In a way that caught the attention and ears of many, the content creator, Francesco Amodeo, was able to overcome cultural differences and break down linguistic barriers, so that he could not only “sing” in the Emirati dialect, but also hum the songs of his favorite singer, Mehad Hamad, and fall in love with balaleet, luqaimat, and other popular foods, which made him a unique model for his followers, as the passion of the young Italian man, who is widely active through his digital accounts on social media platforms, was not limited to: Not only did he visit the Emirates as part of tours that also included many Gulf countries, but he delved into the depths of its culture, exploring the smallest details of the daily life of its rich society, presenting a living example of the fusion of cultures and the power of human communication.
At the beginning of his interview with Emirates Today, Francesco stopped at the beginnings of his journey and his passion for our beautiful language, adding: “I started learning the principles of (Arabic) about four years ago (2022) in Italy, and I was keen first to learn classical Arabic, and then I began to study and learn the various Gulf dialects, and I wanted to learn Arabic alongside other languages, but my belonging to the Sicily region in southern Italy, which has a long Arab and Islamic history, made me believe strongly. “Learning the Arabic language will help me communicate more and better with my origins and the history of my region.”
Amazing surprise
Regarding his move to live in the Emirates, and Dubai in particular, and the extent of the development that he saw, Francesco expressed his astonishment at the cultural and urban development he saw there, and said: “When I arrived here from my country, I immediately realized the great urban difference, especially since we do not have tall urban towers like the Dubai Towers, and we do not have an infrastructure with this amazing amount of modernity, despite the fact that we have a long history, original art, and many beautiful things.” The other. Of course, the UAE in general, and Dubai in particular, were much greater than my expectations. Quite frankly, Italians look at Dubai as if it were a dream. Whenever I return to Italy and tell my friends and acquaintances that I live here, they are immediately astonished and amazed.”
Francesco’s integration did not stop at the level of mastering the language and adapting to modernity, but rather extended to include the Emirati table and popular art, as he continued in his talk about his food preferences: “I love very much eating Emirati food, and I especially prefer balaleet and luqaimat. I have also come to love many of the unique local flavors here, and I am one of the most prominent fans of authentic Emirati art, as I love listening to the songs of the great star Mehd Hamad, and most of the time I enjoy humming his famous song (Barq Lah).”
A loving message
Francesco touched on the commonalities he discovered between the Arab and Italian cultures during his stay in Dubai, pointing out the existence of deep social ties between the two peoples. He said: “There is a great similarity between the Arabs and the Italians, and this is clearly represented in the family warmth and the Emiratis’ love for the family, and their constant eagerness to meet on the day off like the Italians, in addition to the constant pride in the local cultural specificity of the country, and this is a wonderful thing.”
The young Italian concluded with words that seemed to come from the heart, and that reflected his love and gratitude for the UAE: “May God protect the UAE and its sheikhs, and perpetuate the blessing of security and safety.”
Pizza with chicken.. “what will happen”
In a funny comparison that reflects his pride in his country’s cuisine, and what he sees as global modifications to the famous traditional dish of “pizza,” which reflected its specificity in his country, Francesco Amodeo expressed his surprise at incorporating chicken into pizza, saying: “No one in Italy eats pizza with chicken. I have also seen some people put pineapple on pizza, but I have never seen chicken on it in my life. No… this is absolutely not permissible (what happens).”
Francesco Amodeo:
• There is a great similarity between Arabs and Italians, and this is represented in family warmth and love for the family, and the constant keenness to meet on the day off.
• My belonging to Sicily, which has a long Arab history, made me strongly believe that learning the Arabic language will help me communicate more and better with my origins.
• 2022 Francesco Amodeo’s relationship with the Arabic language began, as he first learned classical Arabic, and today he has mastered the dialects, the first of which is the Emirati Ramsa.
