I got dressed, washed dishes (just incase Sofia decided to come home today...she's been gone home), and got ready to go to school. I love Thursdays and Fridays.
My first class was Valeria's class; Valeria is still in Bologna. So, our plan for the day was to play Tombola. It is this BINGO like game that the Italians play at Christmas time. They typically play for money, but we did not. So, I had to be the Tombolone (I think was the name). You are trying to get all of the numbers on your card, but there are also moments for having 2 in a row, 3 in a row, and 4 in a row; however I think this is only significant when you are playing for money! They were SO into it though. It was really fun! So, I had to call out the numbers in Italian and they had to repeat them in English! It was a GREAT way for us all to practice our foreign language! I will say that having to think on my toes with the numbers really increased my confidence. WHen the first person won, they hid the number so that she would not know she won, and we kept playing. They did this both times we played! It was so funny to see them interact and get so excited about and into this game! I really, really enjoyed the hour with them! We took pictures, and then "pretty boy" from my other class came in on the back of one of my students from the Tombola class. He stayed to play and we had so much fun! These are the days that I LOVE what I do! At the end, another student that I will refer to as EE came in to see what we were doing (how is it that they are out of class and no one seems to care????). WHen she heard me say something in Italian she said, "ooooh I love her...you know, she is coming to my house on the 17th!!" She said this all in Italian, but I understood. She followed this up with a huge hug!! I love the students that will hug me! It fills a little bit of my missing hugging quota! So, here are some pics to explain my hour playing Tombola:
 |
| The numbers are in the green thing |
 |
| The board for the number caller (the Tombolone??) |
 |
| Me and my awesome students |
 |
| Their "silly" picture |
 |
| They helped me for the second game! |
 |
| All the pieces... |
Patrizia's class got started late, and then we found out that we cannot use the computer lab until after Christmas...WHAT??? So, this changed our plan to look at Christmas music. So, after some Italians arguing with each other, we went back to the classroom. One of the students started playing the Cosentine 'strina on his phone, but then someone came in and said that we could use this other smaller room if we wanted. We made our way to it, but at this point we only had like 20 minutes left in the lesson. We actually ended up not even using the computer at our disposal. They played the 'strina and translated. Some words I actually knew, or could figure out based on how close it was to Italian! They were excited, and I will not lie...so was I!
So, when class was over, I was ready to head home. My last class for today was cancelled because they were having a test. I decided to take a walk down the Corso before going home. However, I stopped in the bar near school first; the idea was that I had not had any coffee in WEEKS...since I stopped going to the hotel actually. So, I figured that I had not paid for coffee since I arrived in Italy, so why not let today be the first time. I ordered, with confidence, and even took a picture of my first coffee purchase. There was a guy standing next to me at the bar with something that looked DELICIOUS in his mug.**The ENTIRE conversation that I am about to describe happened IN ITALIAN**
I asked him what was in his mug, and he answered that it was hot chocolate. Then he started talking to me and I explained that I was an American here in Cosenza teaching English at two high schools. We talked a bit more, and I never froze up or freaked out (regarding the language). In the moment that my words did not come to me, I did the Italian thing and said, "aspetta", which means "wait" and then I took a deep breath and just starting speaking in Italian. GOD IS SO GOOD TO GIVE ME THE WORDS!! I have been praying that this would happen! My brain is finally switching over, and I find myself wanting to answer things in Italian as a natural reaction!! He saw me looking at these sugar packets the bar had that had pictures of childrens' drawings on them, and so I kept a few, but anwyay, he asked me if I liked them! I explained that at home I work with young children. He told me that he works for a "compro oro" here in Italy, which is a place that they buy gold. Then, he said he had to go. He paid for his coffee, and just as he was walking out, the bartender told me that the guy had in fact paid for my coffee as well! I was just barely able to catch him as he walked out the door to thank him!
So, there went the caption on that instagram photo! Haha, but no really, it was very sweet of him. The other good thing was that he never, not once acted like a creeper, but rather was just a nice man.
