This morning I was EXCITED to see the sun shining outside. Then, I talked to Nick on skype because he is there each morning when I wake up...and then a sweet friend from my past, Marcie, had some very kind things to say, and it was nice to talk to her for a few minutes! I love encouraging people! :) It was the perfect morning to have encouragement, because the day to come was a bit rough.
So, I walked to school, because that is what I love to do when I can! I was even happier because I had gotten to sleep in today; Lilla emailed and said that one of her classes was going to be having sex-ed, so I just needed to come for the second. However, when I arrived at school and went into the teacher's lounge, I was there only a minute or so when Lilla came in (after the bell rang). She said, "did you have a problem? Are you okay?" I looked at her like she was from outer space. She looked and me and said, "you did not come!" I said, "Lilla, you told me that they had sex-ed!" She said, "nooo, that is the first years during this hour!" Umm...yeah, that's not what the email said! So, that was that...and I had an extra free hour because the email was confusing, and so I missed the class I was supposed to be in. COMMUNICATION IS KEY! **I even had Nick read the email later, and he was equally confused and took it the same way I did!** So, instead we went to get some coffee. Another teacher in the bar paid for my coffee though; the teachers are so sweet to me! I am so grateful for little things like this! It's the small details/things in life that can make it that much sweeter. It is so kind of them to show me this sort of generosity! Coffee is not thaaat expensive or anything, but again, it is the small details...the seemingly insignificant things that can be, well, significant to me! The money is not the important part...it is, as it always should be in life, the thought that counts!
So, after I spent the hour with Lilla, she had to go teach, I was reading, and then I talked to Nick while he was on his break.
Next up, well, the only class, was Francesca's class. OH BOY...are the only two words I can say. Francesca is the teacher that loves all things British and seems to despise all things American and tends not to believe me when I say something about what Americans say or something of that nature. Well, stupid me, desperately needing a lesson, decided to use the lesson Andrea gave me about British vs. American English. So, the idea is that you are simply comparing; no one is saying that one is right or wrong, better or worse! The idea was simply to compare. The students seemed to enjoy it actually! They were enthusiastic to answer my questions...to guess what the word would be...and even more enthusiastic when they were right! We enjoyed comparing whether the Italian word was similar to the American or British one...and much more! So what was the problem you may ask?? Well, if you saw my facebook status, then you already know what the problem was! I should also say that the lesson begins with a slide stating that these are two versions of the same language, but there are differences in spelling sometimes, pronunciation, and sometimes we just use different words for things! Again, no right/wrong...just different.
So, the problem was that Francesca does not trust my authority on American things. First, I am 27 years old...and I have lived IN the U.S. for all but about...umm...well Nov. 2011, and the past for months...so, for 27 years minus 5 months. SO, I think this qualifies me to speak with some authority on Americanisms. Here are her objections in the order that they happened:
1. That the British do not pronounce "schedule" with an "sh" sound at the beginning. Not an American thing, but everyone I have asked agrees with me on this one! As much as she studies/loves the British English, I thought she might know this one.
2. That the British do not pronounce water differently. Yes they do, if for no other reason than they have a British accent.
3. So, the British, and Italians for that matter, call a "cookie" a biscuit. She tried to tell me that a chocolate chip cookie is NOT a cookie. She said that only fortune cookies (or, "those 'cookies' with paper in them"). Now, for all I know, the British call a chocolate chip cookie a car; who knows and who cares. When I tell you that a chocolate chip cookie is called a cookie in America, I expect you to believe me. First, it is in the name. Second, 27 years...TWENTY-SEVEN!
4. Then, I googled what we called a biscuit. THIS is where the REAL frustration began. She said that they are NOT called biscuits, but rather they are scones. Me- "No, there is a difference!" Her- "No, there isn't!" This is where I proceeded to tell her the differences and googled pictures to SHOW her the difference, she continued to tell me that I was wrong and that biscuits are not called biscuits. YES THEY ARE...27 YEARS...SERIOUSLY! Not to mention, 27 years in the SOUTH... I told her that they had a different texture, taste, etc. She had never had an American biscuit, but was convinced that the American was wrong. **These few minutes contributed to a lot of the work I did this afternoon...keep reading for details**
So, at this point, I will not pretend like I was not a bit angry! The worst part was her tone of voice. Do not speak to me like I am an idiot, and especially when it is about my OWN culture. I do NOT walk into these classrooms pretending to understand all things Italian and/or knowing the name for, or words used, for every Italian item. If I did, I might not be as frustrated with the language. Therefore, if you have never studied American English OR been to America, please let the American be the authority on all things American. I mean, we weren't talking politics or anything...then, I could see how you might doubt my knowledge or something.
