A Typical Day in Rome

I have been taking Italian classes for two weeks now, I can speak a bit and understand even more. Gestures are still a big help and always a welcome supplement though. Today was my last day of classes and Josh's last day of work before vacation!

I have a nice group of classmates who have been toiling away with me everyday for our four hour lessons. Pietro is a priest from Poland, Kerri is from New Zealand and works on a cruise ship, Iuba is a Russian student and Ann Marie is a fellow American, currently studying law in California. Sandeep was nice enough to take our picture, he is Indian, his parents live here in Rome, but he has been living in the US and went to school at Virgina Tech. A most interesting group of characters. Our teacher, Simona speaks only Italian, the class is "complete immersion" which on some days translates to complete cluelessness.

Class starts around 9:30 each morning. We work on grammar until a little after 11:00. We have a 20 minute break and on most days we enjoy a bit of sacred English speaking over coffee and continue the lessons with conversation practice from 11:20 to 13:30.

On most days after class I meet Josh for his hour lunch break at 13:30. We usually have a mini picnic in the Campo on the statue of Bruno, or in the shadow of the Piazza Farnese and every once in awhile wander over to the Pizza Navona or the Pantheon for a bit of people watching entertainment during our lunch. More often than not it is unbearably hot, so our first priority is to search for shade!

In true Italian style we usually have a panini (tacchino o prosciutto con formaggio) and some fresh fruit and then perhaps followed up with some type of frozen treat or a cafe freddo at the local bar. After this it is back to work for Josh and off to an afternoon of Roman adventures for me.

Poor Josh...