Italy is relatively small, but just like the US, there are several different types of culture based upon region. Everyone knows that there is a difference between Sicilians and Lombardy, but there are so many other variants in between. As part of my program, I have the opportunity to talk to all these different people. One of the main things I have learned from that so far, is that there is no way I am ever going to remember all of the regional classifications. For example, Tuscany as the area in which Dante is from and therefore the foundations of the Italian language, is considered a highly cultured area and are supposedly very prideful… but as I have heard, not altogether unfounded. For the most part, my Italian peers are from Milan and the general Lombard area since that is just over the border.

Socializing with the people here is sort of half and half. The people within my age group are all very friendly and approachable. Then the older generations are also very gentile, but are less approachable because they do not know any English and whenever I try to communicate something in Italian they scrunch up their faces trying to understand me, with such agony that I give up quickly.

I am still surprised by how few people from the general populous know English. When in Germany, at least the northern/ middle parts, it seemed to me that more people knew English. More often than not, if I was speaking in poor German the other person would just speak to me in English. I suppose the upside to all of this is that I will be forced to learn Italian.

As part of tying up the loose ends of Basel we went back to see the landlord one last time and collect the remaining belongings. Part of the moving out process is doing a once-over-cleaning…which makes perfect sense. The bigger surprise is that after our cleaning a hired cleaning person comes in to thoroughly clean the apartment so that it is ready of the next tenants…at our expense! That last bit is the part that threw me. In the states, it is the landlord's burden to make sure the apartment is up to par for the next tenants. Oh wait, wait, the shock doesn't end there. The cost of said cleaning is --- $500 CHF!!! Geeeez. I am hoping that this isn't usual and that maybe our case was not standard because we were leaving before the yearly contract had completed. Either way I'm still reeling at that whopper. So just be prepared fellow Expats, there is a chance that you may be seeing unsightly cleaning bills before your move is through.

Mushroom Eggplant Sauce for Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 (16 ounce) package rigatoni pasta
  
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 1 or 2 large onion, chopped
  
• 5 cloves garlic, chopped
  
• 1 (8 ounce) package fresh mushrooms, chopped to varying degrees
  
• 1 eggplant, cut into cubes
  
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes in puree
  
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
  
• ¼ cup milk
  
• Splash red wine
  
• 1 teaspoons basil
  
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  

Directions:

Heat olive oil to a pan over medium low heat.

Sauté onions and garlic until translucent.

Increase heat to medium high and add mushrooms simmer for 5 minutes or until browned

Add Eggplant and also simmer for 5 minutes

Stir in tomatoes, basil and chicken broth

Bring to a boil

Remove from heat and add milk and wine

Serves 6