The Warmness in the Cold Brienza

by Friski Adi Pratama (Indonesia)

Making a local connection Italy

The Warmness in the Cold Brienza Back in the summer in 2018, I decided to do something that I would never regret the entire my life. I left my comfy bed to visit a country known for a beautiful arts for the first time. My main purpose to visit Italy was for joining volunteering about jazz music events in a small town, about 4 hours from Rome, called Brienza. A small town in Southern Italy, Brienza, is a town that has gorgeous scenery like a fairy tale, the ancient atmosphere made me feel like in the medieval era. At first glance, I was relenting about my childhood, was always read a fairy tale by my dad before sleeping with the sound of cricket as the back sound. I amazed by the beautiful Brienza, that is not the point, but the friendliest local people that always greeted me with the warm smile in the cold morning. My first night in Brienza, I invited by Francesco’s family for dinner with them. There were a lot of kinds of foods I have never seen before, and some foods that have the same name in my country, but different display. People here were friendly, more than what I expected. Francesco, an old man who cared for me. The cold summer wind in Brienza was not friendly with my Asian skin which usually meets the tropical weather, and hotter. I was sick, my body seemed like whispered to me about its tiring withstand the coldness here, asked me to be back to the country with sunshine all year long. Luckily I was not alone, Francesco kindly asked me when he knew that I couldn’t afford the weather in Brienza with his Southern-Italian accent, he asked me “Tutto bene?” which means “Are you okay?” every single time he saw me. He did not understand English, but I felt the sincerity of his heart worrying about me. We quite often to talk, less talking with our own language, but body language often to use. He always talked in Italian to me, and I confidently replied to him with English. I am not sure, this seems weird, but I understood what he was trying to say to me. From what he said, I got about 60% of our conversation. Besides interacting with Francesco, I also had a good connection with his wife, Pina. She was so friendly, the same as her husband. Another side of myself said that Francesco has taught his wife and children to act friendly to each person, no matter what their background is. Pina and I did not talk to each other, but more interacted with body language. One day she told me about the receipt of the traditional food in Brienza, Crusco, also the name of the jazz music event that I joined in. She confidently explained to me how to make that traditional food, while practicing it in front of me with her thick Southern-Italian accent, she showed me the ingredients that used to make Crusco. I was so lucky to see how that food was made, and the one making me more exciting that I taught by the local. I am so grateful to breathe the fresh air or maybe cold–very cold in Brienza. The warmness of the local people here drugged me so that I did not feel chilling bones, making me want to stay longer, or even forever. Brienza, a cold town full of love inside. This town makes me want to be back.