Home Remedies

Sadly, I'm still sick.
I haven't wanted to do much, and I finally made myself get up and out of the house today. I printed off my boarding passes for Barcelona, and while I was there, I saw my crazy Italian teacher Nada.
Then, I decided to return some cds to the library because they won't work on my computer - different cd size (one was The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds"). BUT, I wandered around a deserted library before realizing it opens at two on Mondays. Lame.
So, I continued walking around the Duomo area, and I started to get a fever. I was all bundled up, but the chills were coming, and alllll I wanted was a cold drink. Whenever I'm sick at home, I stay in my bed and drink a nice coke from a straw. Perfection. Well, I stopped in a supermarket, grabbed a coke can, impatiently waiting in line after people who had bundles, and I only had my coke and exact change. I opened it in the store, then proceeded to sip and walk down the street.
I walked by and a man, probably in his 40s, began to talk to me. As I am sick, I gave up all attempts of speaking in Italian, and said, "What?" in English.
"Ohhhh, parla inglese?"
"Siiiii."
"A Londra?"
"No, di America. Di Georgia, but I'm a little sick so you may not be able to tell."
"Che cosa?"
"Sono male."
The European culture loves home remedies. The man told me that if I came back that night, around seven when he is about to get off work, he would take me to the bar and we would drink some special drink and in the morning, POOF! my sickness would be gone. This was a remedy handed down by his grandfather. I politely said I may, but I had other plans.
We continued to talk for quite a while, and he complimented me on my teeth. I laughed loudly. I was drinking a coke, so I told him "ma gialla si io bevo questa coca!" I have never been complimented on my teeth by a stranger. Really creepy. He asked me another question, which was lost in translation, so he went to his computer, went to his online translator, and started saying "treat!" "treat!" and then pressed the button so the robotic voice from the speakers shouted "TREAT" in English. He did this several more times. "TREAT. TREAT. TREAT. TREAT." I had to laugh but tried not to seem like I was laughing at him.
He kept telling me to come back at seven last night, but of course, I'd rather not put myself in an odd position with a bald, Italian man who likes my teeth.
When the library opened, I handed in my cds and rented some more books: Saturday by Ian McEwan and a book called Speaking Italian Like A Native, which is just a collection of essays from a British man who has lived in Italy for twelve years.
One of my favorite authors is essayist Anne Fadiman (READ ANYTHING YOU CAN FIND BY HER! SHE'S AN EXCELLENT WRITER AND INTIMIDATINGLY WELL-READ). She writes a chapter on reading where you are - absorbing yourself in a book that is placed wherever you are so that you can deeper appreciate your present setting. I think it's a great idea, and it gives me more awareness of the Italian culture around me.
Annnnyway, I got home and Olga, our Slovakian housekeeper, came by soon after. Jess walked in and had a bad case of the hiccups. Olga ran up the stairs, poured a cup of water, and told Jess she was going to fix her problem. She then forced Jess to lean down towards her feet, put her hands behind her back, and Olga shoved the cup of water in her face. Similar to water boarding. Joke. But it worked! Olga cracks me up. She's very blunt but works very hard. She told us her sister is a singer and uses that remedy every time she has to go on stage.
Other than that, I've just caught up on emails, read, and had two cups of tea today. I'm still trying to get better and relax before I travel for a little over five days. Ayyy!
Going to try out a Methodist church tonight at seven. Pray for me!