Italian Lessons

It is a very interesting experience to learn about a foreign country. For instance, in Italy I was told it is illegal to allow irons in the hotel rooms. Now this information would have been very useful before I went down to the front desk in my broken Italian and asked for an iron to press my shirt for this morning. They can have my shirts pressed for me but alas they will not be ready before 900 which will really not help this morning so I guess it will be a super hot shower and a literally pressing of my shirt to make it presentable. Oh well.

I met the people I will be working with during my time here in Italy and they are all very nice…I mean nicer than Midwestern people nice!

I learned that getting your CPA in Italy is harder than in the United States. You first attend university to study economics, then you work for three years, a “studyship”, during which you study for the exam.

I have also learned that I can handle Italian coffee...oh and that I need to learn Italian STAT! The coffee is really not much more than a couple sips and with sugar it actually tastes pretty good! I successfully turned it down three times today but at dinner I was unsuccessful. Two partners, Sabino and Luigi, and one of the associates Silvia, took me out to dinner tonight. They spoke Italian most of the night with a bit of English mixed in for me. It was actually very nice as I picked up a few words…like when they were talking about shoes and windows! Thanks Rosetta Stone. The first time I recognized a word and the said I was right I was like Tiger when he wins a major…fist pump and all (not as dramatic but if you are picturing me in the middle of a beautiful piazza in Italy fist pumping you would be correct). They ordered dinner for me and I can honestly say I’m not sure if I had chicken or rabbit. I’m leaning towards rabbit…it was good…tasted like chicken. Sabino asked “Do you trust me” and of course I said yes and after a passionate discussion between the three he ordered my dinner. The same phrase was used when ordering my gelato this evening. It was great!