The first notes of Eddie Wedder’s Rise fill the room’s darkness, pulling me out of a deep sleep. I reach for the phone and stop the alarm. The clock marks 05:00 AM. I sigh. From under the soft duvet, the idea of going out in the cold is all but appealing. […]
“Where are you from?” “Italy.” This answer is usually enough to make eyes sparkle, while images of excellent food, stunning architecture and picture-perfect Tuscan countryside flood the mind of the person I’m talking to. It is, however, a short-lived dream, which gets abruptly interrupted by the question that normally comes next. […]