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Monday, April 6, 2009

It's a good time to be alive.

Despite the economic downturn and the problems we must address together to prevent harming our environment, living now is so much better than any other time. Most of my readers are people in the prime of their lives; men and women who have full time jobs, family obligations and career plans; women who worry about getting enough sleep after everyone else is taken care of; people photographing their cities, their talent, their hobbies; people sharing some of their writing and their paintings. We all have an interest in sharing what it is like to live in our world at this time. We are all excited about the opportunity to learn about other lives in other continents.

If I stopped and counted, between the official followers, and the blogs I follow, I have come to know about one hundred men and women from the following places: Australia, U.k., Africa, Italy, France, Canada, Germany, Japan. I'm missing South America, though Porto Rico might be counted as such. So, with one hundred sample, I might draw some conclusions, just for fun. I would like to be corrected immediately. So, if you read this and disagree, please set me straight.

1. Australia has the warmest and friendliest folks. During the biggest drought, they were still sweet and polite.

2. U.k has the most outspoken and verbal people; their vocabulary weighty

3. Italy, my homeland, has all the smells and tastes I remember, and more.

4. Africa has thoughtful and deeply sensitive writers.

5.France is a problem to describe, because the writers are expatriates. They are observant and style conscious.

6.Canada, while the rest of the Northern Hemisphere is enjoying spring, they remind us not to take anything for granted. They are practical, sensitive and courageous.

6. Germany, just one sample, has warm and supportive people.

7.Japan, one sample, playful, observant, soulful.

8. Porto Rico, one sample, open, creative, a mix of colors and patterns to please the eye and the soul.

9. United States, a few samples, showing a lot of practical, mostly liberal folks, open to the world around them, concerned about governmental policies, interested in the rest of the world.

Fifty years ago this month I emigrated to the United States from Italy. I still regard Italy as my soul-land; and the United States as my adoptive parents, and in-laws. Those of you who moved away from home know what those feelings are. We do things for many reasons.

It's still a good time to be alive. While we can, we can write to each other and share our views, our perspectives, adding to the common thread of our humanity.

36 comments:

Frankofile said...

UK expat in France here - taking care to remove excess vocabulary and style! - yes, let's go with Obama and think positively and intelligently about the world.

angela recada said...

Beautiful, thoughful post (as always!). It's good to be reminded of how lucky we really are. As a fellow immigrant to the U.S., I agree that there are kind, wonderful people to be found everywhere. You are really lucky to have met so many from so many places.

Amy said...

U.S. born and raised but appreciative of all of those from around the world who always have something to teach me.

It's awfully grand to have this venue to make the world a cozier and friendlier place.

An English Shepherd said...

I am a first generation 'English' English Shepherd, with both my Mum and Dad from the US, so where do I stand ;-)

Reasons said...

Hear hear, you say it so well!

We all have a lot to be cheerful about.

Debbie said...

I like this! There is good in all of us:)

Eleonora Baldwin said...

I can't get enough of reading your posts in the concurrent joy of writing each other and sharing our views, our perspectives among the members of our blogginf community. In these last few months, it's been the best thing that's happened to me.
It truly IS a good time to be alive.

Helen said...

I also think about the bloggers I follow, where they live and how that impacts what and how they write. I enjoy:
1-wonderful new words for ordinary things from a UK friend
2-'out there' humor from an AUS friend
3-amazing descriptions of the French countryside from a French friend
4-writing beyond anything I could ever think of from a UK friend
5-design and decor inspiration from friends around the world
6-wisdom from friends close to my age
7-new and exciting ways to prepare food from many bloggers
I thoroughly enjoy this kind of social networking !!!!!!

Renee said...

Bravo....

Rosaria this was a lovely post. I need a little lovely today and you gave it to me.

I think you correct in your estimation of your countries.

Love Renee xoxo

janis said...

Jan from Indiana checking in! Right you are about us bloggers hunger for knowledge about how opportunities to learn about others live, and to create friendships. I am helping my sister-in-law this week start a blog. I am excited to assist her and thrilled she will be a blogger soon.
My husband is from Monterrey, Mexico. My ancestors are mostly German. My daughter's boyfriend is a descendant from Italy. How lucky we are to be in this great melting pot country.

As anxious and frightened I get, I am forever grateful to be alive and a part of this country.

Congratulations on your 50th anniversary!

Woman in a Window said...

Very nicely put. That's it isn't it? Such a world community here and so talented and passionate. A tremendous wealth of bloggers!

Delwyn said...

Rosaria,
hello there,
this is a good summary of the cross cultural elements of blogging and also indicates how mobile we are moving around the globe freely through emigration and traveling.

It is so wonderful to sit in the comfort of home and share with friends from so many corners of the world.

I am NZ born, have family there, live in Au, have a sister in Tiberias, and a daughter in Tokyo...and spend part of the year in Kauai.

The world has shrunk and blogging keeps us close.

Unknown said...

Very interesting observations on the writers of different countries. A perspective I hadn't thought of. "It's a small world," indeed. Seems like so many people from so many places finding commonalities can only do this old planet some good.

Natalie said...

Warm and friendly reporting for duty, Ma'am!
OF COURSE we are so lucky to have our beautiful country, even if it is dry and scary.
When your cup is full, it is easy to be giving.xx♥

Unknown said...

You know, having lived in the UK I'm not sure I'd agree that they're the most outspoken people - I'd leave that to the Ozzies and South Africans! :-) That said, I do believe the English are more outspoken than they were 2 decades ago.

Loved this post, has such a sense of community about it! Well done!

Word veri for today - elegi - how appropriate :-)

karen said...

