22, It is so nice to meet you.

I am a 4th of July baby. As such, I have had the pleasure/obligation of sharing my birthday with all of America since the day I was born. For the most part I don't mind, I love fireworks and burgers just as much as the next American, but I was excited to celebrate my birthday a little differently this year. I'm happy to say that my 22nd birthday was filled with good times and good people, there were no fireworks but there was lots of fun! However, America's Independence Day did not go unrecognized here in Florence.
On July 3rd Florence held a 4th of July celebration in the Parco d'Arte a few miles outside the city center. My friends and I are always curious as to what Italians think of Americans so naturally we were excited for this "all American" event. The celebration was priceless. There were old fashion police cars, American flags, McDonald's chicken nuggets (not the same!) and cheeseburgers, sweet tea, hotdogs, ice cream (not gelato), beer, cheerleaders, a mechanical bull, country music, "real" life cowboys, and of course fireworks. It was such a great effort made by Florence to make all of it's many American residents feel at home. But while it might have had all the right elements for an all American 4th, it lacked the liveliness and personality we Americans bring on our nation's national holiday. Luckily, I was there with about 10 rowdy American college students- and we cleared that problem right up. We figured, if they already have us pegged as mechanical bull riding cowboys and girls, why not give them a little more fuel for the fire. We ate our weight in Micky D's, cheered on the cheerleaders as they performed their little routine, woohoo-ed for all the little bambinos during the mechanical bull riding contest, and sung along as an Italian women sang "The Star Spangled Banner". Being in an atmosphere where I could express my patriotism freely was a great feeling. But I could not help but take note that Italians really do think of McDonald's and cowboys when they think of American culture.

What's more American than a cowboy? Oh yeah, the good ol' thumbs up!

Pom poms and all!! Happy 4th!!