To Lecce...

The morning started with Nick on skype.  I got dressed, walked to school, and started my day with Patrizia's class.  We talked about North vs. South stereotypes, and American and Italian stereotypes.  They were not willing to talk about the N vs. S stereotypes as much as other classes, and basically refused to do it in English.  I did learn from Patrizia today that the old building that half of the school is in, this class is in, used to be a hospital.  Weird..   Anyway, so here are the results of our discussion:

 

 



















Immediately after class was over, I booked it home to make a sandwich, pack the rest of my things, charge my cell phone, and go back to school with my suitcase.  I lugged my suitcase to school and up the stairs. 

Linda's class was wonderful!  They were supposed to tell me about the truths regarding the south.  I had to correct them on quite a few things...they thought that teen pregnancy is only in the south...we definitely had a conversation about this one!  We had to discuss that we do not all live in Antebellum homes.  They started talking about Gone with the Wind, and it was a lively discussion.  They told me about some of the truths of southern Italy, and next week we are talking more about "Gone with the Wind"...per their suggestion!

 

 I also learned the difference between tartufo and tartuffo...now, the weird pasta I saw in Rome makes sense!  I was wondering how they put a gelato type thing on pasta.

SO, when class was over, i went to the bathroom, went to the bus stop, took the bus to the station (holy cow what a jerky/bumpy bus ride).  I had to wait at the station for a while, went to the bathroom, continued to be nervous about the upcoming bus ride later, waited in the bar...the Polizia came in and as they were leaving they asked if I was Italian.  I said no, and explained that I was from the United States, but I live here and work as a teacher.  I told them I worked at Fermi, etc.  They were so sweet and announced to the bar that I was an English teacher...or a profesoressa!  It was so cute!  They said, "abbiamo un insegnante di inglese!!!" 

So, I took the train

from Cosenza to Sibari...then I had to get on the bus...so I went to the bathroom, put my stuff on the bus, and ran to the bathroom one more time...thankfully they waited...this was going to be almost a 3 hour bus ride without a bathroom, and thus the reason I have NEVER taken a bus in Italy!  On this trip I saw my first train track/railroad crossings...weird.   The bus literally drove around the entire arch of the boot...I saw so much coastline and it was beautiful! 

However, I also saw a ton of hot mess cities...now I know why people say the North has all the money...THEY DO! I saw some rough "train stations" that dont have trains anymore...some rough landscape...some rough looking housing...I talked to Nick quite a bit on this trip, and this was what kept me sane!!!  Thank goodness for my Nick.  I took the bus from Sibari to Taranto,

and a train from Taranto to Brindisi.

In Brindisi, only 20ish minutes from Lecce by train, I had to wait an extra 20 minutes for our train...and it was a little cold outside.  When I finally arrived in Lecce, I went to get a cab because it was raining.  Holy cow it ended upcosting 15 euros...he knocked off over a euro because I asked why it was so expensive and he had me explain that it is sooo much cheaper in Cosenza.  I was successful in communicating/conversing with him all the way to the piazza where Mattea had me go.  SO, that was a success!!   Mattea met me in front of the McDonald's in the piazza...ahh McDonalds...in Italy! 

When we arrived back at her apartment...it was a cute place!  Steep stone stairs, but the apartment is huge! I was so excited to see everyone!!  David, Lindsey, Andrea, and her boyfriend Zeno were all there!  I got hugs all around, and I was so happy to be with almost all of my Italian loves!  Mattea was stressing out about things, so she decided not to join us for dinner!  However, the rest of us eventually went to meet Antonella and James (from the Consulate) for dinner.  We met them at their hotel first, and had drinks.  THey served us a ridiculous amount of wine in a glass.... It was good wine though! 

Then, we walked to a place to eat...we chose somewhere random!  We had great appetizer type foods...good wine...James tried weird beer...and we had great conversation!  We were at dinner so late that Nick was able to arrive in Lecce and take a cab to meet us!  I went out to the piazza to find him!  I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited to see him and hug him!  My cheeks hurt from smiling so much just within the first 5 minutes!  So, he joined us for the last of our food/wine/their beer, and it was so much fun!  We went back to see Mattea...talked...laughed...loved on each other...and went to bed!

So excited to be with my Fulbright/Italy loves!