Cell phones...color co-ordinated of course. by mapakettle
Italians have a love of telephones. They use then everywhere, anytime, and for long, long chats.It is not unusual to see and hear passangers on the bus talking in normal or slightly elevated voices on the telephone to their loved ones, for the entire duration of your trip. Nothing is sacred or too personal to share with others.
I was especially concerned during my first month in Italy, to see all these supposedly normal, well dressed people wandering about talking to themselves, throwing a bit of hand movement in occasionally in order to punctuate their comments. I couldn't believe the number of strange people about. Eventually I caught on to the fact these people were in fact, talking on the telephone through use of tiny ear phones and hands-free microphones.
Telephones are a status symbol. The better a unit you have, the more successful you will appear. I had a very difficult time explaining to the saleslady at 'TIM' that I didn't want, nor need, a unit that you could send pictures on, or that I didn't care for an optional extra to allow FM music to be received over my headphones...also an optional extra.
I wanted a plain Jane telephone, that wouldn't break if dropped (too often), and a unit small enough it wouldn't require too much space in my day pack.
Ma Kettle and I only call one another, and our normal conversation lasts for approximately 30 seconds. We still get embarrased if we have to receive a call in public...
An update on Ma Kettle's usage of her phone. She has grown to love it, and she often calls me from the bus stop, or from the bus itself (gasp !!), and becomes Miss Chatty Cathy. Another observation, her use of hand movement while on the phone to others has increased dramatically. Odd.