Students...NOT in class

The sad thing about breakfast this morning was that it was too cold outside to keep the balcony doors open!  However, I was able to pull the curtains back and get the benefit of the beautiful sun as it came over the buildings.  I ate and read my “Austen” book; I’m really enjoying her stories of travel and Jane Austen book clubs; makes me want to do something similar.  Once I finished eating, I curled up on the “couch” and read for a little bit, enjoying the sun beaming down on me and warming me back up.  The worst part of reading this morning was that she talked about spending Christmas alone, and how she vowed that the next Christmas she WOULD be home!!!  Hmm…

I got dressed, and due to the fact that my toes were still cold, I decided to wear my UGGS today; much to the dismay of Erin I am sure! ;)  I always think of her when I wear them because I know she thinks that they are UGGly…no matter how ugly, they keep my feet warm!  Since I did not have to be at work until 11, I decided to make a morning run to the grocery store for water (yes, you have to buy huge bottles of bottled water…2 L usually), and to my favorite fruit/veggie stand for a few things. 

At the store, there were so many water choices, and I figured that water was water, so I bought the ones on sale! It’s water…come on people.  The lady in front of me in line had forgotten to get a price sticker on her fruit (I’ll explain this one day when I actually attempt it and hopefully understand it), and so she had to run back to get one.  It didn’t bother me, as I was in no hurry at all, but the man behind me was highly annoyed.  He was only buying two little things of milk, but boy was he in a hurry!  So, to my surprise, there are some uptight Italians; and here I was thinking it was just us Americans! ;)  At the fruit and veggie stand I bought some more tomatoes, white zucchini, two peaches because they were on sale, and I ventured out and bought the fresh broccoli.  I say that it was venturing out because they were a bit scary looking; the guy had to cut off the stem and leaves around it!  Forgive my ignorance, but I’ve never seen them look that way in our stores and/or markets.  After the sweet man that has helped me every time gave me my ticket to pay, I approached the counter and saw the most BEAUTIFUL strawberries; they were smaller than ours, and much more than I would pay for them normally, but they were this BEAUTIFUL red and so they suckered me into buying them; a choice I did NOT regret!!  

With my fresh fruits/veggies and water in hand, I walked home to climb the stairs (my legs will be so muscular in no time) and finish getting ready to go to work.  I decided to eat a few of the strawberries…OH MY GOSH…they were so sweet that I did not need any kind of sweetener.  As I left the apartment, I had a missed call from a number I didn’t recognize.  Something told me this was someone from the school calling to tell me that I did not need to come to school, but not wanting to call a number back that I didn’t know, and potentially have no clue what someone was saying to me, I ignored it.  

I went to the tabacchi to buy my bus ticket(s) (yes, I remembered to buy the return trip this time), and the sweet man was speaking in rapid Italian to me.   I had NO CLUE what he was saying to me.  I finally got out of him that he was asking me if I wanted to take the bus to the centro storico (historical center).  I said no, that I was going to Castrolibero, and he began giving me directions to the correct bus; poor guy probably thought I didn’t understand him when I walked out of the door in the opposite direction than the one he suggested.  However, I was going to the bus stop I was familiar with, and was just down the sidewalk from his store.  Bless him for trying though!  The bus was coming as I walked out of the store and I had to run to make it stop for me; thankfully it did, and I was off to school.  

I was fortunate to get a seat again, and I picked up my phone to look at the time, only to see that I had a missed call from Virginia.  I called her back just as we were passing a road that led to the school and were headed into the hills of the bus route.  She said that the students were protesting/demonstrating today and that there was a lot of noise and students outside yelling.  She said that they were not in classes today, but rather occupying the outside and inside of the school.  She did not want me to be afraid of coming to school, but said I had a choice of coming or just going home.  She continued on to tell me that I wouldn’t have anything to do really, but it was up to me.  I explained that I was on the bus and almost to the school, but if there was nothing for me to do, then I supposed that I would just go back home.  About the time I was hanging up with her, I saw one of the English students get on the bus.  When I told her I’d go home she said that she thought that was best.  So, of course the day that I remembered to buy the return ticket, I wouldn’t need it; however, it can be used at another time!   As we drove through the hills (smaller “towns”/”villages”), I spotted the dance studio that one of the dancer girls from yesterday told me that she goes to.  At the stop for the school, a huge group of students got on the bus; one of them was in one of the English classes I attended on Monday!  They were so loud and the older women on the bus were clearly annoyed with the influx of student,s on what I am sure is typically a quiet and peaceful ride into Cosenza for them at this time of the morning.  As we drove past a church, the sweet older lady in front of me made the sign of the cross and kissed the cross around her neck.  When I’ve been in the car with Lilla, and we pass a church, especially if it is her church, she makes the sign of the cross as well.  Once again, excuse my ignorance, but is this a Roman Catholic thing?; Italian thing?; have I overlooked Americans doing this?!?!?!?  

Since I was already on the bus, I decided to ride it quite a few stops past mine, just to learn more about the bus system/routes.  I eventually got off and started exploring the street.  I walked to a park and took a few pictures. 

