There is obviously a match on in Milan this weekend, for I spied a kilted man at the supermarket this very evening. As you may imagine, men wearing kilts are not a common sight here in Milan. This particular patriot was stocking up on beer for the pre or post, and possibly during match celebrations or commiserations if the game does not go well for the haggis lovers.
Stop reading, start speaking
Stop translating in your head and start speaking Italian for real with the only audio course that prompt you to speak.
Actually, I must admit to knowing about the match before having to wander along to the supermarket, as we had spotted two pasty faced looking individuals ambling down the street near us this afternoon. I turned to my other half and said, ‘Germans or Englishmen’ and she replied that they were probably Scottish seeing as there was a match on. It is amazing just how easy it is to spot northern types here. Not just the complexion, but also the facial features and clothes, which just seem so un-Italian. It’s odd, but that is how it is. In this respect I am also a ‘marked man’, even though I do a pretty good job at camouflaging my origins by dressing in a more or less Italian fashion. But as soon as I utter a few words, most Italians know I’m not from Italy.
As an aside, but related to football, the Italians refer to under 21 teams as ‘under ventuno’. This is a curious mix of English -under- and Italian -ventuno- Italian for ‘twenty one’, if you did not know.
