The next step toward speaking Italian

So far, I have really loved learning Italian.  I have come to realize that, in general, I love learning.  When I think of the jobs I have really enjoyed, they are the ones where I had a "steep learning curve".  But, I think, beyond generalities, there has been something in particular about learning Italian that I love.  Possibly some special mix of time and place in my life but that's not all.  Italian, some time,s has a silliness about it that is endearing - the compounds words for example.  Produce stalls are "fruttivendoli"  or selling fruit, escalators are "scala mobile" or moving stairs and a towel is "ascuigamano" or dry hand.  Italian also, and this is not my own secret discovery, has a rich and fabulous sound.  With the rolled "r"s and the round vowels, it not only sounds great, but it feels good in the mouth to speak it.

So, when I finished the last Fluenz Italian level that was available (3) and wanted to learn more, I had to find something else.  I bought a few "dud" Italian learning books which were so dry and unimaginative that they would literally put me to sleep.  Then, I found a school/community in Philadelphia called The America-Italy Society of Philadelphia .  I signed up for the second level course, hoping I had learned enough on my own and gave it a try!  The teacher of my course was the school's director, Franca Riccardi, a native of Italy, a great teacher and molta simpatica (very likable!).  The class had 3 other students and it was great.  All of a sudden, I had to speak and practice out loud!  I continued with that class and then the next.  By the time I finished "103", I had booked our Summer trip to Italy and was feeling like I wanted to do everything I could to learn as much as I could before I went to study in Rome.  So, for the new year, I scheduled a weekly private class with an instructor Franca found for me from Tuscany who is here in America teaching Italian at Temple University.

My new teacher, Chiara Montera, is great.  We speak 99% in Italian together (exhausting AND exhilarating) and I feel like the hour flies by.  I'm not sure what our goal is or what kind of progress we can expect to make in the four months before our trip, but I'm very happy with it all.  Buon lavoro e buona fortuna a me!

All roads lead to gelato

When Brian and I were in Italy in 1994, we instituted a rule.  The "daily gelato" rule. In Italian it is "gelato quotidiano".  It's pretty self-explanatory: one must eat gelato each day.  It was pretty rough, but we managed it.   :-)  It was so successful that when we were back in Italy in 2000, we kept the rule.    I'm sure with two kids, we won't be allowed to forget this "rule".  And, I'm excited to see and compare the differences throughout Italy.  Florence is supposed to have the best gelato, but I'm also excited to try gratina for breakfast in Sicily!

Here's some information about how to find authentic quality gelato and what makes gelato different than American ice cream:  http://www.inspireddiversions.com/article.cfm?DET=1&id_art=123

And for the full array of gelato flavors, see this great blog: http://www.italylogue.com/food-drink/italian-gelato-flavors-decoded.html  She also has a good post about how to spot good gelato over bad: http://www.italylogue.com/food-drink/jessicas-guide-to-good-gelato-in-italy.html

Shoes

8 weeks in one place.  In Italy.  A place where, because of my particular feet, I can't be sure of the ability to acquire shoes there, should I have problems.  A place where everyone is known to dress with purpose, if not fashionably.  A place where I would prefer not to stick out like a tourist.  Also, since we are going to be changing location a few times along the way, I want and need to travel light.  And, it will be Summer.  Hmmm...  So, what to do about shoes?

My current thought is three pair of shoes: one pair of comfortable, moderate heel sandals for lots of walking, one pair of high-ish heel sandals for other times out and a pair of ugly but supremely comfortable shoes for padding around apartments.  We don't plan on a lot of hikes in the countryside so I don't think hiking shoes or boots will be called for.

What am I missing?  Is this a reasonable plan?  I know my dear Zappos can help me execute on whatever plan I choose.

Festivals in Italy

As our planning progresses, I thought I'd look at what events might be going on around us that we didn't want to miss.  Here are the festivals we might be able to catch some of:

• June 22 - September 2 - Outdoor Opera in Roman Arena, Verona.  I wanted to find a way to catch some opera there, but assumed because of the ages of the kids that I'd either have to do it without them or do without altogether.  BUT, Verona is an easy side trip from Venice and outdoor venues are great for little kids (and dad's, too) so maybe we'll be able to do this in the week of July 14th.  Wednesday, July 18th, they're showing Don Giovanni.  I think I know where we will be that day...   http://www.arena.it/en-US/arena/schedule-2012.html
• June 23 - Corpus Domini (procession on carpet of flowers), Orvieto.  http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy-featured/events/three-best-infiorate  This is also called the "infiorate".  Orvieto is an easy trip from Rome and we'll be there at this time. 
• June 24 - St. John the Baptist Day, Italy.  I don't know what this means, really - how they celebrate or what it entails, but we'll be there!  
• June 29 - Sts. Peter and Paul Day (fireworks in Rome).  Hey! We'll be in Rome on this day!
• Late June - Early Sept - Outdoor Cinema Season, Florence.   http://blog.firenzelodging.it/cinema/ Sounds great.  
• July  - Aug - Florence Dance Festival, Florence, Verona.  

