Back to School

Since the day I made the commitment to come over here, I knew I was going to take an Italian class at some point. But after being here for three weeks and not understanding the language OR being around anyone even close to my own age, my first day of class could not come soon enough! I started my beginner's Italian class yesterday at a fashion and art school down the street from our house. Walking into the school, I was totally taken back to the first day of freshman year. I was so nervous! I immediately spotted two cute American girls and latched onto them. They are both studying here for the semester so I talked to them the whole time. You would think that a beginner's class would be taught in English, or at least some English, but no. My teacher walked into the room speaking Italian and writing all over the board in Italian and barely said two words in English the whole time. I was completely lost. She would explain something then say "Benne? Ok?" and the whole class would nod their heads like they understood and I was just sitting there like...what? Do they really know what's going on or are they just saying that? It could be a very long semester.

On another note, Gilda's birthday party went great on Tuesday. That morning, I helped Pietro and Gilda decorate the three dozen sugar cookies that I had made the night before. Italian desserts are typically very plain, so icing and sprinkles were a hit! I think they may have eaten more than they put on the cookies...a decision I immediately regretted letting them do as soon as the sugar rush hit! They were jumping on the table, running around the house, and chasing each other all over! TG for nap time!!

Licking the bowl of icing... The finished product, minus a few. The aftermath!

The party started at 4pm, but being on Italian time, the first guest didn't show up until 4:30. Once everyone got there, there were probably 15 kids running all over the yard and playing on the toys. The party worked pretty much the same as an American 3-yr. old birthday party, except for one thing: there was no designated "present time." When a child got there, they took their present to Gilda, who immediantly opened it and started playing with it! She even got a huge teeter-totter from someone and Lucia opened the box and put it together right in the middle of the yard. That's something my parents would have taken one look at and said "We'll have to put that together another day, honey." But everyone enjoyed playing on it the rest of the party. It was a long day, but everyone had fun!

Playing with the balloons The birthday girl! My attempt at getting a picture with Pietro...he HATES the camera!

The end of everyone singing to Gilda. "Tanti auguri a te..."