9.6.00 - 01:06:45
Sera, io chiudo il libro su Italiano. Sensa soldi continuare. Tonight I closed the book on Italian. No money to go on. It was sadder and more poignant than I imagined it would be. Maria, my sweet but frequently whiny instructor, told me I had more aptitude than most and wondered why I wasn't continuing. When I explained my situation, she was sure Berlitz could help out.
I didn't really expect otherwise, but during our last session, in which everyone was absent but me, Maria had me thinking I could pay for the next set of classes over four of the eight weeks.
She overestimated their generosity.
I am welcome to return only when I can pay in full prior to the next session and not a moment sooner.
At one point during the evening, I took off my glasses to clean them and she said I had a pretty face, that I shouldn't hide it so much. She told me about her sons, her life in Naples, her move to Chicago and how tremendously tired she is. She spoke all of this in Italian and I understood a great deal of it. When I was lost, I'd prompt, "Repete, prego Maria," and she would oblige with great patience. She listened to me as I halting explained, in her native language, that I didn't have the money yet to go on, and laughed when I confused the word "dollars" for "pain". You had to be there.
It was only eight weeks, but it was eight weeks of amazing discovery for me. Forgive me for being melodramatic, but remember, this is MY online diary.
Io sto andando, Maria. Ma torna presto.
