The night before I was on the Web and trying to select my favorite seat on the SwissAir Airbus. I thought that I knew the model of the airplane but a friend of mine who knows a lot more about airplanes than me (and in fact more than most) corrected one of my older blog entries and educated me on what model it was, but of course I forgot. Regardless, I was aiming for 29G, a bulkhead seat that has just as much room as first class. Of course, that seat was already taken and I was lamenting this fact to Ilaria’s father who promptly asked me which seat and now what. I ended up choosing the seat at random because it wasn’t like I had committed the floor plan of the aircraft to memory.
So, after the short and empty flight from Milan to Zurich, I thought for sure this was going to be last time I was going to be able to speak Italian on a regular basis. I was lamenting this and also very afraid because I knew that I was already standing on a slippery slope. Any disruption in the regular usage of Italian was going to push me back down the slope. Low and behold, I ended up sitting next to Sabrina, who among other things, was one of the nicest persons that I had met on this entire adventure. We communicated with sign language at first because I know she knew that I was American; I had plopped my passport down on my seat in a heap. I waited for the first opportunity to confirm that she was Italian and introduced myself. I think she was shocked but also happy to be sitting next to someone that spoke Italian.
We enjoyed each other’s company for the whole voyage and covered a number of topics. It was amazing how much I LEARNED in the 12 hours of flying and one hour through customs and baggage claim. We took breaks for sleep and meals but otherwise our chats filled four pages in my notebook. So, just when I thought that Italian was over, it wasn’t. We exchanged contact information for a chance to do language exchange; she is planning to stay for three months in America to learn English which is something that I think we will definitely see more of since the Euro is extremely strong compared to the Dollar.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Is this the train to Feerenzy?
Sitting here on the train to Firenze and waiting for it to depart. I didn’t think that I could run into anyone with terrible pronunciation, but I did. I need to point out one thing about the Italian language and, by the way, this is true for all languages. There are some words that simply do not get translated into Italian from English. These mostly have to do with computers and technology. Still, if you don’t pronounce these words with an Italian accent, the Italians won’t understand you. It sounds strange, I know, let me tell you that it’s even stranger when it actually happens to you and you get corrected on the proper pronunciation of an English word. I point this out to illustrate that the proper pronunciation makes a world of difference and it’s the difference of being understood and not.
So, while waiting, an obviously American woman (only Americans wear flip flops in a medieval town like Siena) walks into the train car that I am in. She blurts out a question, in despair, since the train is about to leave: “Is this the train to Feerenzy?” The first syllable was eaten (was this lady Roman?) so it sounded more like frenzy. Well, I thought, goodness, I didn’t buy a ticket to frenzy. That’s the last place I would want to go. Anyhow, usually, I sit and laugh at this but if anyone needed help, it was definitely this woman. So, I told her yes, it was the train (I didn’t even try to repeat her pronunciation) but also wondered if she knew that the English translation for Firenze was Florence. The Italians on the train car with me, sat there, completely confused by this woman’s question. As I mentioned, if you don’t pronounce it right, they won’t understand you and this was very much the case today.
So, while waiting, an obviously American woman (only Americans wear flip flops in a medieval town like Siena) walks into the train car that I am in. She blurts out a question, in despair, since the train is about to leave: “Is this the train to Feerenzy?” The first syllable was eaten (was this lady Roman?) so it sounded more like frenzy. Well, I thought, goodness, I didn’t buy a ticket to frenzy. That’s the last place I would want to go. Anyhow, usually, I sit and laugh at this but if anyone needed help, it was definitely this woman. So, I told her yes, it was the train (I didn’t even try to repeat her pronunciation) but also wondered if she knew that the English translation for Firenze was Florence. The Italians on the train car with me, sat there, completely confused by this woman’s question. As I mentioned, if you don’t pronounce it right, they won’t understand you and this was very much the case today.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
10 Things
The Morning
Inspiration is a hard thing to come by; it either comes naturally or sometimes it’s artificially induced. I don’t have any of those artificial enhancers nor have I ever taken them. So, I’m stuck with hoping that something comes naturally Today is my last official day in Siena and the only thing that I am wishing is that time stops or even slows down. I’m almost uninspired today because I’m not happy with leaving.
I’m up pretty early today because, amongst other things, I have to do some last minute packing. Most of it is actually done, but there are some last minute items that need to be packed away at the last minute like all the bathroom items. I’m remembering the Easter weekend, it started with the dinner on Friday night, Florence and Gli Uffizi on Saturday, culminating with Easter Vigil on Saturday night. Easter itself was relaxing and I spent part of the day doing some very last minute shopping for my grandma, my host family, the Gorla family, who will be my unofficial hosts for the next few days, and one very important thing for me. Pesto, my favorite of all the Italian sauces (it tastes amazing in Italy) is one thing that I absolutely must take back with me. It’s the only thing that is extremely important for me to bring back. In a few minutes I’m off to meet with Caitlin for one final breakfast in Siena. I’ll have to wake her up first though with the rude morning phone call.
Mid Morning to Afternoon, Part 1
When I arrived at Piazza del Campo, I couldn’t believe just how great the day was looking. The sun was out but it was still a little chilly. This means that I still had my winter coat on. I have become accustomed to describing these conditions as “C’è il sole però un po’ di fresco”. I deviated from our morning meeting point so that I could stand in the sun and soak in as much radiation as possible. Somehow, Caitlin found me without any use of our mobiles or SMS. After our first cappuccino and brioche, the weather took a turn for nasty. Within seconds of finishing the first part of our breakfast, rain started pouring, the wind was blowing, and stuff was everywhere. The waiters were scrambling to get everything buttoned down. Caitlin and I were absolutely beside ourselves and really could not believe how quickly the weather had turned. After trying to grin and bear it for a few, we decided to take our breakfast inside and continue there.
The Afternoon, Part 2
After moving ourselves inside, we treated ourselves to another cappuccino and brioche and conquered a variety of topics. As some folks might remember, it was my intention to stay completely away from native English speakers and in particular Americans. Nothing against Americans or native English speakers; it’s just that I have ample opportunities to meet them in America and, actually, I have ample opportunities to meet them in many other countries too. I’m also trying to perfect my accent and it’s especially hard to do that around Americans because the Italian accent isn’t something that they can quite master. Although, I’ve decided that the Portugese and British accents are MUCH worse. About four or so weeks prior to today, Caitlin and I met each other in the internet point (we also go to the same school) and after hanging out for the next four weeks together, we found that we had plenty of things to talk about in both English and Italian. So, today, this afternoon I was not only saying farewell to a city that I have fallen for, but I was also, sadly, saying farewell to my best friend of four weeks. E-mails, our blogs, and the occasional phone call will be our means of contact from this point on.
