The Marx Brothers once sang, "Everyone says I love you", but in Geneva we are singing to a different tune. In Geneva, everyone says "Ciao".I don't know if this is a really Geneva thing (and of course obviously an Italian thing) to say Ciao in place of good-bye, or a larger European phenomenon, but everyone here says "Ciao!".
For instance, I was in the tram a few nights ago, and there was a big Russian guy screaming loudly at whoever he had on his mobile. The whole conversation sounded pretty ugly and confrontational (or maybe that's just Russian) but then he rings off saying "Ciao!".
Exhibit number 2. Again I was on the tram (no other place in the world quite like it for overhearing mobile phone conversations) and there was a young Portuguese guy (the Portuguese language always throws me for a loop - every time I hear it, for about the first five seconds I think that I am hearing Albanian), so he was yammering and how does he end the conversation? Why of course: "Ciao!".
That's Geneva for you. With a Ciao Ciao here and a Ciao Ciao there! Here a Ciao there a Ciao! Everywhere a Ciao Ciao ....
Okay. This is getting weird. Better quit while I am ahead.
Ciao!
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1 comment:
i'm with you...i love being able to say ciao all the time without sounding like I'm trying to do some pseudo-euro affectation thing. ciao!
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