Things I Noticed

When you are in a foreign country and do not know its language, you are in a way forced to observe more than you are used to. And that has been the story of my life for the past 5 days or so. But today, I saw some noteworthy things.

First, Frozen is STILL popular in Italia. I get it - it is a cultural sensation. But I saw a shop dedicated to Frozen and a girl on the street holding an Elsa doll that sang "Let It Go." Yeah, that's right. A doll that is singing "Let It Go" on the street. I love Frozen, but I think it is time to seriously let it go....

Second, I was in the city center for a procession, a lead-up to a big Santa Rosa festival that is happening tomorrow. Then, I saw a guy wearing a shirt with a particular image on its front. I took a closer look at it, and I realized that there was a giant Rising Sun Flag, with a phrase "Go Japan," printed on his shirt. Rising Sun Flag is very controversial, especially in South Korea and China, because it symbolizes Japanese imperialism and massacres/rapes that are associated with such an era. I hope that people around the world become culturally aware, so that such a symbol does not become a fashion item.

Third, I saw a store that had a skull and yellow letters on the window! It reminded me of my fellow Doorknobs, who went to the Edinburgh Fringe with me. This photo is for you guys.