June 10th

June 10th, Tuesday

3:05 pm

While studying the future tense again this morning, we were asked to construct five original sentences. I was fairly proud of mine, until I reached one in particular in which I described how “I will need to find someone to eat after class.” Alessandra, amused, explained in near-perfect English that I should probably say “qualcosa” instead of “qualcuno” unless I want people to think that I am a cannibal.

Notwithstanding this incident, after an hour and a half of slow review in class this morning, I decided to move to 201. I think it will turn out to be much more rewarding, even if I will need some hardcore ripasso on the verb tenses I learned in the spring.


4:25 pm

Eww… I just got whistled at by two skeezy 20-somethings sitting outside a bar. My first genuine Italian catcall. I didn’t believe it until I saw it, but I guess there really is no such thing as sexual harassment here.

Later….

On that note… kind of… I’m still having trouble understanding what I should say to strangers (if anything). If someone passes you and says ciao, do you respond, ciao? What if it’s a guy about my age? Does that mean he’s just being come-on-ish? If there’s an old woman on the street and you just happen to make eye contact, is it ok then? In the States, I don’t give a second thought about giving a vague smile to someone as I pass, as long as they don’t look totally sketchy. Even so much as a “hi,” depending on the occasion and how safe they look. I’m just being polite, right? But here, having been warned about all the gross Italian men, I can’t help but feel guilty if I so much as make eye contact.

Well, maybe at some point, I’ll find a good medium. For now, I’m basically playing it safe and keeping to myself, unless I need directions or something.

Those creepy room-cleaning women must have been here again today. Our trash can’s missing.

Right now I would love to just go take a walk around. It’d be really cool to see what goes on after dark in this town, as it seems like most places (with the exception of the occasional swanky restaurant or gelateria) close after dinner. But... it's not safe this time of night. Tomorrow I'll explore around a little bit.

Buona sera,

-Allie