My First Few Days of School

MONDAY - Day 1 of school

The walk to the train station takes about ten minutes.  With standing room only I rode the train into Rome, for 17 minute ride.  Walked to Metro and found the right one, going the right direction.  I arrived at school ten minutes early, and I went inside.  The man who had signed me up called me by name, handed me my test, and showed me where to go to take it.

I took test, and I did better than I thought I would.  The last section was with the present perfect verbs (passato prossema) and knowing their correct conjugations.  (Persent perfect uses essere (to be) or avere (to have) or occasionally stare (to be) as the helping verbs.  I just used the wrong one all but twice!  The gal interviewing me told me that I did well and many people get them confused, but I will be learning that soon.  (She only speaks Italian for us and was my teacher that day - her name: Catia) Then she told me I was in the second level class.  (Where I thought I should be!)   People in the class are from Greece, Germany, France, China, Japan, Russia, Egypt, Turkey, USA, and I'm not sure where else.  There were 13 of us in the class.

When Catia started the class she said it would only be in Italian, for her and for all of us.  Then she talked for a little bit and then broke us up in pairs.  In Italian we had to tell our partner what we did on Saturday and Sunday.  (She was working on our past perfects already!!!)  I learned a little of a gal from Greece's weekend and she learned of mine.  Catia got us back together and told us now you will tell us about your partner's Saturday and Sunday!  ACK!  Not too bad.

Then she asked to guess what she did.  Many different things were asked.  I came up with: 'Che sei lavorato il vestiti?' (Did you wash your clothes?)  She said YES! and then hung them to dry, but she did not iron them.  Her husband LIKES to iron!  

Anyway, tomorrow starts the grammar lessons.  2 hours of grammar, 15 min break, the rest of time conversation.

On Sunday we had been researching online prices for a weekly pass for public transportation.  The most we could figure it would cost was 32.50 euros for this week.  Each ride is 1.50.  I have to have a train and a subway ticket each way.  So it would be 6 euros a day times 5 would be 30 euros.  When I got to the train station I found out the weekly pass would cost me 34.50 euros because I live in Zone B and Rome is Zone A.   I could not buy it in Ciampino.  So, I bought a ticket for the train and got onboard.  The monthly ticket will be less than daily tickets combined so I will be buying a November pass (but it goes by the calendar month.) 

 Mondays will be my exploration day per week.  So after class I was frustrated because I thought I would have a weekly pass and would be able to ride the buses or Metro at will, but I was just buying a ticket per ride.  So, I decided to walk around Rome.  So I did, I walked, and walked, and walked (over 20,000 steps).  Went in some churches and museums (if free) and saw some different places.  I took a lot of pictures.  By 6:45 I met my friend to go to a Bible study near the Spanish Steps.  After the study I bought one ticket to ride the Metro back with my friend (who had parked the car at the Metro station), so I only spent 4.50 euros!  Ha!  Take that public transportation!  Then I bought the rest of the Metro tickets for this week.  Tomorrow when I get to the train I'll buy the train tickets for the rest of the week.  

TUESDAY - Day 2 of school

First train to Rome was SO full that there was no room to squeeze on board.  Fortunately I left early enough that I just waited for the next train.  It was still standing room only, but I found a spot that I could lean on a wall.  I took the right Metro and made it to school before it opened!  So, off to the bar on the corner for a cafè latte.  I decided to have a croissant, too.  I chose NOT to sit down but to drink at the bar, so it just cost me 2.20 euros for both!  (It costs 1 euro more to sit inside and 3 euro more to sit outside!)

Went into school and found my room.  There was a different teacher today.  I thought at first is was just for the grammar part, but he lead the conversational part, too, today.  His name is Giovanni Gafè.  He, too, only speaks in Italian and expects no foreign language in the classroom.  Grammar today was good.  We went over the test (I wish I could have kept it, but it was picked back up.)  He explained many of the rules that were covered on the test.  Of the people in the class all were in the beginning level 1 class (the last four weeks) except three of us who are new to the school.  So most of them have had 4 weeks together.  But today they struggled a bit more while they tried to get their sentences out of their mouths.  OK, maybe I do fit in that class after all!  ;)  The 4 hours zoomed by.  I took notes (mostly in Italian!)  Some comments in English.  No homework yet, but the assignment books and the text book were handed out.

Then I rode the Metro back to Termini.  I checked out the ticket machines and there was a gal there wanting to help me.  1 - I figured she would want paid for her assistance, 2 - I wanted to do it myself, 3 - I wasn't sure exactly which train I wanted to ride!  So, I told her no thanks for the help and I went to a newsstand and bought my tickets for the trains for the rest of the week.  They get validated when you ride. It is cheaper to do the 6 euro a day this week.  I will buy the Nov pass latter this week.  I think it is about 55 euro, but for just 20+ times it would be 120 euros, so I will gladly pay the 55.  Then I can go anywhere in Rome, riding whatever, as many times as I want, and whenever I want in November!

