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I went food shopping on the first day of the new lockdown. Grocery shopping is my only in-person social interaction lately, so I had some fun and stocked up.
I still don’t speak Italian, but I chat with folks using the few words I know and pantomime. I’m fluent in pantomime.
The people at the deli are so patient and friendly. Like this one time: You know the basket that sits on the counter where we toss those paper numbers? Those ‘next in line’ numbers that keep us orderly? Without them, some little old ladies will walk right in front of you like you’re invisible. I was a bit nervous or excited or just being myself and knocked the basket into the food. The little pieces of paper fell all over. It was very embarrassing, and I had no real way to express how sorry I was other than to say “mia scusa” repeatedly. Which, by the way, means “MY sorry.” They were so understanding and lovely.
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Surprisingly, the grocery store was very quiet when I arrived, but it filled up a little by the time I left. The new COVID restrictions were already in place, so all the little shops in the small mall were closed.
I tried to ask the man at the deli counter in Italian how long the olives would last in the refrigerator. I said, “Quando, lungo, giorno, refrigerator?” while pointing at the olives. Translation? ‘when, long, days, refrigerator?’ LOL
Knowing I hadn’t come close to asking a question, I added, “due sentimane?” (a couple of weeks?) to see if I could make it more clear. He paused and thought for a second and then answered in full chatter. So this is when I get as intuitive as possible using all the cues because I only understand 3% of the words. He laughed with his co-worker and motioned with his two fingers’ walking away’, and I heard him say ‘week.’ I got it! After a week, they’ll be so moldy they’ll walk away. That’s a joke in the US, too. I laughed, and he looked at me and acknowledged I got the joke. He was surprised (me, too) and pleased (me, too). We had a moment.
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The Deli
Today’s fun interactions were short, but many. I took a few photos letting folks know they’re for my friends in the US. Most people are happy to wave and even ham it up for the camera.
In other encounters at the store today:
At the fish counter, I told the gal her display was beautiful. I’m not sure if the fish or the fish counter is feminine or masculine, so I asked if it’s ‘bella’ or ‘bello’. She said it’s masculine, bello. I pointed to one fish and said, “but that one is a girl.” She laughed.
A woman smiled when I indicated her hat was pretty. Now mind you, we’re 12 ft (4m) apart. I’m pantomiming the whole thing because we have masks. But she got it, and you could see her sparkle.
A woman in the checkout line chatted away with me. She was laughing at herself about something. I made that assumption by the rhythm of her chatter and laughter. It had something to do with the items in her cart. I want to think she was like me, laughing at myself for buying so many damn groceries. I enjoyed the laughter.
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Fish Mongers
And I was able to make a joke with the checkout gal. In English, I told her that I had enough groceries for a year. At first, it wasn’t clear, and the joke went flat, so I dropped it. But she kept trying to figure it out. I see that a lot with people. They challenge themselves to understand what I’m saying. I think there truly is a fundamental drive in people to understand one and another.
… And then her light went on, and she got my funny observation. And we laughed!! Because, yes, I had a load of groceries.
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