgive me.)
-Mei
(from Simon):
Mei,
It’s good to know you weren’t ignoring me! I think that the blog is an easy way to communicate and it could work but the only problem is that everything that you or I say can be seen by everybody. Maybe the best solution is if you make another email account, if you can’t do that we could try a texting app called whatsapp which I use to talk to my friends in Italy. If you get the texting app just tell me the number you used for it and I’ll be able to find you. We could even try instagram. Tell me what you think would work the best for you and I’ll talk to you soon!
P.S. Once we find a way to talk my Dad will delete all these messages from the blog.
….thanks for the advice. But none of my family members have a smartphone. My parents say it’s too dangerous… I think we have to think about this for a while. Sorry!
By the way, listen! I have an English speech contest tomorrow! Wish me luck! If I win the first prize, I can go to the preference contest.
town=town contest State=preference contest (Sorry,hard to explain)
I hope we can find some better way to communicate.
-Mei