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[Marco]

Interesting, and thanks for sharing. No doubt your upbringing has given you a good grounding in life, good morals and a healthy work ethic, all of which is good

I had a rather different (pretty much middle-class) upbringing, although I hate such labels, and was a spoiled 'only child'. However, my dad was very strict, and once I was an adult (after 16, really), never gave me anything without working for it, and also taught me the value of money.

In that respect, I wasn't really spoiled in terms of material possessions, although I never wanted for anything, but rather in terms of being given attention and fussed over/worried about, especially by my mum, who was the archetypal housewife and mother/wife (her sole role until death), and the one who looked after me most while my dad was at work.

Italian families are fiercely protective of their children, especially of their safety [VERY risk averse], and so always want to know where they are, at any given time, and are very strict about what they can do and where they can go.

So unlike often with British kids, you'd never have seen me wandering around the streets at all times of night, unaccompanied. That was the main sort of area where I was 'spoiled' - that and having access to my mum's superb cooking every day, which is partly why I'm such a foodie now!

Marco.

[Marco]

I know all that, you've told us often enough My comment about dog-born-in-stable alludes to that, so it's your observation skills that need sharpening

Soz, haven't a clue what you're on about....

Well, then you shouldn't be surprised that I hate porridge! I hate black pudding too, but that's not exclusively Scottish, or 'chip butties' [in Italy we have a golden rule of only ever having ONE form of carb at a time on your plate].

Basically, I can't stand any kind of stodge! I like food to have a lightness of touch/some finesse, not be too heavy, but at the same time packed full of flavour

Marco.

[guy]

Italian families are fiercely protective of their children, especially of their safety [VERY risk averse], and so always want to know where they are, at any given time, and are very strict about what they can do and where they can go.

So unlike often with British kids, you'd never have seen me wandering around the streets at all times of night, unaccompanied. That was the main sort of area where I was 'spoiled' - that and having access to my mum's superb cooking every day, which is partly why I'm such a foodie now!

Marco.

I think that is more down to your "middle class" background than ethnicity - my best mate Mario and I were all over the place day and night from about the age of about ten (maybe younger, it was a long time ago). Carried on like that until we hit our teens and had a bit of a punch up. Happy days

[Marco]

Lol, arguably yes, Guy, but that's not representative of the experiences I'm alluding to. The 'posh' part of Glasgow (and street) we lived in at the time was populated by similar 'middle class' families, all of whom enjoyed a good standard of living, but I was the only one out of all my friends who (up until 16) had to be in for 9pm.

And even after that, when my dad bought me my first motorbike (well I say 'bought', but the cost was deducted from the wages I got working in his chip shop), I had to be in for 10pm, and my mum was always worried sick until she seen me coming home safe! And things were exactly the same for other Italian kids I knew back then.

Italian parents are eternal worriers!!

The other major culture difference, compared with British kids, was at meal times... During the school holidays, I'd be called in for my lunch sharp at 12 noon, and sat down for a good 2 hours (as meal times are the most important part of the day in Italian culture, and lunch was always a full 3-course affair).

And I can remember the door bell frequently going, where one of my friends would be asking if I was coming out to play football again, and my mum telling them, yes as soon as he's finished his Tiramisu!

Whereas, when they went for their lunch, they were in and out in about ten minutes....

Marco.

P.S Was Mario also an only child, like me? If not, that may also have had a bearing on matters, in terms of the freedom he was allowed.

[system7]

Love the off-topicness of this thread. Think most of us have lost interest in the boring YOU-KNOW-WHAT!

It led me to buy some spinach and broccoli yesterday to improve my diet. You can get stuck in a rut.

Everybody eats better than the British. And we have lost the art of sitting down together for lunch and dinner.

The weekend has been killed off to in favour of 24-7 working.

We used to have great food in Southern France. Always coffee and fresh baguette for breakfast. The morning trip to the bakery was part of the routine. "Bonjour Mesdames, Messieurs!" in the queue. Our farmer host would always bring a rose melon over at 6PM to start us off along for supper with the local Rose wine. Then the farm dogs hung around looking hungry and drooling for the barbecue.

I think we started with La Salade. And the melon last. He seriously told us off for using Purple garlic. Only eaten by Les Parisiennes, who were likely to get speeding tickets locally at the first sight of a Numero 75 number plate. Explained that Rose garlic had a more subtle flavour.

Very civilised.

[Pigmy Pony]

Well, we Brits do like garlic bread. It's the future you know

[guy]

Well, we Brits do like garlic bread. It's the future you know

Don't forget filled crust pizza

[Marco]

Was Mario an only child, daftee? I did ask!

Marco.

[Marco]

My comment about dog-born-in-stable alludes to that, so it's your observation skills that need sharpening ]

And you still haven't explained this, super-daftee ^^

A) I never saw said comment, and b) I've no idea what a "dog-born-in-stable" is.

Marco.

[system7]

The British are barbarians by European standards.

I often wondered why the French always turned their heads round at me in the Boulangerie (Bakery).

Was it because they immediately detected my Englishness? And had bitter memories of Waterloo and Trafalgar?

NO. It was simply that I didn't say "Bonjour" to everybody in the Queue.

Manners are expected in Continental Europe.