Changes, changes…


Changes, changes…

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

Last week I decided to send an email to Graham who is subletting my apartment in Oakland. Just checking in:

“How are things going, any issues, are you liking the place?”

“I love it here, more than I could have imagined, it’s close to BART, convenient to downtown and Whole Foods, etc. If you would like to stay in Italy another month I’d be happy to rent it for another month.” he responded.

Hmm,tempting, but I wrote back. “ It is tempting but you know it would cost at least $400 just to change the flight.”

Again he responded “I like it so much that I would be glad to split the cost.”

Wow, now it is really tempting so I called up Lufthansa (using Skype) to see how much it would really cost. It costs $250 to make any change to the ticket and another $250 because the airfares are higher in the summer.

So I wrote again and he was still willing to split the cost so I decided to stay another month. My Italian is improving to the point that I can “almost” understand a lot of the conversations now. In something of a breakthrough I can sometimes understand better than I can speak rather than the other way around. I would really miss the dinners out with the gang of Italians organized by “Il Principe”, Vittorio – his friends,with tongue in cheek, call him that “The Prince”.

Thank God for Skype. I called the gym in Oakland and continued the suspension of my membership by another month. I called the place where I am storing my car to notify the guy there that I was extending by another month and called the New Yorker customer services to keep the delivery of that wonderful magazine on hold for another month.

Now there is the question of lodging. I was thinking that perhaps I’d change lodging for the last month to get some experience in another neighborhood if I could find a place with Wi-Fi and an elevator. However today Cesarina said that she would be sad when I left so I think that I will stay here. Besides that, I love the neighborhood and can extend my membership at the gym for another month. I can always explore other nice neighborhoods on the bike.

So now I am just half way through my stay in this wonderful city.

12 Responses to “Changes, changes…”

  1. Candace Dempsey Says:

    Good for you. What an exciting decision. I never get to stay in Italy long enough to become fluent. Go for it.

  2. Joe Says:

    Beh, fluent. It takes a long time to become fluent but I am definitely improving. I’m learning to love il congiuntivo.

  3. Joy O'Neal Says:

    Joe,
    I really love your blog! I am seeing an Italy that I would never have experienced otherwise. Thank you for your sharing your reality.

  4. Joe Says:

    It’s a pleasure. I’m glad that you like it. I always appreciate comments and certainly compliments ;^)

  5. Peter Hillen Says:

    Joe,
    Sounds good, We will just have to put off our lunches a little longer. I am not sure I can be as fun as your Italian companions anyway.
    Peter

  6. Joe Says:

    Maybe I’ll be homesick before I return and then again, maybe not. I am looking forward to a lunch when I return.

    Joe

  7. Victor Miller Says:

    Well played, sir!

  8. Joe Says:

    I’m certainly looking forward to another month here.

  9. Ellie Says:

    Ciao Joe, sono Ellie, the ragazza cinese who has read your blog before coming to ALCE Bologna. It’s great that you are staying here for one month more.

  10. Joe Says:

    Thanks Ellie, I hope that things are going well with you and, of course, am pleased that you are reading my blog.

    Ciao
    Joe

  11. Pat Morrison Says:

    I am so jealous that you are staying for another month. I miss Italy so much and I wish I could go back to school but as I have not won the lottery yet I must stay here in Edinburgh and work. Say hello to everyone for me. Enjoy your extra long stay.

  12. Joe Says:

    Thanks Pat, I am indeed fortunate to be able to stay another month. I still have a long way to go before I’ll be satisfied with my Italian.

    Joe

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