Faccio Un Pensiero

Oggi, quando sono andata a lezione, la mia insegnante non c'era. Suo padre era lì. Abbiamo parlato in italiano e inglese perché ha detto che avevo bisogno di praticare. Dopo la semplice conversazione, mi ha insegnato la frase: faccio un pensiero.

How did this come up? He suggested that I switch to the University of Maryland Italian course because he teaches the entry level and also includes Italian culture. He knew that his field trip around Naples last December was a hit with me, especially when I had asked him when we were going this term. So then I had to ask what level he think I should be in. Keep in mind that although I'm in level 4 of this current class I still rely majorly on Google Translate when writing things like above...for word order, spelling, and the occasional verb tense reminder. 

"The first one" was his answer,  to which he quickly justified because it's the one that he teaches. When I laughed he said that I'd be fine in Italian II because I know some already. He continued to encourage me to just try to communicate in Italian because it was all too evident to him that I was too busy trying to make the English to Italian translation in my head perfect and losing my tongue in the process. Of course there is still a little Spanish being thrown in there when that word is more readily available in my "foreign language" brain file...

So he then told me to fai un pensiero (you think it over/make a thought). After about bringing it up 10 more times, I think the phrase has stuck and the next time store keeper is pressuring me into a sale, I'll respond with faccio un pensiero because apparently that's the "cute way" to respond.  

Over all the unofficial Italian class was a blast...especially considering that I really didn't want to go. It was nice to have a different Italian speaker to listen to and get a few basic word uses in. Of course, like his daughter has already told me many a times...the best way for me to learn Italian is to date an Italian. At least he's the first one to qualify that I should actually like the guy or else it just won't work out.

Mamma mia! Is it really that impossible for them to grasp a single girl moving over her for work? And if it is...don't you think they'd be lining up guys that speak decent English as my crash course into Italian?