The afternoon took an interesting turn when about four tables worth of American tourists sat next to us. Four tables, in case anyone is wondering, is the equivalent of about 16 Italians or 10 Americans. Yes, we are a portly population, but we also take up a lot of space. I do it too, I find myself taking up a lot of space when I sit down at a table, on the train, or anywhere else for that matter. I had disappeared off to the bathroom and when I came back, Caitlin was in full swing with them. I’m exaggerating a little when I say that they had already covered life, death, and miracles (vita, morte, e miracoli), but in summary, they were already talking about each other’s future life plans. Was I really gone that long? Caitlin gave them an expert explanation of Siena (it’s hard to resist selling a product that you truly believe in), the Palio, Contrade, and even a short lesson on how to hail a taxi. After talks of philosophy, life, economy, school, relationships, and even business, it was just as fun to chat with a table full of mature Americans (40 and over that is...they were all well over 55 actually) who, strangely, hailed from the South and California. Doesn’t this always happen? For her efforts, Caitlin earned herself a 5€ stipend (don’t forget to report this to the IRS) from Bill (one of the guys in the group who was particularly interested in how to hail a taxi), and, most importantly, a bevy of well deserved and merited comments that ranged from how pretty she was to how impressed they were of her extensive knowledge of Siena. Fastidiosamente brava e bella.
Farewell, Conclusion
Before leaving, we rewarded ourselves with beer and potato chips. Yes, breakfast started at 9 but it was ending at around noon. I guess potato chips have become a lot more popular because I don’t remember eating a lot of them a few years ago when I was in Italy. We walked back to my apartment and after some brief introductions with Carla, Caitlin helped me collect my bags. My taxi arrived immediately, I jumped in and the taxi driver and I sped off to the train station.
A quick explanation on the title of this entry: 10 Things. At breakfast, Caitlin and I discussed Taming of the Shrew and 10 Things I Hate About You. I won’t introduce it any further except to say that there was a poem in the movie. So, with that, here is my poem:
I hate that, today, I must leave a city and a friend
It’s the natural order, all good things come to an end
Still, I couldn’t have asked for anything more
Memories and experiences that I will always adore
I leave Siena today, knowing that I will return
For this desire I will remain steadfast and stern
I know that the next time won’t be the same
It’s tough to match the first, with similar acclaim
Still, I will always have this treasure
And lots of photos for good measure
In case I forget, I now know who to seek
Someone down for whatever and very unique
I close with gratitude for everything and everyone
I enjoyed every minute and it was all great fun
Inspiration is a hard thing to come by; it either comes naturally or sometimes it’s artificially induced. I don’t have any of those artificial enhancers nor have I ever taken them. So, I’m stuck with hoping that something comes naturally Today is my last official day in Siena and the only thing that I am wishing is that time stops or even slows down. I’m almost uninspired today because I’m not happy with leaving.
I’m up pretty early today because, amongst other things, I have to do some last minute packing. Most of it is actually done, but there are some last minute items that need to be packed away at the last minute like all the bathroom items. I’m remembering the Easter weekend, it started with the dinner on Friday night, Florence and Gli Uffizi on Saturday, culminating with Easter Vigil on Saturday night. Easter itself was relaxing and I spent part of the day doing some very last minute shopping for my grandma, my host family, the Gorla family, who will be my unofficial hosts for the next few days, and one very important thing for me. Pesto, my favorite of all the Italian sauces (it tastes amazing in Italy) is one thing that I absolutely must take back with me. It’s the only thing that is extremely important for me to bring back. In a few minutes I’m off to meet with Caitlin for one final breakfast in Siena. I’ll have to wake her up first though with the rude morning phone call.
Mid Morning to Afternoon, Part 1
When I arrived at Piazza del Campo, I couldn’t believe just how great the day was looking. The sun was out but it was still a little chilly. This means that I still had my winter coat on. I have become accustomed to describing these conditions as “C’è il sole però un po’ di fresco”. I deviated from our morning meeting point so that I could stand in the sun and soak in as much radiation as possible. Somehow, Caitlin found me without any use of our mobiles or SMS. After our first cappuccino and brioche, the weather took a turn for nasty. Within seconds of finishing the first part of our breakfast, rain started pouring, the wind was blowing, and stuff was everywhere. The waiters were scrambling to get everything buttoned down. Caitlin and I were absolutely beside ourselves and really could not believe how quickly the weather had turned. After trying to grin and bear it for a few, we decided to take our breakfast inside and continue there.
The Afternoon, Part 2
After moving ourselves inside, we treated ourselves to another cappuccino and brioche and conquered a variety of topics. As some folks might remember, it was my intention to stay completely away from native English speakers and in particular Americans. Nothing against Americans or native English speakers; it’s just that I have ample opportunities to meet them in America and, actually, I have ample opportunities to meet them in many other countries too. I’m also trying to perfect my accent and it’s especially hard to do that around Americans because the Italian accent isn’t something that they can quite master. Although, I’ve decided that the Portugese and British accents are MUCH worse. About four or so weeks prior to today, Caitlin and I met each other in the internet point (we also go to the same school) and after hanging out for the next four weeks together, we found that we had plenty of things to talk about in both English and Italian. So, today, this afternoon I was not only saying farewell to a city that I have fallen for, but I was also, sadly, saying farewell to my best friend of four weeks. E-mails, our blogs, and the occasional phone call will be our means of contact from this point on.
The afternoon took an interesting turn when about four tables worth of American tourists sat next to us. Four tables, in case anyone is wondering, is the equivalent of about 16 Italians or 10 Americans. Yes, we are a portly population, but we also take up a lot of space. I do it too, I find myself taking up a lot of space when I sit down at a table, on the train, or anywhere else for that matter. I had disappeared off to the bathroom and when I came back, Caitlin was in full swing with them. I’m exaggerating a little when I say that they had already covered life, death, and miracles (vita, morte, e miracoli), but in summary, they were already talking about each other’s future life plans. Was I really gone that long? Caitlin gave them an expert explanation of Siena (it’s hard to resist selling a product that you truly believe in), the Palio, Contrade, and even a short lesson on how to hail a taxi. After talks of philosophy, life, economy, school, relationships, and even business, it was just as fun to chat with a table full of mature Americans (40 and over that is...they were all well over 55 actually) who, strangely, hailed from the South and California. Doesn’t this always happen? For her efforts, Caitlin earned herself a 5€ stipend (don’t forget to report this to the IRS) from Bill (one of the guys in the group who was particularly interested in how to hail a taxi), and, most importantly, a bevy of well deserved and merited comments that ranged from how pretty she was to how impressed they were of her extensive knowledge of Siena. Fastidiosamente brava e bella.
