This weekend was GORGEOUS!! The weather was warmer and the sun was shining like nothing I have ever seen...well, like I have not seen around here in a few months!
Either Thursday or Friday I had been sucked into going to the theatre on Saturday morning with one of my classes at the school in Cosenza. I say sucked in because the teacher had me sign something saying I would be there before I really knew what I was signing and WHEN I was signing it for. I had already committed when I realized it was on Saturday morning at 8ish. Last night I texted B. to ask about buses and she told me which one to take to get to this particular theatre, which I had only be to by car. So, my morning started by eating breakfast, getting dressed, and taking the bus to the theatre. I had to ask the bus driver which stop it would be because I had no idea. He was very kind and made sure I had the correct stop and knew where to walk from there. It was really very close, but I did not know that at the time. I was sooooo sleepy, but I was happy to see my students. I sat inside while they all waited outside; I could not handle the massive cloud of smoke that comes along with a large group of Italian teenagers. I still did not really know what we were there for, but I eventually asked a few of them, and they told me that it was Macbeth in English! Yay Shakespeare, said no one ever...well, some people...but not me.
So, when all of the students started going into the theatre, I went to search for my group. I ran into B., and then I found the whole class. They were asking why I was there, and said that the sub was supposed to be there. I explained that she was not coming and that it was just me! They seemed relieved and happy about this! So, we settled in and waited for it to start, which of course was like 15 minutes after it was supposed to start! BUONASERA TUTTI! The girls were all having people take our picture, and now I need to get them to email me a copy of it! Anyway, when it finally started, I had to pay close attention because they started asking me questions to check their comprehension. I will not lie, I have never cared for Shakespeare, nor have I ever fully understood him. However, this is mostly due to the fact that I primarily read Shakespeare, and I have always heard that it is better to see it acted out, etc. So, I was pretty excited that I did understand the play, and was able to help them understand. Before it was over, I had to go to the bathroom, and this is only significant to say because I first walked out to the lobby to go to that one, and I found a HUGE group of middle schoolers who had NO PROBLEM pushing and shoving, and I definitely got shoved at least once. Come on guys...get it together.
Anyway, when it was over, they were having a Q & A session, and my students begged me to leave. I did not want to stay either, so we all left. The girls asked if I would go to the mall (Metropolis) with them, and of course I said yes! They told me that today I had to speak in Italian, which of course made me really nervous. They did it about 50/50. They also wanted to know if I would go to McDonald's with them, and when I said sure, they asked if I liked McDonald's. They were all SHOCKED when I said that I did not really like McDonald's, and I had to explain to them that this is a stereotype of Americans, and that we do not ALL like McDonald's. In fact, I think I know more Italians that like/eat McDonald's than I do Americans who do so. So, we went in the mall, and they decided to just walk around for a bit before going to the food court. We looked at sunglasses, clothes, etc. etc. It is fun to see what they think is stylish and what they think is ugly! We have some similar tastes, but not all. Anyway, so then we made our way to the food court, where some of the girls had already gone to get something to eat. When we sat down with them, I noticed a ton of empty McDonald's food containers. So, B. and S. went to get McDonald's. They came back with this HUGE, disgusting looking sandwich that had a hamburger patty, bacon, cheese, and a hashbrown on it. They split it, and the fries, but come on guys. Do not say anything about Americans. They claim that they eat it because they want to be more like Americans, but then how does this give you the right to be disgusted at how "fat" Americans are, or to claim that Americans ONLY eat McDonald's. Oh well. So, I decided that instead of disgusting McDonald's, I would get the good gelato that they have at the foodcourt. It was delicious as usual. Then B. decided to get ice cream from McDonald's, while S. and C. went to get the brioche with gelato on the inside. Seriously guys, do not say ANYTHING about Americans. All the while, there was a group of boys sitting at the table behind us, and they decided to start throwing things at the girls, and the girls, well some of them, decided to play along. It was a great insight into the Italian teens. Some of the girls were fed up with the boys acting a fool, but the others did not stop participating in the ridiculousness. The worst moment was when they threw an open ketchup thing that got ketchup on me and C. It got on her shirt, and she decided to get up and move. Thankfully it just got on my jacket and I could easily wipe it off. It was rather ridiculous. Thankfully they left and not too long after that, so did we. We walked around a bit more and then headed for the bus. We were going to one bus, when B. and C. decided to go back and find the others, who were not happy because it made them miss the bus. When they were all standing around talking, they were getting worked up about something (couldn’t understand the rapid Italian), they started shooting each other the middle finger, and then got really embarrassed when they remembered that I was standing there. I also learned earlier that on their ski trip the other week, they all got really drunk. B., who I could not picture getting drunk because she is the most responsible one, the mother-figure of the group, was apparently the worst. These kids are 15 and 16, and they have stories that rival college students in America. Questo non va bene!. The bus ride was fine, and then we all got off the bus at the station, and went our separate ways. Kisses were given all around, and I walked with B. to the main street and then we parted ways! Overall it was a wonderful morning. I was EXHAUSTED, but it was fun!
