Italian Language

As people close to me left on trips to foreign lands, I had this FALSE impression that if you are in a place for 6 months or more, surely you should be fluent in the new language. Yip, and that was even with the tough languages like Japanese, Arabic, Chinese, and French (how hard is that pronunciation). I figured 6 months was sufficient time whether you stayed with people that spoke your first language, stayed locked in your home, or simply had to learn it because of work or study. Well, we are now over three and half months...and how are we doing? Abastanza bene .. good enough x

The kids particularly Carlos, are at a stage in life where they are sensitive to language acquisition. At least that's what a Montessori book told me :)… so they are doing pretty well.

Agrigento down the south of Sicily, Templi galore

Us older Nordstrom's are still far from dreaming in the new language. We are being aided by a number of language books, Ipods downloads, evening classes and we fumble along with friends.

We now understand nicely, speak basic and are still shocking with the older Sicilians. It's their cool thick dialect. Countless times I've left a shop chuffed that Ive said and found what I needed, only to push the door that say's pull – Tirare.

We were told by someone holding a Masters in Linguistics - that an adult requires seven opportunities to adopt a new word or concept. Hear it, say it, read it, say it again be corrected in it and then quite possibly it's yours. Though the difficulty for adults is that we stop at the second attempt...when the shame kicks. Fortunately now as a mum I have very little shame, i.e. public temper tantrums, kids touching all the wrong parts at the wrong times and of course wardrobe malfunctions while breastfeeding.

We talked with our friend Alonzo, yip that's not his name, he'd feel a little singled out if we used it. He said we were doing fine, then asked whether we'd seen the movie 'Tarzan' sure we replied. Alonzo follows with "ahh okay... so you know you could stop now and talk like Tarzan or keep going and try to speak more like Jane” ...true ?!!.

Add caption

We will often find ourselves doing a sort of language dance with our Italian friends. They are often wanting to practise their English with us. So this language dance might begin with us speaking Italian then the other takes the lead with English, one may stumble in what they are saying, so the other starts to lead again. There are sweaty palms and strained eyebrows within the dance, a bashful look when your partner is getting it completely wrong but you still want to dance again so you don't over correct.

Today we both depart to play Mogliano near Venice, as it's Brigs first return game. He's penciled in to play just 40 mins of Tarzan action. I'm travelling on my first away match as both Team Physio & his Jane. A treasured Australian friend is with the kids which they've been excited about all week.

Carlos didn't want Mama here.
This is a house that didn't do so well after a Mt Etna eruption.

When I am doing Physio and Brig is at training we have tons of opportunities to dance, I'm sure we'll get there. Carlos & Milan have great opportunities also, they are doing well at their new Scuola Materna, the are making friends quickly. Milan at the start like a typical little girl wanting to please, came back looking knackered & wanting a hug. She told us her head hurt, and that she was trying to speak on behalf of her and Carlos. The other children are always keen to talk with them. Who knows whether they are getting coerced at home to befriend the English speakers!!. What ever the case we know its tough, so give a little thought to the foreign kids starting school with yours this year x

Either way, we pump up the kids "effort tyres". This seems to give them enough confidence to meet the bilingual challenge and to get their own back by cutely correcting their parents when occasion permits. Ciao for now.

New beginnings 2012

Happy New Years all !



 A new year is upon us 2012!

Didn't you love spreading your hand across a new exercise book maybe even giving it a sniff ? New beginnings are the best, whether its the start of a new day (well some days) a new pair of shoes or even a new course to run. Each of these is an opportunity for change, to re-create, simply to do something a little different.

A quick ride with Papa Natale in San Giovani la Punta,
they really go big all over Sicily at festive times  

The few adjustments for the Nordstrom casa will be

• a new Asilo for the children
• Brigs return to the field
• arriving in more of Sicily's finest spots  
• a more aggressive (yeoow!) attempt with the language



New Years Eve Central Catania

We like other parents are picky kindergarten/childcare people so when we arrived, the kids were in Privato Asilo. The kids only went three mornings in the week to enjoy others kids their age, be exposed to Italian and allow us to continue with both of our Rugby commitments. Their new Asilo or more correctly Scuola Materna comes really well recommended. 
 



An earlier Scuola Materna of Sicily !  now still in 2012 the Grembuili are being worn,
 just with Hello Kitty, The little Mermaid and Spiderman on the front

Our new Kindergarten is Aci Trezza's public preschool. It's large, has a uniform (even a gym one), free and has dedicated teachers. A blog may come later. Carlos needed to be closer to 3 years old, which now my baby is : /  We've also been waiting on their Italian comprehension to increase, which it has. We think they're doing better than us, as we hear them constantly add new words and chatting & playing with other kids. They have just had their second day and are still chirpy about the change.

Our home field -  Nicolosi just beneath Mt Etna

I've reduced my time as team physio, now I liaise with a larger well equipped Sports physio centre and look after team pre-match and match care. The orange and blue physio belt bag is still getting some wear and tear and I still get my weekly run onto the field - I'd miss the action otherwise. In this arrangement it doesn't spread me to thin. Earlier it felt like I was attempting a lot while mastering minimal.

Carlitos putting the big hits on Vittorio

Brig has returned to team gym & field training, he's looking good though being at a satisfactory level for return is hopefully late January. In the period of injury, he's still been busy and as positive as one can, in order to contribute. San Gregorio are a group of really talented guys and passionate management so we're looking forward to continuing from last years season in the Top 10 series.

We have made 2012 the 'year of love & kindness', hopefully ; ). It's really caught on with the kids and we are hoping to enact this better both inside & outside the home. Brig came up with this concept (though I'd like to claim it) we've given names to years in hindsight as well as at the time. We've had the 'year of madness' the 'year of houses'.

Monkey village outside of Bangkok - Lopburi
Go the year of the Monkey

I think this idea may have initially been inspired by our honeymoon in Thailand. They have this 12 year animal cycle. This year we are in the Year of the Dragon – Bee Marong. Our Thai friend was born the year of the monkey and he wanted us to see the Lopburi monkey village.  They literally just roam everywhere and are especially keen on tourists snacks and hair accessories. We were glad we went, his wife was born the year of the Rat, fortunately there wasn't a village for that. 

This past Sunday our church speakers gave talks on kindness. A 15yr old girl gave a great talk and spoke on her shift from the States to here, and how it hadn't been so hard with the kindness shown to her even before her arrival. She also gave this neat quote 'Kindness is love with working boots on'.

We wish you well in your 'year of the ______' this 2012 x