Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Back to Italy
I will be headed back to Italy on May 5th and will stay for one month. I will have classes until the 31st and then I was thinking of visiting my cousin if she will have me. I have threatened her enough with my visit over the years that I should probably make good on it.
Friday, April 18, 2008
People are friendly today
I checked in the mirror this morning and I am pretty sure that I didn't have a sign on my forehead that says, "Say Hi to me and get a $1." Strange, but when I walked to the store and Starbucks today, everybody and their brother was saying Hi to me. Must be the fresh new clothes. I'll have to remember to select this same dryer scent.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Just when I thought it was all over, it wasn’t, and maybe it will never be
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.
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.
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
