Different ATM

From Linate airport to Milano central station,
I took what Japanese call "limousine," which is actually a shuttle bus.

Usually they sell bus tickets at a kiosk (tabacchi)
But a tabacchi in the airport closed already.

Conveniently, I found an automated ticket-vending machine.
But a man passing by told me that I had to buy a bus ticket directly
from the bus driver and he showed also me the bus to take.
So I went to the bus and offered 5 Euro to the driver.

 The driver did not receive my 5 Euro and explained something passionately.
I caught the word "ATM" and guesed that I had to buy a
ticket at the automated ticket-vending machine.
O.K.
I went back to the vending machine and bought a 5 Euro ticket.

When I came back to the bus with a ticket in my hand,
the driver smiled first But then he waggled his head.
He again explained something passionately to me, pointing a logo "ATM"
on his polo shirt.

I understood.

There are two bus companies running a shuttle bus between the airport and 

the central station,
The man worked for "ATM" but I had bought a ticket of the other company.

Oh Oh. 

OK. he said, and gave me a lift to the station.

Grazie mille !

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.



Brava!

I was shopping in a supermarket in Rome Termini station.
At a check out counter, I took my items from the basket and put them on a conveyor belt.
I tried to put my empty basket on the stack of empty baskets underneath the counter.
But I couldn't make it because the shape of my basket is different from the one on the top of the stack and there was not enough space.

So I just sorted out the stack of basket  re-stacked them, and put my basket on the top of it, successfully.
Done!

Then..

"Brava!"
A cute old woman waiting on the line behind me clapped her hands.
"Brava" is the feminine form of "Bravo."

It is nothing really... I thought for a moment.
But it made me flattered and happy.

"Grazie mille." (Thanks very much)

Oh I love this cheerfulness and friendliness of Italian people.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

A vest for swimming

I took KLM and found out that they call a life vest "zwemvest."

There is no such thing as a heroic resolution,　but just a vest for swimming.

In other languages,,,

Japanese 救命胴衣　vest for saving life

Chinese　救生衣　cloth for saving life

Korean　구명 조끼　vest for saving life

Italian　　"salvagente"
"Salvare" is "to save."

Spanish　"chaleco salvavidas"　 vest for saving life

French　　"gilet de sauvetage" vest for saving life

Well, then only in Dutch..?

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 35 completed !

ITALIAN 5 WEEK BOOT CAMP DAY 35 completed.

(25 July)
The last week has brought me many to-do’s and passed like a rabbit.

I bought two Italian books though.

(1)  "Vocabolarietto italiano"

I had borrowed this green book at a library.

Then I found one in a bookstore and I thought it is worth having my own.


(2)   Giorgio Vasari "GIOTTO, BRUNELLESCHI"


Italian time in 5th week about 7.5 hour.

Actually, I have not achieved any one of the targets I declared.

Maybe, may plan was too optimistic...

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 28 four weeks completed

ITALIAN 5 WEEK BOOT CAMP DAY 28 (yesterday)

Here is What I did this (last) week.

Passive voice, imperative form, gerondif.

There is a dialogue between mamma and her son in a text book.
I felt like.. perhaps, my son thinks I am a snappy mamma.

"Vocabolarietto italiano" (Book)
I have read 27 pages of 220 pages so far.
I am not trying to memorize word by word but keep reading example sentences.
It may be a good way to get used to Italian.

Italian time today: 1.5 hour
Italian time the day before yesterday: 2 h

Italian time this week 12h.  It is a half of the target 25 h/w.

I had a lot to do and was less active in learning.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.