Farewell, Conclusion
Before leaving, we rewarded ourselves with beer and potato chips. Yes, breakfast started at 9 but it was ending at around noon. I guess potato chips have become a lot more popular because I don’t remember eating a lot of them a few years ago when I was in Italy. We walked back to my apartment and after some brief introductions with Carla, Caitlin helped me collect my bags. My taxi arrived immediately, I jumped in and the taxi driver and I sped off to the train station.
A quick explanation on the title of this entry: 10 Things. At breakfast, Caitlin and I discussed Taming of the Shrew and 10 Things I Hate About You. I won’t introduce it any further except to say that there was a poem in the movie. So, with that, here is my poem:
I hate that, today, I must leave a city and a friend
It’s the natural order, all good things come to an end
Still, I couldn’t have asked for anything more
Memories and experiences that I will always adore
I leave Siena today, knowing that I will return
For this desire I will remain steadfast and stern
I know that the next time won’t be the same
It’s tough to match the first, with similar acclaim
Still, I will always have this treasure
And lots of photos for good measure
In case I forget, I now know who to seek
Someone down for whatever and very unique
I close with gratitude for everything and everyone
I enjoyed every minute and it was all great fun
Be Right Back
Sorry for the absence again, but I was entering the part of my trip that I always hate: the end. It isn’t over ‘til it’s over or the fat lady sings though, but that’s coming shortly. I have approximately one week left (four days) and plenty of Italian still to be had. I’ve kept pretty busy this week with my classes, a movie, and some goodbye dinners/get-togethers. Sometimes it does suck to be me.
Friday night was great as I spent it at dinner with about seven other Italians. Interesting evening for me not only from the language and culture perspective but also from the perspective that I got to relive two of my best vacations ever. We spent part of the evening checking our pictures from our host and hostess’s vacations in both Thailand and Australia. For me, in my own life, those were two of the most memorable vacations that I have ever taken. It was definitely very nice to relive them through someone else’s pictures. The food that evening, as you might have already guessed, was extremely good. There were three types of salami, one from Lombardia, and two from Tuscany. Each had its own distinct flavor and they were all extremely tasty. In Italy, you have to try extremely hard to eat poorly. Believe me, it’s definitely possible as it has happened to me on one occasion, but it is also extremely rare. In fact, I think I only remember that one particular occasion. When it does happen, it really shocks the hell out of you.
So, regarding the title of this entry, “Be Right Back” one of the most imprecise phrases that I use everyday in America. I say it all the time and it can mean (or has meant for me) returning in five minutes to not coming back at all. I said it once to Daiana after class, forgot all about the fact that I was supposed to see a movie with her and some other students, and then she asked me about it the next weekend when I saw her. I bring this up because a similar phrase exists here in Italy: “Torno Subito”. This has meant the difference between fifteen minutes and never returning at all (actually, I mean, returning a little later than expected and I’ll explain that now). I have been renting a lot of Italian movies while I have been here and while Blockbuster does exist here (can’t wait until we finally get rid of it America since their stores are so ugly), I always rent from Top Video in Siena. The owner there has a great selection of Italian films. In the middle of the day, most stores have a pause where they close for about two hours. Well, knowing this, I try to get to the store right after school and just before the pause begins. Well, one day, there was a sign on the door, torno subito. I waited there with a native (so I know I wasn’t crazy) and the owner never quite made it back before the pause started. I have about a dozen other examples of this and I am just as guilty by the way. I’ve said torno subito a few times and returned about three hours later and of course no one ever calls me out on it.
Just to expand a little bit more on the food that evening. We had an amazing roast and I was just a little surprised that we didn’t have lamb but then I realized that it was Good Friday and here we were chomping on large pieces of meat. I was guessing that the hosts and guests were not too concerned about following the religious protocols of the evening.
On this particular Friday night, I had a lot of fun even if after the evening my head was about to explode. I heard a lot of new words that night, exercised the heck out of my language center. After thanking the hosts for that evening, I ended it with “torno subito”.
Friday night was great as I spent it at dinner with about seven other Italians. Interesting evening for me not only from the language and culture perspective but also from the perspective that I got to relive two of my best vacations ever. We spent part of the evening checking our pictures from our host and hostess’s vacations in both Thailand and Australia. For me, in my own life, those were two of the most memorable vacations that I have ever taken. It was definitely very nice to relive them through someone else’s pictures. The food that evening, as you might have already guessed, was extremely good. There were three types of salami, one from Lombardia, and two from Tuscany. Each had its own distinct flavor and they were all extremely tasty. In Italy, you have to try extremely hard to eat poorly. Believe me, it’s definitely possible as it has happened to me on one occasion, but it is also extremely rare. In fact, I think I only remember that one particular occasion. When it does happen, it really shocks the hell out of you.
So, regarding the title of this entry, “Be Right Back” one of the most imprecise phrases that I use everyday in America. I say it all the time and it can mean (or has meant for me) returning in five minutes to not coming back at all. I said it once to Daiana after class, forgot all about the fact that I was supposed to see a movie with her and some other students, and then she asked me about it the next weekend when I saw her. I bring this up because a similar phrase exists here in Italy: “Torno Subito”. This has meant the difference between fifteen minutes and never returning at all (actually, I mean, returning a little later than expected and I’ll explain that now). I have been renting a lot of Italian movies while I have been here and while Blockbuster does exist here (can’t wait until we finally get rid of it America since their stores are so ugly), I always rent from Top Video in Siena. The owner there has a great selection of Italian films. In the middle of the day, most stores have a pause where they close for about two hours. Well, knowing this, I try to get to the store right after school and just before the pause begins. Well, one day, there was a sign on the door, torno subito. I waited there with a native (so I know I wasn’t crazy) and the owner never quite made it back before the pause started. I have about a dozen other examples of this and I am just as guilty by the way. I’ve said torno subito a few times and returned about three hours later and of course no one ever calls me out on it.
Just to expand a little bit more on the food that evening. We had an amazing roast and I was just a little surprised that we didn’t have lamb but then I realized that it was Good Friday and here we were chomping on large pieces of meat. I was guessing that the hosts and guests were not too concerned about following the religious protocols of the evening.
On this particular Friday night, I had a lot of fun even if after the evening my head was about to explode. I heard a lot of new words that night, exercised the heck out of my language center. After thanking the hosts for that evening, I ended it with “torno subito”.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Breaking News: Vikings invade Italy
With Easter coming quickly, two things come to mind: 1) What am I doing for Easter? 2) Panic, well, not panic, but consternation about moving back to America. I’ve gotten to the point here where I now feel like I will be moving back to America. There are much worse problems to have; meaning, moving back to Southern California is a great problem to have. Still, there is a completely different style of living that I have become accustomed to and, as you might expect, I have found that it suits me well. That didn’t come as a surprise to me of course and it’s going to be a huge shock to the system when I get back. Still, I’ll be happy to see Stella, sleep in the new bed, continue my massage subscription and I will definitely go out and take advantage of the weather in California.