At this point today's adventure began.

So, there are 5 - 6 different trains that stop in the city of Ciampino (where I am living) that leave Termini. I'm to look at the schedule, find on of them, make sure it stops in Ciampino, see which platform it will be on and the time it leaves.  I have a list of the names of the trains I can take.  Today I took a different train than I had before back to Ciampino.  The schedule SAID it was to stop in Ciampino.  However, as it gained speed and it was a MUCH longer trip than I had experienced in the past, I started to second guess myself. I got off when it stopped in a town I have never heard of before.  Zagarolo! (I now know it was 25 kilometres EAST from where I needed to be!)  I knew to get off and if nothing else I could ride the train back to Rome and try again.  After seeing there was another train back to Rome coming in about 30 minutes I called Heather to let her know what happened and to make sure I was doing it right.  She said it is easily done, an Italian friend of hers did it, too!  She explained the how it happened and that I HAD chosen the right train, but it had NOT stopped in Ciampino (it happens sometimes!)  Anyway, another person walked by and said, I did it too!  So I finished the call and Cassie (the person) told me she went in to see.  The next train to Rome was a high speed train, too, but an other train (1 hour wait) would stop in Ciampino!  So then we spent time getting to know each other during that hour wait for the right train to take us back to Ciampino!  (She is from Bejing and is currently studying jewelery making in Florence! and had a 'fall break' so she was going to go to Greece.  She was staying at a Bed and Breakfast tonight in Ciampino before flying from the Ciampino's airport tomorrow.   We were able to walk together from the train station all the way to my apartment before she needed to go on.  We had exchanged contact information with each other and said our good byes.  I'm glad I can make friends easily, even in a foreign land.

I finally arrived home at 4 PM!!  Exhausted!  I didn't eat lunch, it was too late.  I made an Italian version of Cowboy Caviar.  No black beans that I have found yet and no cilantro.  But, the avocado was simply the BEST I have ever seen.  The skin of it was easy to PEEL!  It was great!  I ate that for supper around 7 - 7:30 (that is actually early around here!)  I washed one load of clothes and hung out for the sun to dry Wednesday.   I told the lady I am staying with good night at 8.  She laughed and told me I would go to the computer and she would be saying good night at 10 after her last pill.  Well, my lights were out and I was asleep by 9 PM!!  My alarm woke me at 6.  Guess I needed that sleep!

WEDNESDAY - Day 3 of school

Again I was the first one to class.  (Am I starting a new habit?)  However for the first thirty minutes of class I felt like I couldn't understand ANYTHING!  That was annoying.  (Good thing I had been told that might happen!)  But, the rest of the 3 1/2 hours I did pretty well.  Formulating sentences in my head and getting them out of my mouth is still my hardest part.  My comprehension of the spoken word is increasing!  It helps to be living with an Italian lady!  

Today during our conversation class we learned what a lot of Italian gestures mean!  Italians have their own 'Gesture Language'!  The teacher showed a video of two people conversing only in gestures!  It was pretty funny.  I now wonder more about Italian Sign Language!!  It will be exciting to learn!  

Class was out at 1 and I was home by 2!  Got my homework done before bedtime!

My Trial Run at Going to School at the Right Time of Day

This country has a great public transportation system!  They have planes, trains, subways (called Metro), trams, buses, and of course my feet.  Everything is in Italian, of course. However, if you know where you are going, can read a map and a transportation schedule, and have plenty of time, you'll do just fine.  Otherwise, you may have some interesting adventures!

To do it during rush hour is a different story.  (This will be my new normal as school begins.)

For my trial run to school I had planned on leaving home between 7 and 7:15.  I didn't get out the door until 7:30.  Good thing it was not really going to matter.  So I walked the 10-12 minutes to the train station and purchased my ticket at the newsstand.  That is funny to me.  You can buy tickets for public transportation at a variety of places.  At the train station by machine (but there you need the correct change since it doesn't give back change well.  (I've heard only up to 3 euro!)  So, people buy their tickets at the news stands, or in a bar (which is usually a coffee shop), or at a tabaccheria (tobacco shop).

