I tried finding a common thread to link all the random drivel in this post together, but couldn't come up with anything (have pity on me, it's 36 degrees and my brain has turned to mush- last night I asked a 7 year old "come si dice fish in inglese?"). So here are a bunch of random bits and bobs from my week :)
I find that I get pangs of homesickness when there is something going on at home that I want to be part of. Things like people's birthdays, Andy Murray winning Wimbledon and getting exam results. However, I was actually quite relieved to be away when the Royal baby was born because if the sheer volume of coverage given by the Italian news channels is anything to go by, it would've been crazy in Britain. Watching the news coverage of the Royal Baby announcement was very entertaining. I was watching it live on Monday evening and there was a correspondent outside Buckingham Palace with the crowds and it looked like absolute chaos but the reporter was assuring us that people were forming a queue. Oh England, how I miss your silly ways. Other examples of questionable reporting I heard were the headlines "What does it take to be a Royal baby?" (I'd imagine not a lot) and "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have given birth to a baby boy." Now THAT would've been worth being in England to see!
I mentioned in a previous post that the questions I get asked most as a British person here are almost always to do with the Royal baby. Now that it's arrived though, the topics of conversation have shifted and I've been asked some very strange, but admittedly hilarious things in the last few days. My top three are:
- "What is Buon Appetito in English?" I've been asked this almost every time we've eaten dinner with someone new. At first I was like "Um, bon appetit?" but got tired of explaining that we use the French, so now I just say "enjoy your meal" even though that would seem a bit out of place if it were said in a normal dining situation at home. Please enlighten me so I can tell people here the right thing, what is the English phrase for Buon Appetito?
- My 7 year old never fails to make me smile. Today she asked me, "Is Harry Potter also called Harry Potter in English?"
- At a BBQ earlier in the week I was asked if I am a Catholic or a Protestant (they aren't shy about asking personal or deep philosophical questions here). I replied that I was a Protestant and believe it or not was then asked if Protestants believe in Jesus! I almost spat out my UHT infested tea! This was followed by much debate about Henry VIII and the origins of the Church of England and whether the Queen or the Archbishop of Canterbury is the head of it, including the 11 year old having to turn to her religious studies textbook in order to convince people that Protestants and Catholics aren't actually all that different!
I can't believe how quickly this week has gone. I'm already on week 7 of my trip and on Saturday we are finally leaving for the mountains! I'm very excited about seeing a new and completely different part of the country and spending my birthday in the Dolomites. Although it does mean that I will be senza internet for a week and likely without phone signal too (we're staying at an "agri-turismo" halfway up a mountain where you have to hike to reach the nearest shop and you milk the goats in the morning- no UHT stuff for a week yaay :) ). Anyway, these are the top three things that I've learnt this week:
- Chocolate is overrated. Yes, I said it. Although maybe I should amend that to "all chocolate in Italy is overrated." My emergency rations of Dairy Milk ran out a while ago and nothing available here even remotely compares. It's not the same when it's hot anyway. I suppose I'll just have to make do with some of the world's best gelato. What a real shame that is...
- Nobody needs four pairs of sunglasses. No matter how sunny it is and how long you're away for. A waste of precious luggage allowance.
- Carb-free diets are overrated, pasta everyday is the way forward (Alexander, I've joined you on the dark side!).
Until next week amigos!
Alice x