Italian for Beginners

by Teresa Joseph

Something usually gets lost in the translation.

Mi scusi, dov e l’ufficio de turismo?” I said hesitantly—but rather proudly—having memorized the phrase from out of the back of the guidebook. The Milanese lady blinked at me and then as it dawned on her what I meant, sing-songed in English, “Ahhhhh, da tourist offees?