braindoc
100+ Posts
We have a bit of an unusual situation.
About 8 years ago in Bologna at all’osteria Bottega we started speaking to a group of locals. We’ve stayed in touch with one of them, a recently retired surgeon/professor from the University. At subsequent visits, we’ve gotten together with him. Without fail, no matter what I’ve tried he always picks up the tab. His explanation: when you are visiting my country, you are the guests.
We will be in October for 4 nights in October. My wife and I hope to return to Hosteria Giusti in Modena. (We are waiting to hear about reservations.) I sent a message to our friend inviting him to be our guest for pranzo there. His response once again: grazie per l’invito ma in Italia gli invitati siete voi (thanks for the invitation but in Italy you are the guests). He went on to say we will definitely be getting together.
Does anyone have some insight into this? Is this typical? Certainly, we would host him if he ever visits here but we know that he is not as likely to come to the USA as often as we visit Italy. Any suggestions of how to handle this? Accept it and move on?? Obviously we do not want to make a “brutta figura.”
Thanks.
About 8 years ago in Bologna at all’osteria Bottega we started speaking to a group of locals. We’ve stayed in touch with one of them, a recently retired surgeon/professor from the University. At subsequent visits, we’ve gotten together with him. Without fail, no matter what I’ve tried he always picks up the tab. His explanation: when you are visiting my country, you are the guests.
We will be in October for 4 nights in October. My wife and I hope to return to Hosteria Giusti in Modena. (We are waiting to hear about reservations.) I sent a message to our friend inviting him to be our guest for pranzo there. His response once again: grazie per l’invito ma in Italia gli invitati siete voi (thanks for the invitation but in Italy you are the guests). He went on to say we will definitely be getting together.
Does anyone have some insight into this? Is this typical? Certainly, we would host him if he ever visits here but we know that he is not as likely to come to the USA as often as we visit Italy. Any suggestions of how to handle this? Accept it and move on?? Obviously we do not want to make a “brutta figura.”
Thanks.