Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Il Ritorno Del Gatto Col Cappello (The Return of the Cat in the Hat)

Had a great time at dinner the other night at my Italian professor's house. One of my friends is leaving for Italy today for three weeks. Very jealous.

I called Inna at the Instituto and told her I'm not taking classes this fall. It is too busy at work, volunteering, and I need to finish my book. There is no way I would have time to study. She suggested I repeat Intermediate Level 2. I agree. I'm not ready for Advance Italian. There are people in that class who have been speaking it for years.

I bought the Dr. Seuss book at Feltrelli (sp) in Rome. Our professor suggested buying the Italian versions of books we know to help us practice. My friend picked up "Il Dario di Bridget Jones" as a gift for me last year when she was in Italy. Not ready for that book. So I bought a kid's book. I thought it would be a breeze. I mean what reading level is this book?

I'm going to Barnes and Noble before work to get the English version. I have read this book thousands of times to my younger siblings and during my suburban babysitting years. Yet the Italian verson was difficult for me. I did not know several of the verbs. I don't understand why there is the Passato Remoto tense in a kid's book. I am going to go online and start printing articles from Corriere Della Sera, and buying Italian Vanity Fair at the newstands. I must read a little Italian everyday. I cannot forget everything I learned just because I haven't been in a classroom since June.

I asked "the Contessa" to see if she can fix me up with any guys here who speak the language. That way I can kill two birds with one stone. I'm sick of this damn strike. There seems to be no end in sight. Really the two sides are not even speaking at this point. I am in my prime, it's just sad.

6 comments:

Sara, Ms Adventures in Italy said...

Hi there...I would actually suggest getting something else in Italian to practice with...don't you remember how much focus Suess puts on rhyming and clever sayings? I think too advanced. Plus, you probably want to learn a bit more conversational Italian.

I started reading comic books in Italian - my friend's little brother had them around their house in Tuscany. It was Disney/Mickey Mouse books that are released frequently and having pictures is really helpful. (If you want me to send you some, let me know and we can figure something out)

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

Good point. I don't think being able to say "I don't like Green Egg and Ham, Sam I am" in Italian will help me.

I will ask my friend who is there now if she can bring back some Disney/Mickey Mouse books.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Ebony and Ivory said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I was beginning to wonder whether I've been writing only to myself! I wish I had some place to learn Italian around here. I'm forced to use an Italian dictonary and some online sights, but there is nothing like conversation to really get a grasp for the language. I've seen you on the tripadvisor forums too. We obviously share not only a love for NYC, but for Roma as well! Nice to meet you! Who knows, perhaps we will run into each other in Roma someday! Anything is possible!

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

Ebony and Ivory, you are welcome. I think we 'met" through Niki in Positano.

I would check out the Pimsleur language CDs from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. They are great.

Re: Roma, I am tempted to charge a trip pronto. However that would be so irresponsible. If I lived in NYC I would take a long weekend trip. From here it doesn't make sense financially or time wise. One of my friends just booked to Florence for Thanksgiving weekend and her ticket was $1200. That is pretty high for low season.

Oh well. Hopefully I will go soon.

Tracie P. said...

that's feltrinelli to you young lady ;)

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

LOL Tracie B. I don't live in Italy. How am I supposed to remember the spelling of said book store? Are you still in Ischia?