When you try to translate Latin, it’s like a wrestling match. You tackle it, you twist it around, and you conquer it if you have been doing it long enough. Trying to speak Italian, on the other hand, is usually pretty straightforward (hand gestures fill in the spaces for words I don’t know yet). But sometimes, like the server at McDonalds found out today, speaking to me in Italian is like trying to tango with a baby deer.
(Note: The McDonalds here have a promotion going on right now where they give away these really cool cups if you buy a meal. I barely even eat at McDonalds in America, but I really wanted this cup, which is why I was here)
“Vorrei numero sei… ma insalata. No, no fries. E l’aqua,” I say, squinting at the menu. The server looks like he knows what I'm talking about, but ends up putting fries and a coke in my order.
“Uh… no, no coke. Aqua,” I say, refusing to take the bag when he held it out to me.
“No coke? Perche?”
(No coke? Why?)
“Non mi piace coke, vorrei aqua…”
(I don’t like coke, I’d like water…)
He looks at me like I’m crazy, and gets me water instead of my coke. I then notice that he’s given me the green cup, but there’s a black one nearby that looks better. I already knew this would be choppy…
“Posso ho nero cup?”
(I can I have black “cup”?)
He takes out the green cup and gives me the black one.
“E insalata” (and salad)
“No fries?”
“No, no fries.”
“Sono deliziosi!”
(They’re really good!)
“Ho mangiato fries, vorrei insalata.”
(I have ate fries, I’d like salad)
Avete mangiato! That’s how you say it! Too bad I remember this when it's too late.
“Signorina, i fries sono buoni!”
(Madam, the fries are really good!)
Apparently, no one gets a salad here. Figures though, who goes to McDonalds for a salad? The line behind me was getting really long, and I had the cup I wanted, so I just took the fries, thanked him, and headed home.
Practice is good for me though, right? Giusto?
Your Italian is better than mine and I have been here 5 weeks! haha
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