UPS and downs

One Year Ago Today I was going to Chianti with Fiona, Gabriella, and her husband, whose name I cannot think of at the moment.  It was a beautiful day.
http://dreaminginitalianthistime.blogspot.it/2011/11/chianti-is-more-than-just-wine.html

Today was...an up and down kind of day.  I started with oatmeal, getting dressed, and talking to Neal a bit on facebook chat!!  It was good to hear from him.  I went downstairs to wait on Lilla, who was coming to pick me up.  She was running late, but we still made it to class before the students.  Their lack of rules is just baffling to me.

So, we went to the computer lab, and youtube still was not loading my videos.  So, I started the lesson, but it quickly deteriorated because the students in the back were talking and playing on the computers.  Lilla had made a handout of additional information and a ton of questions for them.  The lesson just did not go very well for the most part.  There were a few of them who were paying attention and answering questions and seemed interested in Thanksgiving, the parade, etc.  However, I kept having to stop because they were talking so loud and Lilla kept getting angry at them.  The thing about the school though is there is no actual form of discipline.  The students do not feel threatened or any sort of "fear" of authority because as far as I have seen, there are no actual consequences for misbehaving.  I am dumbfounded by this.  At one point Lilla did get them to ask me some questions, and one boy asked, "do you think Thanksgiving is more important than Christmas or other holidays?"  My answer was, "No!  I like Thanksgiving, and I appreciate the meaning behind it and giving thanks for the things I have and am blessed with, but no.  I am a Christian, and so I think that Christmas and Easter are more important, because the birth and ressurection of Christ are more important to me!"  I was so happy to be able to openly share my faith and my opinion.  Again, I do LOVE this about the Italian schools.  The class once again deteriorated and so I just stopped all together, walked closer to them, and said, "Okay!  You are not interested, fine.  What can I do to make it more interesting??" They had no answers.  Lilla kept trying to give answers for them, but I just wanted them to tell me.  I wanted them to tell me what would help.  I started asking them if English was important for them to learn. The majority said yes, and that it was imortant for them to have when getting a job, etc.  A lot of them said that they are going to a University for medicine, pharmacy, engineering, etc.  So, why do they not care about their education. The one girl in the class that is awesome told me that she thought the lessons were interesting, and some of the guys did too!  It was sweet of them, but I am going for at least 75% of the class to pay attention and stop messing around.  I explained to them that we have 7 more months, and so they have 7 months for me to help them learn English.  I told them that I do not want to waste this time.  I explained that they have to be there, and so do I, so why not make the most of it.  I told them that I work with young children, and we just play all day to learn; I explained that this is what I would like to be doing.  Therefore, they MUST be there, and I MUST be there, so why not figure out a way to combine the play and the need to learn....but, they have to help me figure out how to do this.

Lilla was eventually called out of the classroom and I had them for 30 minutes by myself.  We talked a little about English and I told them that next Tuesday I want them to come with one idea each about how to make the class more interesting and engaging for them.  It is so hard to stand up in front of this class because they are either staring at me with blank/bored faces, or they are talking and goofing off.  Anyway, so then as things were getting loud, I sat down at the computer and asked them who their favorite soccer team was.  They told me "Inter", so I googled pictures of it.  Then some booed, so I asked who theirs was.  THey said, "Milan".  So, I pulled up those pictures.  Then someone said, "Juventus".  So, I pulled up those.  Then they took turns cheering as I pulled up their team.  Then I talked to them about why that was their favorite team.  Some said because they (Juventus) is the strongest.  Some named favorite players on their favorite team.  One guys said he liked his team because his dad likes them.  It filled some time, and then I told them that next Tuesday they had to bring me an idea for class and some information or something to share about their favorite team.  Whether they will do this or not is a mystery to me.

I was so grateful for this class to be over with.  I went to the bar to get some water and then got the key to the lab so that I could work on Virginia's translation stuff.

