Today has been a pretty good day!! I had that same weird breakfast (the "cookie things" and the jam). I had to take a shower this morning because I was just too lazy to take it last night...so that slowed my morning down. Plus, it has been so cold that I felt like I HAD to dry my hair, which was okay because I wore my blue hat that I love so much; which I feel like I need dry/straighter hair for it! :) Matilde came again this morning, but I didn't see anyone before I left.
When I left it was SOOOO coooooooollllld!!!! I also realized halfway to school that I had forgotten my water...AGAIN!!! However, I did stop and get some hot tea! It was okay tea, but the temperature was PERFECT...I definitely needed that warmth while I was walking!!! So that was nice to have on my way to school!!! When I got to school I didn't have time to get on the computer or anything...I just went straight to the classroom. Thankfully Maria was not there yet so I had time to finish my homework!! :)
Maria came in, but then left and didn't come back until about 10 after 9, so I had plenty of time to do as much of the homework that I knew how to do. So yay for that! Also, I remembered that Fiona would not be there until later, but that Elmo guy wasn't there yet either. So Maria was very sweet and she came and sat down next to me and we went over the story I had to write for her this weekend. I had written about living in New York and dancing at Radio City! She was so cute...she had NO CLUE what Radio City was and what the Rockettes were! I suppose that this is not too surprising because there are people in the United States who dont know of the Rockettes...I mean come on guys...how could you NOT!?!?!? :) Anyway, it was fun to actually be able to carry on a conversation with her. She had to help me with a few words, but it was really good! She was very sweet and encouraging. I was able to tell her about my New York family and she was SO excited that they were Italian! She had me explain what I did, and where they lived, and did they all live together or separately! :) It made me miss my New York family!!! :( However, it was a GREAT first 40 minutes or so of class...really encouraging and lifted my spirits! :)
Then Elmo got there and we did some practice sentences again and went over some other small stuff! It was good, and I did really well with them! Then, just as we were going to break Fiona showed up! For break I went and got a peach juice because I was thirsty and didn't want water! Then I washed my apple I brought from the apartment and went and sat in the classroom to talk to Fiona! Her and Natalie had been on a trip with the British Institute and they had a good time! So when we finally got class started back, we went over some stuff for Fiona and then did MORE practice sentences. Right after we got started, Rebecca, who is one of the other teachers, came in and was whispering to Maria about something. Maria finished putting our sentences on the board and then went out into the hallway for like 10 or so minutes. Fiona and I finished our sentences and then started talking. We were wondering what the heck they were so excited about (the past two days have been like that...everyone seems fired up about something and in weird moods...). Then, I was telling Fiona that it was strange to me for teachers to interrupt class because I felt like that rarely happened at home and the one time I remember it happening was on September 11th when Mrs. Garrison came in to tell Coach Holley that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City. Now, clearly they were not discussing anything of this nature...it was just the memory that it triggered! So she told me that she was at boarding school when it happened and that someone ran into the room screaming and telling them that planes had hit a building in New York City! It was strange to me to be discussing September 11th when someone who isn't American and wasn't even in the country! It was weird to hear how it impacted her on that day! I explained that we watched news most of the day, but not all, etc. etc. It was just so bizarre to be having this conversation with her! Anyway, also while Maria was out, Fiona asked me if I wanted to go to lunch! I told her that I absolutely did and asked her where? She said just the restaurant (voucher place) and I realized I had forgotten to bring one with me! She had plenty and so I was excited to once again be having lunch with someone!
The rest of class went by smoothly...I did the sentences correctly :) well...I think I had two small mistakes...but nothing major! After we talked about the clothing stuff again, it was time to go! Oh, we also discussed vintage vs. 2nd hand clothing in the UK and America. It has been amazing to me to find out the similarities between the UK and America...and how different we both are from Italy! So weird... but interesting! Then it was time for Marco's class...he discussed politics and stuff! I followed some of it...especially at the end...but it was boring otherwise! :(
Fiona invited Tamsin to lunch, so it was the three of us! :) Yay!! P.S. the classroom we were in was FREEZING so none of us were looking forward to going outside where it could potentially be even colder! :( However, it is thankfully a short walk to the restaurant. However, when we got there, we had to wait...this was abnormal...first time ever! THe only bad thing about waiting was that we were standing near the door that kept opening and OH MAN was it cold every time that door opened!!! :( However, once we got further into the restaurant and to our table it was nice and cozy and warm! :) It was a tight squeeze in the restaurant today!! However, we had a good time! I ordered the fried eggs & side and they both got two courses. The waiter (my same friend) was disappointed that I only ordered one course, but he'll just have to deal with it! ;)
My food was REALLY good! THe weird thing though was that when my fried eggs came...the yolk was ORANGE!!! I made a comment to Fiona and Tamsin about it, but they said that was normal. Tamsin said that they have the rainbow of colors in Australia and that orange ones are supposed to have more flavor! Well, I dont know about "more" flavor, but they were really good! The side were these cut up potatoes with seasoning...AMAZING!!! I also had a little piece of bread with the olive oil...very good! :) Unfortunately, I could not stay any longer than it took me to eat my food and them to eat their first course because I had about 7 minutes to get back to the school for my private lesson.
When i got back to the building for class, I couldn't get in. Nobody was answering the bell and I was getting really frustrated. So, I rang the buzzer thingy for the floor below us (I recognized the name) and I told the lady that I was from CLIDA and that no one was answering...she was SOOOO rude...she said, "you from school?" "Yes I am!" "You on next floor ring them, NOT us." Wellll ooooooooooooookaaaaayyy then...let's be mean about it!! Thankfully, after standing out in the cold for a good 5 minutes, a man came up with a key and let me in!! At this point it was 2 o'clock ON THE DOT...I felt so bad! When I got upstairs, Cristina said that she had been trying to let me in, but the room where the button is was locked and no one was there to help. So, I ran to the bathroom and then we got started. We just did more review of the stuff from class and had a little bit of conversation. The review was good and I did really well with it. We ended 15 minutes early and are just going to tack it on to Monday's lesson once we have started something new in class. So, i left there feeling pretty good about things...I should do well on the "test" tomorrow and therefore, will not really be "studying" tonight...I'll look over a few things, but I feel like I have done review for it until I am blue in the face. Did any of you think you'd see the day that I didn't "over study" for something?!?!? Well, that day has come... :)
So my plan for after school was to go to the Ponte Vecchio and take some pictures of the fancy side because I haven't been able to do that with my nice camera yet!! However, on my way there....i got distracted...H&M called my name and I answered...mistake #1. I tried on some things, but ended up hating my arms and hating everything I tried on...Therefore, will NOT be buying anymore clothes while I am here! I will find my shoes and be done! Also, I spent waaaaayyy too much time in H&M. After that, I walked to the Ponte Vecchio...the sun wasn't still on it as I'd hoped for, but the pictures are still good! :) As I was going back to the bridge, I went in another stationary type store (I AM OBSESSED WITH THEM HERE IN ITALY!!!...If I were rich I would spend all of my Italian money there...and buying some clothes). I bought two small things there (can't say what or for whom), and then from the other side of the bridge, you could see a beautiful sunset...so i took pictures there. Then I had these really nice ladies take my picture with the sunset behind me! I was really excited about this! :) **though I wish the one with the actual sunset behind me looked better...but here is my fave of the three**
So after i took some pictures (and crossed this off of my to-do list)...I started walking home. I stopped in a few stores along the way, just to look. I figure if I am curious I need to stop and look because I dont have much longer to do so! I stopped in ANOTHER stationary type store, but it had other things too...among them these dishes that are handmade in Florence. My favorite were the salad servers with the ceramic handles (painted with either a "Tuscan scene" or sunflowers). I resisted them though because I dont know what I might see in Sienna or what I might want from Chianti (duh...wine!). So, it was a nice walk home!! However, that one house, behind the wall/fence thing...that smells so bad...smelled HORRIBLE today! :( Yuck!! In fact, I have decided that there is a foul odor from practically every two or three stores/buildings as you walk...yuck...what's up with that?!?!? The weather was much nicer on the way home though...didn't even need my gloves!
