The head of the Civil Protection department said, “We can only win this war if our fellow-citizens adopt responsible behaviors, temporarily changing one’s lifestyle.”
- Italian people don’t like certain things aimed at restricting personal freedom, but the majority accepted it and did what needed to be done.
- When the entire country went into lockdown many people stepped up to the plate to volunteer their time with the Civil Protection here in the City of Taranto, which is located, in the Puglia region of Southern Italy. This entailed, arranging delivery of groceries, getting others to help families in need by donating or purchasing groceries on their behalf, auctioning off items donated by businesses to generate proceeds to help buy masks and food, picking up and delivering medication and masks to those who need it, as well as providing transportation to those who required additional medical assistance. The most vulnerable are assisted, NO questions asked. They have coordinated their efforts to take the burden off the medical system and walked the talk with their actions from the start and continue to do so today. I take my hat off to them all.
I was fortunate enough to have met one of the individuals volunteering for the Civil Protection here well before the outbreak/lockdown started, he is a good friend of my partner. He’s not only a lawyer here in the city, but he is also a passionate singer who involves himself in many charitable activities to help other organizations/people around the world. When he started doing deliveries, he did so in a Porsche, which in my humble view is something that goes to show you that anyone can walk the talk, regardless of their personal condition or status. He recently shared this, and it speaks volumes:
We never asked for some water to drink, despite sweat and fatigue. With the body tired, we ran because it was the heart that pushed us forward.
“60 DAYS. I ran the Solidarity Marathon for 60 days. Raffaele, Aldo, Michele, Loredana, Anna, Maria, Alessandra, and many others ran with me…. We ran in the yellow uniform and we never stopped. Never. Not even when we were tired. During the race, many people encouraged us to continue running. The people, our people, who with their smile, supported us. We never asked for some water to drink, despite sweat and fatigue. With the body tired, we ran because it was the heart that pushed us forward. In particular – I have understood in these 60 days that my second skin is the yellow uniform. Not the toga, or the jacket and tie; but the yellow uniform is a symbol of help and solidarity with people in real need. 60 days of smiles and sweet caresses. 60 days of strong emotions. 60 days of silence, of the looks of old men and children. 60 days to breathe people’s breath. 60 days that all of you have given me. 60 days to scream that the Civil Protection was there, there is and will be there. 60 days to run my most important marathon ever. And if you want, my friends and I, dressed in yellow, will run for you again. Thanks, Taranto, Thanks! Alessandro Basta”
No beauty shines brighter than that of a good heart.
~Anonymous
He was kind enough to deliver a bag of THE DAMN BEST BISCOTTI, I have ever eaten. It was an unexpected and kind gesture and one of the many that I have received from countless people in this country.
Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.
~Scott Adams
- You can feel and see the difference in how people treat others here. People are not looked down on, they don’t compare the rich and the poor, everyone is equal. They don’t pay attention to labelling people based on their title, status or wealth in life. Nor do they make fun of people whether they are short, tall, fat or skinny. Tolerance is something many people in my view could learn something about, just by spending some time here.
- People are friendly and welcoming and have been extremely unprejudiced of me not being able to speak the language. I try and continue to learn many words through my associations with people I have met. I have ventured out on my own and always found my way…. Google translate certainly helped, but now after several months, I’m able to say, read, and understand more than what I did when I arrived. So, I feel blessed because I am slowly learning another language.
- Their positive energy is something that you can feel on your skin. No one has to say a word because it’s as clear as day.
- The commonality seems to be openness and enthusiasm as well as a free approach to life.
- Many Italians here aren’t as religious as many would think, they don’t need to go to church to practice what they preach, they just do it naturally.
- They are quite laid back and take things slowly.
- People here appear to be happy and passionate about their work and you can see this in your interactions with them or regardless of interaction.
- This country in my view is more human dimension and I think that most of the countries within the EU union are like this to a lesser or greater extent.
- While the hospitals here in Southern Italy may not be as developed as the Northern regions, many people here took the lockdown seriously and stayed put, only venturing out to do what was authorized. Others felt the need to breach the restrictions and as a result will suffer the consequences of that choice, either through fines, court or criminal charges.
- In the Province of Taranto, there are 275 known cases of COVID19 and to my knowledge here in the City there are 0.
- Italy is something I would call “in-your-face beautiful”. Vineyards, endless fields, olive groves, amazing monuments, and remnants of culture.
- Everywhere around the world there are mountains and oceans, lakes and seas. Italy is a rich country with breathtakingly beautiful sandy beaches and crystal-clear seas.
- Pollution is everywhere in the world, but not as noticeable here in the sea as it is elsewhere in the oceans.
- Italy is affordable in many regions:
Aldo, Thank you, Thank you very much, I was really touched by your comments. My partner has always told me that to truly know a country you have to live there and he was right. The truth is that the people here are one of the 1st things I noticed and loved about this City/Country. It was a profound awareness of how different people here are compared to that in North America. That’s not to say that everyone is the same in North America but the difference here is profound in a good way. I have found Italy to be a very vibrant and tolerant community in which you can breathe and be yourself. I believe that the real cultural backbone of Italy is in the 1,000’s of villages and small towns and not the metropolis cities. Its something that comes from the past and is reflected in the relationships between people today and the way of living. It really is a beautiful country with much to offer and teach others. Thanks again Aldo. If the opportunity presents itself it would be great to meet you in the not too distant future.
Suzana, thanks for this article that I would like many to read, especially those who judge based on prejudices, without ever having seen or lived.
I thank you above all because you have spoken little of the food and natural beauty, of which those who have been in Italy speak and which too often are the only things appreciated in my country, but you have spoken of PEOPLE!!
And I thank you for the concrete contribution you made in a time of difficulty in which solidarity was the real strength that was needed.
I thank you because you have wanted to understand, enter our social fabric, deepen our sensitivities, positive and negative.
I have traveled a lot, I have known many countries, I am an admirer of some in particular but also a severe self-critic of the defects of the Italians. But i can’t deny that in what you have told there is the essence of the Italian people, which that I would like to always emerge, at any level, in any context, to convince those who have a superficial vision of Italians.
Thanks again. I hope we will have the opportunity to interact with you.