cibo

Ciao from Italia again! It's still going great here. Approaching the end of our intensive Italian week, I have spoken and listened to only Italian for 4 hours a day in class, not counting all around the city, where many people don't speak English. This is full immersion at its best. Next week starts our regular schedule of classes, where I will continue with my Italian 201-202 (210), Photography, Creative Writing, and either Renaissance Art or Food and Culture.
So, I've learned a lot about food: the Italian specialty. Basically.....The Italians don't stop eating. In the morning, you get your caffe' at a bar, drink it and leave, and you don't drink un caffe' the rest of the day. Oh no. And then from 1-3:30 they take a siesta, where they eat and nap (walk through the alleys at this time....your nose dies from the smell of pasta!!!), and then at 7:30- 9:30 they have dinner. And these lunches and dinners...they aren't just a panini (sandwich). Oh no, they are like 4 course meals. I was told that if they haven't eaten pasta for lunch and dinner...they dont count it as having eaten anything. So then, taking into consideration the thousands...and I'm not exaggerating...of pizza places, they eat pizza whenever anytime throughout the day they are hungry. then, you eat dessert. Then, a digestive alcohol. Then...they go out to a discoteca, a disco, or un locale...a bar...only at like 11:00 or 12:00 , and stay and talk and drink until like 4 am. No joke.
So yeah, my Italian is improving, I am loving sitting on the steps of the Duomo and people watching with the rest of the Italians, and walking the cobblestones in my high heels (oh, and boots here are the best thing since sliced bread!).
Allora,
ciao ciao!