So, it’s Wednesday before Easter and there was a concert tonight at the chapel across from the Duomo. The best part of the concert was that it was free. And if there could be two best parts, the second best part was the setting for the concert. I encourage you to check out the pictures on Flickr; it will be under the set called Festa di San Giuseppe.
The concert was very good; I’m not good enough with music to know if they were doing anything wrong though. It was put on by an orchestra that came all the way from Norway; and so, the Vikings invaded Italy for an evening. My thoughts were swirling this evening; not sure why. Must have been the drinks earlier or the nap before dinner. Whatever the cause, they were swirling. The main thing that I was thinking was I was wondering how long it must have taken to build the small chapel we were in that night. If you look at the pictures, you will see that the chapel is huge by American standards, but tiny by Italian standards. I was also wondering how long it must have taken to paint the frescoes. The details, depth, colors of the frescoes were immaculate; this isn’t your standard art class drawing. What makes them even more spectacular is how big they are. I mean, how long does something like this take to do? More importantly, people must have had a lot more patience for waiting for these grand works of art to be finished.
So, it’s Wednesday before Easter and there was a concert tonight at the chapel across from the Duomo. The best part of the concert was that it was free. And if there could be two best parts, the second best part was the setting for the concert. I encourage you to check out the pictures on Flickr; it will be under the set called Festa di San Giuseppe.
The concert was very good; I’m not good enough with music to know if they were doing anything wrong though. It was put on by an orchestra that came all the way from Norway; and so, the Vikings invaded Italy for an evening. My thoughts were swirling this evening; not sure why. Must have been the drinks earlier or the nap before dinner. Whatever the cause, they were swirling. The main thing that I was thinking was I was wondering how long it must have taken to build the small chapel we were in that night. If you look at the pictures, you will see that the chapel is huge by American standards, but tiny by Italian standards. I was also wondering how long it must have taken to paint the frescoes. The details, depth, colors of the frescoes were immaculate; this isn’t your standard art class drawing. What makes them even more spectacular is how big they are. I mean, how long does something like this take to do? More importantly, people must have had a lot more patience for waiting for these grand works of art to be finished.
Ti aspetto
I know that I have mentioned this before, but time hasn’t stopped yet and the countdown...continues. It’s sad to know that in a few days, I will have to say goodbye to a wonderful city, its people, and my friends here.
Yesterday, I spent the evening at Enoteca Italiana. It’s the Enoteca at the Fortezza (Fortress). I think that I can count on one hand how many times I have used that word, Fortress, in California. In fact, I can count the number of times without hands. Accidenti! Wow! I can’t believe that last night, this being the last week in Siena, was the first time there (cavolo). I’m such an idiot. Anyway, it will be a place that I will either try to frequent until I leave or it will be a place that I will frequent the next time that I come back. More likely, it will be frequented on my return since there are so many other things that I need to inspect. My return will definitely be soon.
I know that I haven’t yet mentioned my weekend in Viterbo and so I’d like to write about that a little here especially since I am talking about return trips. I met up with the family of a good friend of mine and they were nice enough to show me around the city. Hold that thought for just a moment and allow me to back up just a bit to explain something. In Siena, I have gone around the city once or twice on my own and then I retraced my steps, a couple of times, with the capable assistance of one of the teachers from my school. It’s truly amazing how much more enriching the city is and everything that it has to offer when it’s explained to you by not only a resident but a resident expert. That’s how I felt in Viterbo, I traced a quick path on my own, and when I retraced it, my eyes were opened wider. It’s the difference between “aprire” and “spalancare” which is hard to translate but it essentially means that my eyes were opened widely. Thanks to Anna and Valentina, I learned an incredible amount about Viterbo, its significance in Italian history, and the festival of Saint Rose (La Festa di Santa Rosa). I am scheming to figure out a way to get back for this.
Class yesterday was the last class I would have with my regular teacher. She is off on vacation for this week and she gets back into it Wednesday of next week. I thanked her for all the time; it was difficult at times since we moved very fast but I enjoyed every bit of it. We said our goodbyes and I told her how fond I was of this city and that I would definitely be coming back. We had a funny exchange because for a brief second “I was outside on the balcony” but I eventually communicated my attachment to the city, the people, and my time here. She left me with a phrase that is easy to translate, in the literal sense, but a bit difficult to communicate its sentiment: Ti aspetto. Literally, it means “I wait for you”, but its hard to explain exactly its meaning and sentiment. I leave it to your imagination to understand it as I think that you will get it, but I close this entry with a decidedly American phrase also difficult to communicate its meaning and often spoken or written in many alternative ways: I can’t hardly wait.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Down for Whatever
My days are numbered in Siena, and, of course, when you think about it in that way, the only possible conclusion is that it makes me sad. I’ve been to a number of cities in Italy, before this trip and during this trip, and I have to say that Siena is a place that I have been calling home. It’s interesting that word “home” and how its meaning differs so much from the other word “house”. I was asked to explain the difference this weekend to a non-native English speaker; it was one of the few times that I actually enjoyed and wanted to speak in English. If you had struggled through speaking Italian and trying to understand Spanish in return like I did that day, you would understand what I mean. Stop to think about that for a second and you realize quickly that it is not a very efficient way to communicate.
So, back to the words home and house. A world of difference separates them and the explanation that I gave this weekend was inadequate, but I knew that the person that I was explaining it to understood and that made me feel much better about the weak definition that I offered. In summary, I simply said that home is a place personal for you and a house is a building. This brings me to the point that Siena is a place that is personal for me. I think of the choices that I could have made six or seven weeks ago and I am so glad that I did what did, and asked who I asked. I was ecstatic to show someone around the city this weekend, as if it were my own and even if it is only sort of my own for a mere five weeks. Five weeks is a nanosecond in the course of someone’s entire life no matter if they might live five, 10, 50, or 100 years. Still, I am coming home with treasured experiences, a few kilos perhaps (although my pants are still loose), and of course for those that know me, a thousand pictures (some of which, in retrospect, should not have been memorialized).
So, this week, I plan to adopt the motto of one of my friends here in Siena and be “down for whatever”.
