Category Archives: English

The evolution of the straw

Posted on December 5, 2019 by babbityjean

In the beginning, straws were actually made of straw…well, actually rye grass.  Then, in the 1880s, a resident of Washington, DC, decided he didn’t like the residue that the straw left in his mint julep.  So he made his own … Continue reading →

Posted in Abitudini, California, Cucina italiana, English, Foto, Italia, Storia | 1 Comment

English expressions that confound Italians

Posted on November 28, 2019 by babbityjean

Idiomatic expressions can be difficult for students of any language; they can be confusing, confounding, and simple to mess up, sometimes with funny or embarrassing results.  Here are several English expressions that cannot be translated into Italian with the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Abitudini, Differenze culturali, English, Italia, Storia | Leave a comment

The homeless mentally ill

Posted on November 21, 2019 by babbityjean

The conference room in Trieste fell silent.  Attendees couldn’t believe their eyes.  On the big screen were photos of Hollywood residents living in the street, huddled under blankets and covered with grime.  Their mental and addiction problems were evident.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Abitudini, California, Differenze culturali, English, Italia, La Gente, Medicina, Trieste | 1 Comment