What a lovely post, as ever. I just think the photo is absolutely stunning, and it's great to learn a little more about you, too! I hope I can live up to being a thoughtful and sensitive African writer. I can't really imagine living anywhere else other than Africa, and also love the global aspect of blogging.. x

Kikit said...

We show a part of ourselves through our posts indeed!

I like the word 'playful'. Thanks a lot! :)

Mary said...

Oh Pooh, Hoo!

I am going to go for the eclectic approach. I'll accept the Aussie compliment (thank you very much indeed) and then I will add some African and Canadian attributes (I just happen to like their traits) and for good measure I might just accept a little bit of British no-nonsense.

Howdy doo da day! It sure is good to be alive!

Linds said...

Maybe I am the outspoken bit of the UK then, because I am South African born! Hmmm. I have lived here nearly 20 years now, in the middle of England.

Linds said...

I am not sure re the weighty words bit though!

Renee said...

Let us raise a glass to independence. Cheers. You will be off and running before you know it.

You have one of those souls that cannot be kept down.

Love Renee xoxo

Lynnette Labelle said...

Nice post.

Lynnette Labelle
http://lynnettelabelle.blogspot.com

Rosaria Williams said...

Dear REaders: Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comments. We do learn from each other's perspective and gain a lot more than we give.


Frankofile-please, keep the vocabulary rich and elegant; we elected a President because he could actually think and speak in complete sentences!

Angela Regada-Immigrants can and do add a great deal to the fabric of the nation they adopt. It takes time and courage for everyone to open their hearts and accept those who do not look or talk like them.

Amy-America has always been the beacon for the world. Most people if given an opportunity would gladly emigrate to this wonderful country.

English Sheperd-The entire world was colonized and civilized many different ways; every time people moved to gain an advantage, they also had to adapt to new ways, lose a bit of their ways.

REasons to be Cheerful- You definitely hold the biggest banner of optimism. Hurrah.

Debbie--Thank you for stopping by. It's good to see you.

Lola- You are my direct contact to my ancestors with each word you use, each dish you describe. Thank you for joining my circle.

Helen--I just love your list. We are closest in space, aren't we? We possibly have the same news channels and Oprah's episodes we could discuss. Oregon is an amazing place.

Rosaria Williams said...

Renee--keep up the positive spirit. Love is all around you; and soon, I'll be able to ship that inspiration for the award. Stay positive, my friend; something about good chi producing good chi...or so I hear.

Janis--I hope this finds you in springtime mode. How are the girls doing? You take me back a few years; fretting, worrying, giving freedom, hating not to know what they are doing, where they are, etc. etc... It passes. They grow up, get married, move away. Ouch.

Woman in a Window- I found your posts, in both blogs to be so seriously talented that any day now, you'll post the name of your published volume. I'm there with my credit card.

Delwin--You do represent a much more modern approach to international families than I thought could be possible. You can draw from all that history and literature and experiences!

Distracted...I find so many beautiful writing pieces at your site that call me back, day after day. You are right about the smallness of this world.

Rosaria Williams said...

Natalie--I can almost see you marshalling your brood, tending to chores and routines, worrying and planning and dreaming. In just a few years, I assure you, the house will feel empty. I'm glad you remind us that life is important at the day-to-day places, the small things that keep the machinery of life going. Thank you for sharing, for illuminating, for dreaming out loud, for reminding women that our roles have not changed much. We just added more and more to our lot.

Nicky--Absolute...Thank you for adding some specificity. We only know from books and television. Novels have tended to deal with a certain class of people; television has looked for the glaring. Only bloggers talk about the everyday hours, the dreams of the people on the street.

Karen--You and Absolute...are my models for Africa, strong women with a strong conscience. You both make your country proud.

Kikit-You are one of the newest friend; I'm still learning and understanding your part of the world. Thank you for stopping by.

Mary--Fellow teacher. I think of you everyday, actually. Or, whenever I pass a school. What a dedicated person you are; and so chipper too.

Linds- It's good to have you back. I hope your life gets easier and your support system gets better. Thank you for stopping by.

Lynette-Welcome. I hope to see more of you, as we learn about each other's world.

Mervat said...

On behalf of all Aussies, thank you for the lovely compliment you have paid us. What a wonderful forum blogger is to enable us to be in contact with people from all over the world. I get a buzz each time I 'meet' someone new. Thank you for being my blogger friend.

Renee said...

Rosaria I am thinking of your home country. The country where love was born.

My thoughts and prayers are for you and the pain I know this must be causing.

Love Renee xoxo

Renee said...

I wish I could kiss your beautiful face right now.

The two words 'you will' broke me down. I hope so, but then I don't know.

Thank you dear dear dear friend.

Love Renee xoxo

Suldog said...

U.S. here, as I think you know.

I must agree about the Aussies. Wonderful bunch, at least those who have been to my place are, anyway. Always a nice word and truly wishing you the best.

Sarah Laurence said...

The global aspect of blogging really makes it worth it. Nice observations. In Maine, I'm relating to the Canadians.

Anonymous said...

I love this post. I think of my blogger friends often and am SO thankful for this time in my life. Aren't we rich? Regardless of economy.

Siobhán said...

Very interesting post.
Can I add Ireland you your list?

Anonymous said...

When I moved away from the Boston area to the Midwest it was very hard to leave the diversity of the East Coast. Blogging is so exciting for me because I get to see everything around the globe. You are correct - it is a great time to be alive!

Merisi said...

Soul-land, I like that expression - Italy is my soul-land too. Every time I return to Italy, and now that I am living in Europe again, I do so often, I feel as if time had stood still, in a good way, even through the upheavals of politics and global distress.

xxx said...

I like what you have written here.

I'm Australian :-)... with a sprinkle of Italian

x Ribbon

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