True Italia

I had the neatest experience today. I went to a town just outside of Naples called Sorrento. I took a bus, and when I got on, I was the only one. As we pulled out of the bus station, I asked the bus driver, in Italian, "Solo io?" Which means, "Just me?" He laughed and said yes, and then we proceeded to talk, IN ITALIAN for the next hour and 10 minutes. I couldn't believe how well I was doing. He repeatedly told me how good my Italian was, although I know he was just being nice. It's very broken, elementary Italian, but I know now that it is more than enough to let me talk for an hour! It was great, we talked about everything from family, to friends, to where I have been in Europe, to why I liked Italy and what my future plans were. He was so nice too- I didn't feel nervous talking to him at all, like I do with some of the Italian men. He told me that he liked it when I smiled because he said, motioning with his hands, my whole face smiles and my eyes crinkle up. That's the Italian flirt for you though, they're pretty much all going to say something like that. But you know what? I'm ok with it. So we had a great time talking, and when I got off the bus, he said, Tina, the pleasure has been all mine (in italian!) and he waved goodbye heartedly. Such a great experience!!!!