Deciding to take time and learn Italian from the Italians in Italy I chose Sicily for the weather during the winter season. It is warmer here and I do not understand why there are not more people visiting during this time of year. Taking sun is perfect as it is not too hot and the water is crystal clear and refreshing. At night the temperature drops and we need a sweater, but it is like that in California, too.
Learning a new language will not happen in a week in my case, so I had to find a way to stay longer for less money while surrounded by locals. Sending long e-mails to a few chosen people on Couchsurfing, and more long e-mails with a CV and picture to hostels and B&B’s. In a few weeks I had a plan. From the responses I got I decided on two options to try. The first was a Sicilian family with three children and a cat, found trough Couchsurfing. The lady of the house answered and accepted me as their guest and we e-mailed back and forth. She was really nice and offered to have me with them for a while. She spoke good English but said that her husband and children could benefit from speaking English to me while I learn Italian in the process. I liked this, as I do not want to stay for free and just take advantage of people’s hospitality, all just for my benefit. I was hoping they would get something out of this too.
The other invitations I received on this site were from single men. I was not sure about that, even if they had good reviews. It could have worked out OK as well but some were further from Catania and some had demands showing that they are not comfortable with guests. Things like waking up at 7 am each day and leaving their house when they go to work, and not returning until just after they get back. Also staying on the streets with my bags after my long flight from the States waiting until they come home from work, etc. did not exactly appeal to me or make me feel welcomed. I understood it but I preferred someone that seemed to be more comfortable with guests and enjoy the experience, more than fear it.
Although Couchsurfing could be good for a few days, taking over someone’s house is not easy for me, especially for a long stay. It could work great if traveling through, if lucky enough to find nice people on the way, but for short visits and short stays.
The family that adopted me for the first two nights was wonderful and their children a delight. They were interested in healthy and organic foods and on Saturday we went to a local farmer’s market. It was small but the kids had a great time playing in the olive orchard while we went searching for eggs in the huge chicken coop. That was fun! We came back with lots of fresh products and I got some ficus-indica and other tomato like looking fruits that I had never tasted before.
When we returned home we ate a healthy and tasty home made meal. The strange fruits were delicious, as well as the specific Sicilian pastry. Cannoli were my favorite, both cheese as well as chocolate filled. As the day of the dead is near we also had “bones of the dead cookies“, a small crunchy pastry that really sounded like chewing on bones. The 1st of November is a special day here, the day when Sicilians celebrate all the saints, and the 2nd of November is “All Souls Day”, devoted to the memory of the dead. Cemeteries are full with crying people with flowers, most of the stores are closed, and even buses are rare.
The stay with my adoptive family was great and I am grateful to them all. I hope we will see each-other again while I am in Sicily and I hope they will also visit me someday.