Hopefully, these will be opportunities to fill out a lot of our super touristy activities with things a little more local and/or low key.  

Guide books stink

More than a decade ago, when Brian took me to Europe for a month, I prepared by reading (studying!) guidebooks.  I read them cover-to-cover and made notes.  We, long before, had learned to disregard lodging and restaurant recommendations in these books but used them for sightseeing, sidetrip planning and transportation guidance.  But, now, the easiest way to put myself to sleep is to sit and try to read one of these things.  Perhaps I've totally become a "child" of technology.  When I can go to zappos or amazon, type search terms and select all the filters I want, I'm annoyed when I can't do that with other research material.  So, Frommer's, Fodor's, Rick Steves, Lonely Planet...  I'd gladly pay for the price of your guide book for an interactive guide.  I've been to your sites, and there is a lot of content there, but it involves a whole lot of clicking and going back.  Perhaps I just need to set aside my tendency to read anything, even non-fiction, from page one to page xx and flip through just looking for what I'm interested in.  

If anyone has any "don't miss" recommendations for Italy, please share.  I'm starting to make a list...  ;-)

Learning Italian

It was about one year ago when I started seriously learning Italian.  I've had this idea in my head for years but finally committed to doing it.  I bought a software program called Fluenz and got going.  Fluenz is amazing!  They have two main points of differentiation from the big, bad Rosetta Stone which have made a huge difference for me.  1) They don't use immersion.  The idea is that immersion works for children but not as well for our adult brains.  They use great instructors to teach the language.  2) They take advantage of what you know in the language you have already learned.  For example, you know that in English we put the adjective before the noun, so it becomes a simple task to explain that most of the time in Italian, the adjective comes after.  Also, the program is beautiful, modern and thorough.  The sessions begin and end with instruction but are filled with "work-outs" to have you practice what you learn.  It is so incredibly thorough that I found I never left a lesson with any missed comprehension or retention.  Even words that I thought, "I won't need that word, I'm not worrying about it" (ashtray = portacenere) I still learned in spite of myself.  Also, Fluenz seems to be very dedicated to providing support tools (flashcards, CDs, podcasts) as well as a member community (Fluenz Commons).

The only drawback has been that they are still developing the next level that I've been ready for a few months now.  C'mon, Fluenz Italian 4!  Where are you?  But, that led me to the fantastic Italian school in Philadelphia - but that's a topic for another post.  Ci vediamo a presto (see you soon)!

Ps. Fluenz also teaches, German, Spanish, French and Mandarin

Itinerary

We purchased plane tickets, made deposits on apartments and reserved a car for our time in Sicily.  We have even been invited to stay in the home of the Maiorana's (Samy's parents' home) for the last few days of our trip.  Here is our rough itinerary:


Saturday, June 2: Dana, Nate and Sam depart from Newark, NJ at 5:45 p.m.
Sunday, June 3: Arrive in Rome, Italy at 7:45 a.m. 
Monday, June 4: Dana begins language studies M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 23: Brian arrives in Rome
Saturday, June 30: Fly from Rome to Palermo, Sicily
Monday, July 2: SAM'S BIRTHDAY!!!
Saturday, July 7: Fly from Palermo, Sicily to Rome; take a train to Florence
Saturday, July 14: Take a train from Florence to Venice
Saturday, July 21: Brian returns to US; take train from Venice to Milan
Tuesday, July 24: train/taxi to Stresa, Italy by Lake Maggiore
Friday, July 27: NATE'S BIRTHDAY!!! 
Monday, July 30: Fly Milan to Rome; Fly Rome to Newark, N.J.

Here is our google map for the trip.  The pink pushpins are places we are staying.


View Italy Apartments in a larger map

Volcanoes...

Nate asked me this morning about volcanoes.  I think we'll need to visit Mt. Etna while we're in Sicily...

The oddest thing about this is that while his curiosity was totally random, Mt. Etna is also erupting today.  Bizarre!