I'm back at the cafe.
Saturday night went to a party with G and his girlfriend. A film production company was having an open house for their new office/celebrating the opening weekend of their latest movie. There were lots of kids, food and my favorite...sweets.
Anyway, I was speaking my butchered Italian when I saw a women who looked familiar. She looked at me and said "You're back!" and proceeded to give me a big hug. She is the ex-girlfriend of the guy I rented a vaction rental from two years ago. Her ex is a good friend of a friend of mine.
G. was incredulous. How do you know V.? Of course he knows her well. Most of the people at the party spoke English but I am really trying to get my speaking comprehension up to the level of my reading. It's not easy. My ear can't quite keep up with the speed. It's very frustrating.
Several people at the party told G. to have me send my resume and they will help me but I will need to speak Italian fluently.
The Donatella awards are coming up (the Oscars of Italian films) and I met one actress at the party who is nominated. I totally recognized her from L'UTIMO BACIO/THE LAST KISS. She is very nice and is friends with G. (of course). She effortlessly alternated between English and Italian. For the rest of the night G. spoke to me only in Italian. ha. It was comedy.
I do think (hope!) by the summer it will be easier for me to comprehend spoken Italian. I am basically going from zero to sixty and it will take some time. Unfortunatley I am not the most patient person.
13 comments:
Being the gossip hag that I am, who was the actress you met? Do tell!!!
I moved to Belgium in December and I'm learning Dutch right now. I so feel your pain. Italian is a lot prettier than Dutch though.
l bet you get a job in no time. Just keep speaking Italian.
Here's my little tip: Self talk (we all do it, you know when your walking down the street running through a to do list or something in your head)well do that in italian. l use to do it all the time when l first arrived and it helped me so much!!
As usual, I'm grinning ear to ear as I read your blog. Brava tu, keep up with the Italian and you'll have it down in no time. Good for G for only speaking Italian with you. :-)
And yes, talk to yourself - it really works wonders!
Yes! Talk to yourself! "Devo andare al negozio e cosa mi serve?" and stuff like that.
Brava!
Glad to see you're finding your feet and voice in Roma. Brava!
I'm still on my trip, so not around very much, but it sounds like you're settling in well! Lovely Friday night and now some jobs. Keep speaking that Italian! And leave the radio/tv on whenever you're home and not writing... and I'll shut up now.
;-)
you will be amazed how quickly you pick it up when you're surrounded by it every day!! You'll know you're getting there when you start thinking in Italian.
Was the actress MArtina stella the blond one?? If so let me know her please:)
Linda - you are funny. She played the new mom.
lilacspecs - My dad speaks Dutch. It seems more difficult to learn than a Romance language. Good Luck.
confessions - I will try to talk to myself in Italian. thanks for the tip.
tina - grazie!
bleeding espresso - I'm sure people will look at me like why is that woman speaking to herself but I am going to go for it. :)
tuscan view - thank you!
jen - hope you are having a great trip. Looking forward to reading about you.
claudia - I hope that day comes sooner rather than later. :)
paolo - ha! I know Martina. It wasn't her.
Do you think that "se la tira un pò??" (She acts like she was a superstar or something??)Some italian actress think they're from Hollywood so this is why i'm asking, just curious.
Keep your chin up, language-wise. I think of it like a muscle; at first it's hard, but with regular use (even when it sucks), it improves. The talking to yourself suggestion is great. I used to (and still) would say a word two ways to the person I was talking to, as a question, and they would reflexively give me the correct pronunciation, I would say it back, they would nod or correct, and we would continue our conversation.
paolo - oh, I see what you mean. I would have to say no, she has always been very down to earth.
meg - thanks for that suggestion. I agree it helps to ask about the proper pronuciation esp. with words that are similar in English but pronounced very differently.
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