One Month

Ciao everyone!

I figured I would update my blog today because I have officially been here for a month now! I can't believe it. The other day I decided 5 and a half months is not long enough; I should have chosen the year. I have experienced so much in the past month, but there is so much more I want to do! I feel like I will run out of time. Oh well, just an excuse to revisit this beautiful country :)

Yesterday I restarted school after a nice nine day break. School here is not my favorite place, but its not terrible, sometimes it is kind of nice. It is INCREDIBLY unorganized, which I don't mind. Normally about one class a day a teacher won't show up so we just hang out, the other kids study (I have nothing to study), or we watch a movie. Substitutes technically exist here, but they don't do anything. Also, because I am enrolled in Liceo Artistico (Artistic High School), I spend half my time at school attempting to be creative. Key word: attempting. Although they are unorganized, my school has tons of art materials that the art teachers at Patton could only dream of having access to. Oh, I have classified each of my teachers into two groups: "Ones That Care" and "Ones That Pretend I Don't Exist". To be quite honest, I think I prefer the latter. They give me the chance to sleep or listen to my iPod, aka: a nice break from the Italian that is constantly confusing and wearing out my brain.

FYI, I just took a 5 minute typing break because my host mom forced me to blow dry my hair. She thinks that I will instantly become sick if I: 1) don't blow dry my hair, 2) don't wear slippers around the house and 3) don't stuff myself with food at every meal. Just kidding about #3, but that's what it feels like most of the time!

Anyhow, I had a wonderful vacanze hanging out with friends, family, and just experiencing more of the Italian culture in general. My Italian is coming along very well, or so everyone else says. They haven't stood in my shoes and listened to the insanely fast babbling I hear a lot of the time! I have lessons twice a week and my teacher is great. She can speak very good english, which is helpful, although she speaks to me in Italian most of the time.

I found out today that I will be taking a day field trip to Torino with my school after Easter. That's 2 field trips planned already! My host brother is extremely jealous because his class never goes anywhere. Oh that reminds me! Alle (Alessandro: my host brother) found out today that he will officially be going to USA next year. Very exciting day for him!

I am definitely starting to settle in to this new life and I love it. I can't imagine not being here and I don't even want to start thinking about returning home (not that I don't miss you all!). I couldn't ask for a better opportunity, placement, and people in my Italian life!

Ciao ciao e un grande bacio per tutti! Xoxo.

Emma