Makes us better balanced.

I use people.  And they use me. Generally, it’s a good deal for both of us.  Mutual gain. I seek out English-speaking Italians. Because I don’t speak much Italian. And many English-speaking Italians are trying to brush up on their English.  They have an incentive to learn English. Because it opens opportunities. To travel abroad. And to find employment.  Multiple language skills help.  In the European countries, I find that English is most prevalent in Germany.  No problem finding English-speaking Germans. They are everywhere. English is the second language in Germany. It’s different in Italy. Especially in the outlying towns and villages. Very little English. But in big cities like Rome and Venice and Milan,  English can get one by pretty good. I feel guilty about not speaking very much German or Italian.  But hey, I live with the guilt. Maybe because I’m lazy. And because I know how to take advantage of people. And my Italian true love is fluent in English.  She teaches English and English literature.  Could be she knows more than me about English literature. Certainly, she’s far more knowledgeable about Shakespeare. She’s teaching me all kinds of stuff. And she makes it interesting. It’s a good trade-off. We teach each other about lots of things. Makes us better-balanced. More rounded. –Jim Broede