The blunders of a language barrier

Really, my English is getting worse, and my Italian isn't getting much better - yet. My skills in my native tongue have an inverse relationship with the amount of crappy English I hear with a thick Italian accent - which is a lot. The grammar structure is so different, that I keep getting things mixed up in my head when I go to write notes in class. I end up getting the point across, but I am kicking myself every time I write a bad sentence, which is often.

The upside? when you speak English with Italian structure and pretend you are living inside a Super Mario Bros video game, everyone understands what you are trying to say! and speaking with wild hand gestures is so common that it feels like a joke, but they're not kidding.

I've been cooking a lot, some of the experiments are absolute winners, others....well let's say they're not gonna make it into the recipe book.

With this one, the sauce is a winner, but my gnocchi execution was lacking.
2.9.2011

I haven't been out of town yet, we have had copious amounts of orientations, and I've been trying to get acquainted with Florence and figure out my way around before I take off. I don't know every street, but I can find my way most places without getting lost. I have learned to not rely on streets being the same name the whole way, or them being in any logical order.

Graffiti on a shop door at lunch at Piccadilly on a small street.
3.9.2011

It has been so hot and muggy out that we have begun to describe the general stench of the city as, cigarette smoke, sewer, and sweat. So when it rained a torrential downpour for about 10 minutes, I played in the rain  until I was soaked head to toe.

Sweet, Warm Rain
4.9.2011
Photo Cred. Julia Londo (editing by me)

At the markets, every package is in Italian, so I have a hard time picking the correct thing out sometimes, it hasn't turned into a fiasco yet, but I did accidentally purchase some soy gelato, it's not horrible.

Soy gelato with nectarine, basil and a balsamic reduction.
5.9.2011

After getting home from class at 8:30pm,  I ran into a couple friends heading out to a soccer game, I had to tag along, it was Italia vs Slovenia for 11 euro, sweet! After we chanced upon a bus that would take us to the stadium and followed a couple of guys in jerseys, we were in line to get tickets. One hour later - we were still in line, with the first half played out, we finally got to the front, and tickets were 33 euro. Not worth it. So we snagged a beer at a local cafe and watched Italia beat Slovenia 1-0.

The ticket stand with all of the ticket-lacking hopefuls.
6.9.2011

The lantern Festivals happens once a year, on 7 sept. we went out at night looking to find a procession of lanterns, we had missed it at the Duomo, but chanced upon a few straggling children with lanterns and followed them to the crowd, it was beautiful. Lots of little kids with lanterns, and more little kids with pellet blow-guns trying to put holes in the lanterns or set them on fire. There was a whole fair type set-up in the piazza where all of the lanterns gathered to listen to music and eat candied nuts. Which were delicious!

The lantern procession a few blocks from my apartment.
7.9.2011

Sorry, that was a long one... I'll try to update more often, ciao!