Before the next class, I went and got one of the yummy Christmas treats I had yesterday.  I also talked to Mrs. Sara, who is the keeper of the keys lady.  I did not even have to swim in the language...I was fluent in that conversation.  We talked about how beautiful Italy is and how I went to the Amalfi coast and she suggested Tropea, which Virginia has said she is taking me to when my mom is here.  I was so excited that I had spoken with Sara and converesed without any hesitation!!  Then, it was time for class.  I was nervous about how this class would go; this was the "do you shower at night or in the morning" class.  However, they were so attentive today.  They even took notes...WHAT?!?!? THe boys sat in the front and were so attentive.  THey were answering my questions and remembering things, and no one was acting a fool.  There were brief moments of breakdown, but overall it was fabulous.  When we talked about the food  they were very engaged.  Then, as I went back through the foods, they were naming them with me.  The guys in the front were the quickest to remember.  One of them (the usual class clown, who before class informed me that Francesca makes him mad...I had some good laughs with these students and Angelino's students just before class started), remembered exactly what I had said was in broccoli casserole.  I had to help him a little bit with the Italian word, but he remembered...I was so excited that the guys were paying attention and engaged.  Even some of the girls who are usually just as loud were paying attention.  Then, we ended with the Rockette video.  The guys were talking about how perfect their kicks were and how cool it was that their legs were all in the same line (they were talking about it in Italian to each other, but STILL...they were talking about it and enjoying it).  Francesca did not seem to like the idea of a video, but I think it helps you understand what someone is talking about.  My same sweet attentive class clown was so sweet to offer me tissues when I was sneezing.  Maybe I am getting through to them??

After this class I ran to the bus, made sure it was going my way, and then got on.  It was rowdy and man high school boys can be silly...spitting out of the door, etc.  Then we picked up a bunch of middle school boys..WHOA...they were acting such a fool that they fell on my knees...kind of hurt actually!  THey were rough housing and punching each other in the private with umbrellas, etc.  It was absurd, and I was so happy to get off the bus at my stop!  I ran in to the grocery store to get a few things and then headed home.  I had a smallish lunch and then talked to April on skype for a bit.  I worked on blogs, lesson plans, etc.

THEN...the buzzer for the gate buzzed, and when I looked out of the window I saw a man with a huge box...MY COMPUTER!!! I told him I would be down in just a minute and I RAN down the stairs (I refuse to take the new elevator...OOH which reminds me...this morning the cleaning lady in the building got so mad because I had not taken the elevator...umm ma'am, how was I supposed to know that you were mopping the floor...I did not see you until I was almost at the bottom...so get over it!).  So, then the guy told me that I had to pay 90 euros before he could give me the computer.  I did not have that on me, or in the apartment.  He said that he could come back that time tomorrow, but I was afraid to let that thing go.  So, I ran back up the stairs, and then back down...down the street to the bank (but not my Italian one because it is too far away), and got money from my American account..Stupid Italy charging you money (taxes) for your package...made me so mad.  However, I was then left to carry the computer back upstairs.  I unwrapped it, called April back (because we had been interrupted, and plugged up the computer.

Then, I talked to Nick and worked on things.  Virginia texted me to see if I was okay because she thought I looked worried this morning.  I explained that I was just not feeling well.

Later, I went to Corso Mazzini to get a stamp for Maria's b'day card, which might get there next year (April still has not gotten hers).  I stopped in a book store across the street from my apartment, and I might get a children's grammar/vocab book and start working on it.  I need help!  Then I made my way to the Corso. I am seeing the beginnings of Christmas decor...some lights...some window displays...I am SO excited!!!  It was beautiful.  The Corso was not very crowded, but I was a bit early.  I also went to the Calabrese Specialtà store to get something for David for hosting us this weekend!  I went in H & M, but that was terrible, so I left.  I slowly made my way home and talked to Nick, who had been dealing with phone issues at TIM.

Not too long after I got home, I ate dinner (hamburger patty, zucchini, and a little bit of pasta with Calabrese sauce).  While I ate, I skyped with my daddy so that he could help me with the computer.  Long story short: it is set up, but the touchpad/mouse is not working.  I was so angry and upset.  After ALL of this, something does not work...my daddy tried to help me, Nick tried to help me, and I did everything I knew to do...still nothing.

After this I melted down a bit...cried...cried for April...prayed a good bit for patience and peace...and then crawled into a hole to be quiet and alone while I worked.  I worked on translation stuff for Virginia and emailed it to her, and worked on blogs.

UPS (the company that delivered my computer...though NO big brown truck) and downs (the downers in life) are part of life I suppose!!  The most important thing I did today: stood up for my faith and spoke openly about it!  God is so good, great, merciful, loving, kind, gracious, etc. and He just asks me to follow Him and share Him.  I want to please Him!!  I am grateful that He works ALL things together for my good!!!