The very kind pharmacist’s son, whom I met in August after the brutal street robbery, texted me a few days ago whether I’m almost returning. “Si si si si”, I wrote back, provided I’ll be testing negative at my corona test that is. Now that the infections are increasing dramatically in the Netherlands, the Italian government has classified the Netherlands as a high-risk country, which implies that there’s a risk that I have to quarantine myself when I set foot on Roman soil again next week. Even before I had sent the text message, I realised I was addressing the subject that I have been trying to avoid as much as possible for months already: corona. Too late. As a reply I received a dramatic series of texts about how the situation is getting worse in Italy too, with facemasks now compulsory everywhere – including in the open air – and the fact that only six people are allowed to eat out together. It made me realise I did not want to hear a word about it all. Ssstt, I replied, “solo cose belle, va bene?” Nothing but beautiful things, okay?
The fact that the global pandemic has also brought us some good things is something that can alleviate our collective suffering a little
To say we’re all pretty done with corona, would be a huge understatement. However, the fact that the global pandemic has also brought us some good things is something that can alleviate our collective suffering a little. Every day now, we’re confronted with rising figures again. In Italy, the covid-19 cases don’t increase as fast as in the Netherlands fortunately, but nevertheless, a portion of heartwarming news would be a very welcome medicine for the soul. And that’s exactly the reason why I am dedicating this blog to these cose belle, beautiful things.
In the love city of Verona in northern Italy, where Juliet’s world-famous balcony can be found – usually visited by millions of people a year – a modern balcony fairytale took place during the severe lock-down. It was the bank employee Michele (38) and lawyer Paola (40) who only saw each other for the first time now after having lived opposite each other for most of their lives
My heart melted when I read the newspaper article last week that told the story of the Romeo and Juliet of the twenty-first century. In the love city of Verona in northern Italy, where Juliet’s world-famous balcony can be found – usually visited by millions of people a year – a modern balcony fairytale took place during the severe lock-down. It was the bank employee Michele (38) and lawyer Paola (40) who only saw each other for the first time now after having lived opposite each other for most of their lives. On the evening of seventeen March, Paola walked across the balcony of her house on the sixth floor where her sister played the violin. Across the street on the seventh floor, Michele grabbed his binoculars and thought: what a beautiful girl. After the first smile that was cast over the balustrades, he got in touch with her via Instagram. Because even though they were a stone’s throw away from each other, a physical encounter was not possible of course. The messages became longer and longer and eventually turned into telephone conversations. After the strict lockdown was finally lifted, the newborn lovebirds spent the whole summer together. And now the best news ever came out: they are engaged! Apparently, Paola is thinking about having the wedding on her roof terrace, where it all started.
That’s how a massive return to the south began with southern Italians repopulating deserted villages in Sicily, Calabria, Puglia and Campania and enjoying a home-cooked lunch by la mamma. Many of them realised that this was worth more to them than solely living the big city life
Another Italian phenomenon which was born thanks to corona is the so-called ‘southworking’. In Italy, too, people were forced to work from home for months on end, something that was simply unthinkable until recently. Before the corona crisis, thousands of southern Italians worked in large offices in Milan and Turin – but also in London, Zurich and Paris – but suddenly it didn’t matter anymore from where they were working, as long as there was a well functioning internet connection. And that’s how a massive return to the south began with southern Italians repopulating deserted villages in Sicily, Calabria, Puglia and Campania and enjoying a home-cooked lunch by la mamma. Many of them realised that this was worth more to them than solely living the big city life. I have already spoken to three Italians who have decided to stay in the south for good. Thanks to the corona crisis, they realised – and so did their bosses – that it is possible: making a career with a large company, while staying (a large part of your time) in the south of Italy. An official organisation has been founded with the aim of perpetuating this phenomenon, even when the global pandemic will be behind us. Its mission is: “Perché lavorare da dove desideri fa bene, a te e ai territori”, which means: “Because working from where you love to do so, does well. To you and the world around you”. A beautiful insight that is born out of a very dark situation. Corona has opened our eyes to what’s really important in life.
More than ever before, people have proved to be there for each other
Unfortunately, the terrible virus caused many distressing situations as we all know. Its sad consequences stretched far beyond the walls of the overpopulated hospitals. However, more than ever before, people have proved to be there for each other, which ultimately lead to heartwarming stories that made it to the front pages of Italian newspapers.
After a few minutes of chatting in which she told the young lawyer it was her eightieth birthday, Giovanni continued his work. However, he couldn’t get the lonely old woman out of his head and decided to share the story on his Facebook page. From then on it went fast
So did the story of the Sicilian Annamaria, who spent the day of her eightieth birthday in absolute loneliness as a result of the lockdown. When the phone rang, she broke into a smile: perhaps it was a friend or family member who had thought of her after all. In reality, it was Giovanni Denaro, a young lawyer, who had accidentally dialed her number: he had dialed the area code of his own city instead of the area code of the Palace of Justice that he tried to reach. Even before Annamaria could answer the phone, he became aware of his mistake and hung up. But Annamaria called back, and could not hide the disappointment in her voice when she found out the person trying to call her didn’t do so to wish her a happy birthday. After a few minutes of chatting in which she told the young lawyer it was her eightieth birthday, Giovanni continued his work. However, he couldn’t get the lonely old woman out of his head and decided to share the story on his Facebook page. From then on it went fast. Someone suggested calling the birthday lady and after she gave permission to share her phone number, her phone kept ringing for the rest of the day. Dozens of young Italians from all over the country phoned her to congratulate her and have a chat. They were strangers to each other, but they had one big thing in common: the will to make that awful loneliness fade away on such a special day like this. In the end, they all understood how the old woman felt: because of the lockdown every single one of them was cut off from the world and staying at home. Maybe not all alone like Annamaria, but for the young Italians it wasn’t easy either not to see their parents or nonni, grandparents, for weeks.
The Municipality of Origgio in the province of Varese decided to halve their own salaries, including the one of the mayor, from May until October so that, with the thousands of euros saved, face masks could be bought and distributed among the inhabitants
After all, there is always good news to be found, but we need to be willing to see it. Thanks to the corona crisis, the sea in Italy has never been so clean and transparent; a recently conducted research tells how you can see up until 15 metres deep. At the same time, the fish have not come this close to the shore in decades in the whole of Italy. The World Food Organization, which has its headquarters in Rome and where some of my acquaintances work, won the Nobel Peace Prize last week – the most important prize of all, if you’d ask me – and the Municipality of Origgio in the province of Varese decided to halve their own salaries, including the one of the mayor, from May until October so that, with the thousands of euros saved, face masks could be bought and distributed among the inhabitants. You see? Nothing but cose belle, nice things. Because the truth is: they’re everywhere. On a side note, the important Nations League match (football) played between Italy and the Netherlands will take place this week. That the results of this match will lead to a positive headline in both countries is a little less likely however…
Sources: positizie.it, Wanted in Milan, southworking.org