I started with Patrizia's class, and it went REALLY well. I started class by writing "What is your favorite family tradition or vacation? Who is there? Where do you go? What do you do? When do you do it?" on the board. I told them that everyone had to answer and participate. It took a little persuasion, but they came around. I learned about card games they play, a Christmas game that they are going to teach me called tombola, and more. A lot of them go to Crotone for the summer holidays, and they told me about some other places to go. One boy goes to Lucca for Christmas because that is where his mom was born and his grandparents live there...JEALOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lucca still holds a special place in my heart!! I also learned that in one card game, called briscola, when you get lucky, the word actually means "big ass". They got a kick out of telling me this. A lot of them participated, and next time I will ask more of them. They were so respectful of each other, and so I stopped class to tell them that. I had Patrizia translate so that I was SURE that they understood. I told them how grateful I was that they respected me, their teacher, and each other, and that I was glad they listened to each other and participated. It made me so happy, and I truly am so grateful for that! So, while this class may have a lower level of English, I am enjoying them, and I think it is going to be fun! I think that they are relaxing a little bit with me, and I am so happy about that!
Next I had a one hour break, so I was headed back to the post office. Today I was armed with my lease agreement (written in Italian, signed by Ernesto and I, and had addresses, etc on it), my permesso di soggiorno, two receipts for payment of rent, and another official piece of paper with our names on it. So, I was feeling confident that they would give me my package. I first stopped at TIM to renew my cell phone plan, and this went well!! Yay!! Then I was headed to the post office. I got there right at 9:30, and so I was pushing it with time as it was, but to compound things, they were not open just yet and there were like 4 or 5 people in front of me. However, they opened after some Italians beat their fists on the doors...haha...Nick called me while he was walking to work, so I stood in line and talked to him. I am pretty sure the Italians thought I was crazy! I saw my best post office friend (note the sarcasm), and I was so hoping she would help me and that I would be right. So, when she saw me, she rolled her eyes and walked off to get something. When she came back I explained that today I had documentation that Ernesto is my landlord. So, she read the lease agreement, and said no. I told her I had other documentation and she said that my name was not on the packages. What she meant was that my name was not on the slip of paper. I explained that MY name was on the packages, but she refused and said no. I tried again to say that MY name is on the actual package...she said, "what is your name?" Okay then, your name is not on this paper. Then she wrote down that I needed a photocopy of something with Ernesto's name on it. I was so pissed. So, as I turned to leave, this lady behind me stopped me and asked me in English what I was trying to do. I told her that the slip had my landlords name on it, but the packages are mine. I showed her what I had (documentation). I could tell she thought I was right, and then the guy that had been behind me started lobbying for me to get my package (to the mean post office lady). However, instead she started talking about me to all of them saying that I had come yesterday and she told me not to come back without documentation. HELLO...THAT'S WHAT I DID!!!!!!!!!!!!! I stood there for like 2 minutes while she talked about me to all of the people. This lady needs Jesus...and to get off of her power trip! I left there so annoyed, but at least proud of myself for trying to handle it without running to an Italian for help.
I saw Patrizia in the bar near school on my way back and she was shocked that I was without my packages. I had been on the phone with Nick on my way back and he agreed that the Italians do not have it together on a lot of bureaucracy things, but this one, they are perfectly organized AGAINST me!
So, next up was Linda's class. Today they were supposed to be teaching me about their villages and such. I was REALLY excited. We did not get to the lab until later, but the first 20 minutes in the room is always fun with them. This group has a lot of girls that like to gather around me and talk. A few of the boys always show me their phones and stuff too! I really do enjoy getting to know them and it melts my heart a bit every time they seem happy to see me! It makes the day so much happier, and I feel I have a purpose; who doesn't want to feel this way?? The funny thing was that they were all joking around and cutting up, hanging out near the door, but I KNEW the minute Linda was near the door because they all ran to their desks and sat down! It had me doubled over in laughter, and I had to explain to Linda because I was laughing so hard! The students seemed to enjoy that they made me laugh so hard! In the lab, we only got two presentations accomplished, but they were FABULOUS!! THey both let me keep them, and now I have some historical information about Cosenza. The first girl told me about her village about an hour from Cosenza called San Mango D'Aovino. She wrote it half in Italian and half in English, but presented in English. I was so excited that she did this and was confident in speaking. Others asked her questions, and I was so proud of them. The second student talked about Cosenza, and I kept her presentation so that I would have historical information about Cosenza. This is one of the girls that always talks to me, and she speaks English really well! I REALLY enjoyed them doing this, and we are going to continue next week because I am LOVING learning from them! THIS IS WHAT THE FULBRIGHT IS ALL ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!
For my second 1 hour break I wanted to go to the big grocery store near the school because that is where they sell the Vanilla tea that I love!! It was starting to rain, but I pressed on anyway! I spotted the British Institute where they teach English. I saw some other stores that I would not mind going back to! I do love Cosenza...and Italy! Even when I was walking back to school earlier after the post office incident, all I could think of was how much I love living here and what I am doing. I get REALLY stressed out some days, but at the end of the day I still live in Italy. I am so grateful to be here and EXCITED to be here! At the store I bought three boxes of tea: 1. Twinings Early Grey 2. Twinings Vanilla 3. Twinings mixed box which has 5 Vanilla, 5 Peach, 5 Black currant, 5 Orange/cinnamon, and 5 umm...some sort of 4 berry tea. I was so excited. The vanilla was for my collection that will be sent back to the U.S.
