On living life in Sicily

We haven't been good about regular posts so I have decided to write them at home then paste them into the blog when we get to the base where we have access to the internet. I've actually posted three today counting this one so just wander through them at your leisure.

On Wednesday I went with two of Mima’s friends (who are in our little English class) to the beach (spaggio) for a swim in the sea (il mare) wearing my “costume dil mare”. They told me to be very careful because I was so white. We stayed out for about three hours and I slathered on suntan lotion with as high a number as I could find here (30). I only got a little pinkness and it has turned into a bit of a tan for almost the first time in my life-----although my tan is more red than brown. Now I know why Sicilians have such beautiful dark skin. They don’t start out with skin that color…they get it at the beach.

Later the four Italian ladies and I had their second English class. I was surprised to find they had really studied and had come to class knowing the alphabet and a word for each letter, the seasons and colors. So…after reviewing we looked at the verb to be which gave them some sentences they could say.

After our lesson we went over to Giuseppi’s and Mimma’s for a “grand festa” to celebrate Bob’s and my 40th wedding anniversary. They had made some very special dishes and we ate to overfull (though not as much as the Italians). The strange thing about the evening was that I understood more than I have at earlier get-togethers and could do a little better at interpreting for Bob. The group of six friends who have taken Bob and I in are always so gracious. Whenever we are together one of them takes on the task (and it must be a difficult one) of making sure I understand what they're talking about most of the time so I can tell Bob and we feel a part of the group. With my limited Italian and the aid of our English/Italian dictionary, we usually get the gist of what's going on. (other times I just turn to him and say, "Not a clue.") I have learned a few new Italian words in the process----just let me say that little old Sicilian women can tell some pretty dirty jokes.