La Famiglia

Buon giorno mi amici. Hi my friends!

Last night with my host family was wonderful. I had just met my new roommate liz froms syracuse, and together, she, my host mom Laura and I walked down the street five minutes to her apartment (down the street from school). When we got there, Alberto, her wonderful, charismatic husband who speaks no English, had brought our bags up to our room where we unpacked. We share a room where there are two twin sized beds and we each have a small closet, a few drawers and a dresser top to put our things on. We talked as we organized and before we knew it, Alberto beckoned us into the kitchen at dinner (about 8:30 pm). Laura had made the most delicious spinach and cheese ravioli with tomato and meat sauce, which was followed by a turkey, cheese and salad coldplate and wine. We chatted away at the dinner table with Laura, Alberto, and her two kids Frederico (26 and visiting) and Cristina (23). When we didnt understand each other they would speak Italian and I could guess what they were saying because its very similar to spanish, so we did just fine! And if we still couldn't understand, we got by with gestures and facial expressions. Alberto laughed when I pointed outside and then pretended to be scared and bite my nails, he knows its so new to us!

So, Laura and her son speak English very well, which is huge because im only just learning some small words and phrases but im sure if I study really hard and practice everyday, I am going to pick up this language sooo quickly! It helps a lot that I have a background in Spanish. Anyway, their apartment is small but nice. Our room has old green carpeting, peach comforters, a spare bunk over our beds, lots of books left from previous girls visiting, small mirrors and white gauze curtains over the window with round petaled, cartoon like flowers embroidered on the ends. Hee hee, middle school looking but cute!

The whole family is very friendly and slowly helping us learn some Italian customs and words. For example, brava-clever, ecco-here is..., (no) me piace- i like, piacere (nice to meet you), when in the Italian home, you must always wear socks or slippers. You must never yawn, and the family always eats together. Coffee in the morning is a powder mix of wheat and coffee that you combine with hot water in a cup. You can also have cornflakes and toast but breakfast is generally very light, as is lunch, and dinners are very large. At dinner, the Italians can talk about just food forever! It's a fun topic. This morning, my roomie and I accidentally slept an extra hour so we missed breakfast time, but Laura showed us how to fix it ourselves. I talked with Frederico about his job in the theater, right now he's working in the hills (there are mountains-for a chicagoan they look like mountains, right here at the edge of florence!) and up there they have no heat so they make lots of hot tea. I got dressed, and ran over to the school- The Villa Rossa, or red building, for my morning meeting. Its almost three and I still havent had lunch so I'm going to be brave and go down the street to a cafe and get a sandwich or panini! Then another meeting, and maybe tonight I'll go out with some friends (dont worry, I'll be safe).

So! That's that for today. Love you so. And have a good one! I miss you guys, and its really strange to think that when I'm eating lunch or enjoying the first sunshine mid day, you guys are either in bed, or up very early! 6 or 7 am your time! Craaazy. Thinking of you. Sorry we can't skype yet...still got to fix my computer. Ciao bella! Ciao bello! Mwah!

Love Em

p.s. did i tell you i love you? :-)