Family time in Milano!

Well, it's midnight in Milan and tomorrow we head off for Cinque Terre. I'm excited but also kinda sad to be leaving my family here (P.S. it's Jon ;). I always love seeing Italy through the eyes of the people that live here.

It never ceases to amaze me that people you see every 5 years take you into their home as if they owe you something. Family interaction is pretty special over here, especially when people have "American" cousins. I can't even describe how bizarre it is that I feel completely at home in a country that I was not born in. I'm not sure how Heather has been with the yelling at dinner and hysterical laughter at dinner. She has been incredible even though the language is tough for her. My family have a habit of raising there voice when you ask them to repeat a phrase. They just love Heather and say how pretty she is. She has taken the whole experience in stride. Today we rode our bikes around downtown Milan today and it felt like it was our city....we felt Milanese!

My cousin Giovanni (not an original name in our family) and I are like brothers. I completely forgot how much Italians love to laugh. Some lady choked at the dinner table yesterday because she was laughing so hard. I too choked at the dinner table today, but that was because I could eat and talk at the same time......man did I feel like a jack ass.  My Italian is better than it has ever been and Heather's understanding is really impressive.

If you've ever been to Milan you, likely, felt underdressed even though there are lots of fanny packs. Everyone here seems to be dressed like someone out of a magazine. Don't be fooled, you can find clothes here for under a dollar; we even found shoes for under two bucks. I'm not sure how this is possible but there could be many reasons.

I've found so much food here. More importantly, I have met a lot of family that got word that Vincenzo's son is in the country.  I feel good when someone tells me I look like my father. :) I was hoping to find my dad's best friend Prospero in Troia (his hometown). Today I met a lady that brought a picture of my father when he was very young; I was pretty shocked but I don't know why. It turns out the "picture lady" is Prospero's sister and she called him to tell him I'm going. As soon as she hung up she insisted that I stay with him. She then went on to tell me that "the others" know I'm going and would like to meet me. Pretty cool but I'm not sure what kind of feelings are going to be stirred up in the town my father grew up in.....The sole reason for this trip is to visit Troia but now that we're getting closer I'm not sure what secrets Troia has, concerning my father. For example, I found out that there is a grave set up for my father there that I had no idea existed. Many people have told me that Troia is an ancient town that never changes. Maybe it's for that reason that I'm starting to feel a little uneasy and, maybe, a little more emotional......

Love to you all
the next one should be a little less heavy :)