Friday, December 16, 2005

Parli Italiano?

I'm feeling real since getting back to basics aka returning to The Continent aka ITALIA!!! If an ad could sum up my life at present it would most certainly be the LG ad. Not because I am resemble a refrigerator or any other any other household appliance (although you want to get into me resembling the SIZE of a fridge, you wouldn't be too far off the mark) but put simply Life's Good!

The flight back was a dream compared to the flight back to the Land Down Under despite being a full flight I managed to sleep for the majority of the flight. It's amazing the yoga positions you can get yourself into in an economy sized seat just to get a bit of shut eye. Pose of a Child, Downward Dog, Salute to the Sun and, my personal favourite, Head of a Cow.

Since arriving on Sunday I have been settling in and getting all of the vitals out of the way. These being getting the 'Permission to Stay' from the cops in Parma. This was an interesting experience whereby I thanked my lucky stars I was not Asian or African. I say this not to be racist, but they have to hang around for circa 5 hours to even get to see anyone to apply . Me? I rock up, Italian in tow, get told to come back at 12 in order to queue jump. In a nutshell: Loves it! Everyone is cordoned off, not unlike cows in a paddock, out in the freezing cold, with a policeman keeping order. The policemen I saw weren't particularly attractive at all, however it was their arrogance that I quite liked.

The second vital was joining a gym. I went with Pamela to her gym and I liked it! It's nothing flash, but the man running the show, on the other hand was flash. As in Flash Dance! I'm talking flat, black shoes, white leg warmers, red three quarter, baggy pants, and a white oversized t- shirt. He really came to the party when he popped on a yellow, again oversized, sweater with the neck band cut out. Tres chic! Despite the the Flash Dance attire, which I secretly thought was HOT, he was a lovely man and he has set me on my path to fitness & health. To that end, today I went down to the lower level do a spot of cardio on the treadmill. I killed two birds with one stone by, unbeknownst to me, keeping the heating on and benefiting from a sauna as well. I was lucky to get out alive.

Third vital: Enrol in Italian course. Tonight was my first class and I think I can safely say that I'm preeeeeeeeeeeeety close to ticking the box entitled 'Learn the Language'. I've only been here a few days, can't count to ten, but I think I've almost got this gig down pat. As a learning tool I have been waltzing around singing 'Tell me when will you be mine? Tell me Quando ? Quando? Quannnnnnnnndo?' Tomorrow I shall waltz around singing 'Tell me WHERE will you be mine? Tell me DOVE? DOVE? DOOOOOOOOOVE?'. The day after I'm going on a road trip with some Italians to Brescia (not the furniture factory) to view an art exhibition (Rembrandt, Monet and the like) so I won't be singing anything. BUT the following day I shall be singing 'Tell me WHO will you be mine? Tell CHI? CHI? CHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIII?' That one doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I'm throwing caution to the wind in order to this language thing happening.

Getting acquainted with La Famiglia was the fourth vital and if the amount of food they like to bring to me is anything to go by, then yes, the wheels are in motion. They are fabulous. Today I looked after the baby for the first time and he's so cute!! Such a good baby. Well, he did smile and laugh at me, so I immediately loved him! Anyone that thinks I'm funny is a friend for life! Pamela's father is a funny old fellow. Due to the language barrier, all we do is laugh. On the 20th (I think) it will be fun and games because I'm off with Pia & Italo ( Pamela's parents) to Tuscany for the Christmas period. Pamela & Michele won't be there until Christmas Day so I'm thinking of this as a kind of 'shock therapy'. Speak or die! Well, I know I won't starve because they'd never in a million years allow that to happen, plus I could live off the fat stores I have acquired for a few years to come, but I will be forced to parlo Italiano.

So, that is the story thus far........

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