English Italian Forum

Another sample from my English-Italian Forum

in Inglese,

Ho fatto che cosa hai voluto. =I did what you wanted

Che pensi? =What do you think (obviously.. about my avatar)

(Ho parlato corretto?) = Did I say it right?

That is what I was trying to say in Italian, with a lot of mistakes, obviously.

Anyway, ciao for now. Hopefully it won’t be long until I can return.
_____________________________________

Hallo Tom,

I hope you’ll come back soon. Just a little grammatical thing to let you understand exactly the Italian use.

I did what you wanted = (io) ho fatto quello che (tu) hai voluto

In English only a single word: "what"; in Italian two different words: "quello che".

According to the Italian structure. there are two different sentences:

1) ho fatto quello: subject “io”=”I”; object “quello” = “that thing” [dimostrative pronoun used as object of “I did”];

2) che tu hai voluto (relative sentense: subject “tu”=”you”; object “che”=” which” [relative pronoun used like object of “you wanted”]).

You in English use “what” for both functions (object of “I did” and object of “you wanted”), we in Italian use two different pronouns (quello [dimostrative], che [relative]) end if you would translate exactly according to the Italian structure you would translate like this:

io ho fatto quello che tu hai voluto = I did that (thing) which you wanted (terrible English but exacly like Italian structure).
____________________________

Are in you interested in learning Italian? ... check my site:

http://xoomer.alice.it/learn_italian/

Are you interested in a serious English-Italian discussion board? ... check my forum:

http://www.spazioforum.it/forums/?mforum=essereindue

Nothing commercial on my sites but only friendly!

Gandalf - Gandolfo

Here you have a sample of a real posts on my English-Italian discussion board

http://www.spazioforum.it/forums/essereindue.html

Hallo Tom,
can I ask you a little thing? Is this avatar your usual avatar? As I can see from the post of Andrea your avatar represents Gandalf (from “The Lord of the Rings”). I have to tell you I’m not really such deep in Lord of the Rings problems and I would newer identify the character in your avatar.
Gandalf is a German noun Latinized into Gandulfus. Usually Longobards (German people that occupied Italy from 568 and 774 a. C. and ruled an important kingdom with capital Pavia) formed their names, German style, putting together two different nouns, this way, from “GAND” = “MAGIC WAND” + “WULFA”=”WOLF”, comes “GANDWULF” Latinized into “GANDULFUS”. Nowadays the Pope has his summer palace in Castel Gandolfo... a beautiful place by the lake of Albano. The papal palace was built where many centuries before was built a castle of the GANDOLFI family, an ancient Italian family of Longobard origin. The noun “Gandulfus” is present in Italy from the VIII century on.

Ciao Tom,
Ti posso chiedere una piccola cosa? Questo è il tuo avatar usuale? Come posso vedere dal post di Andrea, il tuo avatar rappresenta Gandalf (de “Il Signore degli Anelli”). Ti devo dire che non sono realmente molto addentro ai problemi del Signore degli Anelli e non avrei mai riconosciuto il personaggio nel tuo avatar. Gandalf è un nome germanico latinizzato il Gandulfus. Normalmente i Longobardi (un popolo tedesco che occupò l’Italia dal 568 al 774 dopo Cristo e governò un importante regno con capitale Pavia) formavano i loro nomi, alla maniera tedesca, mettendo insieme due diversi nomi, in questo modo, da “GAND” = “MAGIC WAND” + “WULFA”=”WOLF”, deriva “GANDWULF” latinizzato in “GANDULFUS”. Ai nostri giorni il Papa ha la sua residenza estiva a Castel Gandolfo... una bella località presso il lago di Albano. Il palazzo papale fu costruito dove, molti secoli prima, era stato costruito un castello della famiglia GANDOLFI, una antica famiglia italiana di origini longobarde. Il nome “Gandulfus” è presente in Italia a partire dall’VIII secolo.

Remember "HOW TO TEARN ITALIAN"

http://xoomer.alice.it/learn_italian/

Learn Italian

Our English-Italian Forum “ESSERE IN DUE un forum per discutere in amicizia” (TO BE TWO a forum to discuss friendly)

http://www.spazioforum.it/forums/essereindue.html

is an absolutely commercial free site (nothing commercial here but only friendly!) created to let friends from everywhere in the world discuss freely and friendly, in English if they like better or in Italian if they are able to... recently our English section became more and more consistent with a lot of messages posted by a friend from USA. This Discussion board could help English native speakers improve their skills in reading and writing Italian, if they don’t like better try to get in touch by chat with me or with someone of the users of the discussion board, obviously always friendly, absolutely free and with nothing commercial involved.
There is also another site very useful to learn Italian (clearly absolutely free and friendly) “HOW TO LEARN ITALIAN”

http://xoomer.alice.it/learn_italian/

You can find on this site everything you need to learn Italian: Grammar, Italian texts to read while you are listening to an actor reading the same Italian text, Italian television stations to watch right on my website, and a lot of other useful instruments to improve your Italian or to start from the beginning.

ALTARE DELLA PATRIA

This is the "altare della patria" (“native land altar”) from Venice square, in Rome. On this monument two phrases are written PATRIAE UNITATI – CIVIUM LIBERTATI, that means In Latin) “to the unit of the native land” and “to the freedom of the citizens”. In origin it was the monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, first King of Italy.Where are you, all over the world, Italian art lovers? I have already said these things… I’m becoming boring, I repeat, repeat, always the same thing… I have to change my music in order to get more audience… perhaps it’s pathetic… but I’d want to succeed in finding someone interested in these things. What do Americans or Canadians or Australians think about Italy (art and culture but also common life)? Have you ever been in Italy? Which impression did you bring back? Would you come here a second time?

Are in you interested in learning Italian? ... check my site:

http://xoomer.alice.it/learn_italian/

Are you interested in a serious English-Italian discussion board? ... check my forum:

http://www.spazioforum.it/forums/?mforum=essereindue

Nothing commercial on my sites but only friendly!

Learn Italian friendly

Is there someone interested in studying Italian? Who likes Italy and Italian? It’s much more easy than you can even imagine, you can learn Italian using an English-Italian discussion board or chatting directly with Italian people well skilled in English... practice isn’t as boring as grammar...

Are in you interested in learning Italian? ... check my site:

http://xoomer.alice.it/learn_italian/

Are you interested in a serious English-Italian discussion board? ... check my forum:

http://www.spazioforum.it/forums/?mforum=essereindue

Nothing commercial on my sites but only friendly!

NEVER GET UP STUDYING ITALIAN

Today I got a message on my English-Italian discussion board:

I’m interested in studying Italian but…

1. It takes a lot of time and I don't have a lot of time.

2. It is easy to get tired, discouraged and to give up.

But I have to keep pushing myself, but at the same time I have to pace myself. I have to stay committed, but I have to take a break when I find myself getting too tired.

I am thinking that I should not post here too much, unless I can post something in Italian. When I do this someone can translate it into English. This will be good for three reasons. I will see that you understood what I was trying to say, I will be working towards improving my Italian, and I will be able to help the person who translates it for me, at the same time, with their English. So the next time I post here I will come back with something that I have written in Italian.

