Debriefing #3

Attempting to "speak" the language was incredibly
satisfying and fun! - at least on our part, can't
speak for the Italians hearing us. I came down
with a bad cold the night we left for Italy, so
our first Italian "dialogue" came in the first
farmecia we could find. Our 2nd night I garnered
the nerve to "do" our entire espresso transaction
in Italian. Because I drew a BLANK when the gal
answered back with the price, I was able to glance
quickly at the readout on the cash register and
was saved....Seems like either you're answered
back in high velocity, animated conversation OR
they hear your "American" and answer back in
English. I'd been so proud of asking in a fancy
restaurant where the "toilette" was, all in Italian,
that I was disappointed when she answered,
"around the corner and down the stairs." I did
realize, I never would have understood her tho',
had she answered in her native tongue :-) Our B&B host in Rome
had limited English, but we learned so much still communicating with one another.