Little America

Yesterday I had a couple of hours of "American Life". One of my parents (one of my student's parents) is affiliated with the military and took my self and two other teachers on a field trip. About two hours away.Delving back into American life for a few hours definitely reminded me of how different my life style is right now. I mean I know I work at an American School but work is different from your personal life. The minute I leave work every day...............it's all Italian. I hop on one bus, take a train, hop onto another bus and I am in the heartland of pure Italy............rarely do I hear anyone speaking English. So yesterday was quite eye opening. First of all , I understood conversations around me. I have found on the bus, I have to pop my ipod in. I get quite frustratedas I hear this constant murmur of language and I understand about 1 out of every 30 words.I know I am learning more all the time but it is still frustrating. My brain is constatntly thinking and working. So yesterday my mind felt a bit more relaxed. I could read signs...Americans were all around me and there was even a food court with American food! I ate at Taco Bell!!!!

I didn't think I was really missing food from back home but let me tell you I when I walked into the commisary..I felt like a kid in the candy store. Here's what I got so excited about and bought:
Peanut Butter
whole wheat bread
swiss miss hot cocoa
corn chips
salsa
ketchup
cheddar cheese for my nachos
guacamole seasonings
My organic pumpkin cereal
more salsa
more blue corn chips
Oregon Chai Tea
Brown rice
Black beans
MAGAZINES!!!!

You dont realize you miss the food but really when you go shopping in Italy honestly your choices are fresh fruits and veggieslots of meats,any type of pasta imaginable, any type of cheese imaginable, any type of pastry ,white bread imaginable..............and honestly different variationsof that.

Odd notes:

I can't believe I sleep in a twin size bed!!!!!

I fly home for a FULLLLLL month!

Joined an Italian gym.......hopefully will lose the 5extra pounds. I joined with two other girls from work. It is right next to the big castle next to the Duomo...so it's in a really cool area of the city. It's an all girl's gym. I know weird.....but I figure I joined for four months and then maybe I will go to coed.............the men stare here and I don't want to be stared at while I am trying to work out

the running has slowed way down because it gets dark so early...I miss it

going to Dublin, Ireland for the Thanksgiving Break

I am meeting some very cool people. Having lots of fun getting out at night,etc. I love that I am not just meeting Americans and Italians but people from all over the world. The other day I met a group from London. They are actually originally from New Zealand and then moved to London. I LOVED the accents :)They were in Milan for a Rugby game. I LOVE the diversity.

I am now up to 16 students. The last three I have gotten do not speak a word of English! The most recent speaks Arabic. I feel so bad she is soo immersed. Just finished up my parent teacher conferences. I got such wonderful feedback from parents. They are all so amazingly supportive of school. It was funny having translators involved. I even had one of the Italian teachers come up to me and say gosh Laura all of your students parents speak so highly of you. So I guess the 10 years of teaching has really helped me. Really I cannot explaing how fortunate I am to have an assistant, so much planning time in my day, supportive parents, super students,etc.

I am now the high school cheer advisor for the basketball season. I will travel with the Basketball teams all over to various military bases in Germany, Rome, Florence, Switzerland all over..........funny huh? I wasn't even a chherleader and now I am their advisor:) I figure it is only for a couple of months and I will get a nice chunk of money that I can use to travel with.

Really I am very happy and content right now. I am really starting to make some really cool diverse friends. The only thing that would maybe make me a little more content would be having my own place........and having internet consistently.