And so I answered:

That’s a very good idea... this way we could help each other and I think it would be very useful... Perhaps you got tired because of too much grammar... I think also that you’d better start directly by MSN what is much more interesting and much less boring than reading grammar explications... If you’d like it I’m here...

Something else about using MSN... just some minutes ago you where on the Forum, then your computer was running but I didn’t find you “on line” on my MSN board.... perhaps you did not open the MSN board... You have to remember that when you open your MSN without setting up like “invisible” you can see whether or not your friends are on line and your friends can know the same about you... thanks for reading. Never get discouraged and never give up! You only have to try... and you’ll find out how easy it could be to practice Italian without grammar and directly by chat.

Are in you interested in learning Italian? ... check my site:
http://xoomer.alice.it/learn_italian/
Are you interested in a serious English-Italian discussion board? ... check my forum:
http://www.spazioforum.it/forums/?mforum=essereindue

Learn Italian friendly

Dear Friends,
are you learning Italian? Did you learn Italian years ago? Would you like to learn just a little Italian or improve your Italian conversation skills (write and spoken Italian)... getting in contact with real Italian people well skilled in English, absolutely free and friendly? Do you know Italy or at least would you like to visit Italy? Do you like chatting both in English end/or in Italian about a lot of arguments: our countries, our culture, and about a lot of interesting subjects?
If you answered yes at least once try my website about learning Italian

http://xoomer.alice.it/learn_italian/

and my English-Italian discussion board

http://www.spazioforum.it/forums/essereindue.html

and remember... no tricks on my sites, I’m not searching for money, nothing commercial on my sites, at all, but only friendly... We are waiting for you...

Spaghetti and mandolin country

How is Italy pictured by people abroad? Does Italy look like spaghetti and mandolin country? How many of you have visited Italy at least once? How many are able to read or write Italian or to understand Italian speakers? How many have Italian friends? How many are interested in Italian culture? And as I can see, people open regularly my websites about learning Italian all over the world... This month I got visits from USA (40%), Korea (18,75%), Portugal (9%), and something else from Argentina, Denmark, Germany, Costa Rica, France and Australia... someone of my readers jumps also my other English websites

http://xoomer.alice.it/learn_italian/

or to my English-Italian discussion board

http://www.spazioforum.it/forums/essereindue.html

Perhaps you too could be interested. Nothing commercial in my websites but only friendly.

To come

Struggle on puffing from dawn to dusk
before bats begin to fly between the trees,
drawing strength from the courage of others,
trying not to let nightmares spoil the night.
Slow down! What’s the rush?
I hate to hurry but have to leave
looking forward to something else
in the life to come.

peacefulness

Sudden noises scare me,
I love the restful sound of the wind in the trees
that helps me to unwind,
to keep mind on nothing,
to feel empty-handed,
empty-minded,
no need to worry,
no need to get to the heart of the matter,
no fights,
no one at all,
neither devil to sell soul.

Learn Italian English-Italian Forum

Are in you interested in learning Italian? ... check my site:

http://xoomer.alice.it/learn_italian/

Are you interested in a serious English-Italian discussion board? ... check my forum:

http://www.spazioforum.it/forums/?mforum=essereindue

Nothing commercial on my sites but only friendly!

Keep trying

Nothing to follow if you don’t just follow the crowd,
neither feeling of being followed,
just the feeling of missing something, someone.
Need badly a rest from all,
need to be loved or to be lost,
need a breath of fresh air at least once in a while
just not to take all this the wrong way,
fairly hard to deal with nothing,
stretch out hands to help no one,
keep trying to distract yourself,
keep hoping you’re wrong.

FRIENDS AND LOVERS

- I’m Kidding? Playing? Joking? ... you got crazy all of a sudden! ... you are playing with fire... you... you are teasing me... just to flirt with... with... Oh my God! I’d better cork it up! ... That... that... damn you! ... But where did you find such... such a... I’d better hold my tongue... I hate you! Not only you are treacherous, pretender, bastard... you are also stupid... no brain at all! ... And I’m so idiot that I forgive everything... wasting money, making me look more stupid than I really am, pretending I’m a shrew, a crone, an hag, if front of your friends... Friends? Lushes that stink of beer and cigarettes and someone also of un unwashed feet... So are your friends... piddling all over the floor in the bathroom... soiling the toilet bowl with you know what... they don’t know and they don’t care... because there is a servant just to clean everything... They are always careless. relaxed, natural and free from anxiety... Your stupid friends... and I don’t know whatever else... because I think they are also dangerous and violent, rough, always looking for fights, with a bad reputation for playing rough... they go crazy for powerful motorcycles, they sign easily a lot of bills of exchange... they use to sell everything out just to get a most powerful motorcycle... and you... poor baby, you aren’t able to buy neither a bike... you have been fired... booted out because you are always drunk... even at work... and now you got football-mad... at sixteen I could stand it, but at forty it’ too much... You are not a baby and I’m not a witch... could you ever think about something concrete? ... not only football, motorcycles, whisky... and girls... yeah right! Because my baby fell in love... what a boyish behaviour... very nice! ... the young boy fell in love romantically with a sleeping princess... No! ... You got the worst girl in the word - damn you! ... but where did you find her sticky hair, black nails, nose-ring, fat, iron heeled shoes... tattooed everywhere, cheeks, neck, hands... and then she laughs out loud like a veritable goose... No!... I cant’ stand all that... no more... you mast get out...
- Mummy ... you’re right but I try to stay sober... yes, no more get drunk... no more motorcycles no more smoking... no more friends, whatever you like... but my baby must be mine... Mummy... if you’d like I’ll bring her here ... Mummy... I really fell in love... do you know what does that mean?
- I know very well... unfortunately... your father taught me such a convincing lesson... that I know very well the meaning of falling in love... I know very well! Your father! Damn him! You are like your father... just the same...
- Mummy... could you lend me 2.000 dollars?
- 2.000 what?
- 2.000 dollars... she has to see the doctor for a problem...
- I my God, what a problem... is she pregnant?
- No... I don’t think so... I think it’s another problem?
- What problem?
- It’s a private thing and she’s very shy...
- And you are very stupid...
- She would like to put a little diamond into a single tooth ... I think this way she could be able to flash the best smiles in the world... Mommy only 2.000 dollars not a dime more... just to lend... I’ll give you back everything just as I catch my firs pay... I promise... you bet! And then she asked me for another thing... just a little more boring she asked the bank for a loan because she must restore her apartment... she asked me if you could sign for security...
- Oh! My God! ... No! How can I stand such things... you got really crazy... no! You have better to get drunk everyday... get involved in fights... get jailed for a lot of years... How is it possible? You where my little baby... my little blond baby... I dreamed a lot about your future... I saved money to let you get ahead, build you future... and now at forty you can’t even understand what a boy could see easily... Baby... no! ... I love you I don’t stand such situations... no!
- Mummy... but she needs badly that 2.000 dollars... and I’ll give you back shortly...
- 2.000 dollars for ... no! I’ll never give you 2.000 dollars this way...
- Mummy... I told her you are my lovely Mummy... don’t you? ... I have to tell you a little secret ... I already gave her the 2.000 dollars... that’s all... but you aren’t a good Mummy... you don’t love me... you only think about money... I would have gone far away from this house but I have no money and I’m forced to live here with you... you speak about love... you are only a little selfish stupid woman... I hate you...

