tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154569229380760325.post651261867196134638..comments2023-10-10T17:07:36.114+02:00Comments on cross-cultural moments: Divorce and all thatElizabeth Abbothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09763064258020825441noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154569229380760325.post-57203665563755944882007-10-03T23:28:00.000+02:002007-10-03T23:28:00.000+02:00You are right when you say that family ties are of...You are right when you say that family ties are of an economical/practical nature and not necessarily "close". Family is about a unit of survival and power and welfare over sentimental ties.Elizabeth Abbothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09763064258020825441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154569229380760325.post-12853356679990233132007-09-24T16:12:00.000+02:002007-09-24T16:12:00.000+02:00I really have to read that book by Barzini.I'm not...I really have to read that book by Barzini.<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure if I agree with you about the Italian family. Yes, on the surface families seem close and a lot of people live with their parents until they are extremely old, but I sometimes wonder how close people really are to their families - a lot of the ties that bind seem to be economic/practical ties rather than "family" ties the way I understand them ie. mamma will not require you to pay rent and cook meals/will wash your clothes - but do you really talk to mamma about your life and is all that clothes washing and meal cooking really for her (ie makes her feel useful) or for you?<BR/><BR/>For example, I was quite shocked because a single mum who I work with had a terrible flu all last week. She told me today that she had to look after her son all weekend despite running a high fever and no one in her family helped her (3 siblings all of whom live in Rome). I never thought of my Australian family as being anything in particular, but I remember when I was a kid my family (mum's sisters or my grandparents) would always drop everyting and take us off mum's hands when mum was sick, had plans to go out or was away on a business trip.<BR/><BR/>I guess I feel a lot closer to my family than a lot of my Italian friends despite the fact that I moved out and was economically independent in my early 20s.Kataromahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14978496810226430712noreply@blogger.com