This weekend I was actually seated at a table in a restaurant having a meal for a total of nearly 9 hours; well, two restaurants and two meals, but still, 9 hours at the table. During one of these marathon meals I engaged in a political conversation with an Italian, a conversation that ended in a bet over who would win the upcoming election. The winner buys a pizza. He thinks McCain will win; I support the other team.
How it ended in a bet is a mystery to me (lovely language issues), but the experience did help me to learn a new vocabulary word: “scommessa,” Italian for bet or wager, and gave me a chance to work on the language -- always looking for a chance to work on the language. While we have our fingers crossed for a Democrat victory, we aren’t so sure that it will indeed happen – certainly not sure enough to be making bets with Italian strangers (a friend of a friend) about it.
It’s interesting that most of the Italians I encounter can comment on the election or have other opinions concerning American government or politics; I wonder how many of my fellow countrymen could even name leader of
Photo contributed by neighbor G.
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