Hi guys,
Yesterday we went out on the boat again. We swam to a little island that was all rocks. I don’t like to step on the rocks because they are covered in slimy algae and what I’m starting to think is some kind of soft coral. I am getting over it slowly but I am determined to get over this aversion to not stepping on slimy things. At home I hate the little periwinkle clams that lay on the top of the sand at low tide. The guards will tell you that I don’t get in the water when they are out. The idea of having to step on those clams with their little tentacle/feelers out just makes me shiver. So, I am determined to get over this before I get home. I have plenty of time to work on it while I’m here.
Right now the kids are making a fort on the landing with the couch pillows.
The day before yesterday we went to the beach again. The kid’s dad bought these white rimmed sunglasses that have been a big hit. Everyone had to try them on and have their picture taken.
Last night we went to some friend’s house for dinner. They live in Porto Ferraio which is the place Napoleon lived for his hundred day exile. It was so nice because they live a fenced in piece of land with their parents (so it’s great grandparents, grandparents, parents, and kids) and have a bunch of chickens, rabbits, birds, and a horse. Pictures below. I love how they did dinner. There was a long table outside with citronella candles everywhere (because the mosquitoes are the size of horses here. No gnats though) and there was food everywhere and bottles of wine and we all just sat around eating and talking for hours. We started dinner at around 9 and we didn’t finish until around midnight. They were so nice and I felt so included. They kept telling each other to speak in English. One guy didn’t really speak any English and he would say “more?” or “some?” when he was filling plates and drinks for everyone. When he would ask someone else in Italian they would say “Talk in English.” He would say (in Italian) “I just did!” It was a lot of fun!
Ok, some random trivia for you. Cows say moo here. Dogs say woof. Chickens, however, say “pee pi.” If you drink some wine that is really good you say “This wine will make you sing and dance naked all night.” That phrase means it is great wine. There is a town in Italy that is named Parma. If you buy parmesan cheese it is not real parmesan cheese unless it is from Parma. According to Dr. Randelli, the Germans stole the name and made it for any kind of parmesan cheese. So, moral of the story, don’t buy parmesan cheese if it is not from Parma. It is like buying knockoff shoes. Parmesana is not cheese but a method of cooking that comes from the area around Parma. Italians do not eat American or Cheddar cheese of any kind. They think it is gross. Macaroni and cheese is laughable. When I mentioned that we put yellow cheese in dish called macaroni and cheese they all laughed out loud. Espresso is for all times of the day. Coffee like we drink is usually only morning but you can get it any time and be ok. Cappuccino is strictly morning food and it is a social taboo if you drink it at any time other than for breakfast.
In Tuscany they don’t use the letters “c (which is pronounced ch)” or “ch (which is pronounced c as in cat).” Those letters don’t exist for them and they alter their words to move around them. When someone from Tuscany talks it sounds like singing.
If you go to the grocery store and need a cart you must make a one euro deposit into the cart’s parking area to rent one. You get your euro back when you return the cart.
Someone asked me a question yesterday in Italian and I answered them. I was so excited. The question was, “what is he eating?” “A cookie.” One small step for Italians, a giant leap for Nicole kind.
On that note, I will talk to you later. I'm going to Pisa tomorrow so I will get you a little slice, too!
Yesterday we went out on the boat again. We swam to a little island that was all rocks. I don’t like to step on the rocks because they are covered in slimy algae and what I’m starting to think is some kind of soft coral. I am getting over it slowly but I am determined to get over this aversion to not stepping on slimy things. At home I hate the little periwinkle clams that lay on the top of the sand at low tide. The guards will tell you that I don’t get in the water when they are out. The idea of having to step on those clams with their little tentacle/feelers out just makes me shiver. So, I am determined to get over this before I get home. I have plenty of time to work on it while I’m here.
Right now the kids are making a fort on the landing with the couch pillows.
The day before yesterday we went to the beach again. The kid’s dad bought these white rimmed sunglasses that have been a big hit. Everyone had to try them on and have their picture taken.
Last night we went to some friend’s house for dinner. They live in Porto Ferraio which is the place Napoleon lived for his hundred day exile. It was so nice because they live a fenced in piece of land with their parents (so it’s great grandparents, grandparents, parents, and kids) and have a bunch of chickens, rabbits, birds, and a horse. Pictures below. I love how they did dinner. There was a long table outside with citronella candles everywhere (because the mosquitoes are the size of horses here. No gnats though) and there was food everywhere and bottles of wine and we all just sat around eating and talking for hours. We started dinner at around 9 and we didn’t finish until around midnight. They were so nice and I felt so included. They kept telling each other to speak in English. One guy didn’t really speak any English and he would say “more?” or “some?” when he was filling plates and drinks for everyone. When he would ask someone else in Italian they would say “Talk in English.” He would say (in Italian) “I just did!” It was a lot of fun!
Ok, some random trivia for you. Cows say moo here. Dogs say woof. Chickens, however, say “pee pi.” If you drink some wine that is really good you say “This wine will make you sing and dance naked all night.” That phrase means it is great wine. There is a town in Italy that is named Parma. If you buy parmesan cheese it is not real parmesan cheese unless it is from Parma. According to Dr. Randelli, the Germans stole the name and made it for any kind of parmesan cheese. So, moral of the story, don’t buy parmesan cheese if it is not from Parma. It is like buying knockoff shoes. Parmesana is not cheese but a method of cooking that comes from the area around Parma. Italians do not eat American or Cheddar cheese of any kind. They think it is gross. Macaroni and cheese is laughable. When I mentioned that we put yellow cheese in dish called macaroni and cheese they all laughed out loud. Espresso is for all times of the day. Coffee like we drink is usually only morning but you can get it any time and be ok. Cappuccino is strictly morning food and it is a social taboo if you drink it at any time other than for breakfast.
In Tuscany they don’t use the letters “c (which is pronounced ch)” or “ch (which is pronounced c as in cat).” Those letters don’t exist for them and they alter their words to move around them. When someone from Tuscany talks it sounds like singing.
If you go to the grocery store and need a cart you must make a one euro deposit into the cart’s parking area to rent one. You get your euro back when you return the cart.
Someone asked me a question yesterday in Italian and I answered them. I was so excited. The question was, “what is he eating?” “A cookie.” One small step for Italians, a giant leap for Nicole kind.
On that note, I will talk to you later. I'm going to Pisa tomorrow so I will get you a little slice, too!
Comments
Post a Comment