A Seasonal Quiz Posted by Serena on Dec 18, 2018
The Christmas Holidays are just round the corner. How well do you know our cultural traditions for il periodo natalizio? Let’s find out! Here’s a quiz based on Italian culture during the Christmas period. To help you answer the questions, I’ve given some links to previous blogs. Have a go and, if you’re feeling brave…
The Moss Collectors Posted by Geoff on Dec 13, 2018
Here in Italy at this time of year it’s common to see people removing clumps of moss from rocks or old stone walls and placing it in a basket. When we were out walking a few days ago, for example, we spotted due suore (two nuns) in a field below us examining a terrace wall…
Road Rage In Italy! Posted by Geoff on Dec 6, 2018
Okay, I confess, that’s a clickbait title, just a cheap device to grab your attention. The real title may not sound as dramatic, but it is, none the less, very entertaining: Wheelchair Rage At The Rest Home! If, like us, you’ve had to deal with elderly and increasingly dependent parents, with all the consequent visits…
Il Dottore Delle Bambole – Part 5 – Translation Posted by Geoff on Dec 3, 2018
Here’s our translation of the final chapter in our detective story Il Dottore Delle Bambole. E’ sera, piove. Gisella Rossetti sta tornando a casa e intanto pensa al suo lavoro alla clinica di bellezza ‘Whole Body Wellness’. Le ore lavorative sono tante e pesanti, ma a lei piace molto. E poi deve essere contenta che…
Il Dottore Delle Bambole – Part 5 Posted by Serena on Nov 29, 2018
Here’s the final chapter of our detective story Il Dottore Delle Bambole. E’ sera, piove. Gisella Rossetti sta tornando a casa e intanto pensa al suo lavoro alla clinica di bellezza ‘Whole Body Wellness’. Le ore lavorative sono tante e pesanti, ma a lei piace molto. E poi deve essere contenta che l’abbiano assunta senza…
Zero Kilometres Posted by Serena on Nov 22, 2018
Here’s an irony: in an era of rising nationalistic sentiment, in which immigrants are increasingly regarded as unwelcome intruders, we seem more than happy to import all of our goods from the other side of the planet! During a recent visit to the UK, for example, we wanted to buy some garlic. Now, the medium…
Italian Insects – Part 2 Posted by Geoff on Nov 15, 2018
In Italian Insects – Part 1 I described a few of the, for want of a better word, ‘household’ insects that we see more or less all year round. But, of course, many insects are strictly seasonal … Before we begin though, here’s a message from Meaghan, our manager at Transparent Language, explaining some changes…