That was the story... Oh my God.... how can I get back home? He got crazy... he really got crazy... and now where am I going? To the police? To the health care service? To the church? ... My son got mad... oh my God! What did I so terrible to deserve such a torture? ... Not only stupid, really unaware of himself... he stole 3.000 dollars, al our savings... and then threatened me with hanger, with violence... and now I don’t have any money at all, not even to take a bus or to buy something to eat... my son fills his mother with dread... he hates me, but I don’t hate him... ah! That terrible girl... damn her! What did she do to my son? ... That girl.... That girl... perhaps she is like him... but perhaps she’s not... That girl... she lives near the old bridge... yeah... near the that terrible block of flats... what’s her name?... He told me... Mary Brown... searching for Mary Brown... I have to go... I have to go... it’s a long walk to get there and I’m an old woman... Mary Brown... mh... I’m very tired, very tired... but I have to go... The bridge... finally the bridge... this river is immense... no... never allow bad thoughts to get into your mind! Go ahead old Jenny... you must go... there is nothing here to decide... there’s everything o accept... the terrible bloc of flats... only cans of trash, closed gates... big spaces completely empty and then broken homes.... old cars with no doors... fired pneumatics... a fired-plastic piquancy ... but I have to go ahead.... Someone over there...
- Excuse me... do you know Mary Brown?
- Fuck you!
Ahead... always ahead... probably over there ... there is a scent of cabbage, something less nauseating...
- Do you know Mary Brown?
- Which one? There are two Mary Brown... Mary! Come here... someone is asking for you....
- Jenny... come here... you look tired... what the hell? What happened to Max?
- Jenny... I... I....
- Be quiet this place is terrible but no one is killing us...
- Jenny ... Max told me about the diamond to put into your teeth and about this house to restore...
- About what? Diamond in the teeth? ... House to restore? ... I don’t understand...
- You got 2.000 dollars from Max ...
- No... be quiet I didn’t get anything I gave him a little money, but just a little because I don’t have money at all...
- You gave him money? ... Mary, can I call you this way?
- Certainly, you can...
- Well I think he got crazy...
- I don’t think so, I think he’s a poor person... nothing more...
- I’m scared about him to kill me...
- I don’t think so... probably he’s now crying somewhere... he speaks aloud, screams, cries... but then he starts grieving over himself... Seat down Jenny... do you like a glass of water?
- Thanks... yes...
- Please...
- Mary... I vas going to the police or to the health care service in order to make him admitted in a hospital or jailed... I’m dreaded... I can’t get back no more and I haven’t any money to go to a hotel... I’m worried... I feel alone... and I think he feels alone...
- Be quiet, for now you have nothing to worry...
- But do you know Max very well?
- Not really... we met four or five weeks ago... we have been talking for hours, we have been talking about a lot of problems... also about you... and I think he loves you... yeah... I think he loves you... there is something that touches me badly... he never acknowledges himself as a poor man who failed in nearly every attempt to achieve his purposes ... when we spend our time chatting I try to tell him that I’m a poor girl that failed in near everything in her life... and he looks at me and I can see his anguish through his eyes... when life takes a bad way, when you are in a bad mood it’s very hard to rise from the ground...
- And you, Mary, do you love him... would you like to marry?
- No... I don’t think so... I respect him, somehow I love him, but just somehow... now I like better to live alone... putting together two bad situations doesn’t make something better... disillusions are something terrible, I think disillusions abut yourself... like me about myself... First he has to accept everything... then he can start building something new... something better... at least something else... Jenny... don’t cry...
- It would have been better if he had died....
- No... To die is never the better choice... you have to go ahead... he has to go ahead... no matter how difficult the path could be... Jenny... you looks like my mother... she passed out years ago, she always was desperate to help me... At that time I was in a really bad situation... dope, but also abuse of drugs... I was lost, completely out and she was desperate to help me... then she passed out and my life really changed, I never would have seen her dying but eventually she died with no one to help her but me... and starting from that day on, no more dope, no more drug abuse and so on... I had no place to go, no one to help me just like my mother, but before we where two... and then I was alone, desperately lonely, no money, no future... only a big desire, a big hope to better my situation... Now I live here, really not a nice place to live in... but that is... now I work, at least sometimes I work in the mall... just a little money ... I met Max at the mall... he was buying a bottle of whisky... only a low quality bottle of whisky... nothing else... and he was clothed with a light texture jacket... and we where in January... His eyes where dump, humid, just like it happens to the habitual drinkers... Our eyes met... we exchanged a smile... then he went... but getting out of the mall, in the evening I found him over there, like he was waiting for nothing but he was waiting for me... he had no place to go... at least so he told me... and we came here... he was frozen and I have no boiler... neither heating plant... just something to eat and I remember how he was putting hands near the pot just to try to heat them... then after eating a soup he fell asleep... I stayed there looking at him while he was asleep... greased hair, three or four days beard... he looked very stressed... just about to crash, to collapse... I don’t think he was used to doping... no... we have been talking about everything but never about dope... he seamed tired, weak, exhausted, haggard but not for something in particular... tired of living, he was in need of rest and sleep, he said that it was tiredness that led him to make a lot of mistakes. Sometimes he seamed overtaken by a sudden wave of tiredness. We became friends, not lovers, only friends, if there is something different... I think he is a nice person.... he perhaps could have scared you, could have told you something terrible... but in spite of everything I don’t think he’s a bad person...
- Yeah... you’re right... but tonight I can’t get back home... I’m scared... and I’m also worried about him... preoccupied because he could also attempt suicide... My God, no!
- Call him at home?
- No... I can’t.... please call him... he hates me... call him please...
- Good... but I have no mobile...
- There’s a mine... call him...
- ... No answer... he’s probably somewhere else... we’ll try later... would you like to stay here tonight?... I’ll give you my bed... and I’ll settle here...
- Thanks... ok... thanks... but I’m worried about him... I’d do something to help him...
- You’re right... but there is nothing to do...
- But do you see Max frequently?
- Nearly everyday... I saw him yesterday... but I really don’t know very much about the kind of life he does... I never ask him questions... I can hear what he likes me to hear but no more...
- But Max thinks you are his girlfriend... he told me he would like to take you home... he told me he would like very well to marry to you...
- No... perhaps so he told you... but we will never marry... he has to make his own way... nothing about to marry to me... and I too have to make my own way...
- Which way?
- That’s a too much personal question...
- Did you tell Max about?
- No...
- Oh... excuse me... I’ll stay here on the sofa... and you can stay quiet in your bed... ok?
- Ok, if you like better...
- ... But I would have liked well if you where my daughter-in law...
- I’ll be your friend like I’m friend of Max, isn’t that enough?
- It’s enough... somehow it’s enough...
- But what can a mother do when she’s involved in terrible things?
- We’ll try to call him again and again ... put on the automatic call... every twenty minutes... Jenny, do you eat something... I just cooked cabbages and there is some salad and a little loaf of bread...
- No thanks... I’m very tired and I’d like to sprawl on the sofa... I know that it isn’t so polite ... but I have to rest...
- Ok, Jenny... you can find the bathroom or whatever it is over there...tomorrow morning I get up at four because I’m going to work... I’m sorry...
- Thanks, Mary, you are a very good girl... Oh... what is it? ... the telephone... the telephone... Hallo!
- Hallo... I’m Max... but where are you? I have bee searching for you for hours...
- Oh... I’m with Mary...
- Mery?
- Yeah... Mary... she’s a very nice person... Max... I’m sorry you had a such difficult day...
- No... I’m sorry... about... about... you know what about...
- Max there is Mary here...
- Max... come here... you mum is very upset... and we have a lot of things to talk about... come here...
- Yeah.. good... I’ll be there... but it takes 50 minutes to get there...
- Max you have to take a bus... there is a night bus at 11.00 starting from the bus station in front of the station... if you leave now you can catch the bus... we’re waiting for you... bye Max...
- How do you feel Jenny?
- Oh...I feel better... now I fell very well...
- Are you worried about something?
- No... not now... now I’m just waiting... just waiting... I’m trying to find something to say... because I don’ know where to start from...
- Jenny... you only have to let things go... don’t be anxious or worried or whatever... only let things go... he’s a good friend... we know each other a little bit but I think we can see trough each other ... there is something in common, something that makes us to respect each other...
- And then why can’t you get married?
- Jenny... don’t ask such questions... let us live making our own way... yes, I know, a mother would like to understand everything about her son... but sons must make their way, no matter how mums are worried about... is a general rule, no one is allowed to stop sons from making their way... Max will make his way... I’m sure he’ll make his way... I’m sure...
- Perhaps you’re right... I’m wordless... perhaps you can understand him much more than I do... or you can love him much more than I do...
- No... I don’t think so... I have a different point of view and for me it’s much more easier to understand...
- Mh... Good.... what time is it?
- It’s 11.20... I think he’s going to arrive... about five minutes...
- Well... he’s coming here... I have to stay quiet... someone in knocking at the door... He arrived...
- Here I’m ... but what are you doing here, mum?
- I was searching for you...
- Here?
- Yes, here... nothing to be astonished... I and Mary became friends... I think she is a very good friend ... isn’t it?
- Yes, she is... Mary... what happened?
- Nothing.... she was worried about you... that’s all... seat down Max.... we’ll stay here all night long because bus service just stopped ... do you like cabbages, Max?
- I usually don’t... but yes... cabbages... mum... about that 2.000 dollars no problem... my friend told me he don’t need them any more... and for the apartment to restore just the same ...
- Well... good... because it isn’t so easy to find 2.000 dollars.... Max... why didn’t you tell me about Mary... You’ve got such a friend... she’s very a nice person...
- Max... excuse me... but there is something I can’t understand here... you are playing roles... both of you are playing roles... no!... you are wrong... excuse me, Jenny, but it’s necessary... Max has to know the truth... he has to know everything ... Max, you mum came here worried about you and totally scared by you... she thought about calling the police or the health care service to put you into an hospital or in jail... she was upset... she told me everything about the 2.000 dollars and about the apartment to restore... now she’s smiling but she was scared... she loves you... but you stressed her so that she would never get back home... Max, your behaviour made you look violent and outrageous... that’s the truth... now your mother can’t stand you no more... you have to respect her because she loves you... did you understand Max?
- But she hated you, Mary, she hated you!
- No... you’re wrong... she’s my friend... you hate yourself... you are a liar... you don’t like to admit you failed in a lot of things during your life... probably you failed in everything... but you have to admit it... it’s the truth... no need to hide it... you can change... you can change only if you like to change, if you can tolerate your mistakes... I made a lot of mistakes... but then I got my way... I got it because I’m aware of my mistakes... Max... we are friends... I can’t deceive you... you have to change... to change radically... do you understand?
- Will you help me?
- Certainly... we are friends...
- I know you have your way... but you have to take care of me at list till I’m out of all this ordeal...
- You neither have to ask for... and remember... that poor woman over there loves you... she got mad for you... and at least you have to respect her because she’s my friend and I never abandon friends no matter what’s the problem... we three have to build something new, to start from the beginning...
- I don’t know what to do... I’d like to start again but it’s hard it’s to much hart for me... and stat what? A new life? At forty? With no job, no money, nothing at all... starting again just to fail again... yes I got a friend... perhaps there is also mum to help me... but starting again seams to me a very strange purpose... Life is terrible... I don’t think something lo love... no.. something to be scared of, someone that destroys you day after day... You told about courage... about starting again... yes such things draw my curiosity but I think it’s only matter of words, nothing more, nothing like the real life, nothing at all...
- Perhaps you’re right Max... perhaps you’re right... but I feel you are wrong... Clearly... it’s your choice no one could help you if you don’t help yourself... that’s all... that’s all...
- How can I promise you something I don’t trust at all... How could I make something for you when I’m not really able to do it for me... I have to choose? ... Chose?
- No, Max... there is nothing here do decide, there’s everything to accept.

