I had a talk today with an American gal who teaches at the school.  Like me, she had been driving with an International license, (meant only to be used by tourists), for years but decided it was time to bite the bullet and go for her Italian license.  She passed the written test a couple of months ago and took the practical this past Saturday.  With great joy, I heard her say it was many times worse than the written test.  She said it was torturous.  She had to wait three hours while person after person tried and failed the exam.  Some were crying, some were throwing papers around.  She managed to pass but only because her instructor from the driving school had accompanied her and argued her case.  I'm gettin' me a case arguer!  This will never end.

Dinner last night at the grandparents was wonderful with all of GP's favorite foods.  Italian boys walk on water for their mothers and never grow up in their eyes.  Girls not so much.  Girls are expected to learn to cook, clean, iron and sew while boys have mother do all of that till they find a nice girl to take over.  This is why Italian men don't leave home until they marry.  They willingly live with mommy well into their 30's and over, are waited on hand and foot and treated like the second coming of Christ.  That being said, we all eat at the Grandmother's every week, dinner is grand and we are not allowed to lift a finger.  I think I've done the dishes there twice in 28 years.  xxoo me