As I’ve mentioned before, my Italian speaking ability has not been increasing at the same rate as my Italian comprehending ability. Understanding is easy for me, speaking is not. In fact, there is even a certain young barista who insults my Italian every time I see him. (Some say he is flirting with me but I am not !!! amused.)
BUT I discovered during my internship today that there is one form of conversation I am excellent at in Italian. That would be the office small talk that takes place by the coffee pot (or in Italy’s case – around the espresso pot). I can completely handle that conversation. “Yes I like sugar.” “Yes it is a little cold out.” “Yes I would like a cookie.” “These are delicious.” “I like cookies.” - And as a tangent here, I think they use me at that office because nobody wants to be the first to take a cookie but I will eat any kind of dessert offered to me, and ignore social rules that tell me to wait. They just want me to eat the cookie so that they can all eat a cookie. Anyway, I have found my place in which my simple small-talk phrases can blend in and that is near the espresso pot. This style of speaking doesn’t work so well in other situations though. Such as today when I needed to leave a little early and want to say something like, “Would it be ok if I left now? I’m thinking I want to grab some lunch before class.” But instead it came something out like, “Could I leave now? I need to eat…” sounding as if I have been slaving away and not allowed food.
Speaking of my internship, it has been a little disappointing because I haven’t gotten out of the office yet to interact with real humans. But I really can’t complain because I get to see into the secret world of Italian office- people. It’s fascinating. Everyday is like a personal fashion show being put on for me. My co-workers look really cool all the time. Also, I just really like all of them. However they only refer to me as the “bimba” (the baby) which I find a little weird. But I just decided to take it as a compliment in some strange way.
Internships in Italy are really just like internships like those in the U.S. I’m the person who does whatever everyone else decides they don’t want to do. I enter names into computers. I stamp things. I make copies. I make pdfs. Sometimes I take huge stacks of folders and make folders on the computer and mark off things on an excel spreadsheet and then make pdfs from the papers in the folders and save them in the folders on the computer. Actually, I get really into that. Overall, it’s basically like the TV show “The Office” except that nothing is funny and everything is pretty.
Also, I was so, so happy & relieved to hear today that my mom’s surgery went well again! It’s a lot easier to be here when all I get is good news from home. I love you Mom!!
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