watchful eye

Open your eyes, get out of the shadow and try to make an effort. Your purposes aren’t so out of reach that you aren’t allowed to achieve them... the strength you need isn’t too much hard... I think where it’s matter of yourself it’s always worth your attention. Life isn’t a joke, looking forward to plan the future means to be careful, get ahead with watchful eye... look out for people to keep away... Nothing can help you but yourself, at least at the beginning... Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself. Live all you can - it's a mistake not to. It doesn't so much matter what you do in particular, so long as you do what you like. If you haven't done that, what did you do?

English-Italian discussion board

Dear Friends,
let me finally be proud of my discussion board

http://www.spazioforum.it/forums/essereindue.html

(that isn’t really mine but belongs to all my friends that post over there). The board realized its first registration from a “real” (not someone that intrudes only because of commercial reasons) from abroad (U.S.A.)... yesterday in the evening we had the first exchange of interesting messages... obviously in English... I have to say that when I use English to communicate with not native English speakers I go ahead quite speedy and I’m not so worried about making mistakes... but to write to a person that uses English as I use Italian makes me feel in a box... and then ... ahead with dictionaries and classical sentences... it’s possible this way to know how poor our English is. There is also another thing that makes me feel not exactly at ease... I’m talking about the fact that we don’t know each other at all... there are other users that I don’t know personally in the discussion board but they speak Italian and more or less I can imagine, at least superficially, what they think starting from what they write... and someone wrote a lot... but about my new American friend I don’t now anything at all... by my statistical sites I found out his location in Glenside, Pennsylvania, United States... but to now such things is just like to know nothing... I neither know whether my new friend is male of female, nor how old he/she is... I know he/she is a very kind person that always answers to the messages with courtesy and friendly, but he/she says that unfortunately he/she has a lot of things to do that could forbid a frequent posting on the board... but he/she also says that will try to get back to the board every time it could be possible...

