I want to go too....

I started my day with a breakfast of tostate con marmelatta (da Firenze) e yogurt.

First up was Valeria's class.  I took them to the computer lab to do their presentations, but of course NOBODY listened to each other.  Each presenter just sat in the chair and read their presentation to me.  One girl even sat next to me, searched for the Statue of Liberty on Wikipedia, copied the words into Googletranslate, put it on their website, and then read it to me from the screen.  How in the world do they expect to learn by doing things like this?  Do they even want to learn?  I think that for some, unfortunately the answer is no.  Non ho capito!!!  I did have two girls that each did an excellent job on their presentations, and I could tell that they put work into it.  B. talked about Fashion week, and even had links to show dresses and such from this year; she went through the trouble to describe them and everything!  I can tell that she really wants to learn!  F. did two things, one of them being Kodak!  I didn't have the heart to tell her that they went out of business.  The whole hour was really frustrating, but nothing I said made a difference in their behaviors.  I did enjoy their countdown calendar, but it also made me realize how little time I have left here!

In Rosina's class I had them finish their presentations.  I had made a list of about 13 questions for them to answer as a review from their classmates presentations, and I wrote them on the board.  We had about 20 minutes left in class, and they were all asking me if they could just take picture of the board.  I told them that they would have to write them anyway because I wanted the question and answer written.  One boy, thinking he was clever, said , "what if the bell rings??"  Ah ha my friend...we have 20 minutes!  He was really annoyed that I had outsmarted him.  Some of them still did not write down the answers, but just took a picture and preceded to talk the rest of the time.  REALLY!?!?!? The problem is that the teacher truly cannot control these behaviors, and thus neither can I!

 

Then Rosina decided that they should answer them out loud, which in my opinion defeated the purpose of them doing it because the ones who paid attention would answer them out loud and those who did not would write down those answers.  I was a little frustrated, but oh well.  When class was over I did not have to go to Castrolibero, so I said goodbye to Rosina and the students and rushed off to meet Valeria for our appointment to go to the bank and get coffee.

When I walked into Piazza Kennedy, Valeria was there waiting.  We hugged, kissed, and then headed to the bank.  When we walked in, the girl who helped me the last time, Valentina, recognized me and waved.  She had just finished with a customer, so we went to see her!  She told me that the people at the counter would have to do the transaction, but she could talk to us about the "click card", which is a card Lindsay said she uses for purchases as though it were an Italian credit card.  Valentina told me that I was not eligible for it, or any other Italian credit cards of course, and so that was that. It didn't hurt to ask though!  So then we grabbed a number and went to wait in the other area.  When the guy started helping us, it was a rather slow start because he had never, nor had anyone else, transferred money to the U.S.  I am in small town Italy for sure!  Valeria was so patient and kind throughout the process, with me, him, and the whole situation.  I do love her so much!  So, they eventually got the paperwork processed, and I will wait to check in a day or so that it did go through!  With the official stuff behind us, Valeria and I went to get some coffee before her physical therapy appointment.  While having coffee we talked about Italian food, and she gave me a TON of Italian recipes! I'd still REALLY like to cook with some of my teachers and learn from them, but they do not seem to understand that this is what I want, even though I stated this quite clearly!  We then talked about the divisions within the country- food, loyalty, politics, etc.  We talked about the situation at shcool some, and apparently there are some arguments going on at school among some of the teachers (which Patrizia would later mention to me).  We talked about final stuff for Fulbright, and she feels sad that she did not get to spend as much time with me, and I feel the same way about her! I absolutely adore Valeria, and wish I had more time with her.

I went back to school to work on some things, and the teachers seemed shocked to see me there working.  I talked to Patrizia and Rosina for a few minutes, and worked out going to school on the Saturday that Erin and Meagan arrive.  I will go to school at 10 am to meet one of Rosina's classes!  This will allow me to make up an hour I am missing, and pass some time waiting (impatiently) for Meagan and Erin to arrive.  When I finished talking to them, I headed home to each lunch.

I talked to my momma, and then Nick on the phone/skype for a few minutes while he got ready to catch the bus to the train station, to then go to Rome for the night before he flies to D.C. tomorrow.  I want to go too..Italy will be lonely for a few days!  Lunch was more pasta with the chicken and good sauce,

and then I talked to Nick a little bit more while he traveled.  I also worked on school stuff, finished the application questions (which caused me to have major dorkiness and remember how much I love early childhood stuff), sent some emails, and just marked things off my to-do list.

Nick and I kept losing connection while he wason the train, but I was able to see him on skype once he got settled into his hotel.  We then talked on the phone while he got some dinner before meeting some of his UW professors who happen to be in Rome at the moment. I also talked to my momma some!

While Nick was off meeting his professors, I worked on some of my stuff, and then III talked to the best professor ever, Maria.  We talked for over an hour about school, Fulbright, Italy, what's going on in her world, etc.  She was shocked by some of the things I had to say about school here and some of the things that shock me daily.  It was so good to talk to her, and it made me realize how much I miss her!

Then, Nick came back to the hotel and we talked until we fell asleep on skype!  I am going to miss him while he is in D.C., and I know I will be a bit lonelier, but I suppose I will survive! ;)  I mean after all, I am still in Italy!