So, back to the words home and house. A world of difference separates them and the explanation that I gave this weekend was inadequate, but I knew that the person that I was explaining it to understood and that made me feel much better about the weak definition that I offered. In summary, I simply said that home is a place personal for you and a house is a building. This brings me to the point that Siena is a place that is personal for me. I think of the choices that I could have made six or seven weeks ago and I am so glad that I did what did, and asked who I asked. I was ecstatic to show someone around the city this weekend, as if it were my own and even if it is only sort of my own for a mere five weeks. Five weeks is a nanosecond in the course of someone’s entire life no matter if they might live five, 10, 50, or 100 years. Still, I am coming home with treasured experiences, a few kilos perhaps (although my pants are still loose), and of course for those that know me, a thousand pictures (some of which, in retrospect, should not have been memorialized).
So, this week, I plan to adopt the motto of one of my friends here in Siena and be “down for whatever”.
Domande e risposte; Questions and answers
Is it nice to be off work for 2, maybe more, months?
Well, definitely. I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity. When I do have to return to work, I will be very sad. Unfortunately, that day is approaching.
Who do you hang out with and where?
I don’t have a lot of free time, but when I do, I mostly hang out with a couple of friends that I have made here. We try different places but my favorite so far is the Tea Room behind Piazza Del Campo. I have been told of a great enoteca, Enoteca Italiana, at the fortress. I’m looking forward to trying it.
Is it expensive in Siena?
Luckily, Siena is not an extremely expensive city like Rome or Milan. Still, as the price of oil goes up, everything in Italy follows suit usually by the next day. The problem is compounded by the strength or rather weakness of the dollar. Imagine if the American economy were not so tied to oil, all other things being equal, imagine the strength of our currency then. Everyday in Italy, the price of bread, water, the essentials, rise with the rise of oil prices.
What’s your daily routine like?
Breakfast at 8. The walk to school is 10 minutes at a reasonable pace (even at my pace). School from 9 to 10:30. We pause for coffee for about 20-30 minutes. We resume class at 11 and end at 12:15/12:30. Some days I take private lessons or have a cultural lesson in the afternoon. If not, I go to Piazza Del Campo or home (depends on the weather) and do homework. We eat dinner at 7:30 PM (early for Italy) and if I have more work to do, I do it after dinner or I go for gelato, wine, or tea.
Where else have you been so far?
I have been to Pisa and Viterbo. Possibly this coming weekend (Easter), I will spend it in Florence. If I had not gotten sick, I would have stayed in Rome for one weekend.
Do you miss the USA?
Not that much. I miss everybody and Stella (of course). Siena is wonderful and even after visiting other cities on the weekends, I am always happy to come back to Siena. I could definitely see myself living in Siena (at least for now that is how I feel).
Studying hard?
I think it’s the most that I have ever studied. OK, maybe not, but I know this is the most dedicated that I have been to studying a foreign language. There are tenses and constructions that don’t exist in English. Compared to other languages and especially Italian, English is quite easy to learn.
Is the food good?
This is Italy and if you have any love for Italian food, you would fall in love. I eat pasta fatta a mano (made by hand). It’s incredible. Everything is extremely fresh and therefore delicious. I have eaten a lot of unpasteurized cheese and it’s wonderful. Pizza is very different from the way we have it in the USA. If you love American pizza, I would recommend that you try Pizza in Rome (or Lazio) first. Another different thing is olive oil. It is in everything and it is a completely different kind than we have in the USA.
Well, definitely. I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity. When I do have to return to work, I will be very sad. Unfortunately, that day is approaching.
Who do you hang out with and where?
I don’t have a lot of free time, but when I do, I mostly hang out with a couple of friends that I have made here. We try different places but my favorite so far is the Tea Room behind Piazza Del Campo. I have been told of a great enoteca, Enoteca Italiana, at the fortress. I’m looking forward to trying it.
Is it expensive in Siena?
Luckily, Siena is not an extremely expensive city like Rome or Milan. Still, as the price of oil goes up, everything in Italy follows suit usually by the next day. The problem is compounded by the strength or rather weakness of the dollar. Imagine if the American economy were not so tied to oil, all other things being equal, imagine the strength of our currency then. Everyday in Italy, the price of bread, water, the essentials, rise with the rise of oil prices.
What’s your daily routine like?
Breakfast at 8. The walk to school is 10 minutes at a reasonable pace (even at my pace). School from 9 to 10:30. We pause for coffee for about 20-30 minutes. We resume class at 11 and end at 12:15/12:30. Some days I take private lessons or have a cultural lesson in the afternoon. If not, I go to Piazza Del Campo or home (depends on the weather) and do homework. We eat dinner at 7:30 PM (early for Italy) and if I have more work to do, I do it after dinner or I go for gelato, wine, or tea.
Where else have you been so far?
I have been to Pisa and Viterbo. Possibly this coming weekend (Easter), I will spend it in Florence. If I had not gotten sick, I would have stayed in Rome for one weekend.
Do you miss the USA?
Not that much. I miss everybody and Stella (of course). Siena is wonderful and even after visiting other cities on the weekends, I am always happy to come back to Siena. I could definitely see myself living in Siena (at least for now that is how I feel).
Studying hard?
I think it’s the most that I have ever studied. OK, maybe not, but I know this is the most dedicated that I have been to studying a foreign language. There are tenses and constructions that don’t exist in English. Compared to other languages and especially Italian, English is quite easy to learn.
Is the food good?
This is Italy and if you have any love for Italian food, you would fall in love. I eat pasta fatta a mano (made by hand). It’s incredible. Everything is extremely fresh and therefore delicious. I have eaten a lot of unpasteurized cheese and it’s wonderful. Pizza is very different from the way we have it in the USA. If you love American pizza, I would recommend that you try Pizza in Rome (or Lazio) first. Another different thing is olive oil. It is in everything and it is a completely different kind than we have in the USA.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Marzo Pazzo
Parlavo con Carla l’altro giorno e le descrivo il mio passeggiato la sera prima. Lei mi disse una frase che non la dimentico mai: Marzo Pazzo oppure Marzo è Pazzo. Era strano l’altra sera perché c’era neve. Il tempo per il tutto paese ha caduto al meno 10˚. Fa freddissimo. Tre o quattro giorni primi, c’era sole e c’erano almeno 14 o 15˚! Davvero, Marzo Pazzo.
Purtroppo non mi sento bene questi giorni. Immaginavo di andare a Roma per il fine settimana però mi sembrava male e ho deciso che sarebbe bene fare una pausa. Non sono certo cosa fare del sacco di cose che ho portato dagli stati uniti per la figlia del mio collega. Vorrei andare a Viterbo per il prossimo fine settimana. Cioè non sia il tempo per andare a Roma. Per questi problemi che mi frego, molto diverso dei problemi del mio lavoro negli stati uniti. Che bella la mia situazione qui a Siena.
