Italian Chats

Make the most of your enforced downtime with… Dante’s Lockdown Survival Guide By Dante Alighieri Society

In times of crisis - it is said - Italians give their best, and the coronavirus emergency is no exception. Here are some tips on surviving – even enjoying – life under lockdown (like a true Italian).

We are creatures of habit in what we eat, when we work, what TV shows we watch. Right now, all those habits have been shoved out of the window. There’s a lot of confusion, but this is an opportunity to create new habits. So what to try? What’s your new routine? It may be fluid and can change, but what do you want to try?

One more thing before we begin our usual top 5. We all know how sad and hard the lockdown time was in Italy, and how families suffered so much during this period. With this article we absolutely don’t want to disrespect anyone, but simply put a smile on our faces; after all, just like Dario Fo said:

“(…) soltanto nel divertimento, nella passione e nel ridere si ottiene una vera crescita culturale.” (Only through fun, passion and laughs one could achieve a true cultural growth) Missing aperitivo? Invite friends to online cocktails. Just start an aperitivo hour on a video conferencing site, sending one or two friends every day an invitation to drinks in front of their laptop (or phone) at a time when we might normally meet in a pub or at each other’s homes. It’s surprising what a difference it can make to a day of isolation, and to your spirits in general, to see your friends’ faces in the evening and hear them talk and laugh.

*Scendi il cane pure tu!

Take your dog outside as well!

*Porto fuori il cane!

(correct form of the more colloquial “Scendi il cane”)

Prendiamoci uno Spritz da remoto!

Let’s have an Aperol Spritz through the webcam!

One of the nastiest aspects of the pandemic is that it turns your friends and all that you do to show them affection – hug and kiss; share meals and drinks – into a deadly threat. And yet, in this appalling moment, we need our friends more than ever, and it is probably true that our immune systems do, too. Isolation is bad for a species addicted to social intercourse like Italians. If there’s one positive aspect to come out of this pandemic, it’s the increase in pet adoptions nationwide. In Italy people craving companionship in this isolating time are turning to shelters to find their new best friend/ partner in crime. If you previously shied away from getting a dog due to working outside the home, you may now find yourself in an ideal situation. But remember that adopting a pet is a commitment and of course a way to claim benefit of some much-needed escape from lockeddown homes.

Dogs can certainly help reduce stress and improve well-being by increasing physical activity. Most dog owners regularly walk their dogs, which of course also leads to valuable health benefits. However, in cities under strict lockdown orders, exceptions are typically made for pet owners for taking them on walks around the neighbourhood which has ultimately led to dogs complaining about too much walking during the pandemic. What are you waiting for? Adopt a dog and put it on a treadmill: it will be your passport out for freedom.

CE LA FAREMOOO!

We will make it!

For sure you have heard from the news these three words: ce la faremo! This quickly became a sort of national anthem in Italy during the lockdown. However music is still missing… Luckily, from the southern cities of Salerno and Naples, and the Sicilian capital Palermo to Milan in the north, residents of apartment buildings and tower blocks are continuing to sing or play instruments, or to offer DJ sets, from their balconies in a trend that is spreading from Italy across Europe. Musical competency is not a requirement, and neither is possessing a traditional instrument. A pot or a wooden spoon can suffice, if only because their sounds will join those of many other people who, from their balconies and windows, are hoping to create a bond through music. Forget about toilet paper, water, pasta or canned food. Something that these last few months taught us is that the only thing you really need during a lockdown in Italy is…YEAST! That’s right: yeast. With our beloved ristoranti and pizzerie, but also bars, cafeterias and rosticcerie being forced to close during the lockdown months, we, Italians, had to come up with ideas to replace them. And therefore, almost every single kitchen in our country turned into a bakery shop. Mamme started baking cakes for present, future and even past birthdays. Papà discovered an innate passion for making pizza (pizza nights became a nightmarish daily routine for about 3 months…). And obviously figli were involved in this flour/yeast frenzy as well: cornetti for breakfast; focacce and pizzette for the online aperitivi (see our other entry!) and bread for…all occasions! Even on social media one could easily find at least 25 different ways to prepare a nutella filled bombolone. However, this carb outburst ended together with the lockdown: as soon as people were allowed to go out again, Italians somehow quickly forgot how to use that strange white powder that was all around their kitchen for their last 3 months and went straight back to their precious bars! But, c’mon! Who are we to judge?! If done with all the precautions,

Mamma, esco a far la spesa!

Mom, I am going groceries shopping!

colazione al bar is something you simply cannot miss!

Alzati e…corri!

Get up and…run!

Are you a middle-aged men or woman whose only physical activity was to run from the kitchen to the sofa and back?! Are you still wondering why you paid half your salary on that running equipment you only used in the fitting room?! Well, my friend, your time to shine is here! At the very moment in which the Italian government allowed runners to go out and train a bit, a whole army of fluo t-shirts, yoga pants and superexpensive running shoes invaded every street and every corner. So, how can you miss this chance to get some “fresh” air?! The risk of not being able to walk for the following days is totally acceptable, isn’t it? But, be careful! In a lockdown-like situation in Italy, runners (even “pro” ones) can be seen as silent plague-spreader, while sweating their way throughout the neighbourhood. Therefore, get ready for some widespread criticism, and water buckets as well…

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