Audra deFalco (X) (asker) Nov 20, 2014:

Here is how I've translated it. I linked this sentence with the one before it. Like I said, this entire chapter is describing how they Syrians survive using what they have and how their environment is a hodgepodge of materials scrapped together (as well as their often overlooking the details in order to make do with what they have). The tone is that of admiration, not admonishment, though. He pities them because their government keeps the resources and money to itself.

"It is modernity prematurely aged, already a worn-looking, shoddy and run-down hodgepodge of botched construction—the country’s people know how to make do with what they have (images of uniformed border troops wearing slippers are still imprinted on my mind)."

Giles Watson Nov 20, 2014:

Poorly shod If "pantofolaio" is a reference to poverty, you could perhaps say something like:

The poorly shod state of the people (I still have images of uniformed border troops in slippers imprinted on my mind).

It would be nice to know precisely what the context is, though.

Audra deFalco (X) (asker) Nov 20, 2014:

I don't think so, honestly (though those were great alternatives were it a different context). The entire two paragraphs preceding this snippet detail the paucity of materials, and how people make do with what they have. Phil nailed this one.

Phil, would you like to suggest it as an answer so I can select it?

bluenoric Nov 20, 2014:

With Giles Yes, I think too that the "pantofolaio" refers more to a general relaxed and homey attitude, rather than to a lack of resources: the soldiers in slippers are just an extreme example, the comment is addressed to the population at large

Giles Watson Nov 20, 2014:

Another suggestion You could translate the non-literal meaning of "pantofolaio" and leave the reference to slippers until later with something like:

The rather placid nature of the people (I still have images of uniformed border troops in slippers imprinted on my mind).

philgoddard Nov 19, 2014:

I agree that the usual dictionary definitions of "idle" and "stay-at-home" don't fit. One possibility would be "make-do" - they do the best they can with the limited resources available.