Italy Journal
Monday, December 3,
2012 - Friday, December 7, 2012
This week has been extremely slow compared to the last few,
but some very important things have happened:
1.
First, we sadly learned that our Italian tutor
Sara has taken a full time job (Go, Sara!), but can no longer teach us Italian
(Boo-hoo!). We are very happy for her, but we are sad to lose her as our
teacher. Best of luck in your new job, Sara! I’m confident that we can use the
tools you have taught us and possibly find someone interested in swapping
language skills to keep us improving, but we will miss you.
2.
Secondly, Mara and I played tennis again this
week, and we have more fun each time we get together; PLUS, we are swapping
tennis languages with each other. Mara is Italian and is doing really well
learning English, and she’s a huge help for me in my Italian.
3.
Peter and I accepted an offer to go with a small-ish
group of university students to a Pig Festival in Campagnola this weekend, and
we learned two days before we left that our car must have snow tires on them to
drive on the autostrada now. If we are stopped and don’t have them, there is a
steep fine. So… Translator Man Enzo to the rescue! While Peter was in school,
Enzo took me to a great tire shop and helped me tell the workers what was
needed. I had to choose which of 3 tires I wanted, and I couldn’t find Peter by
phone, so I just went with the cheapest ones…still well over $200 each! Enzo
agreed that he would not pay more for a leased car’s snow tires. We’re hoping
that the lease company will reimburse us for the cost of the tires. Now Peter
can get a refund for the wrong-sized chains that he got earlier to satisfy the
police.
4.
Peter was smashing at his major research project
presentation. I was allowed to attend the class that afternoon, and his grazing
cows with the cowbells ringing introduced the topic with a smile from everyone.
They recognized the sound immediately. He was talking about the cheesemaking
malgas in Trentino, where we went on summer break. I was even in his Power
Point slides, showing the world how much a cast on an arm can look like a swan!
He did a superb job on his presentation, and now he has to complete the paper
that goes with that project. I’m sure it will be smashing, too!
5.
Cristina, Peter and I visited Nucci and Flavio
Russo this week; and, as always, we had a wonderful time. We made plans to do a
special event together next week…more on that as it happens. I’m excited about
it, though, except that Cristina is leaving this Friday and will miss it. L We’ll miss Cristina!
6.
We were so happy to finally get together with
Lisa and Enzo for aperitivo on Friday. We always enjoy their company, and the
combination of foods cannot be beaten! Come again soon, Lisa and Enzo.
Ciao to all,
Colleen
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