20 Comments
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Karena's avatar

'funny, surprising and little bit dramatic' I'll have to remember that! What a great story, Silvio.

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Rick Lewis's avatar

agreed

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Karena. I added a couple of lines to the end and I thought of that. :)

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Cecilia's avatar

Thank you for sharing I had a similar experience the first time I was invited to Thanksgiving dinner, that was 13 years ago and still remember it with such fondness and gratitude.

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Cecilia's avatar

So so 😉it was the surprise factor that suddenly you have to say something to a kind group of people you were just meeting 😬

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank YOU for reading such an old piece, Cecilia. Were you also a non-English-speaking poor devil like me? :)

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Raksha's avatar

Love the three elements of a memorable learning experience! You discuss learning a language as an adult, a terrifying experience, in a playful way :)

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you so much, Raksha! (It is indeed a terrifying experience)

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Kristin's avatar

Thank you for sharing Silvio! Your essay transported me back to my school days when I attended Bocconi and one Saturday I went to the market. Not knowing the word for "etto", I ordered 1 kilo of oranges (I think I got 3) and 1 kilo of Lettuce (that is a lot!). Happy Thanksgiving!

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Kristin! Love your mishap there! And Happy Thanksgiving to you (from a fellow Bocconi graduate)! :)

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Nadjia Kitchen's avatar

I enjoyed this immensely! I lived in Spain for a year in my late 30's. I always felt like I was late to every party and the last to know.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Nadjia! I know the feeling very well :)

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Malavika Mudit's avatar

aw, Silvio, what a lovely thing to read first thing in the morning! I'm thankful for your writing. :)

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Malavika. What a nice comment to read first (or maybe second) thing in the morning :))

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Nic Rosslee's avatar

Loved this story, Silvio!

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you Nic! :)

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Yehudis Milchtein's avatar

I remember my first joke in French. That was a cool moment. Thanks for sharing this delightful story!

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Yes. Unforgettable (awkward) moments. Thank you Yehudis :)

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Rick Lewis's avatar

Love this story Silvio, well told! I'm grateful that you told it in English so I could read it. : )

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Rick! Glad you liked it. (This one, I wouldn’t tell in any other language :))

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