Cari lettori,
permettetemi finalmente di essere orgoglioso del il mio forum

http://www.spazioforum.it/forums/essereindue.html

(ma più che mio è degli amici che ci scrivono). Il forum ha finalmente ottenuto la prima registrazione di un utente “serio” (cioè non di un intruso per fini commerciali) proveniente dall’estero (U.S.A.)... ieri sera c’è stato il primo scambio di messaggi veramente interessanti... naturalmente in lingua Inglese... Devo dire che quando uso la lingua Inglese per comunicare con persone che non sono di lingua madre Inglese vado piuttosto spedito nello scrivere e non mi faccio troppe preoccupazioni in merito ai possibili errori, ma corrispondere con una persona che usa l’Inglese come io uso l’Italiano mi mette in difficoltà... e allora giù con i vocabolari e con le frasi classiche... e ci si rende conto di quanto poco si conosca la lingua Inglese... c’è poi un’altra ragione di imbarazzo ed è costituita dal fatto che non ci si conosce affatto... ci sono altri utenti del forum che non conosco personalmente ma parlano Italiano e più o meno posso immaginare, anche se molto superficialmente, quello che possono avere in mente da quello che scrivono... e alcuni hanno scritto molto... ma del nuovo amico americano non so nulla...tramite i siti statistici è possibile effettuare una localizzazione geografica, il suo server è localizzato a Glenside, Pennsylvania, United States, ma sapere questo è praticamente non sapere nulla... non so neppure se sia un uomo o una donna né quanti anni abbia... è una persona molto educata che risponde sempre ai messaggi con garbo e cortesia ma dice, purtroppo, di avere molti impegni che potrebbero rendere possibile la sua partecipazione al forum anche se dice che cercherà di ritornare nel forum ogni volta che gli sarà possibile...

ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLE WHERE ARE YOU?

English speaking people wake up! Why are you always so selfish? Do you think you have to keep away from what is not strictly English culture? Do you know how many friends are waiting for you everywhere in the world and in Italy in particular? Friends to talk to, to exchange a lot of interesting things… To make a long story short… I started a nice Forum (obviously totally free) http://www.spazioforum.it/forums/essereindue.html … this Forum vas nearly empty till the beginning of February… but now it started well and is developing rapidly, now we have 12 people enlisted that send regularly their posts… someone is asking me strongly about finding English speaking friends… My Forum friends are clever young people and I think my Forum is worth your attention!

This is one of the messages asking for English speaking friends:

Hi, my name is Paolo, but when I'm online I like to call myself Eralion. Lots to say on this name, but I won't do that now. Little interests in my life, but each and every of these things I do really love. I love music, every kind of music, better if classical, (I've studied for 'bout 13 years Piano, conduction, theory of music at the Royal School of Music). Next on the list ar XIX century books, especially by russian authors, such as Tolstoj. And last but not least I love to spent my time trying to convince people of good things in life, and to stupefy Antonio with my superextraoptimistic thoughts! Well that's enough for today, c ya 'round! Eralion

This is no more than an sample

English speaking people wake up! … write, I don’t say an e-mail, just a comment … I never got an Enhlish comment, you can search my blog, Italian culture in pills, head to toe and you’ll never find one... BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER: this FORUM http://www.spazioforum.it/forums/essereindue.html is just waiting for you!

HOW TO LEARN ITALIAN FRIENDLY

HOW TO LEARN ITALIAN FRIENDLY

http://xoomer.alice.it/learn_italian/

you can get in my website everything you need to learn and practice Italian: Italian tv channels; a lot of English-Italian novels to read and listen; grammar notes; text chat or voice chat, English-Italian forum and many other things
Nothing commercial here but only friendly

ROME TIME: TIME TO LEARN ITALIAN

This is my websites new index:
FIRST PAGE
Direct TV channels : Rai news 24; ROMA 1; sardegna 1; SAT2000
You can find easily how to open other (not only) Italian channels on the page ITALIAN TV
FORUM CHAT
ITALIAN COOKERY PAGE; ITALIAN COOKERY TV

MAIL TO MY READERS: news about the site; first in italian then in english
CONTACTS How to contact me
USEFUL SITES (maps, televideo rai, satelradio 24/7, radio svizzera italiana, italian literature free, italian diction course, italian syntax, sites about learning Italian, dictionaries on line, how to conjugate Italian verbs, Italian newspapers)

writings TO CORRECT mail I get and correct
GRAMMAR NOTES Just little Italian Grammar notes
ITALIAN SUBJUNCTIVE How to use Italian Subjunctive
BEGINNING ITALIAN AUDIO AND TEXT-FILES BEGINNERS LEVEL

READ AND LISTEN

IL GIGANTE EGOISTA by OSCAR WILDE READ AND LISTEN
IL PRINCIPE FELICE by OSCAR WILDE READ AND LISTEN
PINOCCHIO by CARLO COLLODI READ AND LISTEN
IL FU MATTIA PASCAL THE LATE MATTIA PASCAL by LUIGI PIRANDELLO READ AND LISTEN
UNO SPIRITO IN UN LAMPONE A GHOST INTO A RASPBERRY by IGINO UGO TARCHETTI READ AND LISTEN
I VICERE' THE VICEROYS by FEDERICO DE ROBERTO READ AND LISTEN
LA COSCIENZA DI ZENO CONFESSIONS OF ZENO by ITALO SVEVO READ AND LISTEN
I MALAVOGLIA MALAVOGLIA FAMILY by GIOVANNI VERGA READ AND LISTEN
MASTRO CATRAME stories by EMILIO SALGARI READ AND LISTEN

READ ENGLISH - ITALIAN

I REMEMBER Absurd war
TO MARRY The lady and the servant
PRIVATE QUESTION Flight to Philadelphia
THE GIRLFRIEND Restarting
MY HUSBAND Not so bad

CANTON TICINO Switzerland Cantone where Italian is spoken
READING ROYAL PALACE OF CASERTA, CONCILIATION STREET, NOMENTANO BRIDGE, EMPEROR HADRIAN, THE TEMPLE OF VESTA, THE BOOK OF SPECTACLES, ITALIAN HISTORY IN PILLS, LATET ANGUIS IN HERBA, MAJESTY PLURAL IN 1859, SHE WOLF OF ROME; LIVIUS I-4, ARA PACIS AUGUSTAE, PANTHEON OF AGRIPPA
OSTIA short history of Ostia

Private question - Questione privata

This story is completely fictional. Any similarities to any persons or events, past or present are purely coincidental.

PRIVATE QUESTION

(scroll down for Italian version)

- Slowly, drive slowly… check everything out and let you rest if it’s necessary…
- I’ll be there as soon as possible… you can bet it… as soon as possible…
- No! Please… take a train or a plane… don’t drive all night long… please take a plane…
- Yeah… I’ll take a plane, perhaps it could be faster… don’t worry, I’ll be there as soon as possible…
- You have to promise you’ll control yourself…
- Yes I promise, I promise but now let me go to search for a flight… I’ll call you back from the airport…
- Good… see you soon…

