Archive by Author
Tu and Lei Revisited Posted by Geoff on Sep 3, 2012
Last year, Serena wrote a couple of blogs about the use of Tu and Lei (click on text to open links): Part 1, Part 2 Those blogs explained that in Italian we have two main forms of addressing people: the informal tu and the formal lei. We normally use tu with family, friends, and children…
Allarme per l’Ombrone Posted by Geoff on Aug 30, 2012
A few days ago, in a blog called Il Temporale (The Storm), I wrote about the incredible dry heat we’ve experienced here this summer. I talked about the impact that this siccità (dryness) has had on the environment, and how it had desiccated our orto (vegetable garden). Here’s an article that I found, with some…
Il Temporale Posted by Geoff on Aug 27, 2012
Quando abitavo in Inghilterra non avrei mai immaginato che un giorno mi sarei augurato la pioggia, ma dopo più di due mesi senza neanche una goccia ero proprio disperato. Sono cinque anni ormai che abito qua in Italia, e sono abituato alle estati lunghe e calde, ma quest’anno è stato eccezionale. Diciamo così, anche Serena…
Carlo Rambaldi, Papà di E.T. Posted by Geoff on Aug 13, 2012
Like me, I imagine that most people had never heard of Italian special effects maestro Carlo Rambaldi until his death was announced in the media a few days ago. And yet he was the creator of one of the best known characters in the history of cinema: E.T. Rambaldi was the winner of 3 Oscars…
Anche le Suore di Clausura firmano il Referendum Posted by Geoff on Aug 3, 2012
Financially, times are hard here in Italy. Politicians continue to preach austerity. Yet, when it comes to their own exorbitant salaries they remain, as usual, somewhat evasive. Hence the proposal of a referendum by l’Unione Popolare for the abolition of article 2 of law 1.261 of 1965, that regulates the indemnity awarded to members of…
Bisogna Provarle Tutte–Part 2 Posted by Geoff on Aug 1, 2012
Here’s the second part of Mattia’s blog Bisogna Provarle Tutte (You have to try everything!), in which he recounts his experience of working as a waiter at a large resort in Puglia. Il mio lavoro lì consisteva nell’assistere la clientela dalla colazione (dalle 7:30 del mattino) fino alla cena (fino alle 11:30 della sera) con…
Bisogna Provarle Tutte! – Part 1 Posted by Geoff on Jul 30, 2012
In this blog, our friend Mattia writes about his experience of working as a cameriere (waiter) at a large resort in the Gargano area of Puglia. Bisogna Provarle Tutte! Beh ovviamente mi riferisco alle esperienze lavorative che vi vengono proposte nella vita! Certo, non è facile fare questo tipo di ragionamento, perchè molte persone pensano…