Status after two weeks of integration

1. I have learned the sign for “spaghetti” which means that I am now officially an included member of the club.

2. I still don’t feel completely confident speaking the language. But I do attend a course three times a week where I go and get confused over the grammar (DAMN you plurals!) and frustrated over the teacher who doesn’t speak a word of English. However I encourage myself to learn and remember to be proud when I manage to reply yes and no and thank you in the correct context at the few Italian interactions I have. Yes I WILL take a bag for my grocery and thank YOU for giving me my change back. Meanwhile I prepare myself in school for the day anyone asks for directions, for my name or for what color things are. I will be at the ready.

3. I have eaten a lot of stuff. A lot. And discovered, that my motivation for learning new words, is definitely encouraged by the ability of being able to name the stuff that I want to eat again. I want (to make love to) carciofi-ripieni.

carciofi-ripieni - stuffed artichoke aka to die for

4. Let’s dance quickly pass the fact that I still have not got a job here. My plan of ruling this country within a month is slowly crumbling every time I am rejected on a job-position because I am not Italian. And apparently I still can’t fake to be one, regardless of how much pasta I am eating. Luckily though, the Danish newspapers are more than happy to pay for my silly articles written about the “Inside of Italy”. So I am totally ratting everyone out for money.

5. I am yet to make new friends here. This can be a result of two reasons: My eager attempt of speaking to people has let me to insult people because I confuse “where are you from” with “yo’ mamma so fat’” by accident. OR I have an odor I am not aware of. Perhaps because I stick my face in the food every chance I get.

6. I have made my first gesture of frustration (which indicates that someone is stupid, and it is not me) in traffic, and for a moment I felt like a full blooded Italian. It is beside the point that the guy looked like he didn’t understand me.

7.  I have bought and read my very first Italian book. Spoiler alert – Mufasa is also killed by Scar in “Il Re Leone” and I still cried a little.

8. I have got an Italian phone number and said goodbye to my old, my first and my only phone number ever. Nobody has called me yet.

9. I have been more Danish than ever, sitting at the city hall with a number in my hand, faithfully waiting my turn for more than an hour. Then they finally skipped my number.

10. I have survived walking across the street at least twenty times without being killed. And have become slightly religious. Thank you Odin. 

Ps. I have also been informed that the best of two worlds have met in one awesome dessert that I have yet to try: Beer-amisu here I come.