I love having Italian friends. They are a god send that make living in Brescia soooooo much better. It was a beautiful city before. Now it's a beautiful city with possibilities. And best of all a beautiful city with crazy nights out.
Friday, and not Saturday night, is the big night out in Brescia. So when I have Fridays (and more importantly Saturday mornings) off I go out in the Piazzale. There I've learned that Italians drink outside even when it's cold. I've learned that Italians smoke more than any other populous. I've learned that high heels don't hurt your feet so much when it's so cold that you can't feel your toes. I've discovered that I really like ginger mojitos and I've also found the BEST Long Island Iced Tea in the WORLD.
Two weeks ago we did a big night out dancing on Friday to celebrate the end of everyone's exams and as a going away party for Andri who left for London for a month. We started in the Piazza and then after a few Long Islands at Cakao we headed to Circus to dance. I saw some guys that we met at Seconda Classe about a month ago, and regret not chatting up the cute one a little bit more (Brescia is small though, I'm sure I'll see him around). I met a group of gay guys who told me I looked like Adele. I got to hang out with all of my favorite people in Brescia. I met a few new people. I danced until I couldn't feel my legs and I got home around 5am. I was still tipsy the next morning. FABULOUS night.
Saturday night we all got dressed up and went to an exhibition opening at Andri's dad's modern art gallery. With all the caterers walking around with h'ordeuvres and glasses of champagne, I felt like I walked into a movie. I got to meet all of the girls' boyfriends that I previously hadn't met. Friday night is a strange event in Brescia where couples do not go out together, but instead only run into each other while out. They stay with their friends and only chat with their significant other for a little while before moving on again. Apparently Saturday night it is acceptable to bring your boyfriends to exhibition openings before you go out to dinner together...So I met the guys. After the gallery everyone without romantic dinner plans grabbed drinks. After drinks we went to this great little pizzeria where I ate an EXCELLENT mozzarella di buffala pizza. After pizza we grabbed another drink before calling it a night.
Other Friday nights out have all been fun but basically the same. We get a mojito at La Madeira and then we get a Long Island at Cakao, and then we finish up with a Cappezzolo shot at another little bar before finding somewhere to sit and talk. Usually we find people we know while we walk around from place to place, and always (thanks the the fabulous Elisa) we find some sort of English catch phrase for the evening. Last night I had major difficulty speaking in Italian so thankfully Eli, who understands English perfectly, translated what I wanted to say. I could understand what everyone was saying, but when I wanted to respond then the words wouldn't come out. It was extremely frustrating. Today me, Eli, and Anna went shopping and I was back to being able to express myself which was a relief, but last night my Italian just sucked.
English phrases/words that end up as catch phrases:
Slippery Nipple
Let's get something to drink
Don't worry, be happy
Who cares
Shitty person
Pub crawl
Talking shit
(I only teach the very best of the English language when I go out)
