Day 19- Communication

Watching people trying to understand each other is really pretty entertaining. Definitely so much more entertaining than actually being the understandee or understander. Last night there was a lot of that. I should definitely get points for my effort, I was sort of proud of myself because I wasn't completely mute the entire time. Granted most of the Italian spoken was Spanish with an Italian accent, but the point of speaking to anyone at all is to communicate and I'm pretty sure everyone understood at least 85% of what I was saying...So I'm going to go ahead and call that a success. Oh I'll get it soon enough.

I do admit I miss being understood a 100% of the time. It's details like that that have made me miss home a little. I always thought it was absolutely ridiculous when people said they were homesick while being in such amazing places (and even now it's me I still do), but at certain times...at specific moments, it seems that nothing really compares to the familiarity and comfort of your own life. Your own room. Your bed. Pillow. Just the tiny things that I wish I could maybe try and fit in a third suitcase. But. My bed here isn't all that bad. 

Tomorrow I have class. English Literature, which means more sitting by myself amongst 50 other students...until someone picks up on the fact that I speak English fluently and can be an asset to them and their grade. Hopefully. That's my strategy right now. Although it's not like I read what I was supposed to for next class so...I might not end up being very helpful. I should go read. 

One more Top Chef episode and then I'll read.

Day 15

It is so odd how sometimes you think you want something and then once it's happening, you feel the opposite way. I fueled this trip with the thought of an adventure, telling myself I wanted so badly to feel scared, out of my comfort zone, doing something new. So why is it once I'm finally in that position, sitting alone in a classroom full of 50 Italian students, that I want to turn and run.  Really, why would I do this to myself? It's the awkward introductions that kill me. "Hi, I'm Nasha..I don't know how to say anything else in your language. Be my friend?" God.

I finally went to my first class last Friday. It's an English Lit class, kind of a cop out move on my part, but I thought anything that could help me ease my way into the system and give me some sort of cushion language-wise would be a good thing. The lectures are all in Italian, but the texts and novels we have to read are in English and the teacher said I could give the final exam in English as well so that's enough cushion. We'll see how it goes.  So Tuesday is my next class. English Lit or Social Skills 101?

Also this week is my placement test for Italian classes, tomorrow at 9:15. We'll see how far a language learning app can get you. At least it means I'll be surrounded by people in the same position I am.

So...I'm hoping both classes will help me turn around my social life here, which has been a little non-existent so far. People keep telling me I haven't even been here a month, but it honestly feels like three. It's a little confusing because I feel like I've done so many things, and new things, which makes everyday so long. And makes me a little homesick.  But at the same time I'm getting antsy thinking I haven't done anything at all. I mean I woke up after 12 today. I really feel like I should be off doing something.  On that note, remember how I was going to go to Pisa? Daniela and I went to get the ticket and we were going to leave at 6 the next morning (4 hour trip to get there), so I stayed at her house because it's closer to the station. So the alarm was set and we should have been ready to go around 5:30, but....we both jumped up around 6, when her roommate walks in more aware of our trip then we were telling us that we were tardi tardi. There went our train. And Pisa. Thankfully, the train ticket is valid through May, so we can go next weekend. Oops.

After that, the weekend left much to desire, so when I did wake up today, I went running, and then went out and walked around with my camera a little. A few times I wanted so badly to take pictures of random people...the old couple sitting on the bench or the little boy stuffing his face with gelato...but I don't have the vocabulary to ask permission yet and even if I did I'm not so sure I would.  Some people in a pastry shop saw my camera and posed for me though, without even having to ask. So there you go. 

View from my room-Basilica di San Paolo

Eat and Run

While these were uploading, I had dinner. I thought I was eating a weird cut of beef until Maria told me it was veal. So. Much. Better. Haha. Any takers?