Idiots abroad

We had planned to learn some travelers’ Italian before arriving in Italy. Our friend graciously loaned us her Rosetta Stone DVDs, we had Italian language learning apps on our phone. We had the tools, but our fun life in Bay St Louis took priority. 

So we’re experiencing Italy as idiots abroad.  We’re the lone English speakers in small Tuscan villages.  

One of our favorite shows...sigh...

But we finally learned how to ask for “Two glasses of red wine, please.”

People speak to us very slowly….as if that will help.  And usually, we’re so embarrassed, we simply nod without understanding.  

We've had some interesting Italian 

meals...usually taking a wild 

guess at what we've ordered...

We stare at road signs and notices hoping we can decipher useful information. 

We use gestures. We smile a lot. We bob our head up and down as some helpful person barrages us with directions in Italian. And we stumble through it together in good humor.

Last night we sat patiently in a restaurant … waiting, waiting … until staff found someone with enough English to explain that they don't serve food at these tables.

We bundle our clothes and find a
place to wash them. We stay at such
small hotels, there isn't laundry service...  

The laundromat was so confusing -- we couldn't tell where to add detergent -- and were fairly certain all the water would come pouring out...

Italian Lavanderia

When we needed help with A/C in our room, we inadvertantly asked another guest instead of the manager – and he actually helped! 

Three days from Rome and we’re in tiny villages where no one speaks English. 

We learn more about humility every day. 

Thank goodness for the graciousness of the Italians!