I'm spending a month in Trieste, Italy, taking in the city and attending SISSA which is an International Researach Institute. This one month in Italy could possibly turn into three years, depending on whether I decide (and the people at the research institute decide) to go on and do a PhD (in cosmology) here.
So far it's been really quite nice. The weather went a bit crazy on me the first day I got here, but since then it's been lovely and sunny. The city is nice and calm, although I must admit, I don't feel like I've seen the city properly yet. However the scenery in general is beautiful. Going to SISSA every morning by bus, is quite a treat, as you have to climb a very steep hill to get there. This means that you get an amazing view of Trieste, and the port.
Unfortunately my camera's memory card broke as soon as I got here, so I don't have any of my own photos to post. However I'll post a photo from the internet so you can get an idea.
A funny story which reeks of Italian stereotype: I went into a small local grocery shop the other day, just as it was about to close, to buy some olive oil. Sidenote, I've been living in Barcelona for the past two years, and thought that I could get away with not speaking Italian by speaking Spanish. Apparently not. So I enter apologetically saying I will only be a second, however the shop owner was having none of it and told me to tell him what I wanted. So I did the old "say it in Spanish but with an Italian accent, it's probably fine" trick, but it didn't work. "Aceite" I said, and made a movement with my hands to suggest that I'm pouring oil on a salad (as this is what I wanted the oil for) . They look at me confused and ask me whether what I want is wine. I said no and went on to say "Aceite de oliva" at which point they all joyfully cry "aaaa olivas!!". Sad to disappoint them I say no, and repeat the pouring on top of salad motion, at which the son of the shop owner goes "...mm.. olio?" Bingo! "yes!" I shout "olio!", at which point all of the Italians in the shop (I believe it was an entire family and the grocers was their family business) join fingers in that oh so Italian way, and start wildly waving their hands around shouting "ahhhhh! oooolioooo". It was like a scene taken out of a movie.
So yes, Italians are very amusing people, I must admit. Although politically they're very messed up..Although I won't go into that as the only politics conversation I've joined in on so far took place when I had drunken almost a bottle of sparkling wine, so I don't think my recount of it would be very accurate...
Arriverdeci!
