My best friend Elena and I both turn 30 next year. We wanted to do something big, I tossed around the idea of a trip, which she was on board with. Orignally it was Ireland, but then she came up with a plan. She is going to rent a villa somewhere fabulous in Italy (where in Italy isn't it fabulous?) and invite all of her friends over.

I love this plan. Love. It.

So now she and I are scouting out villas in Italy and talking logistics. Since we plan on being in a somewhat remote area (i.e. not near a large city) I figured it was a good idea if someone in our group spoke some Italian. Because I am a dork, I decided it would be me.

So I checked out this audiobook on CD, Pimsleur's Quick and Simple Italian. I just listen in the car and repeat. It is so much fun. I have no idea if it will work, if it will last and I will be able to properly reproduce this once I am in Italy, talking to a native, but for a free course?

I have never tried learning a language using audiotapes/cd's, but we had this available at my library and I figured "what the heck". I will do this one and then try a couple other versions over the next several months, to hopefully cement it in my mind.

Right now I can say:

Hello, how are you? Do you understand English? I understand/do not understand Italian. I understand a little. I am American. I am well. I am not well. Very well, thanks. Sir, Ma'am, Miss. Goodbye.

That is what I have learned in about 45 minutes of lessons. Obviously, I have learned those phrases in Italian, but there is no reading/writing involved, so I haven't a clue how to spell them.

I'll let you know how it works out.