So, I got on the bus, and was talking to Nick. I was livid. He was equally annoyed and said he would have been a lot more (using Britt's word here) snarky towards her. I told him my plan was just to go home and add to the powerpoint to prove my point. I stopped at the grocery store, came home, ate lunch, and began working on this. I added recipes for scones and biscuits; I found pictures; I added to other parts of the lesson so that we could review what we did today and add to it tomorrow. I added two slides worth of different kinds of cookies. It may seem immature to some of you, but I cannot even begin to tell you how frustrating it can be for people to make assumptions about your culture and country, while not stopping to consider for one second that things may not ACTUALLY be that way! The Italians get upset when people thing they ONLY eat pizza and pasta, or that they are all in the Mafia. So, show us the same respect (here I am not only referring to this...but more will be in the next blog about what I am referring to!)...oops, just gave myself away that I am behind! ;) Anyway, bottom line was that I was going to school tomorrow with some ammunition, and the internet/other Americans behind me on this one.
Lila, landlady, called and said that they would be by tonight to get Jan/Feb rent, and to talk about some other stuff. I eventually decided that I wanted to get out and walk around a bit before they came! I was also in search of some specific things that I want. SO, I went to a bookstore, and when I left said store, the sidewalk tripped me...no, really, there was a bit spot where the sidewalk was broken and my shoe caught it wrong, and I definitely fell. My knee was immediately a bit sore, but I powered through the walk. I went down the Corso, stopped in a few stores, went to the bookstore that I love, and then headed home to eat dinner and work some more before Lila and Ernesto were supposed to come!
I got to talk to my daddy while I made dinner! I had another pancake...seeing as how it was "National Pancake Day" in the U.S.! Any excuse to eat the pancake though!! :) It was so good to talk to my daddy and see him! Then I saw my dog...whaa???? He loves me! So, I miss my daddy...I miss my dog...and I miss my other animals too!!! And my momma of course, but I was just referring to those that I saw on skype at this moment! SO, happy birthday to my daddy again!
Ernesto FREAKED out when he looked at the gas meter, and kept saying that it was TOO much! I never fully understood, but apparently we are using the heat/hot water too much. Now, I wanted to remind him that the number he was looking at was for FOUR MONTHS....they have not done this since I moved in...so, could it really be thaaaaat bad. However, it did freak me out a bit. I was super nervous now, and I am waiting to hear from them! They also did not look at the washing machine OR the broken shower head while they were here...so I suppose that will be next time! When they left, I was having a little bit of anxiety about the money, but then I immediately stopped to pray about it, and found peace. I called Nick on skype and was talking to him. THEN like less than 5 minutes later, Francisco called (from Church) and was telling me that there is a family with a 12 year old who wants private ENglish lessons for like 2 hours out of the week! Umm...God, thank you for providing immediately. So, after I get back from my 2 weeks away, I will be starting extra lessons at the school, and with this girl. Thus, money is okay! I was also able to access my Italian account tonight, finally, because I remembered the password, and I felt good about the balance!
Also, tonight I got an email from Tiffany. A few weeks ago I was playing around on their website, because something showed up on my facebook about it, and I was reading all of these love stories and looking at this new section with pictures that they have on their site. I noticed it said that you could submit your own picture, and they would choose some to be on the website. So, I thought, "why not??" Perche' no?? So, I submitted the picture that Mattea took of Nick and me at the train station in Lecce. Then tonight, just when I needed some more good news, I got an email saying that they had chosen it to put on the website! I was immediately giddy and so excited. I was on skype with Nick, but he was finishing a lesson, so I had to be ubber patient for like 5 minutes while he finished up. I told him I had a small, yet exciting surprise! He really was so sweet about it, and excited! He was quiet for a few minutes and then said, "man, all these other pictures suck! Ours is by far the best!!" He had been looking at all of the others; so sweet! Anyway, it is silly, but exciting for me! Here is the link: http://www.whatmakeslovetrue.com/love-is-everywhere/love-in-pictures/?ppid=123181
I do have a few prayer requests:
1. I have been feeling frustrated lately. I cannot put my finger on exactly what I am frustrated about, but I am.
2. The frustrating school is really getting to me! I am struggling. I am struggling with the student's attitudes; lesson planning; etc.
3. I need to be focusing more on what matters in life...not on the silly things
4. What's next! I promised myself I would NOT think about this seriously until after Reggio, but I want to be preparing my heart for what is next. I have no clue what it is, but I have a feeling that it will be big and important. I dont know where I want to be, or what exactly it is I want to do, but I know that God will show me if I am prayerful, obedient, and attentive. So, I am asking you all to once again join me in praying for this! Following the last set of open and closed doors led me to Italy...so I have NO DOUBT that God will show up in a big way once again!
5. The Rome midterm meeting...there are too many things to say about this, and some cannot be said in a public forum!
6. Anger...with some of the situations here...
**Thought for the day: He lead me here, and it is beyond amazing; therefore, I know He will lead me elsewhere, and so long as I have followed Him, it will be equally, or even more, amazing! (not to discredit his redeeming power should I miss the mark!)
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| hair getting looooonger |
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