One of the very few green spots in Cosenza

I went into a different grocery store, walked around in a toy store (and wanted to buy a big puzzle to do, but I resisted), and glanced in shop windows.  I eventually came across this little stretch of stores that I had been wanting to look at, but I always seem to hit them when they are closed; they included a chocolate shop that Lilla had pointed out to me one day.  

I went in the chocolate store and fell in love, but here is why:

First, it looked old; exposed brick and such.  Second, it had a lot of the chocolates that I’d tried in Florence and loved.  Third, it had fun and creative Halloween stuff. Fourth, the back part was dedicated to all kinds of wines and liquors and stuff; there were bottles of wine that cost the equivalent of $200, but also had reasonable wines as well.  Fifth, the owner man was so sweet and even spoke some English.  Last, but certainly not least (most importantly actually), THEY SOLD MY TWININGS VANILLA TEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so so so excited to finally see this that I bought two boxes and plan to go back and buy more very soon.  I asked the lady if they always have this because you cannot find it in the United States; she said that they always had it!  Done, I’ll stock up and send it home with my momma in January!!  So, tea in hand, along with 3 chocolates (one with almond, one with hazelnut, and one a cappuccino flavor), I proceeded to buy my stuff…which was a strange system.  The lady wrote what I had in my hands down on a piece of paper and told me to take the paper to the man at the end of the loooong counter; the owner.  He added up the cost by hand, showed it to me, printed the receipt as I paid him, and left me with the handwritten total, receipt, and my wonderful tea/chocolates.  It was a unique and exciting simple pleasure.  I left there with a little bounce in my step; it’s the little things sometimes.  I immediately called my momma, for the second time today and told her of my exciting find!!  **The store had all kinds of wonderful looking Twinings teas that we do NOT have at home; I will be buying them and making an assorted box to send home along with my vanilla.  They also had this beautiful wooden tea box with like 10 different assorted Twinings teas; WANT!!**

When I arrived at home, stairs behind me, it was definitely time to eat lunch.  I’d eaten one of my chocolates as I walked home in the beautiful weather that today held; thank goodness!! The sun was shining and it was cool, but the sun definitely warmed your back as you walked away from it.  I had leftover veggies from last night and a ham sandwich for lunch (AND Vanilla tea). 

I once again sat down to read and relax some before I went to the hotel for internet; my plan to just use it at the school was once again thwarted.  **I knew that Massimo worked last night and would be there until this afternoon, so I tried to wait until I thought he might have left and/or would be leaving shortly after my arrival**  Anyway, my reading time was good; warm enough to open the balcony doors this time.  A few things I found interesting in my book: 1. The author said this, “Austen’s characters seek love and approval and struggle with pride and jealousy, as we all do.”  Such true words!  2. The author said of herself, “school is my element.  So yes, I am a nerd!”  I can relate! 3. She talks about how Mark Twain hated Austen; wanting her body dug up only to have her beaten with her own shin…or something to this effect. 

I also took this time to read out of the Italian language travel book.  I translated some words, but tried to get things from context.  I also read a page or so from Harry Potter in Italian.  I am trying to learn in my element and hope that the words become familiar and then I’ll begin to recognize them more in the spoken language!  I’m so desperate to understand what is being said to me, and to be able to answer in complete sentences. 

When I left the apartment for the hotel, I’d just made it to the first corner past my building when Ernesto, my landlord, called to me from across the street.  I ran over to meet him.  He asked if I was going to the hotel to use the internet and told me that the internet guy had failed to show up 3 different times; of course he has.  Anyway, he said that he was supposed to come on Friday.  So, I guess we shall see.  Notice that I am calm; mainly because I think I have straightened out the hotel situation by keeping my headphones in and appearing somewhat unapproachable, but still speaking and smiling in a friendly way!  That, and the fact that I am going to be in Rome for 5 days, so I am hoping that this is all worked out while I am gone and distracted/having fun/learning more about my next 8 months.  Then Ernesto told me that he was about to show the apartment to a girl and her mom; enter bad mood.  The wind was knocked out of me.  The whole way to the hotel I was praying about the roommate thing and it went a bit like this: 

“God, I do not want a roommate.  I like living alone and having my own space.  I like not having to deal with the stress and tension of having a roommate! I like not having to be responsible to anyone else for ANYTHING.  Forgive me for being selfish…it’s your will not mine, but this time could it be no roommate?!?!? However, maybe you have something I am supposed to learn by having a roommate.  Lord, I do not want to deal with a language barrier with a roommate, on top of regular roommate annoyances.  I will do what you want though. Forgive my selfishness.  But really Father, I am enjoying the situation as it is!!!” –and the same battle continues even now, hours after I received the news.  I later came to the conclusion that she may not take the room because she doesn’t want a roommate with a language barrier, and/or may not want to live with a roommate at all. **Late into the night, the thought crossed my mind that she may not want an American roommate; she and her mom may not know anymore of American "students" in Italy than the Amanda Knox story.  Not that I am anything like her, but I have learned in the 3 weeks here in Cosenza, that they rarely see Americans around "these parts!"  No seriously, many have never met an American!  So, it crossed my mind that the idea of an American roommate may freak her out!  Honestly, I am OKAY with that!!!

