Italian Culture

Italian Culture:

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I'm beginning to learn a lot about Italian culture. For instance, everything closes around the city from 12:30 to 3:00. And everything is closed on Thursday. When you go out to eat at a restaurant or bar you don't receive a check. Everything is on the honor system. If you order a drink at a bar you can pay as you go or pay at the end and you keep track of what you got. Here are some words I've learned in Italian.

shortstop- interbase

centerfield- centro

leftfield- sinistra

right field- destra

oufield- esterna

home run- Fouri campo

catcher- receivatore

pitcher- Lanciatore

warm up- scaloaento

ball/s- palla/e

run- punto

home team- casa

bat- mazza

One of my first days here Ty and I were walking down the street exploring the city. We looked up as saw a sign for McDonalds!! I don't even like McDonalds but I got real excited! We followed the sign and searched the city but we came up short. We asked for directions a few times but we couldn't understand what anyone was trying to tell us! As we were searching for the McDonalds we approached an older man that was standing in the door way of a shop. When I got close he stuck his foot out like he was going to trip me and let out the most evil laugh! I guess he was trying to welcome us to Italy. It was pretty funny! It turns out we weren't even close to the McDonalds. One of our teammates took us a few days later and when we first pulled up it looked just like the McDonalds in America we were so excited. Our excitement soon turned to disappointment because it was disgusting! That will be the last time we go to McDonalds in Italy!

I went to the grocery store for the first time. My goal was to find anything that resembled American food. We came to the cereal section and I found some frosted flakes. The only reason i knew it was the good stuff is because Tony the Tiger was on the front of the box! When we got to the section with laundry detergent I had no idea what to do! I grabbed one and hoped it was right. We ran into our coach at the store and he helped us out. It turns out I picked up fabric softener! I got some yogurt, pringles and bread. It was a rough and confusing but good shopping trip.

Everything is Forli is pretty fast paced. Everybody walks fast and drives fast and crazy. Here, pedestrian cross walks don't mean a whole lot so you have to pay attention when you cross the street. We always say Ty is going to be the first person to get hit by a car because that girls does not pay attention.

A few nights ago we went to a restaurant with the team. Me and Ty ordered our meal in Italian and the whole team cheered. We ordered Tagliatelle al Ragu. It is supposedly the closest thing to spaghetti they have in Italy but it had no marinara sauce at all! It was pretty good so I had no complaints. After dinner we went to an Irish pub called Pride. It was a lot of fun. All I know is that those girls get more energy as the night goes on and they know how to have a good time. Our roommate Ornela from Argentina got hit in the eye by a crazy dancing elbow but its ok she didn't remember much the next day.

Our Schedule:

April 4, 2009 Fiorini Forli'

vs Museo d'Arte Nuoro

April 11,2009 Fiorini Forli' vs Amga Legnano

April 17, 2009 Fiorini Forli' vs Cassa Padana Parma

April 25, 2009 Fiorini Forli' vs DES Caserta

May 2,2009 Fiorini Forli' vs Sanotint Bollate

May 9, 2009 Fiorini Forli' vs Europromo San Marino

May 16,2009 Fiorini Forli' vs Mosca Macerata

May 23, 2009 vs Museo d'Arte Nuoro

June 6, 2009 vs Amga Legano

June 13, 2009 vs Cassa Padana Parma

June 20,2009 vs DES Caserta

June 27,2009 vs Sanotint Bollate

July 4, 2009 vs Europromo San Mariono

July 11, 2009 vs Mosca Macerata

The top 4 teams compete in the playoffs and the winner plays in the European Cup. We have a three week break between the regular season and playoffs.