Italy still being in part a cash economy, when I’m queuing at the bank to deposit fees paid by students arriving to start courses at our Italian school, I often bump into the young guy who owns the ‘panetteria’ (bread shop) on the corner.
Dressed in his white baker’s outfit, complete with purple plastic clogs, he’s taking a break from the ovens and his customers to bank his takings and enjoy a discreet cigarette.
And does he deserve it! The shop is a huge success. It offers all kinds of breads and cakes, along with take-away foods such as filled rolls, mini-pizzas and savory pastries. Stefi and I often get our lunch there.
However dominant supermarkets may be in many countries, here in Italy the small local food shop is still alive and kicking! Which is of course one of the things that makes a trip here so enjoyable.
The only problem is that, unlike in a supermarket, you can’t just pick up what you want and put it in your basket. To get your shopping done, you going to have to actually speak Italian, and understand what is said to you!
Fortunately, OnlineItalianClub.com has your back on this one. Today’s Italian conversation is just what you need before venturing into a panetteria!
Listen to it here or view all the dialogues + transcripts on our Italian Conversations homepage.
Talking (albeit indirectly) of studying Italian in Italy, with all its attendant linguistic and gastronomic pleasures, brings me to today’s second point.
As part of the promotion we’re running for the school on 2016 Italian courses, on Friday I published an article with the title ‘Who wants an iPhone for Christmas?‘
It’s about the ‘experiential economy’, and how
Where once many of us were impressed by what a person had, now we’re more likely to be interested in what they do.
Do take a look.
Details of the offer on 2016 Italian courses in Bologna are here.
A mercoledì!