Later in the Day
I worked for a while on grammar this morning and finally, in total frustration, I gave up. It was my old nemesis, prepositions. It was all the more frustrating because before this morning, I really felt I was sort of getting a handle on them. There are prepositions which join with the article {like del +la which becomes della} and prepositions which are used alone {like con}. And mostly, I was getting them right—well, maybe 70% of the time. But the new grammar book {different from the one we used last semester} has got me thoughly confused. Again. So, finally, I basically said, "To hell with this", walked down to the library, got some new books and have spent the rest of the day reading.
I will have to go back to this later because I have only two days to get all this stuff done, but what I will do is totally ignore this exercise, get all the rest of them done tomorrow and tackle this again on Monday.
In other news, I have been debating between two choices for my first visit to Italy. Whenever my sister and BIL went to any new country, they always went with a tour group first and then back by themselves in subsequent years. So, I was considering this. Then la prof mentioned total immersion Italian schools…. I have been think a lot about going this route. It would be a lot more expensive than a tour because if I do go, I would want to go for a biggish chunk of time—more than one would go with a tour group and I would be paying for lessons. So, today I said to Fred that I was thinking of four to six weeks and how did he feel about that! He was very encouraging and really helped me feel I could do this… Anyway, at the moment, it is all very much up in the air {although I have logged on to ING and looked at my "Firenze" account!} 
If I went to the school I am researching, it would be this summer…
It has snowed all day but very lightly. I finished up by not cleaning off the cars and by walking rather than driving down to the library. I actually don’t feel unsafe walking in snow when I can hear it crunch underfoot. The annoying thing about the sidewalk plows is that they scrape off the layer of crunchy snow and leave the layer of ice underneath all nice and shiny and slippery!
Anyway, I made it safely down to the library and back again.
*huggs* I want to go to Italia also. : )
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Oooo! A 6-week working holiday in Italy sounds heavenly! You have to promise to keep us up to speed, though. 🙂
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that 6 weeks in italy sounds like so much fun! i bet you’d really enjoy that! i went to the library this morning, too. was much warmer than yesterday, especially without all that wind. it snowed for a couple of hours this morning. not much though. take care,
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Have you looked at your local college/university who offers International study programs? Many times, they have scholarships available that will cover all or portions of the trip. You also receive college credit for the trip. We have several on my campus. Be careful on the ice!
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ryn: Yeah. The pylons were in the one that I kind of liked, too.
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Immersion is supposedly the best way to learn a language. It would be terrific if you could go that route. I always wanted to go to Quebec for a couple of weeks to finally get fluent in French….just waiting for retirement.
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Ah Italy, what a marvelous place to visit.
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I think six weeks abroad would bea heavenly! Would Fred join you at some point?
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Ah, I do want to visit Italy too someday, but not in a total immersion program! Props to you! Would Fred go?
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Going the school route would probably be fun. the first time I went to Israel I went on a tour but after that I went several times by myself.
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Sounds fantastic. I am dreamily eyeing a few similar things…to me there’s nothing better than taking some kind of a course…anyway, the ones I am looking at include a poetry writing course on a Grecian island!! I also want to go to Italy, badly, but taking a course would be much better for me than just going on a tour. There used to be a writing course taught in English in Siena but not anymore. Anyway sounds fantastic to me. and Fred is a doll to encourage you!!
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The immersion sounds like it would be wonderful. And what better way to learn? Fred is such a sweetie for supporting you in this. Hugs to you both, M
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Total immersion schools sound very interesting!!! I think that would be a better thing for you…
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You and I do the same thing with walking on snow – I always felt ok if I could hear the crunch, but these days I am terrified of falling and hurting myself — leftovers, I suppose of the fall in the parking lot. I think the total immersion would be a terrific, if slightly scary, way to see Italy.
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I will look forward to hearing about your trip, when you go, and seeing the photos you will take! It’s wonderful of Fred to be so supportive! hugs, Weesprite
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Prepositions were always hard for me in Spanish… although conjugating irregular verbs was worse! The total immersion thing sounds very cool. RYN: I would like those recipes. I think part of me is scared to go sans mix! I suppose someday I’ll have to try it!!
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okay now I know why you haven’t told me when you are going to Italy, you are still planning the trip. I think your plan sounds awesome. I think I will look for a similar program for the next time I go to Sweden. I am also looking at a trip to Greece in the DISTANT future. I am making on-line friends now to decide where I would like to go etc. I would think the immersion classes would help you get through the little problem area you feel you have with prepositions. continued good luck to you with your classes.
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