OATMEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This morning started out slow because I was still tired from getting so little sleep the night before.  I had breakfast, got dressed, and was FREEZING…like purple hands and all!  I was excited that Lilla was coming to pick me up because 1. It is so sweet of her and 2. It saved me the bus money!  We arrived and school after a quick drive.  My momma called me right as I was getting out of the car to tell me that the package that her amazing friend Barbara had sent me was going to be delivered today; they tried yesterday, but I was not home and they only  try 3 times (DHL).  She also told me that they booked their flights!!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO…..in 64 days my momma will be in Italy!!! Holy crap…she’ll be in Italy…like the same country as me…like she hasn’t been abroad in a long time and I know she has always wanted to…and now she can!! How amazing is that?!?!?  I mean…it is just amazing! 

So, first thing I tried to do at school was check my email about when the package might be delievered….internet at the school didn’t work.  Let me just say, there have been many adjustments I’ve had to make and I do not feel that I have suffered from any MAJOR culture shock, but the internet thing is driving me crazy!  I know us Americans are probably uber addicted to the internet and all that it gives us, but I mean really guys…sometimes you need to be connected…it is part of the world we live in!  So, that is hard to deal with! 

So, first up was Lilla’s class.  The students mostly came at the time that they prefer, instead of when the bell rings.  This is completely tolerated.  Shocking, I know.  So, Lilla briefly introduced me and then we headed to the language lab.  We had some technical difficulties for a few minutes, so Lilla allowed me to take that time to do a question and answer with the students.  Only a few were actually paying attention, while the rest were laughing and playing in the back of the room.  When we finally got started, I had them all move up front so that they were not playing on the computers.  I did the same Halloween thing I did yesterday with Virginia’s class.  This class was somewhat interactive, but they did not seem to understand me as well.  Lilla kept saying that they were shy, so I finally stopped and explained to them that I am struggling with the same thing they are!  I explained that I am struggling with my Italian, and I am super nervous to speak it to actual Italians.  They seemed to smile at this.  I told them that we have 8 more months together and that I want this to be fun, but they have to participate.  I told them that this was new for me as well, but I wanted us to work together to make it fun, interesting, and hopefully we can all learn something!! 

They seemed a bit more receptive after this, and so I asked them about things they might be interested in discussing.  Lilla kept saying they wanted to talk about bullying, and they eventually spoke up and said that they wanted to know about football, baseball, basketball, the differences between life in Italy and the US, and about our traditions.  These were the topics that they chose and so I will be sure to cover them all!  I was especially excited about the football idea; glad they said it so that I REALLY had an excuse to do it!! We will probably do it the last week in November (appropriate…after we’ve most likely wiped the field with Auburn!).  I also asked them to bring pictures of their families and homes next Tuesday so that they could share with me, as I am sharing with them!!  After Lilla took back over, they got a bit louder, and definitely ruder.  It is so hard for me to watch!  I am also a bit bothered by the teachers who use the word stupid when they refer to their students.  In some ways I feel like it is lack of vocabulary, but sometimes not.  I am not really sure, but what I do know is that a teacher once called me stupid, and I still remember the circumstances, how I felt, and will never forget that she did that; it made me feel terrible in the moment!  Thus, I have a really hard time with this!  There was still no internet, or otherwise I was going to show them a Halloween youtube clip. 

When class was over, I went to the bar and got a hot cup of tea.  They let me take the glass cup and plate to the teacher’s room; the glass top to the cup later fell to the ground and broke!  The students cheered (they were in the hallway for break at that point).  I sat down during my two hour break and wrote out ideas of what we could do for some of the topics the students chose.  I am open to any suggestions from my readers.  I am looking for things to do that require interaction with teens from 14-19 years of age regarding football (though I have some ideas here, I am still open), basketball, baseball, our traditions, state of Alabama, The South, etc.  I decided (& discussed with Lilla & Virginia) that this will be my month of Nov. (plus, the one I just added of football at the end of the month):

1.      Week of 5^th will be State of Alabama/my home/Family

a.       Use maps I brought

b.      State symbols/flag/stuff like that…for vocabulary words

c.       Important people from Alabama

d.      Sweet Home Alabama clips (song/movie)

e.       Pictures of my house/Bham/Tuscaloosa/UA

f.       They are bringing pics of their families

g.      Talk about my family

h.      Talk about types of American families (yay my Master’s is useful…just kidding….it is always useful!!!)

i.        Mention football

j.        I NEED SOME INTERACTIVE IDEAS OTHER THAN SHARING PICTURES

2.      Week of 12^th will be about the election/American & Italian politics

a.       Discuss who won the election

b.      Discuss their thoughts about it

c.       Avoid my thoughts

d.      Election process

e.       Show campaign ads

f.       Show campaign posters

g.      Offer them opportunity to make their own ad OR poster (video camera OR draw) for a mock election (maybe explain how we have student body president or something and have them pretend like someone in their group is running..somethign like this)

h.      Italian politics- have them give their thoughts; weigh in on what is happening in their country; how it affects them. 

3.      Week of 19^th will be Thanksgiving

a.       History

b.      Food/symbols of Thanksgiving/Meaning

c.       Traditions surrounding Thanksgiving

d.      Try to make each class some sort of Thanksgiving treat

e.       Maybe have them bring something and we can have a small “feast”

f.       Have a few ideas from a book

g.      Have them make a list of things they are thankful for (good vocab exercise)

4.      Week of 26^th will now be Football Americano

a.       Too many ideas to type here…I need like 3 weeks just for football

**I AM OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS/CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM/ADVICE These are all just preliminary ideas, but I need some input!!! Email me, facebook me, comment here, etc. 

Of course all of these lessons will include times for them asking questions or me asking them questions, as well as opportunities to share their own experiences or similar celebrations, etc. 

Virginia came in while I was sitting there talking to one of the teachers (in Italian mind you…though Lilla was translating a little bit).  They all started talking, so I went back to reading my book, La Bella Lingua (the book about a lady who loves and studies the Italian language…I am learning so much about culture, vocabulary, and just random Italian/Italian language knowledge..Ill do a blog about it one day).  Virginia came over to kiss and hug me and look at my book.  She read some of it outloud and said she wanted the book.  I told her I bought it here in Cosenza and she wants one!  She seemed so excited that I was reading it!!  We all started talking, half in Italian, half in English.  Virginia asked me about Nick coming and Lilla insisted that she will pick him up from the train station!  Southern Italians are so warm and welcoming.  We all went on talking, and Virginia warned me about the fact that she saw me exchanging information with Marcello (gym teacher) yesterday about his son.  She said that she knew Marcello and he is a wonderful man, but does not know his son.  She just wanted me to know this and be aware.  She is so sweet and motherly…I actually really like her thoughtfulness and she seems to think she is smothering me, but  I try to tell her that I do NOT feel that way about it! 

The 3 women then switched to dialect and Virginia reassured me that the reason I could not understand what they were saying was because they had indeed switched to dialect.  I got excited and asked what the dialect word for andiamo (we go) is because Nick told us that it is gimo (I hope I spelled that right) in Gubbian dialect.  It is iamo, in what I think they referred to as Calabrian Dialect. 

After this, I ran off to the “other” school to meet up with Francesca.  She sent me upstairs to the lab while she had a conversation with the students.  I met two ladies upstairs who started speaking Italian with me, and I was able to hang in there for a minute.  I took this extra time to call Nick and ensure him that he had a ride from the train station.  Then the students came in.  Many of these students do not seem to want to be there, which makes me sad!  One student just slammed the door and left class, one rolled her eyes about 90% of the time, and only a few would even talk to me.  The door slamming and eye rolling was not to me…I want to find some way to make them feel like what they are there learning is important…some way to make it interesting for them so they at least feel motivated to participate when I am there, and maybe that will affect the way they feel towards the class in general.  I know this is a lot to want, but I just want it.  Perhaps because we are all in new schools, part of the challenge is getting the students to care about the fact that we are there, and then we care about the fact that they are there and need to learn.  Perhaps I need to start all of my classes next week by trying to put them at ease with the situation and explaining a bit more of my purpose and excitement for being there…maybe my attitude/excitement will be contagious!?!?!

Lilla was waiting to take me home, and I thought that was so sweet of her!   I asked her about laundry detergent, so I will try that tomorrow…need to wash clothes.  I ate lunch (left over noodles and veggies from last night), talked to my momma about how Barbara’s package was going to be delievered today (they attempted to deliver yesterday about 10 minutes before I was home…they only deliver 3 times and then we don’t know what happens if you aren’t home.).  I made some hot tea to try and get warm (fingers were purple and aching), and I think I figured out how to turn the water temp up so that I am not FREEZING in the shower…now if I can get the heat turned on! 

My momma called me back to tell me that they had attempted delivery again today at like 12:30…then she saw where someone had signed for me!  She spelled the name and I hung up to run downstairs to see whose apartment it was.  It was just the couple one floor down; the woman whom I met the first day I moved in and then later met her daughter (lawyer).  I knocked on the door a few times, but then found the bell.  A man came to the door and I suddenly realized I had NO CLUE how to say what I needed to say…I started using hand gestures and he finally said, “Elisa?? I have your package!!”  I immediately started thanking him and I was so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so excited!  When he handed it to me, I thanked him like 5 times and then ran up the stairs to unpack it!  I put it on the kitchen table, ran to get scissors, and when I opened it…it was the most BEAUTIFUL thing…TWO HUGE, GALLON SIZE BAGS OF QUAKER OATMEAL!!!! I was squealing, and jumping up and down, and desperately waiting on my momma to call me back! I HAVE OATMEAL…and some yummy protein bars…and some gum!!!  OH MY GOSH I HAVE OATMEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so freakin’ excited I could not even stand myself….what????? Real breakfast??? Whatever shall I do with myself!?!?!?

So, with renewed energy, I packed up my stuff and headed out the door! Nick called as I was leaving, so I talked to him most of the way to the TIM store, where I was headed to get the plan we looked at in Rome.  Once in the TIM store, I was pretty proud of my patience with myself, and the guy was helpful (same guy that has helped me every time, but I don’t think he remembers me…I would think he would remember the struggling American girl…but oh well).  We got it all worked out, and I understood and he understood.  So, I have: 1 GB internet (after I use it…the internet just slows down…no extra charge though); 200 minutes to talk to Italy people; 1000 text messages for Italy people.  Incoming America calls are free, as are incoming American text messages (note that they cost YOU if you text or call me!).  Outgoing American calls cost 16 cents for connecting and 20 cents a minute.  Outgoing American text messages are 30 cents.   Now, I have it written out, and you all have it…should you choose to want to text or call me, it will cost you…not me…just sayin’.  I left there feeling good about accomplishing this…ALONE…though I could not have done it without Nick’s prior knowledge, and our trip to the TIM store in Rome. 

Internet time was good:  talked to April on facebook for a few minutes; sent an email to my long lost love; Erin to make sure she is okay in the path of the storm; was able to talk to Ms. Hudson, which was a nice surprise- to hear I miss and love you is so sweet and comforting- thank you to ALL of my friends who have been telling me this and know that I love and miss you too, even if I cannot talk to you as often!!!!!!; talked to Nick on facebook about food, my thesis research, annoying Italian internet, our love for pesto, bbq in Bama/grits/he’s never had okra…what??, coffee,etc. etc. etc.; and TRIED to update my blog…Rome is a LONG one and the pictures are slow to load!  This old computer gets overwhelmed quite easily!  I cannot wait for my new one to arrive!!  After about 3 hours of randomness and frustration, I gave up and came home to eat. 

I had a Uniquely American dinner…well, with a little Italian something.  I had scrambled eggs, with a small bit of ham, and some cheese, and then…wait for it…waaaaaaaiiiiitttt for it…OATMEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Italian flare was the nutella I had to use to sweeten the oatmeal because I did not have anything else.  OATMEAL…OATMEAL…OATMEAL…

I talked to Lila about the heat…but I still do not think it is working…she said Ernesto is out of town so she will have to bring a technician to hook up the internet, which she thought I had already done!  So, freezing cold and tired…my day ended, and I am excited about the rest of the week!