Elena, left, and Julia, right, would never change Cagli, although they wouldn't mind moving to a bigger city when they are older
"The kids are violent
and loud, running around disturbing the residents all night," he sighs,
"This didn't used to happen." Across town, on
via Luperti, more teenagers lounge in the midday sun. Despite the oppressive
heat, blaring sun, and shadeless street, Julia Grossi and Elena Cecchini
wear long, dark blue, flared jeans and full make-up. The girls spare a few
minutes to talk on Elena's porch steps before Elena is due for work at her
mother's Tabaccheria. The girls enjoy hanging out with their friends, going
to parties, and shopping. Both grew up in Cagli, surrounded by their entire
families and all their friends, but neither girl expects to remain when
they grow up. Julia, 16, is intent on going to university to study communications.
Elena, 17, does not expect to attend university, but instead wants to travel
and expand her horizons. While neither girl is up to facing a giant metropolis
such as Rome, they both are looking for a little more anonymity. Julia wishes
to be able to have her personal life remain personal, and live without the
scrutiny of an entire town hanging on her every move. 
"I want to be able
to live without considering the opinions of other people," says Julia. Elena
believes the biggest problem with Cagli is the lack of variety. Her biggest
complaint: shopping. "We
don't want to change Cagli," Elena emphasizes, "but at the same time, we
don't find everything we need." Lounging
among the jaded teens in front of Café del Teatro sits Alessandra Costantini.
This 17 year-old has a unique view of Cagli. A native of Rome, Alessandra
spends her summers and vacations living with her Cagliesi grandparents.
She relishes spending time away from the overwhelming chaos of Rome.
"Rome has too much of everything," Alessandra says, "Cagli is relaxing."
She enjoys being
within walking distance of everything, especially her large group of friends.
Her view of Cagli is unusual, she admits, adding that her 11 year-old sister,
wouldn't want to live here all the time. Andrea, Davide, and Marco, along
with the rest of her friends, proclaim her insane for preferring Cagli to
Rome. 
Marco Cometti absentmindedly plays with a silver earring as he explains why he wants to move out of Cagli
Alessandra Costatini enjoys spending vacations visiting her grandparents in Cagli, and prefers the small city to a big city like her hometown of Rome
The older folks
have less tolerance for the whining desires of the Cagliesi teenagers. "The children should
consider themselves lucky," says Assunta, "Cagli families stay and live
here their whole lives." A lull the conversation
starts the fearsome foursome discussing the most important newsworthy event
of the last few months: the fateful soccer game. Mariano and Piero begin
an animated discussion, matching mischievous grins on their faces, about
what Americans yell at referees during American football games. The men,
amused by the similar, possibly universal, phrases, make hand gestures in
reference to a common Italian curse, stumbling over the word "horned." After
an embarrassing trip over the word "horny", a mutual understanding of the
obscenity prevailed. The old men kept smirking and repeating bastardo, idiota,
and multiple indecipherable, though no doubt inappropriate, phrases. Though
the language of the teenagers was infinitely cleaner than elder patrons,
their icy, bored stares are no match for the fire and laughter in their
grandparents' eyes. The desire to leave a haven of safety and love and venture
headfirst into the unknown may be common among teenagers everywhere, but
Cagli risks more than losing a few restless wanderers for the few years
it takes to earn a college degree. Mario surveys Piazza Matteotti with pride,
gesturing his arm towards the roaring fountain in the center. "Look at the piazza,"
proclaims Mario, "it's the most beautiful in all of Marche!" Of this he
is certain: regardless of age, no Cagliesi would disagree. 
Graphics, Page Design & Layout by Diana Richardson