So in the continuing saga about my decision to go to Italy next summer, I've made the further decision to learn how to speak Italian. I'll drag Brianna into it if I can, since she's going too, but I will learn regardless.
I paid bottom dollar -- seriously, around $15 -- for an Italian language course. I got Total Immersion rather than Rosetta Stone, because they claim to be just as good for a whole lot less money. New it would have cost around $50. Rosetta Stone new is hundreds.
I stuck it into my car's CD player on my way to work the other morning, and proceeded to repeat words and phrases with no idea what the hell they meant.
Last night I put in the computer part of the thing, and my computer won't read part of it. The part it will is all vocabulary, so I know know how to recognize words for octopus, desk, gorilla, duck, orange, tree, hotel, and many more exciting things -- exciting because they're in Italian! Back in the car today I began to understand the uses of the words for "this" and "that." Don't ask me what they are. I'm not retaining yet.
As far as paying for the trip, I'm ahead in dollars against those spent on the language course, as I sold a Christmas ornament on eBay today for $17! So I'm $2 to the positive!
I figure this will run about $3000. So if a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, then a journey of $3000 begins, in this case, with $2.
As for where to go, we're leaning toward half a week in Venice and half a week in Rome. Friends who've been there are full of tantalizing advice about where to go and what to see. Face it; Italy is fascinating all around. If I had a month and unlimited funds, I'd see it all: Verona; Pisa; Florence; Padua. But since I don't, I'm going for a relaxing schedule.
We'll fly into Venice, stay four nights, take a train to Rome, stay three nights, and depart, richer in culture and experience, poorer in pocketbook.
Stay tuned for how the quest proceeds to learn Italian and to raise the dough for the trip!
Arrivederci!
No comments:
Post a Comment