At about 80 I'm an older man, my wife is just about 60… I had better to let them do whatever she was doing… she is a business woman and has a lot of important things to do, she carries always her computer and is always on the net selling and buying I don’t know what… But how could such a woman marry to me, a man more than 20 years older? She was 20 at that time, when we met… the roaring sixties! … I met her by chance at a party, she went on chatting al the time and I didn’t even noticed it, I was so wrapped in my thoughts about the novel I was writing at that time that I never noticed her attempt to get in touch with me… then she got my Achilles heel, she got next to me and asked me about my novel… I started to show off to her like I never did before… she went on asking and I didn’t even think that she was asking about me, not about my novel… How men can be silly in such situations! … And probably I was at the highest degree… She asked for my phone number and I gave her it. Then I went to Europe… and got back only after six months … that’s incredible, but the first phone call I got was her call. She needed some bibliography about English literature to insert in her graduation thesis… short… she came to visit me just that afternoon…
- Good evening Miss Cowley… make yourself comfortable… how can I help you? You told me about Faulkner, didn’t you?
- Yes I told you so but I’m not so interested in Faulkner…
- Well… and what are you interested in?
- You!
- Me?
- Yes… I have been waiting for this moment for more than six months… I wandered whether or not I had to tell you… and finally I found the nerve to speak clearly… If you don’t agree you have to tell me right away… and I’ll go away immediately… do you understand? … Are you interested?
I had been caught out… and didn’t know what to answer to her question…
- Miss Cowley I’m very pleased but don’t know what to answer… you know … you are a pretty woman and I’m an man over 40… what have I to offer you? You’d find something better elsewhere, didn’t you?
- You only have to tell me if you are interested… no matter other questions… are you interested or not?
- Well… I’m certainly just a little but we have to understand each other… I’m not going to marry neither to do something strange… I like you… that’s true but no more than that…
- Yes, I understand, and it’s enough for me… but you have always to tell the truth… do you understand?
- All right… well, if you like we can have something together, then I’ll bring you back home…
- Good… I’m searching nothing else, it’s enough for me to stay hare… really, it’s enough…
- Can I ask you something…
- Of course you can…
- But why me? There are a lot of men over the world, much more young, much more in shape, much more interesting… why me?
- I don’t know but I feel you’re special, I red your last novel… and I thought Mary is me… was it a real story or only something you created out of the blue?
- I think… Mary is… how can I tell you…
- Is your ideal woman?
- No! … Mary is something like myself…
- Yourself? …
- Yeah… it sounds strange … but I’m Mary, obviously you have to change something… she gets the nerve to take her choice, to get out of family to search for her own life. She don’t like the live and let live theory, she don’t like to sponge on an husband…
- Do you think Mary is in love with someone?
- You think Mary or me? … well… I think she really is…
- Oh… I think I did everything wrong…
- Not necessary… clearly you didn’t expect such a response…
- No… I really didn’t… perhaps I’m only a stupid girl … right … you can be in love with whoever you like… you are over 40, clearly your have your own world and I’m in the land of dreams… thanks… I’m going now…
- Just a moment… I’m not in love with you, but I like you, I know the difference, but I like you… I really like you…
- Really?
- Yes, really!
- You have to tell me where I have to stop… you got me out and I’ disoriented…
- Sometimes something can open the way to something unexpected… for you and for me too…
- Yes, but I think your life will not change because of me…
- Perhaps not the life, but something will change… I’m telling you the truth, I’m not deceiving you…
- That’s enough… I’ll never ask questions about your private life… but if you think my presence in your life could be disturbing or distressing you have to tell me… I can take the second place, also the third if it’s necessary, but I can’t tolerate lying…
- This way you can come here whenever you like …
- And couldn’t I meet your…
- No… we never meet here…
- And is there some trace of that person in your novel?
- Not at all… that’s a private question and I can tell about myself but never about something that doesn’t belong only to me…
- Therefore you’ll never write novels about me…
- No… I will never…
- Too bad! I like to be a novel’s character.
- But you aren’t…
- You’re right… and what are we going to chat about then?
- For instance about what you are searching for… I mean here… because, you know, there is something strange…
- No! … you have to avoid being too nosy… you too!
- You’re right… I’ll remember…

Our story started this way, we got along for years and became aware of each other more and more… Then I told her I needed about six months to spend on my private… she understood… She was 42 then, and I was 62… I went to Pennsylvania and called her from Philadelphia every day, she asked me every day: How do things go?
At the beginning of November, after forth months, I called her from Philadelphia for the last time.
- I’m coming back tomorrow in the evening can you get me at the airport? I did whatever I had to do in Philadelphia… (And she understood).
- I’m very sad... it’s terrible…
We met at the airport, I was destroyed and depressed, she told nothing, neither asked me anything… it was November 1984, we where living in the same apartment from 1980, in front of the word we where like a married couple and we went on this way without any official marriage… then at 65 I put forward my proposal.
- Would you like to marry me?
- Of course…
And she kissed me… the first kiss…
Neither of us had relatives… the ceremony was very simple… She, me, the registrar.

I broke my long bone and lay plastered in an hospital bed… old people have to be careful wit the long bone, she knows well, that’s why she’s coming here...

QUESTIONI PRIVATE

- Piano, guida piano, controlla tutto e riposati se è necessario...
- Sarò lì il più presto possibile... ci puoi scommettere... il più presto possibile...
- No! Per favore... prendi il treno o l'aereo... non guidare per tutta la notte... per favore prendi l'aereo...
- Ve bene, prenderò l'aereo, forse potrebbe essere più rapido... non ti preoccupare... sarò lì il più presto possibile...
- Devi promettermi che starai attenta...
- Sì, prometto, prometto, ma adesso lasciamo andare a cercare un volo... ti richiamerò dall'aeroporto...
- Bene... ci vediamo presto...

