There are two things that are keeping us from feeling like we really fit in here.
1. Knowing where to buy things.
If I want knitting needles and some more yarn, you go to Meijer. Or JoAnn, or Target. Or if you want the really good stuff, you go to Yarns for Ewe. The point is, I know where to go or have a good idea. But over here, big super stores like Meijer aren’t that common. So if you are in the city center and want some index cards, where do you go? I have absolutely no idea. I looked at the big Coop grocery store, because over in the US, that’s where they would be. But no dice. In fact, trying to find paper over here is an ordeal. Paper is expensive. I just wanted to find a simple, cheap notebook for practicing my Italian. HA!! It was a multiday trek to locate something reasonable.
I’ve learned to knit while I was over here too. I brought one skein of yarn with me to practice on. I’ve used that up and need to buy some new supplies. I checked the IperCoop (HyperCoop – in the mall. Kind of like a super Walmart or Meijer) but nothing doing. There is a yarn store that is close to the Ponte Vecchio, so I went there. It is run by a little old lady and she followed me around the store the whole time. The yarn didn’t have prices so I left. It was making me nervous. Jim and I found another store that looked like a good candidate. It has lots of craft stuff and yarn in the window. When I went to look, it was closed for siesta. ARGH!!
This is one of the biggest issues that I am having right now. But the other:
2. Knowing how to ask for specific things.
Yes, I have my phrase book and my dictionary but it only has very general phrases. It doesn’t have the important phrases like:
“I would like 300 grams of sausage that isn’t in a casing.” The local butcher made us some sausage the other day and it was AMAZING. But how do I go and ask for it again?
Another example: “What grapes are in this wine? Is this a region or a producer?” We like wine and we have really enjoyed exploring all of the different grape varietals available here. But while at a bar or a wine tasting, how do you ask these things?
Another example, this one at the lunch/coffee bar: “I want that sandwich.” or “What is orzo?” A lot of the places where you can eat lunch are take-aways. There is a large selection food in a glass case and you say or point to what you want. But if you want clarification on something, it is almost impossible for me right now because of the language barrier.
Slowly we muddle on.
