After an action packed 32-hour flight with The Shmoose through Singapore and Frankfurt, we went our separate ways at Milan Central Station. He joined up with Becky and Helena for a 2-day giro in Milan, while I hopped on a train to meet up with Host Family Version 1.0 in Trento (the city of the WOC sprint relay). Agata Marchi, who lives in Trento, was in the Italian team at the World Schools in Portugal and her family very kindly offered to host me for a few days in the mountains in Candriai (aka Heaven).

After almost 50 hours without sleep I decided to go for a run and get lost in some European forest before some much needed rest. The morning after involved a short training at Sopramonte just to get into the terrain. The forest was amazing and most of it was very clean. However being from Hawke’s Bay, I assumed that because there wasn’t any blackberry and in New Zealand stony ground is generally quite mild, the fastest way was always straight. The locals tell me I’m wrong.

Training at Sopramonte. Red is my path. Blue is highly recommended.

The next day some friends from the italian team took me up le tre cime or the “the Three peaks”.  The pictures below can only give you an idea of the of the amazing place that we find ourselves in.

“Le tre cime”

On the way to the top

This was no Te mata Peak

there was a tiny patch of snow so we made a SNOW KIWI !

Now I am staying with Martina Palumbo and a very gracious Host Family Version 2.0 in the hills near Levico Terme, doing races, trainings and catching features whenever I can.

Host family Version 1.0

Host Family Version 2.0

I have heard the other New Zealanders are having a bit of trouble managing on the communication side of things so I have attached a small selection of essential phrases for getting around.

How to Talk Like An Italian

Dai! (die!) 
Meaning: C’mon!
Difficulty: simple
Usage notes: a very versatile phrase, able to express every emotion under the sun.
Shout it in an angry tone to let off steam if you make a parallel error, or to your nemesis.

Grazie! (grahts-ee-aye)
Meaning: Thanks!
Difficulty: easy
Usage notes: For after pizza, pasta, and when you beat the person you started behind to the first control. Don’t forget to really roll that r.

Ocio! (oh-chyo)
Meaning: Watch out!
Difficulty: easy
Usage notes: from the local dialect of Trento. You will really sound like a native if you use this one!

Boh. (like boar but drawn out and without the r)
Meaning: Meh, I don’t know.
Difficulty: easy
Usage notes: Hand gestures required.

No questo! (no, quest – oh)
Meaning: No, this one!
Difficulty: easy
Usage notes: Easier than pointing

Perche? (pear-kay?)
Meaning: Why?????
Difficulty: harder – make sure to lift you voice like a question at the end.
Usage notes: If someone tries to talk to you in lightning Italian, repeat.

In bocca al lupo! (een boh-ka ahl loop-oh)
Meaning: Good luck!
Difficulty: Good luck!

Trentatre Trentini entrarano in Trento tutti trentatre trotterellando per Trento (boh)
Meaning: thirty-three trentinians entered in Trento, all thirty-three trotting through Trento
Difficulty: impossible
Usage notes: a local tongue-twister, an excellent warm up for all above.

By Callum