Life: Idiotropic

Tonight was the IWC Italian night at the Frisbee Club.

Italian colors hung from the ceiling, music played, and an elaborate stage depicted a table at a traditional Italian restaurant. In the background throughout the evening, a slideshow of the Italian Air Force ran and many of the Italian ladies wore their countries colors.

The tables were set beautifully with candles and the lights were dimmed a bit for ambiance. The ladies served us themselves with large silver trays of bruchetta. Then we were each served our own individual small margarita pizza. After we ate, they brought out more pizzas and then foil so we could take some home. The food was great.

Music played - music from Italy, Spain, Brazil, and the U.S. and the ladies danced. We danced to Camisa Negra, La Bomba (different one), Prince, Beach Boys, YMCA, Black Eyed Peas, and a lot of other tunes. It was quite a mix, but all the ladies knew the moves and they knew the American dances better than the Americans did. If you don't want to dance, it is wise to stay in your seat and look completely engrossed in conversation, because those that were up or looking around were led to the dance floor. We danced a lot and had a great time. I stood in a circle of Spanish and Turkish ladies - the only American dancing - looking out into the room of tables. The right side of the room where the Turkish, Greek, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese ladies sat was almost completely empty. They were all on the dance floor. The left side of the room sat the Germans, Dutch, Norwegians, Canadians, and Americans. Those tables were almost completely full with onlookers unwilling to dance.

I really think that the cultures are affected a lot by temperatures. The warmer climates tend to produce friendlier, "warmer" people. They are outdoors more talking with their neighbors and interacting. The women are confident and dancing is part of the party. The people from colder climates tend to be more reserved. They are friendly, of course, but not as outwardly open until they know you very well - and they don't dance much. I suppose the cold keeps people indoors and more to themselves.

After the prizes were rewarded, coffee and cake were served and people began to leave, but the dancing continued. When I left the only people left were the Italians. They all had an Asti toast and started singing with the DJ. It was the own private party then and very fun to see.