Internet time was good today!  Massimo was only there long enough to speak to me!  The whole putting my headphones in and listening to WDJC/talking on skype has its benefits; it now has MANY benefits!!!  The only bummer part of my time at the hotel was that my headache was getting worse (had a dull head ache all day) and my tummy was hating me for the two chocolates I’d eaten.  Luca called though and asked if I could meet him Sunday night at 9.  Thankfully he got on skype and we were able to type to each other, which meant that I got more clarification about Sunday night, and I could use google translate; I confessed to him that I was using it, and that it made me more confident in the language I did know because I could check it if I wanted.  It did enable me to use more of the language that I DO know, and I would check for clarification every once in a while…I also checked some of the things he said so that we would not be lost in translation this time! I told him that I did not want to go to a pub in Rende (where the university is…a short bus ride away) at 9 on Sunday night because I had work Monday (forgetting at the time that I didn’t).  Still, I do not want to go that late…I’d rather do dinner in Cosenza…he insisted that we would return by 11.  My plan is to change this to dinner in Cosenza anyway!  We agreed to trying to meet for a few minutes tomorrow afternoon when he gets off work (I still need clarification about what he does).  Most of the time I was talking to him I kept thinking, “how cheesy or over the top”.  April reminded me of a later episode of Sex & the City when she is dating Alexsander (sp?) Petrovsky (sp?) and she is having a hard time not thinking that his romantic gestures and passion and word choices were over the top or cheesy, but concludes that it is romance; something Americans are lacking and therefore women are not accustomed to.  April says to just go with it!  E.g. How can he miss me when he doesn’t know me?!?! Really friend?!?! However, he is so nice and patient with my language, and respectful, that I will give it a shot; I still plan to change the pub in Rende at 9 plan.  April said to just have my phone ready with a cab #...Lilla lives in Rende and would probably kick his butt (& could) if I needed her to!  April thinks that he is my Marcello…hmm…maybe Marcello is his middle name?!?!

Yay Cappuccino

So, I was able to talk to my momma; daddy never showed up on skype though…assuming he was with Mr. Freison! I was able to skype April for a few minutes, and then I was able to talk to Mrs. Malissa via skype phone!  I updated my blog, read all the debate comments on facebook, and played with flight times for my momma to come visit me!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!  (in January)  While I was sitting there Francesca (teacher) called and said that she had been waiting on me to show up at school today, but I never came.  I explained about being on the bus and Virginia calling and telling me that the students were “occupying/protesting”.  I explained that Virginia and I reached the conclusion that there was no need to come.  She said, “well, my students were in class!”  UGHH, I felt horrible.  I would never just NOT show up to work.  I apologized profusely and said that I was under the impression that the students were not in class.  She just said, “well, if Virginia said so!”  Then she moved on to other topics and promised to call me this weekend if there was something going on.  She was very nice about it, and seemed to understand that I didn’t just stay at home because I felt like it.  However, I still felt bad.  There is something odd about the relationships…I haven’t figured it out yet.  Virginia called not too long afterwards to talk about Rome.  She’s explained earlier that they emailed her about our 5 minute presentation regarding our agenda for the year, and she wanted to email me ideas, but her email wasn’t working (at this exact moment my computer stopped picking up internet all together and had to be restarted, hanging up skype on April and closing everything).  Ironically, Virginia’s phone ran out of credit and hung up on me as well.  When she called back, she said that she thought we should talk about how I will do Human Civilization.  Not fully following what was being said we agreed to talk later.  I am still so confused and I cannot wait to get to Rome and hopefully everyone will get some clarification. 

After a long time at the hotel I headed home.  Stomach still hating me and head still throbbing, I made my way home in the now crisp, cold early evening air.   I wanted a light dinner, and my momma suggested Tylenol and eggs.  When I got home, all I could think about was some light pasta.  I had a piece of my wheat bread with some olive oil while I cooked.  I made penne pasta, but made my own “sauce”!  I just cut up about 8 little tomatoes, put them in olive oil, sprinkled a tiny bit of salt on them, and cooked them in the skillet.  I put enough olive oil that it would cook the tomatoes, but also enough to let it drizzle over the pasta.  It was AH-MAZING…it was light, but flavorful. 

I then sat on the couch to read some more until it was time for Gilmore Girls, when I then came to my room to watch and write my blog.  While I was reading I picked up my phone to see that I had a missed call from Valeria (teacher from other school).  I called her back and she informed me that the students were occupying the school (explaining some loud noise I’d heard coming from the direction of the school while I was at the hotel earlier…school is across the street from the hotel).  She explained that they were harmless (just as Virginia had said), but it was up to me whether I came or not.  She did not want me to fear them, but some of their students were actually in class.  I told her that I would leave it up to her; what she thought was best.  She said that I should meet her at 10, instead of 9, and at the older part of the school.  She said that I could see some of the classes, but that it would not be like “normal”.  So, tomorrow I will meet her there at 10, which gives me an extra hour to walk around and explore or something; I’m not complaining. 

I stayed up TOO late making my “MY FAMILY” presentation to eventually use in Lilla’s class.