Jeanette's Blog

So, it’s a three hour bus ride from Rome to Siena. It’s a BEAUTIFUL journey. There are rolling richly green hills, bright produce farms, vineyards, incredibly blue skys, and sunny. Their grass is so perfect, it looks like turf, but it’s not.
I met my family in Siena. My Italian mom and dad are Maria Pia and Franco! I have a roommate, too and her name is Emily. But let’s talk about the parents.
Maria Pia is wonderfully dramatic. She paints her eyes with all shades of blue her cheaks and lips in red and her hair is sculpted to perfection, so that not even a gust of wind could move it out of place. She is energetic, gregarious, and hospitable. Franco is a bit older, shorter, and more quiet. You can imagine their relationship. haha It’s very entertaining. They run a butcher shop in Siena, so we have the best of meats at dinner. They are helping me become a little Italian.
Maria Pia always encourages me to transform my meak Italian into strong confident expressions. Dinner time is when I get to exercise my Italian conversation abilities. It’s humorous. The best way to learn is by trying and failing sometimes. They have a very tiny dog named Felipe and a big fat black cat named Jaugermeister, excuse my spelling. The similarities between humans and their pets make me smile.
They take care of us very well. My laundry is done everyday. My bed is made when I get home from school. Breakfast is ready on the table when I get up. Kisses are plentiful and the food is amazing. She hasn’t even repeated a meal yet and I’ve been here for 10 days! And after dinner we always watch the Italian version of Deal or no Deal and that’s exciting.
I started classes on Monday Feb. 5. I have Italian every morning at 8:30 . My classroom overlooks Piazza del Campo, the main square of Siena. It’s beautiful. Siena is a walled city, with limited motor traffic, cobble stone roads and medieval architecture. Some of this city was built before Christ and the more ‘modern’ buildings were built in the 1200’s! Who connects modern with the 1200’s. Italians! WOW, that’s all i have to say. There’s great shops, fresh produce, movies, bus station, everything you could think of.
Every Wednesday there’s a market with everything from clothes, to watches, to tools, to fresh flowers and produce for sale at cheap prices. We have experienced two markets so far and it’s great. People are very friendly and patient with us Americans trying to fumble our way through the language. Everyday we get better. It’s very incouraging. I definitely think I am learning Italian the best way there is to learn it. I learn grammar and gender and all the specifics in the classroom and then all I have to do is step outside to practice what I learn. The trick is going to be using it when I get back to the US.
I go to school next to one of the best examples of gothic architecture in the world. I feel special. It’s interesting seeing the horse hitches on the side of buildings and being transported back in time for a minute, then realizing the sound of an engine side swiping you as you’re gauking into outerspace.
This is SIena, welcome.

Posted by Jeanette at 10:52 AM |