Straight jackets, a hurricane, and cibo.

During another stimulating day at school, I have decided to describe my classroom to you. Let's begin con mia scuola, or as I like to call it, "the one room schoolhouse." There is one hallway in my school with about fifteen rooms. In each class there is 15-20 students. My classroom is very calming. There's bare white walls, no clocks, and bars on the windows; it's reminiscent of a psychiatric hospital. Very stimulating! There is one blackboard to use, which is often ignored due to the fact it is the size of a postage stamp. There is also no supplies. No pencil sharpeners, no scissors, no learning aids. It erks me so much that the rooms do not even have clocks. It's really hard to be a student in Italy. They purchase everything themselves and are then expected to study for hours after school. My host sister once studied for seven hours straight. I try to study but it is very hard to focus, especially when I don't understand everything.

Last weekend was also pretty action packed. We had ourselves a little hurricane and we weren't allowed to leave the house for two days. The beach in Nova Siri got hit pretty hard but the town is still intact. Other towns were not as lucky.

I have also come to the conclusion that I am the most awkward person to ever live. I feel like a penguin from the movie Madagascar. "Smile and wave boys.. Smile and wave." However I'm starting to understand almost everything. Speaking is a different story. I'm not very talkative as it is, and talking in Italian only makes it harder. I can speak basic things, mostly all present tense. I wish people could understand it's a process, and that if they don't talk to me and try to teach me Italian, then I am going to learn much slower.

I've been craving some American things at this time. At the top of my list is apple pie, a big juicy steak, and believe it or not a Starbucks frappucino! I love Italian food with all of my heart but sometimes I just want a taco, or Chinese food, or a good ole Philly cheesesteak. Since I've been in Italy I don't think that I have seen any international restaraunts. But hey, pizza and pasta is fine by me.

Hopefully I will have something exciting to talk about soon. Arrivederci!