(F)Report from the F(r)ield: Rick Steves’ Travel Classes with a Side of Wine & Cheese

Now that the redesign of Fresh-Picked Seattle is complete, I’m hoping to have more chances to actually attend some of the events I’m always listing there and here on Freeattle. 

When I do get to a Freeattle event, I will file a (F)Report from the F(r)ield.  Yes, it’s a hideously awkward name, but one of the tiny fringe benefits of doing this site is the occasional and weird satisfaction I get from creating inelegant portmanteaus containing the word “free.”

I recently listed the 20 things I want to do this year in response to the post Kristy of Eats and Interests did on her site.  One of my 20 things was take a free language class at Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door Travel Center.

I’m not really planning any international travel soon, but I like learning about other cultures and what better way to start than by picking up a few words?  Rick Steves’ center offers periodic class in French, Italian, Spanish, Czech and Turkish. 

In fact, the center offers classes every Thursday and Saturday on a variety of topics related to travel.  In addition to language and general travel lectures, they have talks on digital photography, packing, cultural events, journaling, drawing…even European cooking. 

So this weekend, I had my chance to cross one off my list of twenty, as I had signed up (and promptly forgotten I’d signed up) for an Italian for Travelers class.  Fortunately for me, they do send out a reminder a few days before the class.

The sign-up process is simple: just pick the class, and send in your name and email on their site. Sign up early; I’ve noticed the Romance languages, packing and photography classes especially seem to fill quickly.

The Italian class was well-attended and taught by Graziela (Graz) Palumbo-Perry, a native of Italy who’s lived in the Northwest for a while.  Each attendee received a four-page handout with basic vocabulary, notes on Italian language and pronunciation, etiquette tips, and travel resource recommendations.

Graz took us on a quick run through the vocabulary, stressing that because we’re Americans, we don’t have to be too concerned about accuracy; our efforts alone will be appreciated.  Of course, it wouldn’t be realistic to expect too much language mastery from a ninety-minute class.  However, I do feel like you could at least pick up enough good info about pronunciation and general customs to help you feel more confident when traveling.

Graz was an entertaining speaker, quite funny and skilled at engaging the audience without being too aggressive about it. I must admit I can’t stand it when lecturers seem to be on some kind of forced crusade for audience participation; if people want to observe, let them, we’re adults.  Graz struck a good balance with this, it felt genuine and appropriate.

The Rick Steves website notes that you get 20% off related items the days of class. I must admit I wasn’t shopping so I didn’t pay too much attention, but I did notice class attendees could pick up a $10 coupon for use that day (not sure if that would be in addition to or instead of 20% discount, either way, still seems like it would be a good deal).  The store has tour guides, luggage, moneybelts, etc.

All in all, definitely an enjoyable class: I got a good refresher on Italian pronunciation and also picked up some interesting cultural tips. (I’ll put those at the bottom of this entry in case you’re curious.)

I hadn’t realized how cute Edmonds’ little main street area is, so I took a ramble around the corner and happened upon The Resident Cheesemonger, which I’d come across before online when listing events. 

The store – which has a good selection of cheese, spreads, oils, crostini, and cheese accessories – sometimes has free cheese tastings on Saturdays from 12-4pm.  Strom Peterson, the shop’s owner, let me know the nearby Arista Wine Cellars also has tastings on Saturdays.  It turns out those are complimentary as well, and run from 1-4:30pm.

So if you head up to Edmonds on a Saturday for one of the Rick Steves classes, you can possibly add a couple other Freeattle events to the agenda by swinging by free tastings at The Resident Cheesemonger and Arista Wine Cellars.

Notes from Graz Palumbo-Perry’s Italian Language Class at Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door:

• “Around 50% of the [Italian] population speaks a regional dialect as mother tongue. Many dialects are mutually unintelligible and thus considered by linguists as separate languages, but are not officially recognized.”  Graz noted when, during World War II, her mother went to live with relatives in a different part of Italy, it took six months for them to be able to communicate with each other.
• While the Northern part of Italy is more punctual (from the German influence, said Graz), in general, concepts of time seem more fluid, and the word “dopo,” meaning “later” can often actually mean “never.”
• If you say you are a vegetarian, you might be served chicken. The best way to avoid eating something you don’t like without being rude is to say you have an “allergia.”
• Don’t bother bringing back wine from Italy, said Graz. Not only will you have the hassle of transporting it, you can probably buy the same wine more cheaply here. She noted Trader Joe’s carries a “Mezza Corona” wine she likes.  It is about $9 here, and about 14 euros ($20) in Italy.
• You’ve probably heard that it’s hard to get ice cubes for your drink in Europe, but did you know that some Italians might try to argue you out of it on the grounds they believe it causes stomach or throat cancer?