Comments on: “No” in Italian Means STALK ME PLEASE

By: nkswsgf

nkswsgf — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:33:53 +0000

By: Ash

Ash — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:03:30 +0000

HAHAHA, seriously Jamie, just the way you write, you make a story come off a page and I honestly feel as if I know you. You are honestly a trip, and if someone doesn’t give you a damn book deal, the world has lost it’s mind. I sort of had something similar happen to me this past summer in Chile – I was staying in a hostel, and I had just gotten in late night…this group of rowdy Brazilian guys rolled in, apparently also from having a late night, and each one of them started lining up to take turns to basically grab my head and force me to kiss them – it was soooo scary! I mean, flattering, but scary. So, it’s either one of those things where every other nationality is just brazen as hell, and Americans are the only ones that actually ASK if they can kiss you (which, I will admit, I DO hate), or….us American chics are just simply irresistible. I prefer to think the latter!

By: Joan Jontilano

Joan Jontilano — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:55:17 +0000

You have to remember that you are in Rome, probably the biggest tourist destinations in Italy. This is a place where there is a good chance you will hear more English spoken than Italian on any given day. That said, it seems to me that in the major tourists cities, it is the obligation of *certain types* of Italian men (or insert the Nationality of your favorite huge tourist city, hello France!) to give love and attention to starved English speaking women that they need and desperately want. Not to mention that (I hate to say it) women from *ahem* certain English speaking countries have a reputation for/are perceived as being easy. And yes, I happen to be American, too. Sigh…

On the other hand, go to a less frequented city in the north, or the south, or anywhere smaller, and you won’t get that kind of treatment… as much.

Good times.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:28:11 +0000

Oh, oh… as a Canadian I’m going to be in BIG TROUBLE in these countries! It’s practically a national law to be polite here! Oh well, I’ll just have to practice my ignoring and dissing skills in the next few months!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:16:15 +0000

This story reminds me SO MUCH of being in Italy, particularly when I was there as a student. And with the commenter above: “They really are quite degrading to women and made me feel incredibly vulnerable, humiliated and even scared at times.” – yeah, I felt that way too. I think they take advantage of American “niceness” or whatever it is – that attitude we have where we feel like we owe strangers polite conversation, even when it makes us feel uncomfortable. On the way to the Vatican City one time, my girlfriend was actually followed off the bus, where she ended up darting around/behind several Bernini columns in order to lose the guy. My strategy was ignoring or glaring, which didn’t stop the catcalling, but helped with personal space.

By: Theresa Taylor

Theresa Taylor — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:05:18 +0000

I would pick up my phone and act like my husband is on the phone. “Like, Oh Hi Honey!!! And then I would make up a story on the phone letting the *hit man* hear you and that you are talking to your very huge and burly-jealous-crazed-man beast and if anyone if harassing you he is going to HUNT them down!!!!

Love the story and I am glad there are Hide-away-corners- in train stations!!Pheewww!

By: nicole antoinette

nicole antoinette — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:34:50 +0000

WHAT IS MY VIBE?!

HOW CAN I GET SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY HOT TO DO THAT?

WINE!

Dude. I would so hit on you in an Italian train station. The end.

By: Marylin

Marylin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:04:59 +0000

Eek, I think I’d be a lil scared if something like that happened to me with the following. Mind you, I’d probably go up to him and tell him where to go, making a scene while I’m at it to get him to bugger off.

By: A Little Coffee

A Little Coffee — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:55:59 +0000

I found while travelling through Europe last year that the only way to avoid unwanted male attention in France and Italy (and even some parts of SWITZERLAND, for crying out loud!) was to ignore them completely as though you hadn’t even heard them speak to you. If you respond to them at all, even with a negative response that clearly tells them you’re not interested, it just eggs them on. I felt like a total asshole blatantly ignoring guys who were asking my name or asking directions somewhere because in my mind it’s just so rude to ignore them (I TOTALLY understand your compulsion to respond to the guy even though you knew it wasn’t a good idea!) but I eventually learned to do it or be stuck with a stalker until I found the nearest police station.

I love Italy and France but they’d be so much better without all their stupid skeezy men. They really are quite degrading to women and made me feel incredibly vulnerable, humiliated and even scared at times.

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:25:16 +0000

Yes, you have to be so careful in Italy especially. Same thing happened to me but like in 1969. Yikes, that long ago!!! One of my friends was too polite, and learned she was engaged! Watch out. Love your writing, Jamie.

Laura