The "Ballet"

This morning when I woke up, it was raining...surprised?? Me either!  I talked to April a little bit on facebook because she was awake.  I had a small breakfast, then waited on Lilla, who lives on Italian time!

Lilla's class was up first.  The students immediately started setting up food.  They had a Pandoro (like a large bread cake thingy...amazing), chinuliddre, popcorn, this torta (cake thingy) that had almond flavored something on it, chocolate, and was good.  They had coke, Fanta, etc.  It was a nice spread of food for so early in the morning.  The teacher that has been so helpful with the bus schedules came in and ate some food with us!  He was also kind enough to take a picture of me with the students and Lilla.  I was for some reason shocked when the students managed to give away some of the food, but eat the rest of it before our 2 hours were up!  Holy cow...it was impressive.  

Tombola with "Yes Man's" thumbs up

Pretend prizes

Cards

So then they brought the cards over for me to see.  First one of the students did a really cool magic trick with the cards!  I was so impressed.  Then they taught me a game called 7 1/2.  It was kind of like playing "21", but with the Napoletana cards.  If you get a 4 as your first card you give it back, but the idea is to get as close to 7 1/2 without going over it.  Then we played scoppa, and I was really excited that I already knew how to play this one!  Myles taught us in Rome.  So, we played that for a little bit.  Then they did some more tricks, but I cannot describe them here because I learned how to do one of them, and I do not want to give my secrets away! So, a lot of food (mostly for them), some fun moments of games, and some stressful yelling (not on my part of course), it was time to go!  Lilla and I made a plan to meet at 8:30 for the ballet.  We played Tombola and I learned games with the Napoletana cards.  The first round of Tombola, they taught me how to lay out and determine the prizes (which is usually the money that they have bet with), and Lilla called out the numbers.  The Italians get so into this game, and Lilla was the worst of all.  Even when I was getting numbers on my card she kept saying, "Elyse, you are so unlucky!"  At one point she made a huge deal out of how "unlucky" I was, and then I got like 3 numbers in a row and she was shouting about how lucky I am.  It was insane!  There was a lot of yelling at the students being done by Lilla as well.  I felt like they were just getting into the game, and it gave me a glimpse into their lives.  By this I mean, I am sure that they are this way, and even more so, when they play the game with their families!  I was really upset by her yelling them!!  When she was slamming things and yelling (in English), "My God!!", I almost got really upset! It was slightly chaotic and the students just roll their eyes!  I called the second game, which all of them did not play, which really made Lilla mad because they were off playing with the cards.  It did not bother me because they were not being loud, but she was not happy!! 

Next I had a break.  I made copies, looked at my lessons, and studied Italian.  I saw Virginia at one point and she did not recognize me because I had on my glasses.  When she did recognize me she came up to hug me.  She was excited to see that I was studying Italian and said that we could speak in Italian whenever I wanted!  Haha...not yet!! She wants to see my textbook, which I did not have with me.  She looked at my notebook and said that she could definitely never teach Italian grammar, just as I could never teach English grammar!! This made us laugh because it is SO true!  I'm going to bring her my textbook one day to see because she said she has never seen an Italian textbook for students learning the language as a second language!  Then we started talking to this other teacher sitting at the table with me!  Virginia was talking about how green our eyes are!  Then Virginia started telling her who I was, and how much she loves me (all in Italian).  Virginia is so sweet to me!  I was able to answer some things in Italian!  I did understand almost all of what they were saying!  So, then Virginia promised to bake a cake for me and Nick this weekend, and invited us to lunch on Sunday with her priest, but it is going to be all fish, so I am not so sure about that!  Nick does not like fish that much either!  

The Nativity at school 

So, I sat and studied a bit before I went to Francesca's class.  I saw E. and she ran up to give me a hug; cannot say enough how much these mean to me!  While in the hallway some of my boys started showing me other magic tricks with the Neapolitan cards!  They seemed excited to see me because they were calling out my name and running up to show me the tricks and such.  We went upstairs for the "Christmas in Dixie" lesson.  We listened once, and they got all of the words right away!  I asked if they had any other words they did not know!  We talked about some of the words, and the states/nicknames.  Then we listened again and they sang along.   They enjoyed that this version of the video had pictures of the cities that were mentioned in the song!  The boys that always sit in the front were super attentive and actively engaged in learning the cities and states!  They seemed genuinely interested, and while there are a few in the class that always look like they are bored out of their mind, it is encouraging to talk to the ones who seem to care!  I felt like it went really well, and I was excited about this!  It is always nice to have a successful lesson with any group, but this one is always particularly special!  So, leaving school I had an overall great feeling about the day! 

I started walking home, but then the teacher that Virginia introduced me to earlier was passing me in her car, and she stopped to offer me a ride.  I was looking forward to walking home, but of course I would never refuse her.  So, I was a little nervous because she does not speak any English.  However, it went really well! I was able to understand about 90% of what she said, and I was able to answer her, and I was even able to initiate a few things!  I was SO excited about this!  Baby steps, but you cannot run before you walk!  She said that she hoped it did not snow any time soon because Cosenza is not prepared.  I explained that where I am from we are not prepared for snow either.  It was a nice ride home, and I felt really good about how well I did with speaking to her in Italian.  