I came home, ate a little bit for lunch, rested, and then went out for a two hour walk in the GORGEOUS sunshine! I picked a random path and started walking. I walked this one road further than I ever have. I went in this other hotel that I had seen there, and it was really nice. It also has a restaurant that I want to try, and perhaps I will get some of my upcoming visitors to go with me. Then I walked over the bridge that crosses the river into the other part of the historical center. I have never walked this path and it was beautiful! I could try to say more about it, but I’ll just show you some of the pictures I took along the way. Then I walked down to the river and took some pictures. I really enjoy this spot in Cosenza. Again, I’ll just let the pictures do the talking for me. I did have a moment of, “I live in Italy…and what if this never happens again?!? How sad is that? Would I really want to live in Italy again? I am going to miss it! I miss the U.S. though, but I will miss many things about Italy!” Anyway, the bottom line is that while I will be ready to come home, I will be missing Italy!
When I came home I talked to my momma and daddy on skype! Yay! I talked to Nick, wrote blogs, and made dinner.
This happened on skype tonight:
Around 9 Nick and I started doing Bible study, which lasted until 4 a.m. We had a really long, deep, theological discussion until 4. It was intense, wonderful, insightful, and….just great to get to talk about all of these things.
During this intense conversation, Matt sent me a facebook message telling me to call his phone. ERIN WAS ENGAGED!!!!!!!!! Holy cow!! She was crying and laughing and could not believe that it was me calling her!! She said that he took her for a walk on the beach and she was picking up seashells and he told her that she could not take them all home, which she always does. So, he made her lay them out and choose, and he hid the ring under one of the shells. When she found it, he got down on one knee and proposed!! :) YAY!!!!!!!!!! SO happy for my love!! We talked for a few minutes and then she went. I was so happy to be able to talk to her immediately afterwards! It made me feel a part of it, which I definitely wanted to be with Erin.
Sunday I did not go to church. 1. I did not go to sleep until 4 a.m. 2. I had a HORRENDOUS HEADACHE/EYE ACHE 3. Nick and I were still very much in need of finishing this conversation
I talked to April for a bit on facebook, which always makes me happy! Rosina called and asked if I wanted to go to the sea with her today, which it was a GORGEOUS day, but my head was hurting so badly and they were leaving in like 30 minutes. She was disappointed and wanted me to go meet some artist friend of hers, but I just could not go! I was really sad, but I was not feeling like it at all. The only time I got out was to try and go to the grocery store for a few things, but I discovered that they were closed. I ran into Lilla when I was walking back to my apartment. I came home and made dinner. I had eggs and a pancake because I didn't have anything else that I wanted. I worked on blogs most of the night and talked to Nick.
Lila and Ernesto came by to get rent, etc. When new roomie, Francesca, came in, they met her for the FIRST TIME! EXCUSE ME WHAT?!?!? I was shocked...how can this be the first time you are meeting her?? So, when she was not in the apartment anymore, I asked them how she moved in if they had not moved her in. They said that she is a friend of their son's and he moved her in. I am so not okay with all of these people in the apartment randomly without my knowledge...this would NEVER happen in the U.S. Anyway, so I paid them the money and they left. Nick and I did Bible study, and it was wonderful!
I love Nick's faith in the Lord. This is how it should be: worshiping together, praying together, doing Bible study, and loving the Lord together.
It was a long weekend, full of a lot of skype, conversation, headaches, and sunshine! It was the beginning of a wonderful and interesting week as well (yes, I am far enough behind in writing all of this that I know it was an interesting week after these things).
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