One Year Ago Today I was having a "boring" day in Italy
http://dreaminginitalianthistime.blogspot.it/2011/11/todaymy-life-is-boring.html
The day started at 7 am. I immediately turned the news on to see who won the election. Well, if I am being truthful, I first used facebook on my phone to determine the winner, and then I turned the news on. Obama won.
I got dressed and worked a little bit on my lesson for the day. Oatmeal was of course the choice for breakfast, and then I was off to school. Today was going to be my first day in the school here in Cosenza. I knew I would be with Valeria, but it was going to be a class that I am not going to permanently be with. As soon as she walked up to me, she gave me the kisses and then said, "Who did you vote for?? Did you see Obama won?? I think Obama is best because he will be better at international relations." One, we would NEVER just walk up to someone and ask this. I do not like this about the Italians. It really bothers me that they 1. Think it is their business to know who I voted for and 2. Judge me for my choices and/or the fact that I am falling somewhere in the middle. I do not care to use this blog to express my political views. All I want to say is that, please do NOT judge me for my beliefs and feelings about things because while I understand that the President of the United States effects the lives of people around the world, he does not effect your (Italians) every day life and some decisions effect MY family and friends and I have a right to feel the way I do!! I do not hate anyone for their choice...to disagree does not equal hatred, and if someone says that it does, then they have some soul searching to do! So, whether you voted for Obama or Romney, in my book this is YOUR decision and YOUR personal business.
So, we went to class. Wow, this part of their school is way different than my Castrolibero school, Valentini. The walls are all covered in writing and it is definitely the old part of the school. The new part of this school is better, but this was rough. One of the first things the students asked me was, "Who did you vote for??" Seriously guys?? So, instead of answering, I did as Maria has been telling me to do; I turned it back to them. I asked them who they prefer and why. The girl's answer, "I like Obama because he is funnier." Okay then. So thankfully they moved on to other topics. They asked me if I liked Italian food, high schools, food, boys, and music. Valeria had me draw a map of the United States and label a few states, and then they labeled some of them! I was impressed with their knowledge. The same "he's funnier" girl asked me about my favorite music. When I said that I mainly listen to Christian music, she said that she loved Hillsong and that they sing that at church here. Her appearance gave me a clue that she miiight be a part of that church from the hotel. OH MY GOSH...after we struggled to figure out where it was, we determined that she IS a member of the church that meets at the hotel; the one that I have been hearing!! How weird is that???? We talked a little bit about hurricane Sandy, and then it was time to go. So, the school's time table (schedule) will still change a bit, so I am unsure of whether I will ever see these students in the classroom again, but it was fun to meet them!
**This whole experience is really challenging my abilities to stand up and speak in front of groups of people. However, since I now daily get up in front of a group of students, and I am still doing so in front of new groups of students, I am feeling more confident. It is not always easy to get up in front of the students, especiallly the ones who I know do not want to be there. It just makes me want to reach them even more!! However, it is stretching my abilities, and allowing me to see what I am truly capable of; of course I could not do it without God's help...He gives me the courage and the strength each day to stand in front of these students!**
So, I had to rush to the bus once this was over. I ended up waiting for an eternity in the cold. I was trying to hurry because Virginia was waiting on me to help me with my customs/computer issues. I had to text her and tell her that I would not make it in time to meet her before she had to be in class because I was still waiting on the bus. She said to just come find her when I could. I also had to get off the bus and walk a good way, but it was quicker than waiting on the bus to make the whole loop to my stop. It was nice to walk anyway!
