½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Hi James,
i did something similar to you back in 1968 ( I know ....you probably covered that era in History at school !!!! :D ) . I went to Florence as an au pair.
Living with an ½ûÂþÌìÌà Family really helped .
I did make myself study from books at least one hour a day to get the grammer working but talking and mixing with ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs is the very best way to learn a language. If you combine study and getting out and about as much as possible and speaking and listening at every opportunity you can't go wrong.
Get yourself an ½ûÂþÌìÌà Girlfriend who doesn't speak English and you are made !!!!!! I went out with the postman !!!!
If you have the money to enrol in classes as well...you will find it a doddle ! (I was too poor :o ! -so had to discipline myself but it worked fine ). I was here 10 months and although I am a bit rusty, my knowledge of the language has never left me and we have visited often over the years.
Think it can be pretty chilly in Umbria from what I have read ( we're further south but been told chilly here then as well)
and No...at your age you won't miss England one bit !!!!!..... :cool:
Have fun and keep us all up to date with how you are getting on. :)
How many dogs are you sitting ?????

I am looking after 4 dogs, one labrador and 3 king charles spaniels. i am taking a laptop over so i will load some italian grammar programmes on that and also take some textbooks to read.

I hope that after this experience i will have a firm enough grasp of the lifestyle and culture to make a more educated decision as to whether i could live over in italy.

thanks for you help,

james

James, it can get surprisingly cold for periods during the winter, before you come over, try to get a decent thermal base layer vest, Craghoppers maake good ones, a climbing or walking shop should stock, team it with light fleeces, Layer, layer... :) and a windproof top layer and your made. You need to mix with ½ûÂþÌìÌà people to take in the language quickly, Lynn's method would be best, I suspect... Good Luck and best wishes to you, you lucky lad...

Enjoy yourself lucky man.
Find yourself an ½ûÂþÌìÌà girlfriend, as suggested and doubt you will ever want to return to the UK.