When things don't go as planned...

then that means life is NORMAL in Italy!! 

One Year Ago Today...I was in Rome!! 

I stayed up way too late on the phone last night, so after 6 hours of sleep...I reluctantly got out of bed.  I made oatmeal, checked facebook and emails, and got dressed.  I walked to the bus stop, caught it, saw one of the students on the bus, and I reviewed my notes for the election lesson. 

The computers in the lab were not working and Virginia went to class and left me to use the internet and wait on the technician to come fix them.  It took an hour and 15 minutes to get it fixed and for Virginia to be able to bring the students in the lab.  I was getting frustrated and kept having to remind myself that is just life and it is okay!  SEE...I am learning to relax!  I am learning to just roll with the punches. 

So, when we started, it seemed to go well.  I enjoy Virginia's students because they are responsive and intelligent and attentive.  They talked a bit about Obama and had some input.  Virginia asked a lot of questions and asked me how long I had been working on this, and was impressed.  I was happy that she was pleased with my work, but I really did learn a lot by making this lesson.  We had to stop about halfway through the lesson and are going to continue it after the Thanksgiving lesson next week!  Virginia was very passionate about the Italian politicians...

After class Virginia stayed to ask me some questions.  First, she has asked me to participate in a book project she is working on.  I did not fully understand what is happening, but something about a contest and submitting the proposal by next week(ish)...apparently the winner is announced in May or something, but she has a lot of the work done from her thesis.  So, it has to do with teaching English and writing about history and the present and how you cannot learn the present without knowing about the past.  I did NOT follow most of what she said, but was excited to work on a book with her that she is working to get published!! 

THEN...COMES THE BEST THING...
Virginia then asked me if I would be interested in taking a group of students to The United States during the summer for one of their study abroad programs.  I was immediately excited.  Then she said that I could also choose to do a trip to Great Britain or Ireland.  I told her that I would prefer one of those two.  So, essentially it is a 2 or 3 week program where the students go to class and stuff.  I was so so so so so so excited about this possibility and told her that of course I was interested.  She said that if I was truly interested, then I would go to Vietri with her this weekend to the meeting about the trips.  Vietri is on the Amalfi Coast...WHAT!?!?!?!?! She said it is a meeting about the trips and you meet the schools that are involed...there is a gala with music and food and stuff.  Then, if I truly want to commit there is apparently a 3 day trip to London in December....poor me...NOT!! I was dying of excitement on the inside!  So, the trips are in early or late July or even early August.  Virginia said that she does not go in early July, but I could go without her.  I do not want to go without her though. So, she left to go to class and I stayed in the lab.  However, the power in the lab had gone out and so I just sat and talked to Nick because he was waiting at the Questura. 

I then went to the teacher's room to use the computer and emailed the customs people, only to find out that the last form I sent was "wrong"!  I was so annoyed...Virginia came in and brought me a piece of cake from a student's birthday party. She asked me earlier if I wanted a snack from the bar and when I said no she said, "You know you wont gain weight if you eat a snack!?!?" Yes, I know...but I had breakfast.  The cake was good, but not as good as the first birthday treat I had at school that day.

Then she had a student bring me a peach juice from the bar!! Virginia is too good to me!!  Then she had another student come and get me because she needed to talk to me.  She had spoken with the person at the Amalfi Coast and needed me to email him.  I also told her about the customs forms and she agreed to help me.  She asked me if I was willing to change my flight home to make this trip with the students...ummm Virginia...an opportunity to travel...I'M THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  She also started asking me about Nick and his plans for after Fulbright...she just loves him! 

Next up was Angelino's class.  I was anticipating that I would have a "come to Jesus" meeting of sorts with them about why they are learning English...why it is important to them...what sort of things do they want to talk about...how can we make it fun...etc.  So, I started out by settling with Angelino that I only needed 1 hour a week to do my own lesson, and the other hour was all his.  In the technical school they need at least 2 of their hours to do their regular stuff.  I also talked to him about simplifying their topics and getting input from the students.  So, that's what we did.  They want to talk about food, New York City, marriage/dating/love, American music, American movies, Carnivale, etc. I have some great ideas for them now!!  I am excited!!  Angelino also suggested bringing songs, letting them listen, and analyzing it for meaning and vocabulary. 

Angelino had to leave and go see the headmistress, leaving me with the students.  I went around and sat on the desk so that I was closer to them and we just talked.  I got their names again and talked to them about whether or not they liked learning English (some yes, some no), asked how we could make it more fun, and stuff like that.  Things got out of hand a few times, but it was still good! They told me that they like to dance and sing and things like that.  I think I've decided that one month we will do an American Idol type thing...so one day break down two songs...and then the next week have a few of them sing the songs for their classmates...THEN the winner will be decided based on performance, and pronunciation...and more "formal" things like that..:I think that this would be the PERFECT group for something like that!! I am just going to keep praying that God will show me ways to reach this group of students.  I really like this group...I want to reach them..:I want to have fun with them...and I want them to learn...I think we can do it!! They were excited when I spoke a little bit in Italian...they had to use google translate for some things...they hurt one girls feelings and made her cry (and they said there is no bullying in Italy...or their school...I do NOT buy it).  We also talked about how many of them smoke and I told them that it is bad for them...I tried my best to discourage it...they can't even tell you why they smoke.  My athiest boy (Ill refer to him at L. from now on) kept saying that he was homosexual (his word), and I think he was trying to "freak me out" or something...but I just want to hug him!  He disappeared out of the room to go smoke at one point and was not there when I left.  I did have fun with them today, and I think I will really enjoy them.  On my way out, I saw L. and told him to stop smoking. 

I ran to the bathroom, but this caused me to miss the bus.  It did not matter anyway because I had planned to walk home today.  It is like a 30 minute walk, but it is nice, AND it was not cold outside anymore, so it was a nice walk home! I talked to Nick on the way home...my brilliant friend had taken the wrong train going in the opposite direction.  He had to backtrack and it added a few hours to his trip home from the Questura...poor Nick. 

When I got home I made lunch, talked to Nick, laid down, and then when I was finished being lazy I got up, hung up, and started working.  I talked to April on skype to tell her abotu the traveling stuff, worked out my power points, and then went out for a walk to get the stamp for the card. 

It was nice outside and perfect for a walk.  The first tabacchi sold me the wrong stamps, so I went to another tabacchi and got the right stamps.  I also went in the Ubik bookstore, where they have a small English section and it has an amazing atmosphere (Nick agreed when he was here), and I looked at travel books! I want to buy a New York City guide book in Italian.  I also came up with the idea of asking my teachers (and my fellow ETA's teachers) about Italian children's books and stories.  NOT American books translated into Italian, but true Italian children's books/stories.  I plan to collect them until my momma gets here and send them home with her!  I am thinking like 3ì5 books.  THis would be awesome to have.  I also plan to get a few more Harry Potter's in Italian.  So, I mailed the card, and headed back to the apartment.  I was starving, but trying to figure out a way to hold off....Nick and I decided making tea was the best option.  So, I sat down to work on my presentation stuff. 

When I did make gniocchi, my own tomato sauce, chicken...it was yummy!!!

I worked on family stuff...talked on the phone...talked to my momma!! Yay!!!!  Lila came to set up the wireless and her nephew discovered that it was there all along...something I had suspected...but nonetheless, I have it now.  Lila told me that the schools are not legally allowed to turn on the heat in the schools until the 15th, and then the Provence of Cosenza is having budget issues and so they do not know if they have the funds to heat all of the schools this year.  WHAT?!?!  This morning I had to teach with gloves on. 

WHen I talked to Nick again he had seen one of his teachers, that I met in Rome.  She said, "isn't she the one who is older than you? She is from Alabama? She has her Master's??" I thought it was sweet that she remembered me!!  She was so excited that we have been talking and that he came to visit!  He played the guitar in the background and it was fun... I ALSO got to talk to BrittBritt, which made me VERY happy! I love getting to talk to my friends. 

So, I spent the rest of the night working on my lesson, blog, and talking to Nick on the phone.  We spent a good bit of time singing Disney songs over the phone...with the use of YouTube.  It was so much fun...and then bed!! 

Fall all over again!