When I got to school, with a little over 15 minutes to spare before my first class, I started looking for Virginia. I could not find her anywhere! I finally found her at the bar and told her that I had to go talk to Francesca and teach before I could meet her. So, Francesca wanted me to stay and teach, and go see Virginia later. So, Francesca had to go meet with the headmistress and left me with the class. Hmm...this made me a little nervous, but I took advantage of it because it meant that they would be a bit more respectful and hopefully attentive. They were a bit rowdy, but I was able to do my revised lesson with them and we spent most of the time with them introducing themselves and I was learning their names. I struggled with a few, and one girl had to write hers down because I was confused between "Concetta" (her name) and "concerta". Oops....however, when I made it through all of their names, with no mistakes, a few times...they cheered!! It was so much fun!! There were a few rough moments of them interrupting each other and acting crazy, but we had a good time! One girl came in and interrupted and was acting a fool...then when she left they explained to me that she had been in their class last year, but she had some sort of "special need". They of course just describing her as crazy! There are a few girls in this class that INSIST on interrupting everyone or me with "funny" side comments and such. It is so annoying and I have to figure out a way to put a stop to it because it interrupts everything. I know they do it because they always get away with it, but it keeps me from being able to hear the other students. Francesca came back with like 10 minutes to spare in the class time and told me I could go see Virginia. So, before I left, I went back through their names one more time and they all clapped and cheered again when I made it through them without any mistakes!!
So, I ran to find Virginia. I told her that I needed to go tell Angelino that I was going to miss the first part of class because we were taking care of customs issues. Angelino said not to worry, and so I went back to Virginia. I ended up missing all of Angelino's class and I felt so bad. However, I did enjoy my time with Virginia. Her students in this class had seen me earlier and begged me to stay and help them with their test; they are too cute. So, they were taking a test and Virginia started explaining to me what the customs lady told her and she helped me write the letter of declaration. We also talked about random stuff. She told me that I would have to choose about plans for Christmas...this made me nervous because I do not want to have to choose. She told me Lilla wanted me for Christmas Eve, and I told her that I would go there then. She said, "well, for Christmas Day you will NOT be alone...not even for one minute! You will be with me from morning to night!" I told her that this would be so important to me because while Christmas Eve is most important to them, Christmas Day is most important to us. She also told me that I needed to change my flight and plan to stay in Italy for the summer because she wants to take me places and help work on projects. I am not exactly sure what this means, but I am considering changing my flight from July 2nd to sometime at the end of July/beginning of August. First, I would love to spend the summer at the Italian beaches and Virginia and some others I know here have beach houses. Plus, I want time to travel and see as much as possible. Also, I would LOVE it if they went on another international school project and I could go, but that may be later in the year than I can stay. She talked to me about Nick some and she is just so funny when it comes to him! She also told me that she likes to see me taking notes during class about what she is teaching about, things the students say, or Italian vocabulary words that I learn. She said that it shows my interest. I explained that I am having a hard time not being the "student", but we talked about how we are always the teacher and the student...OH MY GOSH...that's exactly what I wrote about in my Fulbright essay!!! Holy cow!!! This came from her teaching me the word for eve, like Christmas eve... vigilia (eve)....Vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve). Even though I hated to miss out on Angelino's class, it was fun to hang out with Virginia. However, the other thing about this was that I got to see Italian students take a test...OH MY GOSH AT THE CHEATING...almost the entire time they were talking to each other. Virginia got on to them a few times, but geez...we would have been in SO MUCH TROUBLE!! I've been in that trouble...nothing happened to them!! Nick said his students do it too...how do they let them get away with this??
After this, it was time to go home. Virginia walked me out and there were no buses. So, I walked to the bottom of the hill, but just barely missed the first bus. I waited for another and ended up riding for free, but I am not complaining. I stopped in the store ad bought some sponges and headed home to eat lunch, work on powerpoints, and have some tea. I talked to Lila about the fact that the internet needed a different type of plug into the wall.
I went to the hotel, but was frustrated because I feel like I am spinning my wheels in this whole school adventure. I feel like I try to prepare, but it never goes "right"...meaning sometimes I get nothing done. I hate this feeling. The levels of English are so different and extreme, and it is hard to plan many different topics in a week for many different levels. It was nice to talk to everyone online today. I got the amazing treat of talking to Erin for a second day in a row...WHAT?!?!? Amazing! I was able to talk to my \a, Mrs. Malissa (who told me that Abby was at the vet because her back is bothering her...poor Abs!!). I did research on political stuff for my lesson Monday with Virginia's class. Nick called and I talked to him. I also talked to Alessandra, Lilla's niece, and she invited me to a dinner on Saturday night where her friends are making international food. Her English is really good!!!
So, after a good bit of time at the hotel, I came home to eat dinner and work on blogs!
Impara con me: vigilia - eve
Vigilia di Natale -Christmas Eve
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