Riding the train into town other times of day you can sit in a seat for the 17 minute or so ride.  However, in the early morning the train arrived in my town full, there are no seats available, it is standing room only, with one more stop to take on additional passengers!  I also learn, that riding the train that only take 14 minutes stops at platform 18.  Platform 18 is a good 3 minute walk down the tracks from Termini's other platforms!  (Termini is Rome's train station.  Using my brain, I now realize that I want to be closer to the front of the train so I will have a shorter walk once arriving at Termini.  Live and learn!

Piazza Bologna

After getting to Termini there is a five minute walk to the Metro.  (There are currently 2 Metro lines in Rome, the A line and the B line.  They are working on a third line and part of it are due to open in a few months.  It is to be fully functional by 2018.  I knew I needed the B line, but forgot I needed to get on the B line towards either Ribibbia or Conta d'Ore.)  I was kind of overwhelmed by the sheer number of people crowding on the subway.  So,  I squeezed on.  One word really describes this:  Sardines!  One stop.  Two stops.  I looked up at the chart and realized I was headed away from school!  I got off at Circo Massimo.  Yes, I'd like to come back here sometime to see it, but not right then!  This time I got on the right Metro and got off at Piazza Bologna and walked around the piazza to where the school is located.  Even with: leaving later than intended, riding at the rear of the train, arriving on platform 18, taking the wrong Metro, I made it with ten minutes to spare!

My school

Here is the building in which my school is located. 

Yes, my school is located in Piazza Bologna!  However here is is pronounced 'bō lō ña' not 'bō lō nē'!!

I decided it was now time to buy a decent map of Rome if I was going to actually see anything.  I found a news stand and for 3 euros bought a plastic map that included the Metro, bus, and tram routes.  It was a very wise purchase.

The hill in Villa Torlonia

Looking on the map I saw not too far from Piazza Bologna was Villa Torlonia.  It is a nice park area with a museum of modern art (not open at the time) and several other monuments.  I found a path up a hill and took some pictures from there.

After my exploration here, I decided to take the bus to city centre and see more of the sights.  I saw the Pantheon, then to Piazza Navona.  When I checked my time and my pedometer it was 12:15 and I'd walked 12,004 steps!  Needing to find a bathroom I asked a waiter who was trying to get people to come to their restaurant.  He told me I could go down stairs.  Since this was a pizzaria and it was noon, I thought I could sit down to a nice pizza and rest.  After I ordered a street accordion player came by playing for the patrons of the restaurant.

Continuing on my journey of the day I thought I would cross the river and go up to Piazzale Garibaldi.  I found a tram that took me across the Tiber River into the Trastevere area.  I thought it would be good for me to walk, so following my map I headed toward this piazza.  I came across a set of steps and thought it would be better than walking the long way up a hill.  It was called Scalea del Tamburino.  It was quite the climb!

Scalea del Tamburino

I continued along and trying to follow my map I realized that I was not where I needed to be.  There were a couple of men talking and I approached them asking in Italian where Piazzale Garibaldi was from there.  Needing to backtrack I finally got on the right street and saw a bus stop that had the piazza listed on it just a couple more stops.  While reading the bus stop sign a bus came by and stopped.  I got on and finished the last little bit by bus.  When I checked my pedometer:  19,000+ steps!

I enjoyed a bus ride down the hill, but now it was the beginning of rush hour.  Finally made it across the river and started walking.  I again read a bus stop sign and thought, I needed to get to Termini and go home.  I saw Termini listed.  A bus stopped.  I got on.  It WAS the right bus.  However, it was on the wrong side of the street.  So, I rode the bus all the way on the road that I had just walked!  Oh well, I'm headed to Termini, I thought.  As everyone got off the bus, I realized I was NOT at Termini.  I again looked at the sign and saw that Termini was the LAST stop and this place was the FIRST stop!  Back on the bus I went.  At least I had a seat at the very front of the bus!  I could see where we were this time!

Front of the bus

Ambulance, Paramedic (in orange) and my bus

This adventure was still not finished for the day.  More and more people got on the bus as we journeyed towards Termini.  I heard a thud.  Suddenly the crowd behind me started yelling at the driver to stop.  He pulls over about a half of a block from the next bus stop and opens the doors.  A great deal of people quickly dismount.  I was wondering if someone had gotten sick on the bus.  I looked back as the crowd thinned out to see a nun lying on the floor in the middle of the bus.  She had passed out cold.  There were some people who helped her as the the bus driver called for help.  He told everyone that they could go on up to the bus stop because he wasn't sure how long it would be.  However, every bus was so full I stood there until my bus was ready to go again!

When I finally made it home, it was just after 7 PM and my pedometer said over 23,500 steps!  What day of adventure!!

My First Solo Adventure in Rome

Knowing I would be going back and forth into Rome everyday for the next several weeks alone, made me think I needed to try going in on my own before school started.  I also needed to do it in a slower time of the day for the first time so I wouldn't be so overwhelmed.

