Cecilia Boyd

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Grazie, Muzzu

I went to a bus station in a small town, to catch a ride 40 km back to my (small) city. The buses traveling to the various other towns leave from assigned platforms/binarios which are simply three sided enclosures beside the street. I didn't know which platform was for my town/bus.... So I walked up to a but idling there to ask.

Me: Excuse me, do you speak English?

Bus Driver: zxyczxyzhl. (which I took to mean either "what?" or "no")

Me: Inglese?

BD: No, no. Italiano.

Me: (Very big eyes and big smile) OK!

BD: (big eyes, backtracking now) Oh! Oh! Un poco, un poco!

Me: Is ok. Is enough. (notice how I switch to Pidgin)

Me: Ho bisogno andare a Radom. Vado a Radom.

BD: Vai in Radom? Uno! Uno! (pointing)

Me: Grazie. Grazie mille!!

And I went to Platform 1 to wait for my bus.