The Italians

As I said in my last post, the Italians are wonderful and they love us here in Castiglion. Last night I had my first real experience trying to speak to someone in Italian who didn't speak English too.

Mary, Jess, and I went out to get stamps and envelopes before dinner. We worked out where we were going and what we needed t say before we left.

The envelopes were in a little bookstore with notesbooks and other paper supplies as well. ("La busta" is how you say envelope in Italian.) The shopkeepers seemed very pleased we had come in and immediately showed us every envelope they had, apologizing for their lack of English. Then, as we were paying, one of them gave us tiny little post-its with cigarettes on them as a welcome to Castiglion. Despite not being a smoker, the gesture was really nice and we laughed about it as we left.

Next we went to the Tabacchi, which is kind of like a convience store where we could get stamps as well. I went first. I decided to be brave, even though this was my first real time having to ask for something in Italian without one of our professors or someone more fluent being around.

"Vorrei anche trenta francobollo gli per Stati Uniti."

Translation (I think):

"I would also like 30 stamps for the United States."

I was buying postcards too, hence, the "also". Jess and Mary got theirs too and we left. It was so much fun, being able to use Italian. I'm not sure it was completely right, but it was fun. I think all three of us agreed it was a good experience. It's hard not being able to just go up and ask for what you want easily. You have to put some effort into it.

So, that was my first experience really using Italian besides the basic "ciao" and "grazie"! It makes Italy all the more fun...