I of course started my day with a breakfast of oatmeal. I mean is there really any other way to start the day?? I thinkn no!
For some reason this morning, I went to the wrong building first. I stood there for a few minutes waiting on the door to open, and then it hit me...umm...you do not have Patrizia's class first today...you have Valeria's class first, and it is in the other building. I felt ridiculous. SO naturally I was a few minutes late. This is rarely a problem in these Italian schools though, so I was good. The students had to discuss some things amongst themselves anyway, which meant they had to talk about the class ski/language trip they are taking in March. Actually, it might be the end of February. I think it coincides with days I am missing. I can't remember. Anyway, I went to print, and we FINALLY made it to the lab only to find out that the computer worked, but the projector did not. So, after a few minutes of trying to get them to tell me what facts they found about the Civil War and the South, which was their homework, I gave up on this. Only like 3 of them did what I had asked, and so I was completely annoyed. Anyway, then I decided to just turn the computer monitor around and start the lesson like this. DId they listen? NO...half of them, and this one group of girls who would have been expelled a loooooooong time ago in the U.S. were talking and not paying attention AT ALL!
I had to ONCE AGAIN stop the lesson and talk to them about disrespect. I asked them if they would do this if Valeria was here. No answer. SO, I answered for them; NO they wouldn't because she would be "grading them". I asked if they thought this was okay. Again, no answer. So, I once again answered for them and explained how disrespectful it is for them to do this every time I come to class. I came really close to saying that I would just not come to their class anymore, but I stopped myself. I cannot stand that they do this. They talk so loudly together that the students who ARE paying attention cannot hear me, and I cannot hear them when they speak to me! I asked them if they were huddled together studying for a test. They said yes that they had a math test. I said, "well, this is ENglish and you are here to learn. If you have a test, TELL ME! I will gladly do the lesson and give you 10 minutes at the end on days that you have tests. However, I will not do this if you continue to disrespect me!" SO, we agreed to 10 more minutes of the lesson and then 10 minutes of studying. It worked somewhat...but at this point the momentum of the lesson was already screwed up.
After class, I had to talk to one of my students about the fellowship I want to nominate her for because she is such a good student, great at English, and wonderful person. I told her all about it, explained as much as I could, and she was almost in tears. She kept hugging me and thanking me for thinking of her. I was REALLY excited that she was so excited about the potential opportunity!
My next class was Patrizia's class. We went to the lab and talked about Southern culture today! They thought the food looked really good, and said they wanted to try some! This class was the one I was MOST worried about at this school, but they have come such a long way in speaking up, taking notes, and they seem like they are really trying to pick up the language. I think they win the prize for most improved at this point! They said that they wanted to have a day where we (I) made a recipe or two! We agreed, with Patrizia, that when the weather is not snowy (so that students do not have to drive back to school in the snow), that we would organize an after school lunch with Southern foods. I am pretty excited about it...and actually, I might try to see if this is something we can do when Erin and Meagan are here...That way, it is something fun...good food...and they get more than one American, and more than one Southerner...and an adopted southerner! :)
Next I had a one hour break. I think I got coffee...I honestly do not remember.
Linda's class was last. We talked about Southern culture today, after we did their review about the "Old South". They were SO engaged, interactive, and responsive. Linda was engaged in the activity with us, and it was just this wonderful hour of conversation, back and forth, where they were reading things, asking questions/answering questions. I had such a great time in this class today! I love these students more and more with every passing day because they are warm, welcoming, friendly, intelligent, trying very hard, improving, energetic, etc.
For lunch, I went to the macelleria next to (sort of) my apartment. I did not like the way the turkey looked, so I branched out and got prosciutto. This is branching out because I have never bought it when I am alone, but it said it was the one from Parma, so I trusted it. Anyway, lunch was wonderful. I talked to my momma, worked on stuff most of the afternoon, and then decided to go out for a walk.
My walk went like this:
1. Tried on like 6 or 7 different brown boots at like 4 different stores. Determined that my feet just do NOT fit into Italian shoes. They are TOO narrow...and the 38 is too small...but the 39 is too big!
2. I got some new tights that area really thick!
3. It started raining
4. After an hour and a half, I decided that it was time to give up the shoe hunt, get out of the rain, and go home to eat my pasta and chicken!
I spent the evening working, doing Bible study, and then talked about the Bible study with NIck. THEN...we went to sleep!
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