So Much Italian- Am I in Italy or Something?

It's the last week of FY11. If you haven't already, please thank your financial people for another great year. Seriously. I don't think you realize just how chaotic it gets this time of year.

I thought I was doing okay until I couldn't put more than 2 words together at a time. Words in English. I had to take a break to clear off my desk. And then another one about 2 hours later because it was covered in an inch of paper. As if that wasn't enough to realize I was brain fried...I kept forgetting things. As in, I would keep losing an hour worth of memory at a time.

Eek.

What was class going to be like?

Entertaining? Frustrating? A waste of time?

Luckily, there is another financial person in there so we both had the EOFY11 look on our faces but it was bad. Come to think of it, I don't think I recall much of what we did. I do remember thinking that I should leave at the break so I could get home and sleep but then figured that traffic would be worse than being called on yet again and not recalling how to say any number past 10 in Italian.

When I finally got home it was time to pay my rent to my neighbor. Please remember that they speak no English and my Italian is well, better than it was when I first got here, but nothing of real substance. Luckily her son, the owner of the building, was on the phone with her. He and I spoke and it sounds like I'll get to meet him late October. (Yes, he lives in NJ and owns a restaurant....I'm telling you it's what you do if you are from MdP!) Once we hung up and rent was paid/receiept signed we tried to chat. I pointed to pictures of her grandkids- I got their names. I was then waved into the living room to see 5 huge pictures of each of their daughters, each on their wedding day. At this point I was asked if I was Catholic as we turned and I saw a 2ft tall Virgin Mary statue (complete with white light glow from around her head). The second time she asked, I realized what I was being asked a responded with a no.

Trying not to be rude (but realizing that I'm going to need to take some serious Italian classes if I really wanted to talk with her) I walked back to the kitchen since that was my way back to the front door. She asked if I was sleepy and I responded with a "si" before she continued to speak and play charades. There was no second guessing what she was saying; she was telling me that when they look out the window in the morning (5am) that my car is already gone.  I laughed, responded with a "corro e lavoraro."

As I walked out the door (now that I established I go to bed at 10 and it was nearly 9) we talked about sabato and the times I'd be home for the repair guy. Well, let me rephrase- she talked, I nodded before wishing her a buon sera and headed back to my front door.