A ottant'anni sono un vecchio, mia moglie sta circa intorno ai sessanta... avrei fatto meglio a farle fare quello che stava facendo, qualunque cosa fosse... lei è una donna d'affari ed ha una quantità di cose importanti da fare, si porta sempre appresso il suo computer e sta sempre su internet vendendo e comprando non so che cosa... Ma come ha potuto una donna simile sposare me, un uomo più vecchio di oltre vent'anni? Aveva vent'anni allora, quando ci siamo conosciuti... i ruggenti anni sessanta! ... L'ho incontrata per caso a una festa, continuava a chiacchierare tutto il tempo e io non l'avevo nemmeno notato, ero così assorto nei miei pensieri sul romanzo che allora stavo scrivendo che non avevo fatto caso al suo tentativo di rimanere in contatto con me... poi lei ha trovato il mio tallone di Achille, si è avvicinata e mi ha chiesto del mio romanzo... io ho cominciato a mettermi in mostra davanti a lei come non avevo mai fatto prima... lei è andata avanti a chiedere e io non capivo nemmeno che stava chiedendo di me e non del mio romanzo. Come possono essere stupidi gli uomini in queste situazioni! ... E probabilmente io lo ero al massimo grado... Mi ha chiesto il numero ti telefono e io gliel'ho dato. Poi sono andato in Europa... e sono ritornato indietro soltanto dopo sei mesi... è incredibile, ma la prima telefonata che ho ricevuto è stata la sua. Aveva bisogno di un po' di bibliografia da inserire nella sua tesi, in breve..., è venuta a trovarmi proprio quel pomeriggio...
- Buon pomeriggio, signorina Cowley... si accomodi... come posso aiutarla? Mi ha parlato di Faulkner, non è vero?
- Sì... le ho detto così ma non sono così interessata a Faulkner...
- Bene... e a che cosa è interessata?
- A lei!
- A me?
-Sì... ho aspettato questo momento per più di sei mesi... mi chiedevo se dovessi dirglielo o no ... e poi ho trovato il coraggio di parlare chiaramente... se non è d'accordo me lo deve dire subito e io me ne andrò immediatamente... ha capito? ... E' interessato?
Io ero stato preso di sorpresa e non sapevo che cosa rispondere alla sua domanda...
- Signorina Cowley sono molto lusingato ma non so che cosa rispondere, sa, lei è una bella ragazza e io sono un uomo sopra i quaranta... che cosa posso offrirle. Potrebbe trovare qualcosa di meglio da qualche altra parte, non è così?
- Lei deve solo dirmi se è interessato, le altre questioni non hanno importanza... è interessato o no?
- Bene... lo sono certamente un po' ma ci dobbiamo capire, non intendo sposarmi e nemmeno fare cose strane... lei mi piace, questo è vero, ma non di più di questo.
Sì, capisco e mi basta... ma lei deve dire sempre la verità, ha capito?
- Va bene, giusto, se vuole possiamo mangiare qualcosa insieme, poi la riaccompagnerò a casa.
- Bene... non vado cercando nien'altro, mi basta stare qui, mi basta...
- Posso chiederle qualcosa...
- Certo che può...
- Ma perché io? C'è una quantità di uomini al mondo, molto più giovani, molto più in forma, molto più interessanti... perché io?
- Non lo so, ma sento che lei è speciale, ho letto il suo ultimo romanzo... e ho pensato che Mary sono io... era una storia vera o solo una cosa che lei ha inventato del tutto?
- Io credo... che Mary sia... come posso dirlo...
- E' la sua donna ideale
- No! ... Mary è qualcosa di simile a me...
- A lei?
- Sì, suona strano... ma Mary sono io, ovviamente deve cambiare qualcosa... lei ha il coraggio di fare la sua scelta, di uscire dalla famiglia per cercare la sua vera vita, non ama la teorie del vivi e lascia vivere, non le piace vivere alle spalle di un marito...
- Pensa che Mary sia innamorata di qualcuno?
- Ma intende Mary o io? ... bene... io penso che in realtà sia innamorata...
- Oh... credo di avere sbagliato tutto...
- Non necessariamente... ovviamente lei non si aspettava una risposta simile...
- No, veramente non me l'aspettavo... forse sono solo una ragazza stupida... è vero... lei può essere innamorato di chiunque le piaccia, ha più di 40 anni, chiaramente ha il suo mondo e io vivo nel mondo dei sogni... grazie... adesso me ne vado...
- Solo un momento... non sono innamorato di lei ma lei mi piace, la differenza la conosco, ma lei mi piace..., mi piace veramente...
- Veramente?
- Sì, veramente!
- Lei deve dirmi dove devo fermarmi, mi ha colto di sorpresa e sono disorientata...
- Qualche volta qualcosa può aprire la strada a cose inaspettate... per lei e anche per me...
- Sì, ma io credo che la sua vita non cambierà per causa mia...
- Forse non la vita ma qualcosa cambierà, le sto dicendo la verità, non la sto imbrogliando...
- Mi basta... non farò mai domande sulla sua vita privata... ma se pensa che la mia presenza nella sua vita possa disturbare o creare problemi me lo deve dire... poso accettare il secondo e anche il terzo posto, se è necessario, ma non posso tollerare le bugie...
- In questo modo lei può venire qui quando vuole...
- E non potrei incontrare...
- No... non ci vediamo mai qui...
- E ci sono tracce di questa persona nel suo romanzo?
- Assolutamente no ... è una questione privata e io posso parlare di me stesso ma mai di qualcosa che non appartiene soltanto a me...
- Quindi non scriverà mai romanzi su di me...
- No, non lo farò mai...
- Peccato! Mi piace essere un personaggio da romanzo.
- Ma lei non lo è...
- Ha ragione... e allora di che cosa possiamo parlare?
- Per esempio di quello che lei sta cercando... voglio dire qui... perché, sa, c'è qualcosa di strano...
- No! ... Deve evitare di essere troppo ficcanaso... anche lei!
- Ha ragione... lo ricorderò...
- La nostra storia è cominciata in questo modo, siamo andati avanti per anni e siamo diventati sempre più consapevoli l'uno dell'altro... Poi le ho detto che mi servivano più o meno sei mesi da dedicare al mio privato... lei ha capito... Aveva 42 anni allora e io 62... Sono andato in Pennsylvania e l'ho chiamata ogni giorno da Philadelphia, mi chiedeva ogni giorno: Come vanno le cose?
All'inizio di novembre, dopo quattro mesi,l'ho chiamata da Philadelphia per l'ultima volta...
- Torno domani pomeriggio, puoi venire a prendermi all'aeroporto? A Philadelphia ho fatto tutto quello che dovevo fare (E lei ha capito).
- Sono molto triste... è terribile...
- Ci siamo incontrati all'aeroporto, io ero distrutto e depresso, lei non ha detto nulla né mi ha chiesto nulla... era il novembre del 1984. Noi vivevamo nello stesso appartamento dal 1980, di fronte al mondo eravamo come una coppia sposata e abbiamo continuato così senza nessun matrimonio ufficiale... poi a 65 anni ho avanzato la mia proposta.
- Vuoi sposarmi?
- Certo...
E mi ha dato un bacio... il primo bacio...
Nessuno di noi due aveva parenti... la cerimonia è stata semplicissima... Lei, io e l'ufficiale di stato civile.

Mi sono rotto il femore e sto steso ingessato in un letto di ospedale... i vecchi devono stare attenti con il femore, lei lo sa bene, è per questo che sta venendo qui...

TO MARRY

TO MARRY

I got stuck in traffic for several hours. It took me all day to drive home. Home sweet home! … washing up, making beds, floor cleaning, dusting, cooking… We eventually wed after an eighteen year engagement and I have been living in wedded bliss for almost half a year, then… my role changed slowly, from lover to wife, from wife to housewife, from housewife to housekeeper, from housekeeper to cleaning woman and finally from cleaning woman to servant.

He was convincing and persuasive: “Sweetie… you’re getting older… how can you get along without me? … Sweetie… I love you… we fell in love far-back and I can’t do without you… Sweetie… I only care about you, about your future… I’ll make you a lady, you’ll really be a lady (probably he meant a bag lady!), I’ll help you every way, you have to resign and to devote yourself to me, to your husband, you’ll be the tower of strength of your family, the base, the help, the backing, the support of your family… Sweetie… we are a family. Aren’t we?”

My mother, a grown woman, … a married woman, told me: “Give him up right away… kick him out! … You are silly, what are you waiting for? Baby, he’s searching for an housekeeper low cost… Baby you are about 40 years old… do you really think he’s searching for a lover? If a man woos a woman with flowers and expensive presents he’s really in love, but if a man woos a woman only chitchatting about love… he’s clearly searching for a servant. Get married at 40 is a terrible ordeal… let me tell you! I married at 25 and became a servant into a weak… Baby, keep away from men about 40…”.

Well… we married… I resigned as secretary… and started overworking at home… He never helped me… He liked only his armchair, his slippers and his newspaper. I remember just three days after wedding, he was on the phone I entered the room and kissed him gently… but he was too busy talking to notice me come in. Do you understand what kind of man my husband is? And my mother told me: “His refusal to cooperate is completely understandable, considering the circumstances. Both sides must try to understand one another, to recognise each others' rights, feelings and beliefs… before wedding… otherwise they have to keep apart! Baby, the wedding has hits rules…”.

My husband is somehow repetitive: “Why don’t you do this? … Why don’t you do that? Tomorrow is Sunday… would you like to show my mother how skilled you became in cooking? I’m sure you’d like…isn’t it? Sweetie, I know you’ll make a good impression… I told my mother you are the sweetest wife in the world… Aren’t you?”.

