Dirty old men.

09.02.2010 morning

In Italy, the attitude towards women is a bit different. According to the United States Embassy, the number of sexual harassments against American women, especially blondes, has skyrocketed. The embassy attended our school’s orientation to alert us of the dangers, to share with us past stories, and to raise our awareness. Much of the attention is seemingly harmless, from the whistling to blown kisses. However, during a walk along Arno River this morning, an older man publicly exposed himself at a playground, his focus on my friend and I. This, of course, is always a possibility in the States, but, in the last twenty years in the U.S., I never ran into it. However, in only three days in Italy, it is my first experience with the Italian park system.

Odd. And a bit disturbing.