So then I started walking. I went in this shop to buy this ornament that I had been eyeing for a few weeks. When I was checking out, they all started speaking to me in English. Is it that obvious?!?! I just continued to answer in Italian; which is what Devorah (in Rome...past Fulbrighter) told us to do! I was really excited about my first Christmas purchase; so excited that I called my momma to tell her about it, with no regard for the hour of the morning there...oops!
So, I walked the Corso for a bit in the light rain! I went in H & M and tried on a sweater...considering it...I stopped at the bank for some cash, went in a store and saw a potential stocking for me to buy, and then headed home.
I came home and ate lunch, planned my "Christmas in Dixie" lesson plan, wrote some emails, talked to Nick (who is coming TOMORROW...), wrote some letters, talked to April, and eventually got dressed to go out for passeggiata.
I wanted to walk some different streets and look for a bookstore, a place to buy a small Christmas tree, and some other things. On my way there, I saw a bunch of police cars/vans near Piazza Bilotti, and a ton of people in the street. I never figured out what was going on, but I also avoided it, because I was not sure that I wanted to know what was going on. I could not find the book store I was looking for, but I did go to the toy store and found some Tombola games, but not one I liked. In trying to find the toy store I saw some of the most beautiful window displays (mostly jewelry), heard some Christmas music, and just had that feeling of, "Oh my gosh I live in Italy!!!!" I also saw this puzzle that I must own before my mom gets here because she has to take it home. It is a puzzle of the regions of Italy...like a child's puzzle with the little handles, but it has pics on the regions that represent each of them. I also went in another book store that I did not like very much because the atmostphere was bland and there were two old creepy men looking at me! So, I made my way back to the Corso and home. I completely forgot to buy the stamp I went out for, but oh well, I'll do it tomorrow!!
Closer to home I went in another store looking for Tombola, but I did not like theirs either. I went to buy apples and talked to my fruit and veggie people. The girl seemed in a bad mood until I asked her to show me which of the treats they had were the pitta 'mpigliata (I think that is spelled correctl). Anyway, it is a dialect treat! She immediately perked up and showed me! She asked if I had tried it yet, and I told her that I would before Christmas. She was so sweet and excited. This was all in Italian of course!!
So, I came home and ate dinner. Then I called Maria to talk to her about some things! I needed some Maria advice!! It was so good to hear her voice and to talk some things through!! It was all about some Italy issues, but her advice is so valuable to me! I just love her so much!
Then I talked to my daddy and it was good to see him!! We talked for a little bit, and I could see my Litta Girl on camera too!! :) I just love that skype was created!! It makes me feel closer to home, which keeps me from being homesick!!!!
I also talked to Maria via email tonight about her family Christmas traditions. She has a Cuban background, and it was so interesting to see how some of their traditions are similar to the Italian ones! I learned a lot about her, and her culture. I love this!! So valuable to know about others!!
I spent the evening writing blogs and such. I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited to get a few minutes to talk to my Erin on facebook tonight. I miss talking to her sooooooooooo much!!! We just talked about life, Africa, hugs, cuddle puddles, and I miss her. I want to hug her so badly. I want to see her face and sit next to her. I miss her.
After this I blogged some more, got ready for bed, and talked to Nick. I had some major epiphanies tonight actually...excited to see where they go!
Then I went to bed!!!
In the next few weeks:
1. Nick is coming tomorrow through Sunday morning
2. Nick is coming next Thursday night through Monday morning
3. Christmas in Cosenza/Nick goes to Seattle on the 22nd
4. On the 30th I meet Nick in Rome, and we go to Gubbio
5. On the 31st we go back to Rome for New Years with Mattea and her family
6. ON JANUARY 2ND MY MOMMA COMES TO SEE ME IN ITALY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY COW!!
7. My momma comes to Cosenza with me
8. I go back to Rome for their flight on the 12th :( Not cool
9. Nick meets me in Rome on that Saturday
10. I come back to Cosenza for a month of work before I go to REGGIO EMILIA!!!!!!!!!!! With a tacked on trip to Bologna with Nick (and maybe Mattea??)
Holy cow I love life in Italy!
No comments:
Post a Comment