And when the holyday time approaches he needs to rest, clearly he made an incredible effort reading newspapers and looking to the football matches. And he’s so good-hearted he can’t get along without his mother and his sister and his brother-in-law, they are a family… they are my family… and we must take vacations together… he told me: “You’ll have a good time! My relatives know very well how kind you are!”

We went to a sea site… and we hired a little house just near the sea, two big rooms and one little, probably the servant’s room. According to my point of view, the first big room was or my husband and me, the second for my brother-in-law an his wife and the little one for my mother-in-law… but she needed the big one because she is suffering from claustrophobia… therefore she got the big one with his son and I… obviously, the little one… the servant’s room… this way everything was going on according to the wedding rules.

He, his mother, his sister and her husband where in the habit of going out, all the four of them, just after breakfast… I had to stay at home to prepare for lunch… My husband told me: “We’re going to see such a boring things… you know well how they like cultural things… but it’s not your matter, I know you like better to stay at home cooking something special for us… don’t you?”… Well… they got back… everything was ready… his mother told me: “My beloved… I’m terribly tired… what you cooked is very very delicious but I’d like better just a pottage… if you are too busy I can cook it myself … but I’m so tired (and she sighed)”… My brother-in-law went on speaking on his mobile about prices, estate business, and a lot of other interesting arguments. It was just in then that a new thought fleshed in my brain… something compulsive, something that became for me an absolute need… About a year ago I had started a new job as a secretary, a part time job, at that time I wasn’t aware of the consequences that would come from my new job. My husband clearly dissented, according to him I was a lady and needn’t work at all… but I signed all the same.

I got only a little money… but I saved it… and that flash was about how to spend my savings… you know, lawyers are expensive but sometimes is well worth it for the freedom they give you. This time I’d liked better to get along with a lawyer than with my husband!

Eventually holyday-time ended and we got back home and I didn’t change anything in my behaviour… next Sunday the usual lunch with his relatives, I prepared, or I’d say better I pretended to prepare everything for lunch… when they took place around the table I showed up with a big neckerchief around my head: “I’m sorry… but today I’m very tired… Mommy, my beloved… I’m terribly tired… I wasn’t able to cook anything… perhaps you can help me… I’d like better just a pottage… if you are too busy I can cook it myself … but I’m so tired (and I sighed)”.

They looked very perplexed, something was going wrong… Then I went on: “Mummy… I know you are very skilled in cooking… aren’t you? … I think you all are willing to help me… isn’t it? … Thanks… you are very kind persons… I’ll never forget…”. They where uncertain whether or not take heed of me… finally my sister-in-law headed for the kitchen and started cooking… My husband was upset: “Are you fine, Sweetie? There’s something I can’t understand”. “Nothing to worry… I’m just a little tired….

I took place and my sister-in-law made everything. The silence was perfect, no football games, no mobiles, neither chitchatting… they where only waiting for me to tell something… but I went on only sighing from time to time.

Then the bell rang, I told my husband: “Sweetie… can you open for me?”. He did. It was the postman that gave him a registered mail… he opened it and looked distressed and devastated… I told him immediately: “Sweetie… I’m sorry, I’m so absent-minded that I forgot to tell you I’ve seen my lawyer to get a divorce… nothing to worry about…”.

I REMEMBER

It was a very different season of my life, I was young, self confident, a little selfish. I hadn’t concrete ideas about real life, about what life could really be. I was going to face a lot of terrible things but, at that time, war was nothing else for me than an adventure, something I certainly would have faced with no worries at all… something to start, to do, and then to remember, something glorious… like soldiers on parade when military band plays frisky marches, with drums and trumpets… war was for me just the right opportunity to gain medals, to show ma bravery… to help my comrades in arms… To make the long story short I was only a twenty years old young man perfectly naïve, a fall guy, filled up with dreams and wishes… I was going to face the war and I was happy… very absurd!
At the beginning war seamed rally not very different from something exciting… I was doing well with my comrades and officers where very allowing and permissive, they probably where aware of what we where going to face. I remember that we where waiting to ship and a colonel just before shipping, asked me something about war. I had to answer and showed all my military background and told him about duty, about glory and so on… he looked at me, then shook his head and told me: “No, boy, war is something terrible you have to face other guys like you, perhaps you’ll have to kill them or to be killed… war is a fearful thing… have a nice trip and take care”. Then I shipped… and the colonel’s words continued to upset me, he was an older man and was talking to me friendly, officers generally used very different words… During the navigation we where told to wear our life jackets and to gather at bow, no one was really in a hurry, it was only a fire drill or a torpedo drill, but the ship continued to go regularly. Not an air attack, not even enemy aircrafts, neither enemy ships, nothing at all… we sailed with all lights turned off, a sailor told us that it was according to the orders to avoid being detected by the enemy crafts, he told us we where sailing slow speed because engines at high speed can be easily detected by the sonar that submarines carry.
After eight days of such distressing, life we got off and went ashore… We where told to present immediately to the harbour’s commandant. We where ordered to dig trenches around the airport and so we did…
It was only in my fifth day that things really changed. I and three other soldiers where ordered to explore the path toward the oasis, they told us to pay attention because enemies where encamped over there. We hesitated but soldiers can’t discuss orders, they have to perform duties, therefore we went riding four desert motorcycles, we had been ordered to go ahead no more than twenty kilometres but our fuel supply allowed us about 400 km. When we got the first oasis we decided to go ahead for another twenty km, just to the next group of little oases… and that was our ruin… we where thirsty and according to our maps in one of the oases there was a little spring. But enemies where nearby… suddenly out of nowhere a bomb bursted, my three comrades where killed and I was shot and passed out. Everything happened so quickly that I can remember just a flesh.
I woke up at a little military camp-hospital, clearly I had been captivated… my chest hurt a lot. I was uncertain whether or not call for aid, but my chest did hurt badly and finally I called for aid. There was a young nurse nearby, she came, unleashed my patches and run to call the doctor. The doctor cleaned up my wound and gestured for me to stay quiet because my wound wasn’t really something to worry about too much… I nodded and smiled in response. The doctor smiled back… then I tried to ask about my comrades, I repeated my question but they clearly wasn’t able to understand… then I tried in French, just my little school-French… and this time they understood, The doctor shook his head and told “no”. I started crying desperately… the doctor held my hand fore some seconds then told me: “Vous avez eu une très bonne chance, on va vous mettre hors de cet hôpital, je crois, en quatre ou cinq jours, vous êtes blessé d’une façon très faible… vous le savez bien, vous allez être interné dans un établissement jusqu’à la fin de la guerre. Elle va se prendre cure de vous. [You had a very good luck, we will put you out of this hospital, I hope, in four or five days, you are wounded in a very weak way… you know well, you’ll be interned in an establishment until the end of the war. She will take care of you.]
She was smiling, we just talked for few minutes… we where enemies, our comrades had been killed by their soldiers… killed. Just yesterday they where alive and after 24 hours they where buried in the desert. I starter crying newly, this time I was aware of what had happened… but my face was tear-strained. Nevertheless the doctor had spent his time speaking to me and she (what was her name?) was here, gently caressing my hand and drying my tears. How absurd is war!