I had her drop me off near the grocery store so that I could get a few things.  I came home, at lunch, talked to my momma on the phone, April on skype, and Nick in Italian.  We are prepping for our all Italian days after my birthday!!  Then I tried to check my bank account here in Italy, but I have apparently forgotten my password and it will not email it to me because we have not previously interacted through email...what?!?!? Seriously?? There has been no need until now.  I thought this was the stupidest thing and it REALLY frustrated me!  So, Nick said I would probably have to go in person to get it fixed!  Luckily, the girl at the bank is really nice!  


Later I went to the Corso to walk around. I stopped in H & M and bought this sweater that I have been looking at for a while, and it is warm...and I need some warmer clothes right now!  I walked towards the historical center, and this weekend Nick and I will have to go back to see all of the lights!  I am so excited that everything is starting look more and more like Christmas.  I looked in shop windows, stopped at some book stands, and just loved walking around with it feeling like Christmas.  I talked to Nick while I walked around, so it was nice.  I ran into one of my students; one that dresses a little gothic.  I love her!  She was with her parents, but did not seem interested in introducing them, so I let it slide.  It was not too cold out, so I really enjoyed walking around.  I did not buy anything, but it was nice to look.  So, then I headed back so that I could work on blogs, eat, and get ready to go to the ballet with Lilla.  

Sunset on the mountains while I was out walking

I decided to wear my new sweater.  

Lilla came and picked me up a little after 8:30, and we were off to see "Don Chisciotte".  The theatre is in Rende, which is the town just next to Cosenza.  I saw the mall all decorated in Christmas lights, and it made me REALLY excited to go on Friday with Nick.  Lilla was so funny talking about the morning.  She has such a different view than I do!  She was saying something about the students being excited to make sweets for me and how they are ashamed to be from the surrounding villages, which makes them more excited to share, but they do not like to share that they are from the villages.  Confused?? Me too!  She kept saying that they were stupid too, but also could be really smart.  Confused?? Me too! I am so tired of the teachers calling the students stupid; even if it does not have the same connotation in Italian, it means something different in English, and if you are going to speak in English, I think you should use the right words; we would be expected to in Italian!  I am going to have to speak up about this soon because I am offended for the the students.  They also call each other that, and so perhaps this will be a soapbox lesson I do after Christmas!  


So, we parked close to the theatre, and headed inside.  I went to use the tiny, freezing cold bathroom, and then we went to our seats.  Nick won our bet about what time it would start...as it started on Italian time, meaning that it was supposed to start at 9:00 and it started at more like 9:25ish.  Lilla was super impatient for it to start!  It really does surprise me for such a stereotypically laid back society, the Italians are some of the most impatient people I have met!

So, the show finally started, and I knew pretty much immediately that I was in for...umm...something!  The male dancers were terrible, I mean flexed feet and all!  I was shocked!! There were times when the dancers were not together.  One boy I wanted to yell at him and tell him to STOP looking down...when you dance, if you look down...eventually you are GOING DOWN!!  It was so hard to watch at times!  The one "intermission" they had after about 30 minutes of dancing was another 25 minutes or so itself.  Lilla fell asleep during the show and during the intermission.  Some of the dancing was just so bad, and I kept thinking, "Cornelius would die!" AND "I know male dancers who are WAY better than this!!!"  It was atrocious. 
 
However, the prima ballerina was BEAUTIFUL!! She had the most amazing feet, and really the tops of her feet, like near the ankle...HOLY COW!!! THEY WERE INSANE!!  She was a beautiful dancer; full of grace and elegance.  I felt bad for her though because she was far superior to everyone, and a few times when the leadish guy lifted her, I cringed out of fear!  She did the most amazing turn series that left me in awe!  It also made my knees hurt FOR her!!  Loved her...just not the others!!  
However, I am glad that I went.  It was different...but I am glad I went.  I was quite ready to go though by the time it was over.  The other strange thing about this ballet was that all of the Italians were taking pictures...like, with FLASH!  I was appalled.  However, by the end I wanted a picture of the lead girl, so I turned my flash OFF and took a few of her!  I was slightly ashamed of myself, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do!  Haha...   I was also sad that I could not pick up the storyline from this show.  Thank goodness I had read it earlier, but still could not find the plot line!  

So, we left and headed home.  Lilla could not make up her mind if she wanted to say good things about it or not!  The drive home was a bit scary because Lilla's windshield did not ever fully defrost...soo add barely being able to see to stop signs and lane lines being suggestions... 

Lilla was so sweet to insist that I not pay her for the ticket!  I thought that was so sweet and generous!  So, she dropped me off, I came upstairs, and got ready for bed!