Perguia

Ciao! Schools started! Thank goodness. Gives me something to do. But, school is going to be a lot harder than I had expected I think. I was told at UNI that my classes here in Perugia would be taught in English (I think) haha. I am starting to second guess myself on if I was actually told that or not now that I am here. Reguardless, my classes are taught in all Italian. No English or any other laungage can be spoken. So, I am very behind the rest of the people in my class. I think it will be good though, because it forces me to actually learn and not just sit in class. I have to focus to even try to understand anything the prof. says. She speaks so fast. Their are 30 students in my class but we split into two groups so for some classes we are with everyone and some classes we are with our group...

M: 2-6 (Verbal Practice) Everyone
Tu: 2-6(Verbal Practice) Everyone
W: 9-11(Grammer) Everyone
11-1(Grammer) Smaller Group
2-6 (Verbal Practice) Everyone
Th: 9-11 (Grammer) Smaller Group
F: 11-1 (Grammer) Smaller Group

So my Wednesdays are long, but other than that fairly simple. A couple of girls form Japan and the Holland girl and me know the least in the class. But, my professor knows that. She yells my name, Michele!, in class and asks if its hard or easy (always in italian), I always say its hard. Becuase it is right now, I need to build up my Italian vocab and then I will start being able to say things. And then there is the grammer and the verbs and the ending changes. But, if I am here for 5 months everyone says I will be able to speak very well when I leave.

Out of half of the people in my class about half are asian (as I had predicted) and there are about 10 Isrealian and Palestinian boys in class. and the rest of us. I think I am know as the typical dumb American that only knows English. Well, it is true. But at least I am trying to learn another language and travel half way across the world to do it. No, but everyone is very nice to me. The girls in my class have taken pity on my not knowing anything Italian well. There is a girl from Spain, two girls from Brazil, a German girl, and the Holland girl. We all sit by eachother and they each help me periodically throughout the lessons. I am very thankful for them. They all can speak English except for one of the Brazilians and the Spainish girls speaks about as much English as I do Spanish. But all no problem communicating, its actually fun. But yes, the girls are very nice and write down important things to remember about the grammer and stuff like that. The isrealian and palestinian boys always are together and go out and smoke all the time in the middle of class. Everyone here smokes. Everyone. I am the wierd one because I do not smoke. Something I was not used to was all the smoke breaks we get in school. Like every 45 minutes haha. Its insane. I usually have to stay in the class and stuff, its usually me and the Japan girls in the class studying when everyone else is smoking. But, they still know way more than me. I am always the first one to class, and class always starts 15 minutes late. I know that is normal or whatever, still wierd to me. And no one is on time, everyone shows up 30 minutes or 45 minutes late. hahaha, I don't understand it. There is usually just me the Japan girls and the older man from Finland on time and for the first 20 minutes. So, wierd. I feel like a good student. Everyone came in with at least 1 month of intense laungage course of Italian before this course. Oh yeah, I don't remember if I said or not, but I am in Italian 2, they call it A2 but its not the begining course. A good number of the kids in the class have like 4, 5, or 6 months of studying Italian in their home countries.

I have been meeitng some people, I am good friends with a Turkish boy name Ozan who is a juggle that wants to go to Orlando, FL to join the circus. That is his life dream. haha, he is a very good juggler. I met him in my Hostel in Perugia and we talk and I see him on the streets and stuff. So I am not completly alone, he has introduced me to all his friends from Turkey, but I forget their names very quickly. I feel horrible, but they are all very nice.

I decided to move into the 6 bedroom apartment upstairs in my building. So, on the 28th I move agian. I am excited for that to alwasy have people around even if there is nothing to do, at least there are people around.

I walked out of class the other day and looked down the hall and saw a guy with a flat billed New York Mets hat on and an old faded yellow Xmen shirt on. And he was a bigger guy, not fat just had a little puff to him. I realized now how you can spot the Americans so quickly when I saw him. haha. My professors thought I was from Greece. So, I guess that is good.

My hair is getting longer, don't know how to tell the barber how to cut my hair so I will just keep growing it out. Um, I bought a plant the other day. Don't know why, but just gives me something to take care of, which I like. The old lady kept talking to me in Italian, haha, she knew I didn't understand anything I was saying but it was fun. She was sweet. I might go back just to talk with her.

I am doing well, no drastic problems. Except, I am not able to watch Lost online becuase of international viewing rights or soemthing like that. Which sucks. But, I think I am going to to dowload the Super Bowl off of Itunes so I can Watch that on Monday which will be good.

I miss a lot of the little things, which I think is very typicall, heres just a little list of what I miss....

Aunt Nancys Salad
Pablos Quessadillas
My Blanket (haha, seriously)
Mustard
Driving
Flavored Chips

A few things that I love here in Perugia...

Kababs
Pickels (I bought a jar a day ago and they are all gone)
Walking very slowing
People Watching
Pizza place up the street (I'm becoming a regular)
The Market


All is good in Perugia for me. Had a semi rough week for me last week. But things always turn around for the best it seems. So my mindset is very postive. Now that I know what to expect in school and talked to my classmates. I'm set, now things just start falling into place.

Hope all is well back home and wherever you are!

Ciao!
Michele (Mee-Kay-Lay) ...not michelle. ha