When I got back to school, I had to swim in the Italian language again. I needed copies and the copier was locked with a code. I introduced myself to one of the office people, and she was so sweet to make my copies of the Adele song for my next class. I still had like 20 minutes to spare, so I went to the teachers' room to finish looking at the song. When I went to the classroom, my other teacher Linda was sitting in there working. She saw all of my tea and asked if I was a tea addict...haha...I explained about not being able to get the Vanilla tea at home. Linda told me that I did not need to come to her class next Thursday because they are going to be taking a test, so we would pick up Friday with their presentations. Then Rosina showed up and there were no students to be found. She went to check upstairs and they were in some sort of meeting and watching a video.
So, we sat and waited. A math teacher showed up who does not speak English, so I began swimming in the language. They were so sweet and patient with my Italian, and I understood most of what they were saying. I was pretty excited. They were just so kind and it made me feel confident in speaking. So, then Rosina called her doctor friend and had me talk to her (in Italian), and I agreed to meet her next week to discuss whether or not I can help her! So, we'll see how that goes! I learned some Italian by speaking to them and then later when I asked Rosina some clarification about word meaning. They invited me to go to a film with the students later that afternoon. Apparently the students go to films every once in a while and it is part of a school project of some sort. I was so glad that I did not leave earlier when I could have, because I was so grateful for this invite! I had the best time with them in the classroom waiting on the students. Every time I would try in English, Rosina would gently encourage me to try in Italian, and very few times I HAD to result to English, and this made me feel so good! When the students finally came at the end, they all came in and were apologizing for missing class. Rosina told them to explain it to me in English, and one of them just hugged me really tight, and really long and said, "I think that explains it all!" Haha...it was really sweet! They talked to me for a few minutes, and I learned some new Italian gestures. I had a great time just talking to them about fun things!
Rosina then drove me home, and some other teacher rode with us. She was not going to be at the movie, but I now had about an hour to eat, relax and head back to the Corso to go to the movie. I got home, made lunch, talked to Nick, and talked to my momma. I changed clothes because I hate jeans,
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| First time to need my toboggan...I LOVE this hat... |
and then I was ready to go to the movie with the students. I left a little later than I should have, but as I was making my way down the Corso I saw a huge group of students, so I knew I was not late. When I got there I had a hard time finding the familiar teacher in the sea of students inside the theatre lobby. I eventually found her and she introduced me to the staff and told them I was a teacher, so I got into the movie for free. I asked if she could show me to the bathroom. She introduced me to two fourth year students and they took me to the bathroom. They were so excited to meet an American...one girl immediately locked her arm in mine and we walked to the bathroom. They only spoke Italian, but I was able to understand a good bit of what they said. They were so sweet and insisted that I sit in between them. They were so funny talking around me and talking about cute boys; I met one of the boys that one has a crush on. They were so affectionate and sweet. They were SHOCKED when they asked me how old I was and I said 26. They said that I HAD to be 18 or 19...then every one they introduced me to they said, " this is Elyse, she is 26...!" All of the guys said I had to be 18 or 19, and mind you I had on make up and everything.
When the movie finally started I was in for a test of my patience and Italian skills. The movie was called "Quasi Amici"...it is a French film by a different name. The movie was really good and I understood about 80% of it!! There were words I did not catch, and a few phrases, and some humor. However, I learned new phrases, heard a lot of grammatical things that were helpful, and really enjoyed the movie overall. All of the students around me showed me their cigarettes before the movie (mainly to ask if we had that brand in America...and there must be like 5 cigarettes to a pack around here), so they were all really excited when there was a sudden intermission for the movie. They all yelled "FUMMA!!!" (SMOKE!!!). This breaks my heart! However, I used it as an opportunity to go to the bathroom. I ran into the math teacher I spent time with earlier, and I saw Linda, one of the English teachers I am working with! Linda was asking me if I was understanding the movie, and we discussed that it would get better and by the end of 9 months I would have it down pat. The problem then is that I do not want to lose it! One of the girls has a sister that is in one of my classes...she said, "oooh you talked about tornadoes with my sister!!" Haha...yes, yes I did! I knew exactly which one was her sister, and I was so grateful that I did!!
The movie resumed and I loved it. The ending almost made me cry! It made me want to buy this movie!! Towards the end of the movie I was slightly distracted by my own thoughts (yet managed to keep up with dialogue and plot..yay!). My thoughts were about how "THIS IS MY LIFE...MY LIFE...WHAT IS MY LIFE RIGHT NOW???"I was overwhelmed almost to tears because I could not believe that I was sitting there in an Italian movie theatre...watching a movie with Italian students (who are so sweet)...and I was understanding the movie! What did I do to deserve this life?? I know the answer is that I did nothing...this is God's grace and mercy! He pulled me from something I needed to let go of...and then he pulled me from a pit of depression...and many things and people played a role in my healing (including a first trip to Italy). However, I would not have been able to make this trip without these things, and I feel so incredibly blessed that THIS IS MY LIFE!! Questa è la mia vita!!! If you are reading this, chances are that you played a role in getting me to this point, and for that I thank you! Even if you do not know it...and some of you do know the role you played!
When I left it was raining, and I was so bummed because I had on UGGS. However, I thankfully had on my raincoat. I stopped in a few stores along the way, just to escape the rain and cold. I talked to Nick as I walked, and a few stores were playing Christmas music. It made me a little sad, but it is still Christmas in Italy!! I am excited to buy some Christmas lights and some ornaments, but I have to find some ITALIAN ornaments. The ones I saw tonight either said, "Merry Christmas" or "Feliz Navidad". Umm...am I living in Italy or the border of the U.S. and Mexico???? So, I came home and talked to my momma for a bit, ate dinner, had some tea, talked to Nick and tried to relax.
Impara con me: l'uno con altro- each other
comunque- anyway
dunque- so
pure- also
proprio- just/self/a million other things
proprio adesso- right now
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