Being Cultural

Last weekend I stayed mainly in Padova. I went to an opera in Venice. The seats were terrible, but the music was fantastic. It’s a famous opera, but of course Im blanking on the name. Then later in the week I went with my Italian professor from the intensive month to a play in Padova. It was really difficult to understand cause it was all in dialect. Venitian dialect is a mix of Italian and Catalyan. Vocab is all different and they even use tenses in different ways. Luckily our seats were good, so I could actually follow what was going on the stage and guess at what the dialogue was about.
On Saturday I went with a friend to Lake Como for the day. (No I did not see George Clooney) I’d been interested in going for a while and weekends are running out. We took a train to the city of Como and then took a boat tour around the lake and ended up rented a paddle boat to chase ducks and swans in. There was even a live symphony concert in the center of town to celebrate the holiday weekend. (I was never 100% sure about the celebration, but someone said something about it being the day the US troops entered Italy and liberated them from Hitler during World War II. You history scholars out there can tell me if that sounds about right.) Anyway, when I invent something novel, or marry someone wealthy, I am totally living on the lake. I’ve already selected several appropriate houses. Or maybe I just at least get married there. The scenery is just stunning. The lake is located right in the center of mountains. I took sooo many pictures of the area so you can check out my album.
I’ve started going to an English speaking group. (I need to work on my English!) No, actually, I just always study at this one bar where this group of Italians meet weekly to practice their English. When they found out I was a native speaker they invited me to come join in. I have a great time cause I meet all these Italian students and make several friends. One for example, is going to teach me how to cook later this week. I took my tandem partner Stefano with me the first time. Everyone thought we were a couple. Literally, this one girl asked me if I liked Italy, and when I responded yes, she asked if it was only because “we had found each other.” And in the restaurant/bar all the waiters were acting funny and pretending they didn’t know me. I usually get more wine than I ask for or plates of strawberries and whipped cream will magically appear on my table as I study.
I’ve also started listening to lots of Italian music. Its so cool cause when I listen its not like random words, I actually automatically pick up on what the song is about and what the lyrics are saying. I didn’t even realize it at first and then it was like, oh my god, I understand Italian!