Types of friends

As I've entered my last period in Italy, I'm thinking a lot about things I've learned, seen, etc.
Some of them I will share with you on this blog.

In Italy there are two types of people that have amazed me, one is more positive then the other.
And both will call you 'friend', the question is, who you'll call 'friend' in return.

First you have the people that are crazy about you. They love everything you do, laugh at all your jokes, want to be around you the whole time and want to help you in any way possible. For a long time, you're baffled at their enthusiasm, because you didn't really do that much in return. Their behavior might even make you feel a little inadequate, because: how will you ever repay them? You keep trying to be the happy, lovely, talented person that they say you are, and tell them a million times how kind they are to help you.
After a given time, more often then not without any notification, they start turning you down. Not in an obvious kind of way, but... suddenly that date you had, can't go through, because they have something else to do. Suddenly they don't call, unless they need something. They don't respond anymore with "love - name" or "kisses - name", but simply with "ciao."
This continues up till the point where they totally ice you out. In the beginning you think it's healthy that they take a little distance, you might even feel a little relieved. Then, you start to doubt: "did I do anything wrong?" Now, in Holland we talk about these things, people tell you straightforward what you did to piss them off, or you ask. However, with these people it's not the case. If you ask, you'll get a simple "I'm just too busy right now!" and that's that.
These people make the first few weeks of your stay very joyful and energetic!

Second, you have the people that seem more distant. They talk to you, when you meet at school, or at choir, or where ever you happen to go at the same moment. They might invite you to go along on a hike once, have dinner once, but that's it. You might think they're not interested. You might think they're aware of the fact you're only here for a little while and afterwards will be going away. Therefore they don't want to get too attached. But... That's all in your head.
Come the time, when you'll be going away, you see their real feelings. Suddenly they arrange a goodbye dinner, 2 weeks in advance. And the next week they'll come up with another thing you'll have to do together. You'll be saying goodbye again and again, over and over again, because frankly, they don't want you to leave.
These people touch your soul, because apparently... you've touched theirs...

Let's make something very clear, even though I might be different, doesn't mean I think one of the above is good or bad. I'm very thankful of having met both types peoples. They colored my stay here in Italy and I've enjoyed getting to know both of them! Also, they taught me a lot of who I am, and who I want to be.

note: maybe it works like this in every country, I never noticed before. But here, this was so obvious, I just had to write about it!!!