The joy of learning other languages

So, last week I was at the European Baptist Convention that was held in Rome. I was there because the Italian Baptist Union has put together a band and I play drums for them. We were the music for the convention. We spent all day practicing and working on music and would have worships services in the morning and after dinner. It was a fun time and I enjoyed getting to play music.

What does that have to do with language? Well...

One day during practice I walked up on the altar and picked up a prayer book. Since we live in Italy, we were at a Catholic retreat center and therefore in a Catholic church for worship times. I thought it would be funny to read in my best Italian accent from this prayer book. It's not very funny considering the fact that it was a prayer book, but I didn't think about that until after.

The story:

I picked up the book and read, in my dramatic Italian accent

"Io per te ho flagellato"

which means something like I have suffered or endure floggings for you

what I saw and thought in my head was

"I for you have flatulence"

which I then interpreted to mean I have farted for you. It doesn't mean that, and it's not even really that close. But that is how it happened in my head. Needless to say, I laughed real hard at something that wasn't really funny. And everyone thought I was crazy.

Tanti Aguri

What happens when you celebrate a birthday right after gospel choir.....

Italians show you the correct way to sing Happy Birthday

The best food in the world

I have been absent from the blog. Sorry. I have a good reason. Three weeks I had to make an unexpected trip to America. By unexpected I mean, I got a call Friday at noonish and was on the plane Saturday at noonish. Which I'm sure anyone reading probably already knows that. But just in case you didn't, well, I just told you.

I live in Italy. Most of the world would argue that the food in Italy is the best in the world. Italians would definitely argue that their food is the best in the world. BUT......

I am from south Louisiana. Where I live, we may not know how to speak English very well, but we definitely know how to cook very well. We might die younger too from clogged arteries.

DON'T GET DISTRACTED FROM MY POINT!

THE POINT:

The food in Acadiana is, by far, the best food in the world. If you don't know what Acadiana is, then I'm sorry but you might have to do some research before you can go and experience the greatness. To prove my point to you, I will use photography.

Case 1:

Eggplant Fries

Yummy eggplant fried up, covered with parmesan cheese (though it is fake) and served with ranch dressing.

Case 2:

Corn and Crab Bisque

Oh MY! I almost fell out of my chair remembering how good this was. If you don't know what bisque is, then you don't speak my language. oh and don't forget my favorite Captain's Wafers crackers. They go great with boudin.

Case 3:

SHRIMP ~ in many forms

Praline Shrimp

This praline sauce is real yum. Sweet and salty can be a wonderful combination sometimes. Especially when it's served with fried bread.

Shrimp PoBoy

Again, PoBoy is a word that you should familiarize yourself with. Because they are real good to eat.

Case 4:

Crawfish ~ with explanations

Crawfish cornbread topped with ettouffee and served with fried crawfish. YES. This would be what I chose for lunch that day. Why? Because you can't get crawfish anywhere but home. So maybe crawfish cornbread can explain itself. It's cornbread. with crawfish in it. See, I told you.

But let me show how crawfish comes.

It comes fried. Like this. It's nice and crunchy and flavorful.

Or it comes like this. Out of the ettouffee. Not fried. But still really yum.

So. You can debate if you would like on this issue of food. I will give you the argument of clogged arteries. But I'm not talking health here. I'm talking taste. And it doesn't get any better than CAJUN COUNTRY.

Speaking of...... GEAUX CAJUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!