When i got home I just started working on blogs, etc. etc. I talked to April for a little bit on facebook because it is HER BIRTHDAY!!!! :) She was born on a GREAT day...I mean the 16th is the BEST day to be born on! DUH!!! **my birthday is 2 months from today! Which is SO weird!!**Anyway, so we actually had dinner earlier tonight (which was GREAT for me). I was the only one that really ate though because they had been eating all day long (they both stayed at home with Matilde today...but Guenda has work tomorrow). So I had a few of the gnocchi from last night (I have now seen the microwave and therefore desperately want some oatmeal!), then I had some mixed veggies (VERY good) and these two little meat patties that I THINK were beef (and when I say little they were like the size of an oreo...in diameter and thickness). It was a great dinner! They insisted that I eat a tangerine, which was fine..good vitamin C!. For as much as I am tired of eating ALL of the food...I do suppose I get all of my food groups (though I could use less carbs/breads!!!!). I mean today I had: an apple and the tangerine (so there's my fruit), two eggs (protein), potatoes and then mixed veggies (obviously the vegetables), a little bit of bread with lunch, so I need some dairy! I guess the little bit of cheese on the gnocchi?!??! Come to think of it, the only real dairy I've had has been cheese...how do they not all have osteoporosis?!?!?
After dinner I sat and tried to talk for a while, but then we all dispersed and I came to my room to write. I was able to talk to Kelly for a minute about something important and now I MUST do it...I have so much to do!!! I need to work on Rome (as I am have only made it as far as lunch on the first day)! And OH YEAH...I need to sleep!!! :( psshh sleep is for the weak...so I must be the weak!!!
**Side note: I have a prayer request. In advance...thank you to all of those who have been praying for me/with me for this trip. This is a "big one" though. Saturday is the WORST day of the entire year (whereas it used to be the best), and I was anticipating not having to spend it alone, but it looks as though I may have to. This is NOT at all how wanted it to be, but I am trying to accept that it may just be this way. Perhaps this is part of the plan!?!? It would have been 10 years...HOLY COW!! That's a long time...and I'm okay that it didnt reach that mark, but I just dont want to be alone! Never fear, alone or NOT, I am going to Sienna. I wont let this sadness defeat me...if it didn't defeat me at the lowest point then it wont defeat me now! So I guess my prayer request is that I can find clarity and peace with whatever happens on Saturday!**
Okay, so now I am going to go write about Rome for about 25ish minutes and then GO TO SLEEP!!!!
Final thoughts:
1. Today at lunch we talked about Jane Austen. Fiona and Tamsin both LOVE Jane Austen! Fiona said that you can't really be from that area and NOT love her! Tamsin said that most people she knows, they ALL love Jane Austen! I wish this were true in the U.S. (Erin, I'm talking to you!! ;) ... ). Anyway, I was excited that they love her. Fiona said that her parents have a relationship much like Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. That was a funny thought...I'd love to observe them!!
2. The other day (Tuesday) when Fiona and I were at the Bar, she asked me how the weather had been in Rome...was it warmer, etc. I told her, "Yes, it was like 68 degrees...so it was really warm!" She stared at me blankly and said, "I dont understand that!" It took me a second to realize that she didn't understand because she deals with Celsius...and I couldn't translate...so I finally just said, "Yes...the weather was great and it was warm...warm enough that I didn't need my coat during the day!" This was so bizarre to me...I mean I guess we are the only ones who dont use the Celsius measurement!
No comments:
Post a Comment