Archive for 'Uncategorized'
I Meet A Childhood Hero – English Translation Posted by Geoff on Jul 24, 2017
On our first day back in Pontremoli, after a week away in England, Serena had the unexpected pleasure of shaking hands with a hero from her youth. Here’s my English translation of her blog: I Meet A Childhood Hero Siamo appena tornati da una settimana in Inghilterra, una settimana molto intensa e stressante per motivi…
I Meet A Childhood Hero Posted by Serena on Jul 21, 2017
On our first day back in Pontremoli, after a week away in England, I had the unexpected pleasure of shaking hands with a hero from my youth … Siamo appena tornati da una settimana in Inghilterra, una settimana molto intensa e stressante per motivi familiari. E’ un piacere gironzolare tranquillamente per Pontremoli e incontrare tanti…
Farcela Posted by Geoff on Jul 19, 2017
Here in Italy, we have a wealth of weird and wonderful idiomatic expressions. These expressions tend not to follow the logic of certain rules that you may have learned. Farcela is a classic example. Farcela (to be able/to manage) is used very frequently in everyday Italian, so it’s important to learn how to use it…
Come Svuotare La Casa Posted by Serena on Jul 3, 2017
Come svuotare in due settimane un appartamento di cinque stanze pieno di mobili, libri e cianfrusaglie? Questo è quello che abbiamo dovuto fare Geoff ed io in questi ultimi giorni. Ai primi di giugno abbiamo spostato mia mamma in una casa famiglia. Il posto è molto bello, fuori in campagna ma a soli cinque minuti…
The Sounds Of Italy Posted by Geoff on Jun 26, 2017
What noise annoys an oyster? A noisy noise annoys an oyster! This, I remember, was a popular tongue twister when I was a kid. Of course, it makes even less sense when translated into Italian: Che rumore da fastidio ad un’ostrica? Un rumore rumoroso da fastidio ad un’ostrica! Sounds can be divided into three main…
Gli Odori Dell’Estate Posted by Geoff on Jun 14, 2017
It’s hot, we leave the windows ajar day and night to keep the house fresh. Gli odori dell’estate (the smells of summer) flow into the house … Profumo = Scent Just outside the kitchen door is a tall bushy gelsomino (jasmin). It gives off un profumo inebriante (an inebriating scent), especially in the evening. Il…
Chi E’ Pazzo? Posted by Geoff on Jun 12, 2017
How do we define what is ‘normal’, or decide who is sane and who crazy? We live in a world full of stark contradictions, of atrocities committed in the name of lofty ideals. We try to dig at the truth but find our judgement obfuscated by the smoke and mirrors of “alternative facts”. Caparezza is…