Un Pranzo della Domenica Italiana

So I have this issue that when I get really busy and I am continually doing things of substantial blogworthyness,  I stop blogging.  I always face the predicament of whether I should blog about my amazing day or if I need to catch up on back-blogging first.  Today was too wonderful to wait.  I'll have to tell you about Carnevale in Venezia, wine tasting in Chianti and my day in Siena another time.

On this Italian Sunday I had one of my few true Italian home culture experiences of the year.  After the service at church I made a point of introducing myself to a few English speaker who were sitting next to me.  They, in turn, introduced me to the pastor's wife (he is Italian, she is American) who introduced me to a group of Italians in their twenties.  After a while of feeling awkward, only being able to listen as they all conversed I told them that I had to leave.  They responded by asking me if I would like to go to lunch with them.  What were my plans for the day? Why not?  Isn't this what I have been wanting; to spend time with Italians?  "Eh...Si!"  With that, my day with my new friends commenced.

After debate on where to go to lunch (this restaurant, that restaurant, someone's house...) I wasn't really sure what the decision ended up being, but I was game for anything.  We divided people up into cars and it ended up that we were headed to someone's house.  Events of the day:
Lunch
Talking...talking...talking...
Coffee ("Qualcuno senza zucchero?" -"Io!" -"Wow!  Brava Carolina!")
Talking...
Cake/bread type dessert (Apparently it was someone's birthday?)
Talking...talking...talking...talking...If you thought going to someone's house for lunch meant, well...lunch, you were wrong.  It was about 4:30 by now and they were asking, "Who wants to play games? Who wants to watch a film?  Niccola is out, who wants him to bring back connoli?  Apparently at four hours into lunch the day was still young.  Good thing I didn't have plans today.
Next...cards and more talking and then Risiko (Risk, the board game) for a few of us. (Note: Playing games with Italians is very loud and lively and involves a lot of "Ehhh!!!'s"
7:00pm - Connoli arrive!  Buonissimo!  Man, a cookie filled with cream/ricotta cheese, if that is not amazing/fattening I don't know what is!
7:45 - Some people were leaving and were my only ride in sight for hours so I left with them.  I was loosing Risiko (like always) anyway.  Most people were staying and sad we were leaving.  Wasn't it about time 8 hours later?  Or was it dinner time now?  I don't really know.
Moral of the story, people are more important than any plans you might have and apparently Sunday lunch is an ALL day event!  I had a great time though and loved every Italian minute of it!