Ho sentito che il capo del mio lavoro scorso negli stati uniti ha deciso sganciarsi dalla dita. C’è un rischio che le persone della dita leggano questo appunto. È possibile che questa informazione sia informazione riservate. Comunque, dubito che facciano il tempo per leggere e tradurre i miei appunti scritti in italiano. Marzo è pazzo!
Purtroppo non mi sento bene questi giorni. Immaginavo di andare a Roma per il fine settimana però mi sembrava male e ho deciso che sarebbe bene fare una pausa. Non sono certo cosa fare del sacco di cose che ho portato dagli stati uniti per la figlia del mio collega. Vorrei andare a Viterbo per il prossimo fine settimana. Cioè non sia il tempo per andare a Roma. Per questi problemi che mi frego, molto diverso dei problemi del mio lavoro negli stati uniti. Che bella la mia situazione qui a Siena.
Ho sentito che il capo del mio lavoro scorso negli stati uniti ha deciso sganciarsi dalla dita. C’è un rischio che le persone della dita leggano questo appunto. È possibile che questa informazione sia informazione riservate. Comunque, dubito che facciano il tempo per leggere e tradurre i miei appunti scritti in italiano. Marzo è pazzo!
Saturday, March 08, 2008
A Weekend of Directions, and No, We won’t leave the light on for you
To give you a quick update on the sightseeing, I was in Pisa last weekend. It was a fun trip and I really enjoyed it. The night before was not exactly one that would help you get up early for the next day’s trip. So, on this particular Saturday morning, after getting up late, I found myself rushing, American style, to get to Pisa. Originally, I was going to hitch a ride with Marcel to Florence, and then grab the train there to Pisa. It didn’t quite work out like this and I ended up giving myself a headache from all the rushing. I’m not totally sure how I will get readjusted to all the rushing around American style when I get back. The funny part about this trip was that after all that rushing gave me a headache, I decided that I would just take the next train, whenever that was, and approach it with a calm, relaxed, and no-rush demeanor. This meant, going BACK to bed for another hour which was really nice. Carla was telling me that she thought that I was a bit strange because I didn’t know the exact schedule of the train. Imagine that, an Italian making fun of my disorder! I eventually got up, fetched the train schedule at the internet point, reserved a hotel, caught the next train, and got to Pisa. Thank you Google as usual and how did we ever live without you? Bellino.
I met a nice girl on the train around Empoli and if you (yes, you, the nice girl with the red jacket who is probably surprised that I speak English) are reading this, send me an e-mail. Upon arriving in Pisa, I realized that the confirmation from the hotel that I had printed didn’t have the actual address. It had all of my confirmation information, but for some odd reason, the address of the hotel was not listed. Hmmm. First thought and I am ashamed to say it but it was that I would have an opportunity to do some consulting for the software company that wrote this reservation system.
The next adventure was to find the hotel, but just to back up a smidge, I wanted to mention that just as you exit the train station in Pisa, right away you know, that this isn’t Siena. It’s a much bigger city, and definitely with more energy, more cars driving Italian style (just think Formula 1, more stops, horns, and pedestrians). I stopped in a bar to ask where my hotel was and I really doubt that I would have understood this guy even if he were speaking English. I thanked him, faked that I understood everything, and went off on my way to search for someone else. The next guy was much easier to understand and within about 20 minutes of talking to the guy selling newspapers, I arrived at Hotel Bologna, which, by the way, is an excellent choice in Pisa if you should ever find yourself there and needing a nice hotel. I practiced my Tuscan accent with the lady at the front desk and got the gist of how to get around Pisa. Not so bad actually.
I have to say that one of the things that I am really impressed about in Italy (at least the places I have been on this trip) is everyone’s attitude towards environmental concerns. They are extremely fastidious about turning off lights, consuming less water, and saving energy in general. It’s something that I think we should do more of in America. I made a mental note to figure out how to integrate this in my life when I get back. Hotel Bologna, a luxury hotel even by my standards, had motion sensing lights everywhere and those funny card keys that turn your room on when you arrive; a system that I have only seen in Australia before. I was very impressed.
I won’t bore you with the facts of Piazza Dei Miracoli, but I will share two quick stories. I was looking for a Bancomat (ATM) since the one near the Piazza was out of order (guasto), when an older lady asked me for directions. So, I know that this doesn’t seem like a big deal, but to me it was a compliment like no other. Of course, I had to explain to her that I had no idea whether or not the street continued on, but that maybe she could ask the hotel concierge of the hotel near us. She went in and out and maybe because she thought that one good turn deserved another, she asked an older gentleman if he knew where the nearest Bancomat was. Great guy this man, he accompanied me to the first block, and explained everything else. In the 5-10 minutes together, we got to know each other and one of the important cultural differences to point out is that in those 5-10 minutes, I learned everything about him, where he was from, and his family. He learned the same from me. I have no idea what he does for a living and vice-versa.
The last story was of the car full of Italian young folks (my age or younger, I’ve redefined OLD as 40 and over). As I was walking away from Piazza Dei Miracoli, this car stopped me on the street and asked me for directions to the Piazza. At first I thought he was kidding, but the look on his face was all business. I spun around on my back foot, looked backwards, stared directly at the Leaning Tower (La Torre Pendente) and told him to go straight ahead. One good turn deserves another.
I met a nice girl on the train around Empoli and if you (yes, you, the nice girl with the red jacket who is probably surprised that I speak English) are reading this, send me an e-mail. Upon arriving in Pisa, I realized that the confirmation from the hotel that I had printed didn’t have the actual address. It had all of my confirmation information, but for some odd reason, the address of the hotel was not listed. Hmmm. First thought and I am ashamed to say it but it was that I would have an opportunity to do some consulting for the software company that wrote this reservation system.
The next adventure was to find the hotel, but just to back up a smidge, I wanted to mention that just as you exit the train station in Pisa, right away you know, that this isn’t Siena. It’s a much bigger city, and definitely with more energy, more cars driving Italian style (just think Formula 1, more stops, horns, and pedestrians). I stopped in a bar to ask where my hotel was and I really doubt that I would have understood this guy even if he were speaking English. I thanked him, faked that I understood everything, and went off on my way to search for someone else. The next guy was much easier to understand and within about 20 minutes of talking to the guy selling newspapers, I arrived at Hotel Bologna, which, by the way, is an excellent choice in Pisa if you should ever find yourself there and needing a nice hotel. I practiced my Tuscan accent with the lady at the front desk and got the gist of how to get around Pisa. Not so bad actually.
