Feliz Navidad!

Well, I have to say, our second Sicilian Christmas was very special!

Y'see one of our sons is here with us, along with our lovely daughter-in-law. Anton and Alina both live in New York, and decided this year was the one they'd visit us.

Alina, Anton ... and me!

It's been a real privilege because this is the first time Alina's been away from her family over the festive period. She's Mexican (hence the Spanish greeting!) so, just like any Sicilian, family plays such a huge part in her Christmas celebrations.
As said, a real treat for me and Alice!
F'sure it's been a somewhat traumatic journey for them. Not so much the distance, or even the logistics involved, but thanks to the rise (and rise) of the Omicron variant, of course!
Unfortunately for us, they spent several days in Rome before journeying here. I say 'unfortunately' because, obviously, they've found Modica to be ... somewhat ... bucolic, quaint and under-whelming in comparison.
That's only natural, and was entirely expected by all of us, but the pair of them have been very forgiving and understanding.
You have to remember that this particular part of the world is essentially our 'retirement home'. Chosen not for its size, exciting nightlife, or large foreign population, but (mostly) because it's the very opposite of all those things!
Like any family here in Sicily at the minute, our own festivities have had to be muted, thanks again to ongoing concerns over Omicron.
But, nevertheless, it’s been awesome as!

‘Expat’

A term that’s bandied about a great deal within the foreign community here in Italy.
Wikipedia defines an expatriate as: “A person residing in a country other than their native country ... the term ‘expatriate’ is also used for retirees and others who have chosen to live outside their native country.”

"Expats Living in Sicily" FaceBook page

In my humble opinion, we should more correctly be labelled as ‘immigrants’.
Why? Because that definition better fits our small community here, doesn’t it?
Am I not a person: “...who comes to live permanently in a foreign country” (Oxford), or one: “...who comes to a country to take up permanent residence” (Webster’s)?
The term ‘expat’ can be (often is) seen as implying wealth and privilege, ‘different’ motives for moving, and nationality. Some going as far as to believe the word has racist connotations.
Now originally the word ‘expatriate’ referred to exiles. But that meaning has now been lost. Unless, of course, you consider some of us at least to be in self-exile from the UK post Brexit!
What makes a person like me an ‘expat’, while another is labelled a ‘foreign’ or ‘migrant’ worker? It’s because the former is used to describe educated, seen-to-be-rich people working and/or living abroad, while those way less privileged (e.g. farm workers in Modica) are labelled as the latter. With all the stigma that brings.
A classification that really matters, because such language has been used as a political tool (e.g. by Trump and Johnson).
So, I’m an ‘immigrant’ and a proud one!

Differences

Let’s talk differences here.
Not in migration status, but in areas. Modica is unusual in that this small rural city, only boasting around 54,000 residents, is effectively split into three areas.

View from Bassa up to Alta

And that’s three very distinctly different areas! These are: “Modica Alta”, “Modica Bassa”, and “Modica Sorda”.
These names are local ones, and don’t appear on any official map. Regardless, there are great differences between the three.
Alta is the oldest, and sprawls high (hence its name) on the rocky ridge north of the now-city centre. It was the first settled (around 3,000 years ago!) because the valley below was once home to two torrential rivers, which flooded regularly.
Later, many citizens chose to ignore that threat, and moved to the more convenient lower slopes. This became Modica Bassa (“Modica Low”). But the threat remained and, following a disastrous flood in 1902, the rivers were paved over.
The third, biggest, and way less attractive area it has to be said, is Modica Sorda. A very recent addition, sprawling southeast of the city centre, it was founded as recently as the 20th century. And, consequently, is full of apartment blocks and similar soulless buildings.
What differentiates these three, more than mere geography, are the services on offer.
Services, such as public transport and modern infrastructure, that are missing in Alta; available but more ‘touristy’ in Bassa; and modern and fully available, but soulless as mentioned, in Sorda.
Given the above, we had to choose to live in Bassa, of course!

More Soon...