Valeria's class started out with a...umm..the sub reading something she had written in terrible English. She was trying to get the students to pay attention, but they were not. I eventually sat down at the desks with my students so that I could 1. Sit 2. Try and figure out what in the world she was talking about. After about 20 minutes of the students not really participating, she handed the class over to me. I had them do the geography activity, and I was proud of the way they worked! When this class works, they do a great job of it; the trick is getting them to actually participate in anything! Man, I am looking forward to Valeria's return on Saturday!
I took Patrizia's class to the lab, and we had a small class because a few of them were gone to London on a school trip. I had them do the geography activity as well, and they did a great job! The geography activity has gone over really well, which makes me happy! I talked to Patrizia a bit about learning Italian, and how it has been difficult for me, especially because I speak English at school, etc. My Italian has improved, but I still get really anxious when someone is speaking directly to me in a conversation, and I know I am expected to fully comprehend and answer!! I really hate that I haven't improved more, but I think it would have been more helpful to have lessons with someone, and I asked teachers, but nobody ever took me up on it.
For my break I went ot the computers in the teachers' room, but they were still not working properly, so I just took the time to prep some lessons that did not require a computer to do so.
In Linda's class we finished the postcard activity. I felt terrible because I had left two of the pictures that I had to use (because I only had 4 postcards) at home. They were really great and drew the pictures for memory, and I was really impressed! Some of the groups worked really hard and some did not! Oh well. In the end, they did a great job with this activity, and I think it really challenged their minds and vocabulary! I had to tell MG today that they chose to continue the fellowship process with B. and not her! I felt terrible, but I had been putting it off for weeks now! I could tell she was really sad, but she took it really well!
When I left school, I walked home and talked to Nick for a while. I made lunch, talked to NIck, and then talked to my momma briefly before I had to leave to go back to school for the afternoon lesson. I had eaten a smaller lunch because my afternoon students were bringing local foods for me to try! I love when the students do that.
For the afternoon lesson, I had them review where the "American" foods came from, using the power point I created after we had this discussion last week. THen they had a loooong list of food/cooking vocabulary words to translate. I had them spell all of the translations, and that gave them quite a bit of practice with the English alphabet! THEN, I had them create a menu for Italian and American breakfasts, lunches, and dinners! They were highly confused about what Americans might eat, and so I was able to talk to them about eating sandwiches, salads, fruits, veggies, meats, etc. Their menus were kind of funny, and they think it is very odd that Americans and the British would have milk with their lunch. I explained that in schools it is served because it is important for childrens' bones, and not all families can afford a plentiful supply of milk, so it is required that schools serve it (I think that this is the primary reason). Anyway, we had some interesting discussions, and then we ended the class by having food. It was incredible. The crostata that one girl's mom made was hands down the best thing we had. It was DELICIOUS! The jam was homemade, as well as the entire crostata (like a pie). We had some Christmas treats, homemade sausage, cuculli (Easter bread), and more. It was so good, and they were so excited that I liked it all. Then, they insisted that I take home the left overs, which was fine because I was now excited to have these treats to share with Meagan and Erin.
As I walked home, bags of food in hand, I talked to Nick briefly and then he went to his conversation lesson. I took care of the sweets, putting them in containers, etc.
When I settled down in my room, my phone rang twice with a weird number, so I did not answer. Then it dawned on me that it might be B. from another number. I texted her to find out, and sure enough it was. She said that she would call me back. WHen I answered she was almost in tears! SHE GOT THE FELLOWSHIP TO GO TO THE UNITED STATES FOR LIKE 3 WEEKS!!!! She will go in July and stay for 3 weeks at Wake Forest, and they will travel to D.C. and Philadelphia! I was so excited and shwe was screaming a bit and thanking me, and saying how fortunate she is to have met me, etc. No, I am the fortunate one! I am so, so, so, inredibly proud of B. for this! She is going to do an amazing job, and will hav e the time of her life. Out of ALL the students in Italy that applied, she was the one chosen! How amazing is that??? I am so proud of her, and so proud to say that I know her!
When my momma called, I was so excited to tell HER the news as well! I wish I was going to be able to visit B. in th U.S., but unfortunately she will be there while I am still in Italy, and then while I am home for a few days, and then Seattle. If I did not have all of these plans, I definitely would have made an effort to go see her! NIck called while I was talking to my momma, and so I called him back once we hung up. I was not feeling well at all, so I had to get in bed. I had a little something for dinner, but not much. I worked on maps for my next lessons, and the test that Patrizia asked me to make for all of the 3rd year classes. I worked on blogs, and talked to Nick on Skype. That boy can make me laugh like no other. Silly thing always pulls his basketball shorts up to look like an old man, and I laugh every time! He is so much fun, and we have so much fun together, even when it is just talking over Skype!
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