I have to say that one of the things that I am really impressed about in Italy (at least the places I have been on this trip) is everyone’s attitude towards environmental concerns. They are extremely fastidious about turning off lights, consuming less water, and saving energy in general. It’s something that I think we should do more of in America. I made a mental note to figure out how to integrate this in my life when I get back. Hotel Bologna, a luxury hotel even by my standards, had motion sensing lights everywhere and those funny card keys that turn your room on when you arrive; a system that I have only seen in Australia before. I was very impressed.
I won’t bore you with the facts of Piazza Dei Miracoli, but I will share two quick stories. I was looking for a Bancomat (ATM) since the one near the Piazza was out of order (guasto), when an older lady asked me for directions. So, I know that this doesn’t seem like a big deal, but to me it was a compliment like no other. Of course, I had to explain to her that I had no idea whether or not the street continued on, but that maybe she could ask the hotel concierge of the hotel near us. She went in and out and maybe because she thought that one good turn deserved another, she asked an older gentleman if he knew where the nearest Bancomat was. Great guy this man, he accompanied me to the first block, and explained everything else. In the 5-10 minutes together, we got to know each other and one of the important cultural differences to point out is that in those 5-10 minutes, I learned everything about him, where he was from, and his family. He learned the same from me. I have no idea what he does for a living and vice-versa.
The last story was of the car full of Italian young folks (my age or younger, I’ve redefined OLD as 40 and over). As I was walking away from Piazza Dei Miracoli, this car stopped me on the street and asked me for directions to the Piazza. At first I thought he was kidding, but the look on his face was all business. I spun around on my back foot, looked backwards, stared directly at the Leaning Tower (La Torre Pendente) and told him to go straight ahead. One good turn deserves another.
Eccomi! Just catching up
Sorry for the absence last week. I got everybody’s e-mail asking if I were still alive. As you can see, alive and kicking even if I am little cold, tired, and sick. I have had a lot of work to do with school and it’s tough to put the stuff down. I’m trying to make up for lost time I guess. I also got sick on Thursday/Friday; it’s a lot of close quarters with people and there are all sorts of bugs flying around right now and this situation is made worse by the transient nature of my school. In fact, I’m stuck at home right now because I feel like a truck hit me. I was supposed to be on a bus to Rome this morning but decided to cancel that because I really did not feel well. I figured this would be a good opportunity to catch everyone up and blog a bit before I set out to fetch some cold medicine. I also need to apologize in advance for any spelling errors because I have turned off the English checker and activated the Italian one. There is a multilingual setting but when you set it to that, it checks your words against many languages. For some reason, I can’t set it to just the languages that I want. If anyone from Apple is reading this, please take note. Or, if there is anyone reading this that knows how to change this setting, by all means, please leave a comment or send an e-mail.
Since the last time I blogged, many things have happened. First of all, I have decided to stay in Siena for another three weeks (two weeks left now). I adore this city and it’s great for my goals which are to be away from a huge city and focus on studying. I already know Milan, Rome, and a few others and those cities are huge. The classes would have been a lot bigger and full of foreigners (usually much younger too) that are wanting to hang out. I have also decided on eating dinner at Carla’s place. Every night that she has cooked for Mike, I have not been able to believe how great it smells. The aroma alone could sell me. Mike has been telling me that the food is wonderful and so I have decided on having dinner here at Carla’s place as well. That turned out to be a good decision. The first night, Carla made a small salad (which we ate last by the way because that is how it’s done). At first glance it looked like a bunch of leaves drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. One bite told me that this was more than your ordinary set of leaves. I’m confident that the reason that the food tastes so good here is that first of all, quality is at a premium. Even the lesser brands have high quality. Everything is fresh and the olive oil is amazing. It’s not like anything that we could ever get in the States. Thank you FDA! The other great part about eating with Carla is that we do not eat in silence and have an opportunity to speak. I need as many of those opportunities as I can get.
Off the food topic for a second, I have also decided to take some private lessons with a private tutor. I just can’t seem to find the student for exchange. The problem is that most Italian kids that want to know how to speak English, already know how to. English is taught in school and so the dedicated ones know how to speak from school or from doing an exchange with the UK or some other English speaking country. The other kids that don’t know how to speak English, well, they don’t have the desire to (at least not yet) as they’re off learning a different language altogether. My first week of lessons have gone well as I really like my private tutor and it’s a great opportunity to talk nonstop for an hour and be corrected. As I am a yakker, I find myself going over on time just about everyday.
Since the last time I blogged, many things have happened. First of all, I have decided to stay in Siena for another three weeks (two weeks left now). I adore this city and it’s great for my goals which are to be away from a huge city and focus on studying. I already know Milan, Rome, and a few others and those cities are huge. The classes would have been a lot bigger and full of foreigners (usually much younger too) that are wanting to hang out. I have also decided on eating dinner at Carla’s place. Every night that she has cooked for Mike, I have not been able to believe how great it smells. The aroma alone could sell me. Mike has been telling me that the food is wonderful and so I have decided on having dinner here at Carla’s place as well. That turned out to be a good decision. The first night, Carla made a small salad (which we ate last by the way because that is how it’s done). At first glance it looked like a bunch of leaves drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. One bite told me that this was more than your ordinary set of leaves. I’m confident that the reason that the food tastes so good here is that first of all, quality is at a premium. Even the lesser brands have high quality. Everything is fresh and the olive oil is amazing. It’s not like anything that we could ever get in the States. Thank you FDA! The other great part about eating with Carla is that we do not eat in silence and have an opportunity to speak. I need as many of those opportunities as I can get.
Off the food topic for a second, I have also decided to take some private lessons with a private tutor. I just can’t seem to find the student for exchange. The problem is that most Italian kids that want to know how to speak English, already know how to. English is taught in school and so the dedicated ones know how to speak from school or from doing an exchange with the UK or some other English speaking country. The other kids that don’t know how to speak English, well, they don’t have the desire to (at least not yet) as they’re off learning a different language altogether. My first week of lessons have gone well as I really like my private tutor and it’s a great opportunity to talk nonstop for an hour and be corrected. As I am a yakker, I find myself going over on time just about everyday.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Did I say Old Country? I meant COLD Country.
I am sure that I mentioned this, but about two weeks ago, Carla announced to me that we would be expecting some snow. Well, this week, it was one of the center news points on TG1 and TG5. The temperature has dropped, across the whole country, by about 10˚ Celcius. You don’t have to be a scientist to know that this means it’s now very cold. Mornings are around 4˚C, days warm up a bit, but it’s cold. I am walking around everyday with a hat, gloves, winter coat, and of course sunglasses.
This evening I was at the Internet point to take care of some American affairs (business that is) and on the way there it was raining. On the way back, at 11 PM, it was snowing. If I only had my camera, I would have taken a picture. I can now officially tell my children, whenever that will be, that their father has walked home in the snow.
