Dinner...Italian style

In our last blog we mentioned we were invited somewhere for something we didn't know what. Well, we figured out what the invitation was for and went to the house of friends of Giusseppi and Mimma on Monday evening for dinner. We left the house a little after 8:00 p.m., got to their house a bit before nine, visited for awhile then began eating about 10:00. Some people stopped over for dessert at 11:00 and we got home around 12:30. This is the typical time for dinner since they eat lunch at 1:00 then take a rest for a few hours before starting the evening.

At dinner were about fifteen people and they all talked at the same time across the table having no problem knowing who their conversation was with and what they were saying. I watched people's mouths as they talked (as if that would help in the translating) and listened for words I recognized. I was sure I had it figured out when I heard "matrimonio" and Mimma was talking with a loving voice holding Giusseppi's hand. I was sure that one of the young women was getting married and they were giving advice....................... Wrong............. When a girl sitting near me told me about the conversation, it wasn't at all what I thought. They were talking about something completely different.

(I've GOT to learn Italian)

So, that night the ladies pinned me down as to teaching them English and we decided they would come to our house on Monday (last night) for their first lesson. Bob thought, "why not fix dinner for them, too." and invited them over. Well, we didn't have fifteen but it was more than the four ladies who came for the lesson. Around our table were the four women (I only know the names of Mimma and Marissa), Marissa's husband Alfio (that's whose house we went to to eat), Giusseppi, Bob and me----plus----Giusseppi and Mimma's thirteen year old grandson who seems to show up at our house anytime we have anyone else from his family (his name is also Giusseppi). We had a great time and great food.

The lesson was pretty funny since I only speak a very tiny bit of Italian. I had written down everything I thought I would need to say, such as, dictionary (dizionario), alphabet (alfebeto), vowel (vocale), "you will need" (forgot that one), practice this for next week (lost this one, too) and translations for the American word for every letter of the alphabet. But, as it turned out, I needed to look up things like, "let's say this together" and "the e is silent" (now that was hard because all vowels are important in Italian) Next lesson is on July 4. Lesson at our house, dinner next door at G and M's. What an experience we're having. Such good people.

Enjoy the pictures!