Class and After

This morning in class there were three of us! Matteo wandered in late so we were back up to four. It was a very nice class. When there are only a few, you can spend much more time having fun! Mainly la prof helped us translate a song she brought in which was very interesting. It was basically a "I am proud to be Italian" song and it alternated between being serious and poking fun at stereotypes of Italians. One line said something like "Good morning, Italy, where we all have spaghetti al dente and where a partisan can be president." The latter was a reference to the fact that the partisans were a minority but still one became president. Other stereotypes of Italians are apparently  men who smell of menthol shaving foam and who wear pinstriped suits,   and all the windows which are festooned with hanging canary cages! There was also a reference to the fact that there were many Italian women but few Italian nuns…

Assignments coming up in the two weeks we have left:

• a five minute oral report in Italian about our project in taking what we have learned into the community. For me, that would be the teaching experience with the fourth grade class last week.
• a five-page report in English about the experience. We got a hand-out with many helpful questions and suggestions. At least one page has to be a reflection on How This Has Changed Our Lives! Well, I exaggerate, but only slightly!  Again, though, a really good handout to help us.
• a short report in English {about 200 words} on an Italian movie we have watched. I am going to write about "Bread and Tulips" which I loved.
• the grammar assignments which were postponed over Thanksgiving plus more. I am glad I did the postponed one yesteday! They are all on the same type of verb form–the verbs that take essere {to be}  or avere  {to have} before them.

I am contemplating a nap although I slept pretty well last night. Other projects being contemplated are laundry and putting up the Christmas tree. I think the nap will win out…

Until later….