Giocare!

January 27, 2011

            I study Italian everyday. I read my notebook, I read my textbook every day. But, without opening a book and without reading or taking notes, I have learned just as much or even more. You can sit here and learn as you live- learning from the Italians, learning from Italy. Or you can sit here and live and not learn-You can stick to your American ways. Standing or sitting, it doesn’t matter- you can learn either way. But it depends how you think when you sit or stand. You can be an American but you have to pretend you are an Italian- pretending takes work, but it works. Let yourself struggle with language, let yourself struggle in conversation, let yourself get lost in the language. It will work…            Just like getting around in this cita’ (city). Bologna is a treasure and getting around Bologna is like a treasure hunt. Sure, the streets are not as abundantly beautiful as the blossoming streets of Verona, but there are beautifully bella streets you will find, if you find them- purposefully or without trying too. It is like a treasure hunt. You will smell your way into these hidden streets- follow the rich cheesy odor (perhaps down a real life street called Macorni) and you will enter a little cheese shop, adorned with flowers in the front and salami for sale.

            My dad always told me to ask questions at school, always ask good questions- and he always said any question is a good question. My father was always right. In this school of “life” where I am a student, in class and out of class, I am always asking questions…my favorite question of “yeri” (yesterday) was “for real?”…

            Chelsea, Mark (who’s brain is always on the soccer field) and I went to Banc Carisbo to buy our soccer tickets for the Bologna vs. Roma soccer game this Domenica (Sunday)! Yes, you must purchase your ticket at a bank and have your passport… talk about tight security. To enter the bank you must enter a time machine tube and be deported into the banks building. Chelsea and Mark entered the tubes first and I became scared when the tube would not open for me. I thought I was being left behind to become Italian history…

            …I finally entered and purchased my ticket…for 10 euro! Marks was 20 euro. And this is when I was informed that a “donnas” (woman’s) ticket is half the price of a mans ticket... thus my question of “for real!?” (In English)…the female bank teller laughed and said yes.

            Funny I’m a “Donna” (woman vs. child) because right after purchasing the ticket we walked back to the Piazza Maggiore where I bought a Bologna jersey!! (which took a lot of effort to figure out how to say that in Italian!) I bought the bambino set, (childrens set) which came with a pair of official shorts and a jersey (which is still quite on the large side) but definitely a lot smaller in price compared to one adult jersey. Looks like my little brother Manny’s getting another great gift…after I wear it to the game, and to la mensa (as I did last night to dinner), and to class and to play cards. Giocare! (Let’s Play!)