Francesca has been at the Fiera di Milano, where she met her future colleagues at DSI, London: Paul and Alex.  Also she had a surprise last week, when they told her that she was going to meet Alison Delaney, the Chief Executive and founder of the company!  So how did her first encounter with Alison go...?

Alex: Paul, do you think that Francesca will be OK with Alison?

Paul: Oh yes!  You know what Alison is like, she’ll be fine.. here she comes know lets ask her,  (to Francesca)  Hello again, well, how did it go?

Francesca: (thinks in Italian) Well it was OK I think...

Alex: Really?  What did you think of Alison, did she ask you any difficult questions?

Francesca: (thinks in Italian) Er, no I suppose...Allora, she talked the most actually!!  I did not have to answer anything!

FLASHBACK

Alison:  Ok, Francesca, isn’t it? 

Francesca:(nervously) Yes that’s right!

Alison:  Well I just want to let you know that we are really looking forward to having you on board at Delaney Systems, you know that I set up this business myself twenty years ago and I am really proud of it so I always like to meet the new people and kind of get to know them, you know...

Francesca.: (thinks in Italian) Er, well....

Alison: Yes, this business has really grown, you know, of course when I started there was a lot less competition and it was totally different, I mean I remember when computers were just the next big thing and everyone was talking about how the world was going to change overnight, I guess it has completely changed really.  I mean no-one could have imagined just how the Internet would become such a part of everybody’s life now really, could they?

Francesca: (thinks in Italian)  Well, Er.. I think..

Alison: You know this is THE best business to be in today, because it’s a market that is infinite, I mean it just keeps expanding, I would never have believed that I would be where I am today, it’s totally crazy!  the world is always changing, I guess, and now it changes so fast, even things from the 1990s seem out of date and we just have to keep up with all the new developments in technology... don’t you agree?

Francesca:  (thinks in Italian) Hmm, yes!

Alison:  Have you worked with computers before, Francesca?

Francesca: (thinks in Italian)  Well...

Alison: (interrupting)  I’m sure that you know so much about them, anyway.  All young people today do.  It’s amazing what we ‘oldies’ can learn from you, you know!  Anyway it was really nice to meet you, when will you be coming to the London office?

Francesca: (thinks in Italian)  I will go next week.

Alison:  (A bit uncertainly) Ah!  OK then, I hope to see you in the future, hey, and have a great time, London is a great city!

Francesca: Thank you!  (thinks in Italian)

END OF FLASHBACK...

Francesca: ( explaining to Paul and Alex)  And so that was the only question that she asked!!  And I think I have made a mistake!

Paul: No, well I mean in English you would normally say ‘I’m going to’ but it’s not such a big mistake really, don’t worry about it!

Francesca: (thinks in Italian) So when do you use ‘will’?

Paul:  Er... I don’t know really, well, I suppose that we use ‘going to’ more for plans and will... well for

Francesca: For probable things? (thinks in Italian)

Paul:  Er yes I think so!  Alex, that’s right isn’t it?

Alex (laughing) Yes, I suppose so, ‘going to’ is for things that are in the near future I think... anyway listen, Francesca, don’t worry about Alison, she is always like that; we say that a person like her ‘really likes the sound of her own voice!’ – you just have to learn to interrupt her …….

Paul: Yes that’s true!  Anyway Francesca,  look I’m going to have to go, if you want to stay and look around then that’s OK

Alex: Don’t worry Paul, I’ll look after Francesca

Paul:  Great thanks and Alex has all your details and tickets for your trip to London,  you arrive early in the evening and we will send a taxi to meet you and take you to the place where you are staying. Ok? 

Francesca:  (thinks in Italian) Yes ok, I will see you in London!

Paul: Yes see you then, I’m looking forward to it, Bye, Bye... See you later, Alex!

Alex:  See you , Paul.

Francesca:  (thinks in Italian) Is ‘see you’ a normal way to say ‘Goodbye’, Alex?

Alex:  Yes, I guess so, we do say it quite a lot... it’s something you would probably use between friends..

Francesca:  (thinks in Italian)  And with Alison?

Alex: (laughing) Well if you get a chance to speak! 

Francesca:  (laughing too) Yes! (thinks in Italian) How can you say , I mean how can you interrupt without being rude?

Alex:  Er, well normally you can say something like, ‘Excuse me’ or something, but with Alison, ... (pauses) It’s more difficult!

 (They both laugh)

Alex:  Now, Francesca let’s talk about next week, I have got all the stuff for your trip to London next week.

Francesca:  (thinks in Italian) Err.... Alex what is ‘stuff’?

Alex: Well it just means ‘things in general’, I suppose.

Anyway here you go, tickets for the flight from Milan Malpensa to London Heathrow and then we will send a taxi for you the driver  will have your name and will be waiting in the arrivals hall, they will know where you are going, but here is the address of the lady you will be staying with... her name is Dorothy and she is actually Paul’s aunt!  She’s lovely!

Francesca:  (thinks in Italian)  Yes!  I have to go now, thank you so much for today,  I’ll ‘see you’ next week then!

Alex:  Yes, see you next week, Francesca, nice to have met you!

Francesca: (thinks in Italian)  Well, my first test of English is over... now I have got the trip next week, aeroplanes, taxis and this Aunt Dorothy!  Oh well, at the end of it all I shall be fluent I hope!