English In An Increasingly Italian World – Part One, The Introduction

As the article states, I am English but live in an increasingly Italian world. I work as a Translations Project Manager at Axis Translations dealing with the English Italian language combinations. I am trying to find and buy a house in Italy and I am even marrying an Italian girl.

As such I intend to write a series of articles on such subjects as;

>Italian Culture
>Italian Festivals
>Translation of Italian Hand Gestures
>Authentic Italian Recipes translated into English
>Translation of Italian colloquial phrases into English
>Translation of Italian insults into English
>Italian Culture
>Buying property in Italy
>Having a wedding in Italy
>Italian Language lessons for English speakers
>etc.

I am quite an open person, so I intend to give some frank discussion of the things that I experience. I also intend to give you some translations some analysis from an English prospective and a few Italian lessons. As such, this will be a series of articles.

Right now you find me writing from Naples / Napoli in the south of Italy / Italia. It’s about 33 degrees and pretty humid. We are staying at the home of my fiancees parents as my fiancee has been having an operation.

So today I will tell you a little about Italian life – Italian neighbours when someone is sick. I hope you enjoy.

Once it became general knowledge (which took about 5 or 6 seconds) that my fiancee had entered hospital for an operation the neighbours are all asking if they can come to visit my fiancee in the hospital. They are sending flowers to the hospital, huge arrangements. They also want to know if they can take a shift at the bedside of my fiancee as it normal that someone will remain with the person at the hospital at all times.

While she is in the hospital I am staying at her parents house with her father. The neighbours are asking if we would come to them for meals or if they could bring us food. Many come to visit to ensure that we know that their thoughts are with us.

I am afraid I would not expect such a warm response from my English life. Perhaps thats why I am 'English in an increasingly Italian World'

Giving Can Overcome Language Differences

I recently had to take a trip to Germany. It has been more than ten years since making my last international trip. I now have a renewed sympathy for non-English speaking visitors and residents in the United States.

I didn't have it as bad as it could have been. Many of the businesses that I visited spoke English as a second language. What amazed me was how patient and helpful those that couldn't speak English were to me. I was able to go where I wanted and get what I needed with relative ease. It didn't matter if we spoke different languages because we worked out other ways to communicate. Contrast that to some experiences I have witnessed in the United States. I have watched non-English speaking people intentionally ignored or dealt with without any patience. I have also heard people say they shouldn't be in the United States if they can't speak English.

Do you want to make the world a better place by doing even little things? My recent trip to Germany was proof that you don't have to speak the same language to help others. The next time you see someone that may be visiting from another country, go out of your way to smile and greet him or her. Spend time finding a way to help them if they appear to need something. I am confident you will make their day better and yours as well.