Almost a Week!

I can't believe I've been here only a week tomorrow. It seems like I have been here for months already! Time passes by so slowly each day. I don't know how to describe it, but it definitely isn't a bad thing. Normally at home if I were to wake up early, the day would feel long, but not like this. Each day I wake up around 7 or 7:30, go to school for about 4 hours, eat lunch, take a nap, get together with friends from our group for the night, and go to bed about 1. I think the reason every day goes by so slowly, is because we're not in a rush for anything. We don't have any obligations after class is over at 1, and it's wonderful. The best part of Italy is that naps are an essential part of the day for everyone! Back at home, if I took a nap, I always felt like I was wasting a big portion of the day. Here, naps are part of the culture. Shops close from 1-3:30 so people can go home and enjoy lunch with their families and then take a nap to rejuvenate before they head back to work for the evening. It is the same for students, and it's definitely a way of life that I'm really going to enjoy for the next 4 months!!! 

I'm am enjoying my class soooo much so far. We are not allowed to speak in English the whole time unless we say '"Come si dice...."whatever English word we need to know".....in Italiano."' That simply means how do you say something in Italian. Other than that, there is no English spoken in our classroom by teacher or student. We have a blast though learning how to say things that are relevant to our every day life here. I don't think I've laughed in a classroom this much ever. I have been asking how to say almost every word, because I am set on learning how to really speak the language. I had my class and my teacher all laughing the other day as I attempted to put together the sentence I wanted to say. I am slowly getting better though, and today I was able to ask almost all of my questions in Italian without needing my teacher's help. I have a long way to go, but after only 5 days of this kind of learning, I am already improving my Italian immensely!

This weekend we have trips planned on Saturday to Montova and Sunday to Soave. In Montova I think we are visiting an old Castle, having lunch there, and then doing some discount shopping! I'm in search of the perfect (yet inexpensive) pair of leather boots and a wallet, so I'm hoping to get an idea this weekend of what the prices are. Soave is a city known for it's white wine. We are also going to a castle there and doing archery after lunch (strange, but should be fun). I think Soave has the most popular white wines all over the world, so you can by it at home if you are curious. 

I am planning to take lots of pictures, and will hopefully have a lot more to talk about on here after this weekend. I'm hoping the weather holds out for us because it is supposed to rain on Sunday. Either way I am excited to see these places and let you know all about them!

Ciao for now!