Today it is raining in Ascoli Piceno, so I've decided to start my blog. We arrived two days ago after a long journey of driving and flying. And boy, what a welcome! I've settled into my apartment, which belongs to the architecture professoressa that Sandy is doing a teaching exchange with. When we met in SLO over Thai food, she warned me that it wasn't much, very small. I was picturing a little nook, something like what I had in Rome. Well, what a surprise! Not only quite sizable, but totally chic. That's what I get for living in an architect's apartment!
My new italian mama (the architecture professoressa's mother lives in the same apartment building) provided a thorough lesson on the workings of all the appliances and storage compartments. This was quite appreciated as an italian lesson- she repeated words like spegni (turn off) about a million times. She is absolutely the stereotypical italian mama, it's great! She had stocked my kitchen with food, much of which she made herself.
In the morning she gave me a tour of the neighborhood. "Dove vai (where are you going)?" she asked me jokingly as I took a wrong turn after instructed to bring her back home. After each destination she made me find the way back home so I could learn where each stop was in relation to home. She said hello to almost every single person we saw along the way, calling them by name, and informing them that I am from California and don't understand italian molto bello (very beautifully). When I chuckled as she said this the first time, the grocery store clerk protested, chastising her for not giving me enough credit.
People do not speak english here like in Rome. In Rome, people often began speaking english to you as soon as they detected that you were foreign. Here they keep right on in italian, it's great.
Last night my italian mama had us all over for dinner. It was great fun piecing together a conversation. Sandy speaks the most italian, but her and I are both struggling to get back into italian mode. The parents speak only italian, and Jonathan and Axel only english. But we did a great job, I absolutely adore them.
This morning I went to the main produce market and bought potatoes, sausage, onion, cheese, and other things. The culinary adventure begins! Tomorrow is the 150 year celebration, so everything is closed, and there are supposedly festivities. So we are still not sure when we will start school... maybe Monday? Can't wait to meet the kiddos!
2 comments:
How fun!! Thanks for starting your blog so soon. I live vicariously through you, ya know! Make sure and keep that chic apartment neat and clean (Said by your American mama!!)
I'm like your American mama...I live vicariously through you too!! So, please, keep it up! I'll check in often. And, pay attention to your Italian mama..."turn it off" and "where are you" are good things she's teaching you!!
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