This evening I was at the Internet point to take care of some American affairs (business that is) and on the way there it was raining. On the way back, at 11 PM, it was snowing. If I only had my camera, I would have taken a picture. I can now officially tell my children, whenever that will be, that their father has walked home in the snow.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Scusatemi, i miei amici americani
Penso che i miei appunti in italiano diventino più comune. Però, provo scrivere anche in inglese. Lo promesso. Devo scrivere in italiano cioè devo pensare in italiano. Secondo me, è più importante capire come leggere e scrivere la lingua. Come forse molti sanno, vorrei parlare correntemente questa lingua!
Oggi, cominciamo un altra lezione del passato remoto. Il passato remoto è molto difficile per me e probabilmente per quasi americani. Anche oggi ho fatto la seconda lezione con la mia insegnante privata. (Ho deciso di fare le lezione private.) Queste lezione stavano andare bene. Infatti i due passati giorni, mi piacevano queste lezione. In ciascuno lezione possiamo parlarci, la mia insegnante ed io. Anche se abbiamo solo 40 minuti per la lezione, avevamo parlato di tanti argomenti. Per esempio ieri, la mia insegnante ed io abbiamo parlato dell’ambiente di cui è un argomento molto interessante per me. Oggi l’ho detta che ieri avevo avuto sorpresa perché aveva scelta lei un argomento molto interessante per me.
Ho dimenticato che il venerdì scorso era l’ultimo giorno per dei compagni di classe. Marcel è andata Piacenza, Anna ha ricominciato il suo lavoro. I tre ragazzi dal Nord (non mi ricordo come si chiama la città) sono partiti anche. La classe sta tranquilla ora. Ora ci sono io, una portoghese, un americano, ed un scozzese. Precisamente, oggi, sono tre, perché, il scozzese va in Inghilterra per tre giorni. Lui ritornerà il venerdì sera e ci vedremo sul giovedì.
Oggi, cominciamo un altra lezione del passato remoto. Il passato remoto è molto difficile per me e probabilmente per quasi americani. Anche oggi ho fatto la seconda lezione con la mia insegnante privata. (Ho deciso di fare le lezione private.) Queste lezione stavano andare bene. Infatti i due passati giorni, mi piacevano queste lezione. In ciascuno lezione possiamo parlarci, la mia insegnante ed io. Anche se abbiamo solo 40 minuti per la lezione, avevamo parlato di tanti argomenti. Per esempio ieri, la mia insegnante ed io abbiamo parlato dell’ambiente di cui è un argomento molto interessante per me. Oggi l’ho detta che ieri avevo avuto sorpresa perché aveva scelta lei un argomento molto interessante per me.
Ho dimenticato che il venerdì scorso era l’ultimo giorno per dei compagni di classe. Marcel è andata Piacenza, Anna ha ricominciato il suo lavoro. I tre ragazzi dal Nord (non mi ricordo come si chiama la città) sono partiti anche. La classe sta tranquilla ora. Ora ci sono io, una portoghese, un americano, ed un scozzese. Precisamente, oggi, sono tre, perché, il scozzese va in Inghilterra per tre giorni. Lui ritornerà il venerdì sera e ci vedremo sul giovedì.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Un po’ strano ma ho passato un buon fine settimana
Non vedo l’ora di assaggiare la cucina di Carla. Il mio compagno qui, mi ha detto che Carla è una brava cuoca. Mamma mia! Dopo la cena stasera, vorrei mangiare un gelato al gelateria si chiama <>. È vicino a Piazza del Campo e anche buonissimo. Non vedo l’ora...
Sono andato a Pisa questo fine settimana. Sono partito il sabato pomeriggio. Penso che, quel giorno (sabato), Carla pensava che ero un po’ strano. Vi lo spiego. Mi sono alzato un po’ tardi perché la sera prima, ho bevuto un po’ troppe. Era l’ultimo giorno per Marcel e abbiamo deciso bere alcune birre e alcuni vini. La nostra amica Caitlin, una americana, viene con noi. Il programma per il giorno prossimo era: alle 10.00 (precisamente), Marcel ed io ci incontrerebbero e partiremmo da Siena per Firenze. Ci fermeremmo a Firenze e uscirei la macchina e Marcel continuerebbe a Piacenza. Quello non era successe. :) Mi sono alzato alle 10.15 e ho chiamato subito Marcel, che faceva le sue valigie. E poi Marcel mi ha detto che avevamo fretta, mi ha detto, <> Dopo 5 minuti in cui avevo fretta, il risultato era che avevo mal di testa. L’ho chiamato e l’ho detto che avreste dovuto partire senza me. Abbiamo deciso che avremmo provato vederci a Milano al fine di marzo.
Quindi, la ragione che Carla pensava che ero un po’ strano. Mi ha visto lei mentre avevo fretta per partire. Quando avevo mal di testa, ho cambiato idea e ho deciso di andare a Pisa in treno. L’ho detto che speravo che non ho perso il treno per Pisa. Leggete i seguenti:
C: A che ora il treno parte?
Io: Non lo so.
C: Come? Non lo sai?
Io: No, se ho perso il treno, ritornerò subito.
C: Scusami Mark, pero, un po’ strano...
Sono andato a Pisa questo fine settimana. Sono partito il sabato pomeriggio. Penso che, quel giorno (sabato), Carla pensava che ero un po’ strano. Vi lo spiego. Mi sono alzato un po’ tardi perché la sera prima, ho bevuto un po’ troppe. Era l’ultimo giorno per Marcel e abbiamo deciso bere alcune birre e alcuni vini. La nostra amica Caitlin, una americana, viene con noi. Il programma per il giorno prossimo era: alle 10.00 (precisamente), Marcel ed io ci incontrerebbero e partiremmo da Siena per Firenze. Ci fermeremmo a Firenze e uscirei la macchina e Marcel continuerebbe a Piacenza. Quello non era successe. :) Mi sono alzato alle 10.15 e ho chiamato subito Marcel, che faceva le sue valigie. E poi Marcel mi ha detto che avevamo fretta, mi ha detto, <
Quindi, la ragione che Carla pensava che ero un po’ strano. Mi ha visto lei mentre avevo fretta per partire. Quando avevo mal di testa, ho cambiato idea e ho deciso di andare a Pisa in treno. L’ho detto che speravo che non ho perso il treno per Pisa. Leggete i seguenti:
C: A che ora il treno parte?
Io: Non lo so.
C: Come? Non lo sai?
Io: No, se ho perso il treno, ritornerò subito.
C: Scusami Mark, pero, un po’ strano...
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