Introduction

Ciao.

"Ciao" is an informal "Hello" and "Goodbye". It implies both the beginning and the end. It is fitting that Italians greet and bid each other farewell with this simple word because in Italy, nothing is written in stone and there are no definites. Everything is negotiable and there is always room for interpretation. Back home, we say "Nothing is certain in this world but death and taxes" (Bejamin Franklin), but in Rome, I'm not sure even those apply.

The great Italian Film Director, Federico Fellini, said:
"There is no beginning. There is no end. There is only the passion of life."

La Bella Figura.

When Italians say, "Bella Figura" they mean, literally, "Beautiful Form". In Italy, they talk about Bella Figura the way Americans talk about Freedom and Equality. Although we contradict ourselves more often than not, you would be hard pressed to find an Americano (as Italians would say) who didn't, in some respect, buy into the pursuit of happiness.
So, with my ideals tucked away, I am in search of this Bella Figura. Italians love to put on a show. Even Fellini had this idea in mind when he said that all Italians are good actors and perhaps the only bad Italian actors could be found on the screen.

The stage is set. From this point on, I'll leave it up to you to decide what I mean when I say "Ciao".