Just came back from a nice long run down the hill towards the ocean. If you run just five minutes down the hill and don't turn your head around it really looks like a beautiful old Italian landscape. I run straight down, then straight back up, sheep and goats following me alongside the road. Running is going to be one of my greatest allies on this adventure. When I get home from school and my head is spinning with Italian and information, it feels really good to run, clear my mind, burn off some steam. I need to find a new route to run, though, because today I was running by a construction site and a big guard dog charged me, and I had to pretend to hold up a rock to throw at him to scare him off (a method I learned in Peru). Pretty scary, but other than that it was really nice. Showered, Skyped with Simon, (which was great and cheered me up immensely), and now I am listening to the new Andrew Bird album. Its really good, and will surely be forever associated with this step in my time abroad. A good soundtrack to my life.
School today was the most actual "school" I've had the whole time. It was my fourth day of school. Mostly in school we hang out and talk, playing funny games and trying our best to communicate in Italian. Its good because it leaves a lot of time for me to talk and explore the language. Everyone is really funny and kind, and more than willing to help me learn the language. It really helps to have Spanish under my belt, because the two languages are so similar.
Today I was walking into school with Gerlando, my host brother, and one of my classmates stopped me and told me that the class wasn't going to school today, instead they were taking a bus to Agrigiento to hang out and see some of the festival of the almond flower, which is famous all around Italy (Mandolo in Fiore). I told him no thanks, that I should probably go to class, and sat in the classroom alone for about a half an hour, then people started showing up. I think they felt bad leaving me alone haha.
I met the Italian teacher today, she seemed very nice. She told me that she was willing to help me with my other studies as well which was great. In English, I stood in front of the class and read from a really complex history text book in English. Then the teacher took it away and made me recite what I just read from memory. My first oral examination! I did pretty well. Luckily it was in English.
Simon just sent me some of the graphic design stuff he's working on. Really cool. He's got an eye for that. I suggested we start to collaborate, and sent him something I have been doing during school when we have no teacher. Its pretty cool. I'll post it in a sec.
OK- tonight we are going out for some pizza and hanging out. I'm looking forward to it. Also, tomorrow we have no school because of the festival in Agrigiento. I could get used to this Italian school system! Hahaha. OK, Ciao!
Zander
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment