Tartaruga imbarazzata!

Thank you Mom and Lorie for the suggestions on what to do with the kids. But you guys have to know that these are first graders, 6 years old. They really have no desire to learn English, nor are they even capable of learning “my name is…” (trust me, I know now). So basically we just plan to play with them. It worked out really well the other day, we had them draw their favorite animal, then wrote a few animals in Italian and English on the board for them to copy down. Making them write anything uses up 3 or 4 times the amount of time as just talking would. Also, they all write in absolutely perfect cursive here. I’m 19 and I still can’t write in cursive! However, if we write in print often they can’t read it, which I think is worse. Anyways, after the animal lesson we went outside and taught them duck, duck, goose. First in Italian: anatra, anatra, oca, then in English. The first group got it pretty quick and absolutely loved it. We even played with them. The second group just could not figure it out. Next time we’re teaching body parts, then doing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.

Yesterday Sarah invited Leah, Faith and I to have dinner with her family. But what makes this interesting is that her family owns a pizzeria in Rogliano! It was such a fun night, I have so many good stories now! First off, Sarah met us on the main road, and good thing because I would have never, ever found this place on my own. Marilena gave me directions, told me it was by a certain church. What everyone failed to mention was that it was in this maze of alleys behind the church. But once we reached the nondescript door of the pizzeria/forno, to the right we found this staircase to nowhere with the most incredible view! It looked out to these rolling, green mountains, and on the left were the dim lights of the next small hill town. And there were sheep! In a field! With bells on! I could have stayed there all night.

Sarah’s host sister, Antonella (I think?) came and let us in, and led us to the back of this pizzeria where there was a table and tv set up in the middle of a large kitchen type area. There we met this guy named Fabio (the first Fabio I’ve met here! And I told him so too), who like everyone else in this town is my host dad Fausto’s cousin. Then we met their cousin, who was Italian by heritage and named Luigi, but actually British. It was so fantastic to speak English with him! And then his Italian had a British twist to it, it sounded so bizarre but still better than mine. With him there I basically gave up concentrating because I knew if it was important I could just have him translate for us…

While there we had this big pizza, and of course half of it was pizza Americana with french fries and hot dogs again! Marilena’s incredible pizza is still better. But what made the night wasn’t the food, it was Antonella. She is 21 and hysterical!! I love her and the 3 English phrases she knows. Every time she said “everybody let’s go” I thought of Dora the Explorer. Yeah that’s right. Then later in the night, there was some situation that caused me to do the Awkward Turtle gesture, which I then had to explain to them in Italian. I walked right into that one. But I feel like I did ok, I called it ‘tartaruga imbarazzata’ which was basically the literal translation of the top of my head. But it must have been right because they got it and thought it was hilarious! Explaining the Quiet Coyote hand signal took a little more finesse; then they shared with us that Quiet Coyote is dangerously close to a super insulting gesture. Won’t be trying that one with the school kids!

Later that night, Antonella asked if we wanted a ride home. We said no, we were fine walking, when Antonella’s boyfriend (fidanzato in Italian) of 8 years, Daniele, responded with “ma c’e’ la Mafia!” I guess you had to be there, but I thought that was too funny. There actually is still quite a bit of Mafia in southern Italy, but further south than we are, like Sicilia and Reggio. Not in our sleepy little area. Interesting, huh? Then, right before we left, Antonella’s little 8 year old brother had fallen asleep sitting on the table in front of us. Then he farted. Dio mio we just about died laughing! We asked what you call that in Italian, but we are all too hysterical to actually get an answer. That was one of the best nights here thus far.

For the first time in my life, I have absolutely no school, classes, etc every Friday. Today I had hoped to take the train into Cosenza and shop or wander, but it turned into a day of relaxation and internet. Caitlin and I made two treks up the road into the city’s main piazza today to take advantage of the wireless up there. A few days ago we met the guy in charge of the secured wireless network in the piazza and he hooked us up with access. So I spent the early morning surfing Facebook, then all evening researching Assisi and Cinque Terre for our trip after the program. It was actually really chill, I enjoyed it.

During lunch we were watching the news, and an update on the Amanda Knox trial came up, and Marilena asked me if I knew about it. I then had to inform her that Amanda is from our university, studied Italian like we do (but on an individual program. Explaining independent study in Italian was really, really hard), and our prof Giuseppe on this trip was her professor. Marilena’s jaw absolutely dropped. Now, a note: I have only heard from reliable sources that Giuseppe was her prof, I have no actual proof. But I believe it, and a few weeks ago when he had to cancel class for a day to take care of some business, it was rumored that it was to visit Amanda. I know, juicy right? We then had a short discussion about Italian law, about how Amanda will get a min. of 30 years but with good behavior in Italy you could be out in 5. I then had to tell her, in Italian, about how in America pre-trial you’re assumed innocent, but in Italy you’re assumed guilty. After lunch we went over to Carmella’s house (where Caitlin lives) for some coffee, and Marilena told her everything I’d said.

Then at lunch, I had to play apparently one of their new favorite games: guess her age. Some friend of Carmella’s came over, and they all insisted I try and guess her age. I hate this game, on my first night I guessed Marilena to be 45 (she’s only 40) and Carmella to be 40 (only 35). But they tan and smoke to no end here, I’m telling you that stuff will age you quick. I had to explain to them that my parents are past 50 so my judgment is skewed. Anyways, this time I guessed young (36) and I was totally right!

Caitlin and I then made our second trip for internet, because we’re that addicted. It could be worse, I could smoke like an Italian. When I left there was a big group of kids, probably all 20something, in my street talking. They are apparently part of a popular local band that’s playing a concert in another town tomorrow. They heard me yelling to Caitlin in English, then got all excited and started saying the only things they know in English: “Hallo what is your name!!” I introduced myself from across the street, and they told me their names. Then about 20 minutes later, in the main square they saw us again on our computers and came up to say hi. Now that I basically know the whole band, I want to go to this concert and see if they’re any good.

When I got back, Marilena and Fausto had a friend over. I think his name was Mauricio? He seemed really nice, and they kept telling me if I ever wanted to go out or go somewhere fun at night he could give me a ride or I could chill with him and his friends. I immediately thought they were trying to set me up. And I don’t mean to be a bitch but he looked almost 30, not really my thing. When he left, I told Marilena what I thought she was doing. She tells me no, no, just a friend of hers that she trusts and I could be friends with too. To convince me, she even added that she’d pick someone better looking for me, and asked if I thought Fabio from the pizzeria was decent looking (which he was). :)

I think that’s everything I wanted to tell you guys from the last few days. Tomorrow we may go to la mare and hang out on the beach! I think the boys are going to make me try fishing because I was dumb enough to say I’d never done it before. But this is all weather dependent. Can you imagine going to the ocean in Washington mid-May! When discussing it with Fausto, I heard Marilena talking to him about bringing an umbrella because I’m tropo bianca (too white) and I’ll burn… great, thanks. Maybe after tomorrow I’ll be a little more abbronzata.