http://www.acquacheta.eu/english.html
Above is the review of the restaurant six of us went to tonight. I am stuffed and full of vino - and content.
A very sweet girl from Vienna invited us to eat at this restaurant tonight. I pass it every day when I walk Seymour and see it crowded every night, I have always wanted to stop. I didn't know this was the restaurant she had reserved for us.
They have 2 seatings - one at 7:30 pm and one at 9:15. We actually didn't leave until close to 10 pm and it was fine - it's Italy! People are always turned away from this restaurant because they do not have reservations. The good news is that they let Seymour into the restaurant with us. People are seated at long tables together. They have a menu of regular food and then daily food specials. They are known for their meat - very large steaks, duck, etc. Unfortunately I did not order meat! I had brochette with olive oil and tomatoes, some kind of pasta with mushrooms,a great salad and and some kind of dessert that they recommended - and of course vino rossa. I had lots of vino rossa. The good news is that our casa was only a block away - uphill, yes, but on the same street.
It was great company, great food and a wonderful way to almost end my stay in Montepulciano.
Our table consisted of 2 people from Australia who did not know each other previously, the young woman from Vienna who did the organization - and is hoping to come to Ft Worth to do a traineeship on equestrian stuff. (I gave her my email address just in case I could help her in anyway) a guy from New York who is an avid biker and has been coming to Italy for the past 6 years, my room mate, and me. And of course, Seymour but he didn't take up a seat.
I still have that afterglow of too much good food, good wine and good conversation. Seymour didn't get to eat anything so his afterglow never actually started.
I really appreciated getting invited because I was the only one who was not in a class with someone else at the table. Things just work out,sometimes.
Check out the restaurant review I attached to see more about this place.
Unfortunately, tomorrow we have a school lunch at another really good restaurant and then Fiorella is making us a great dinner, so good food - and calories - are everywhere!
On another topic, I talked with the director of the school yesterday because I could not go back to class with the teacher who taught the second half of our lesson each day. She has only been our teacher for a week. I know I said I was going to let go of my stresses and just get what I can out of the class, but I just couldn't with this person. She doesn't speak any English so she just couldn't deal with those of us who were at a lower level. She just started talking for long periods of time with our class mate who spoke pretty good Italian. The other 3 of us just sat there. it was that classmate that mentioned to me that the class was too fast and was willing to talk with the director with me. She is also the woman who offered to help me so we went to lunch together yesterday and reviewed some of my (many) problem areas. How I appreciate her!
So I met with the director of the school and she offered me a one hour private lesson in exchange for not going to the second part of my class. It was so helpful to talk to her and reduced my stresses immmensely. She also gave me copies of information that will help me with the basics that I have never learned. So tomorrow morning will be the end of my lessons. I have so much more to learn and don't want to stop learning. I definitely want to come back to Italy - soon Yes I know I have 2 more months here but after talking with people who are here from other countries and also have a connection to Italy, I feel that they are kindred spirits. I'm not sure Seymour feels the same way :)
Showing posts with label Italian language class. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italian language class. Show all posts
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Epiphany
Epiphany - a sudden realization about something. This will be a serious column and Seynour will not be apart of it.
I have been feeling terrible about not learning the language easily and have blamed the school, the language level of my class and about anything else I can blame. I met with my friend, who is the other student who is at my level and we talked a long time today. She realized that she is used to being quick at learning things and also blamed the class and other things for not "getting it". She is more verbal than I am regarding this and talked with the people at the school.
The bottom line is that she and I are some of the very rare people with no language background so courses seem too high level for us. We also are frustrated when we don't understand quickly enough or are unable to speak like some of the other students. She made me realize that the problem is with our expectations and "overachiever's syndrome". She said that they told her that executives have the highest level of dropping out at the school because of their expectations. I must admit I have thought a few times of quitting. Even in my lower level class I am the only one without either an Italian or other language background. Around the world most people learn 2 languages from an early age. I wish we did in the USA. Peope in my class this week have been very supportive and affirming that it takes time to process and then finally feel comfortable to speak.
I missed the last part of the class today talking with the director of the school and my friend about the similarities of the feelings my friend and I are having. My friend and I went out to lunch and talked more - over a 1/2 liter of wine (larger amount than we expected) and I feel that I have finally had a breakthrough in understanding what I am going through. It's not that I'm not going to continue to be frustrated with myself, but I feel I am beginning to understand myself better. Maybe this is what I needed to learn more than Italian when I came here. Luckily I have one more week of class and then 2 months to continue to learn to understand myself - and maybe even speak a little Italian!
Timing is everything. I was so lucky to meet my friend and have her go through and verbalize exactly what I was feeling. We are different people in many ways but also similar. I am thankful for the opportunity to get to learn Italian and learn more about myself. It is a rare opportunity I want to fully embrace.
I have been feeling terrible about not learning the language easily and have blamed the school, the language level of my class and about anything else I can blame. I met with my friend, who is the other student who is at my level and we talked a long time today. She realized that she is used to being quick at learning things and also blamed the class and other things for not "getting it". She is more verbal than I am regarding this and talked with the people at the school.
The bottom line is that she and I are some of the very rare people with no language background so courses seem too high level for us. We also are frustrated when we don't understand quickly enough or are unable to speak like some of the other students. She made me realize that the problem is with our expectations and "overachiever's syndrome". She said that they told her that executives have the highest level of dropping out at the school because of their expectations. I must admit I have thought a few times of quitting. Even in my lower level class I am the only one without either an Italian or other language background. Around the world most people learn 2 languages from an early age. I wish we did in the USA. Peope in my class this week have been very supportive and affirming that it takes time to process and then finally feel comfortable to speak.
I missed the last part of the class today talking with the director of the school and my friend about the similarities of the feelings my friend and I are having. My friend and I went out to lunch and talked more - over a 1/2 liter of wine (larger amount than we expected) and I feel that I have finally had a breakthrough in understanding what I am going through. It's not that I'm not going to continue to be frustrated with myself, but I feel I am beginning to understand myself better. Maybe this is what I needed to learn more than Italian when I came here. Luckily I have one more week of class and then 2 months to continue to learn to understand myself - and maybe even speak a little Italian!
Timing is everything. I was so lucky to meet my friend and have her go through and verbalize exactly what I was feeling. We are different people in many ways but also similar. I am thankful for the opportunity to get to learn Italian and learn more about myself. It is a rare opportunity I want to fully embrace.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Trips to the Farmacia in Montepulciano
The good news is that I have had a chance to visit the farmacia a few times. The bad news is that I am visiting because I have not been feeling well. I'm not sure of the reason - maybe a virus because another student I have been around has also been sick. Anyway, their faramacias are much different than ours. Just about anything you need, you have to ask the pharmacist for.
On the counters there are baby food and baby items, lotions and creams and some vitamins. In the first farmacia I had to ask the pharmacist for aspirin. It cost almost 6 euro for 20 aspirin there. When I went to the second farmacia, they had the same aspirin on a shelf on "sale" for 3.90 euro. So, after going in for headaches, I then had a problem with my eye, so I went back for eyedrops. The day before yesterday I started getting flu-like symptoms; headache, upset stomach and achy. I went back to the faramacia and the pharmacist said they sell medicine for headache/aches OR upset stomach - not together. So, I decided to only get the headache/achy medicine and I got the stuff you put in hot liquid. I also bought a packet of chicken noodle soup. That was not easy to find. They have very few prepared meals on the shelves and no cans of soup.
When I came home, I fumbled around trying to ask Fiorella for a cup of hot water - not tea. She finally boiled some water and then threw it out because she had boiled it! I told her that boiled water was fine, so she had to boil another pot. Then I asked if I could make the soup (zuppa) and she said she would make it. It was obvious that she doesn't make any pre-mixed foods because she had to read the directions thoroughly to see how to make it - 4 cups of water in a pan with the soup mix :)
I had a bit of a breakdown with frustration over not being able to communicate with her. It just makes me crazy that I can't say much. And when I want to talk I realize that we didn't learn the words I want to say, like "I'm starting to feel better", or "The dogs are getting along very well". I can ask her her name, how she is doing and tell her I am taking Seymour for a walk or to school, but that takes me down a dead end street.
On top of that, my new room mate speaks fluent Italian and she and Fiorella have great conversations, unfortunately I don't know about what. I am happy for both of them but wish I could join in.
OK, I am back to complaining a bit, but I am still thrilled to be here and am diligently trying to understand what is said in class and do my homework. I only have 1 1/2 more weeks here before Seymour and I are off on our own so I know I'll get a little better with the language.
