Success!

Well, I think it was success.

Today, as Tom and I headed out for some groceries for dinner, our neighbor stopped us and asked us a question.  In Italian.  This was the first time that we talked to her, beyond "Buongiorno,"since we arrived.

Here is how I think the conversation went (remember, all of this was in Italian!):

Her:  Are you on vacation?
Me:  Yes, we are!
Her:  Are you staying here, or going away?
Me:  Staying here.
Her:  In Duino?
Me:  Yes.
Tom:  For two weeks.
Her:  And then?
Me:  Then we go to. . . . umm. . . (in English, I say: Tom, how do you say the US?)
Tom:  The US (he is speaking Italian again at this point)
Her:  Ah, I see.  And your neighbors, with the baby, are they here?
Me:  No, on vacation.
Her:  In the Netherlands?
Me:  No, just on vacation for one week.
Her:  Then back to Duino?
Me:  Yes.
Her:  Then they move?
Me:  Yes.
Her:  I see.  See you later!
Me:  See you later!

To be fair, Tom was more involved in the conversation than that.  But I had a hard enough time keeping track of what I was saying.  And I'm pretty sure that my translation isn't exactly right, but I do hope that I have the main ideas correct.  On Monday I start a one week intensive Italian course, so I'm sure by next Friday I will be able to say more than yes or no, perhaps I'll even ask her a question!

We high-fived each other as we walked away, happy to have had our first real conversation in Italian.  We even celebrated in the most appropriate way possible:  with gelato!