Speaking of class, we are now in a new, smaller classroom since our class is smaller. It has large shuttered windows that open to a barred balcony. We are considered to be on the first floor, but it the USA it would be the second. During class Seymour wandered over to the window (which starts at floor level) and stuck his head through the bars like he was ready to leave. I almost fell out of my chair running for him. He is becoming quite the independent guy. When he's done with class, he's done!
On the counters there are baby food and baby items, lotions and creams and some vitamins. In the first farmacia I had to ask the pharmacist for aspirin. It cost almost 6 euro for 20 aspirin there. When I went to the second farmacia, they had the same aspirin on a shelf on "sale" for 3.90 euro. So, after going in for headaches, I then had a problem with my eye, so I went back for eyedrops. The day before yesterday I started getting flu-like symptoms; headache, upset stomach and achy. I went back to the faramacia and the pharmacist said they sell medicine for headache/aches OR upset stomach - not together. So, I decided to only get the headache/achy medicine and I got the stuff you put in hot liquid. I also bought a packet of chicken noodle soup. That was not easy to find. They have very few prepared meals on the shelves and no cans of soup.
When I came home, I fumbled around trying to ask Fiorella for a cup of hot water - not tea. She finally boiled some water and then threw it out because she had boiled it! I told her that boiled water was fine, so she had to boil another pot. Then I asked if I could make the soup (zuppa) and she said she would make it. It was obvious that she doesn't make any pre-mixed foods because she had to read the directions thoroughly to see how to make it - 4 cups of water in a pan with the soup mix :)
I had a bit of a breakdown with frustration over not being able to communicate with her. It just makes me crazy that I can't say much. And when I want to talk I realize that we didn't learn the words I want to say, like "I'm starting to feel better", or "The dogs are getting along very well". I can ask her her name, how she is doing and tell her I am taking Seymour for a walk or to school, but that takes me down a dead end street.
On top of that, my new room mate speaks fluent Italian and she and Fiorella have great conversations, unfortunately I don't know about what. I am happy for both of them but wish I could join in.
OK, I am back to complaining a bit, but I am still thrilled to be here and am diligently trying to understand what is said in class and do my homework. I only have 1 1/2 more weeks here before Seymour and I are off on our own so I know I'll get a little better with the language.
Speaking of class, we are now in a new, smaller classroom since our class is smaller. It has large shuttered windows that open to a barred balcony. We are considered to be on the first floor, but it the USA it would be the second. During class Seymour wandered over to the window (which starts at floor level) and stuck his head through the bars like he was ready to leave. I almost fell out of my chair running for him. He is becoming quite the independent guy. When he's done with class, he's done!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Week Three of Italian Class
First,I will post pictures from the parade yesterday later. I did not bring my camera adaptor to school to download the pictures.
The good news is that I am in the beginner class I should have been in 2 weeks ago, but I probably would have repeated it anyway. There are 5 of us and of course all but me have had Italian classes before, but not as much as the students in the other class. I guess I should have stuck with that class I dropped out of last summer!
There are 2 people from Australia (mother and daughter), one from Germany and a woman from Ohio. She has family in Italy and wants to learn Italian to talk with them. She will only be in class one week but has had another Italian course.
I keep starting new notebooks to try to organize my info but then I get more info and have to start another notebook. I am keeping the supermarket in business with dog food and notebooks! OK, and cookies :)
Seymnour has adapted to the new class of people and the classroom by mostly sleeping next to me.
It rained here last night - thunder and all. Today it is very cool but I don't know the temperature. Some people are wearing coats - I am just wearing long sleeves. I can't see the coat coming out until it gets much colder.
The good news is that I am in the beginner class I should have been in 2 weeks ago, but I probably would have repeated it anyway. There are 5 of us and of course all but me have had Italian classes before, but not as much as the students in the other class. I guess I should have stuck with that class I dropped out of last summer!
There are 2 people from Australia (mother and daughter), one from Germany and a woman from Ohio. She has family in Italy and wants to learn Italian to talk with them. She will only be in class one week but has had another Italian course.
I keep starting new notebooks to try to organize my info but then I get more info and have to start another notebook. I am keeping the supermarket in business with dog food and notebooks! OK, and cookies :)
Seymnour has adapted to the new class of people and the classroom by mostly sleeping next to me.
It rained here last night - thunder and all. Today it is very cool but I don't know the temperature. Some people are wearing coats - I am just wearing long sleeves. I can't see the coat coming out until it gets much colder.
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