I knew I had a Bible study in Rome at 6:45 so I thought if I went a few hours before I would be able to make sure I knew my way, and then see a few sights.

So I walked to the train station, paid for a day pass and took the train to Rome.  After arriving at Termini I went down to the Metro.  I thought I knew which way to go from there, so I though I would start my sightseeing and headed to the other line and to Piazza Barbinini.

Looking at my little map I saw on the Via di Quattro Fontane ended in Piazza Barbinini.  I knew there were the 4 Fountains on that road and I thought I would start there.  So I walked up that street.  I found them alright, they were all covered up. They are being worked on.  No new pictures of them.

I turned right and headed in the direction of Trevi Fountain.  I had seen Trevi Fountain the last time I was here with my sister.  I have a picture of me tossing a coin into the fountain over my shoulder.  The next time we went by it they were cleaning it so the water had been turned off.  So, I was looking forward to seeing the fountain again.

Let me just say here that I LOVE following maps.  As a child while we would go on vacation, both of my sisters had the door seats and I had the hump.  I didn't mind the hump seat, but I could not lean up against anything (or anyone) and nap like my sisters could.  So, I would lean up to the back of the front seat and watch out the windshield.  I would see the speed limit signs and compare them to the actual speed my Daddy was driving.  After pointing this out several times, my Mother and Daddy decided it was time for me to become 'the Navigator' for that trip (as well as future trips, too!)  They gave me a map, told me basically where we were and said find it on the map.  Through that experience I learned how to read a map and have loved using maps ever since.

However, THIS little map of Rome does not have all the streets listed, does not show the roads exactly as they are, and does not cover all of Rome.  It has a lot of good information on it, especially one section of Rome (Trastevere) but to actually follow it where I was and wanted to go was quite a challenge.

I would get turned around, but I would find where I was and turn around and find the right way.  I saw Piazza di Quirnale with cool lamp posts.  I saw LOTS of motorcycles and small cars.  Even a cute little red car with a long stem rose in the windshield wipers!  I didn't see a lot of people, so I knew I was not in the right place!

I had not planned on it, but ended up at the Monument to Vittor Emanuel II, called the ‘Wedding Cake’ or ‘typewriter’ by Italians.  At least from here I could recheck my map and follow it to Trevi Fountain!  

When I finally made it to Trevi Fountain over two hours of my time had been spent walking back and forth trying to actually find it.  Now I was disappointed.  I realized before I even arrived that I would not be seeing anything like I expected.  There was a high fence around it and most of the monument was covered up.  There was scaffolding in front of all of it.  There was no water anywhere.  They even had built a walkway where you could get a closer look at the monument.  It was going through a major restoration.  

While there, however, I overheard two American women talking about now needing to try to find their way to the Spanish Steps.  I checked my time and realized I needed to be heading that way, too.  So, my desire to help kicked in and I suggested they follow me.  I was heading that direction, too.  (Remember I had just spent a majority of the last two hours not knowing where I was!)  But, I KNEW it was north of here.  I had been by the Spanish Steps twice before, since the Bible study was near there.  I knew which road to take to get us there!  (At least I thought I did!)

These two ladies were childhood friends from Wisconsin and were enjoying a trip to Rome together.  I shared with them why I was in Rome as we walked along.  About the time one of them asked, 'are you sure this is right?  Is it very far now?'  I turned a corner and pointed towards the Spanish Steps, just a couple of blocks ahead.  They were so happy as they continued on their way.

I continued to walk around and I found a little shop that sold a Panini of cooked ham and fresh mozzarella for 3.50 euro.  It was very good.  Then stopped for a gelato.  I've tasted better!  Went on to the Bible study arriving early!

Pictures of Ciampino

A few pictures of my area

Looking left out my window (volcano in the background)

Not enough parking for all the tenants

 Me - in my room

My clothes drying on the balcony

My pants drying on the balcony

The kitchen

The church that meets in Ciampino

The elevator

... is very small ...

it's capacity is 4 people

I press 3 for the 4th floor (terzo piano - the ground floor is 0)

My apartment building

Gelateria - Nonna Mia
simply wonderful gelato!

 Then I went to a foods store and found the following frozen foods...

mussels (left)
shelled clams (back center)
razor clams (front center)
snails (back right)
scallops (front right)

Octopus (left top)  
Fish salad (left bottom)Squid tentacles (right) 

I know a little boy who would like these smiling potatoes for €3.90 Kg

Frozen vegetables, too!
Minestrone vegetables on sale for 1 € for Kg!

There were also frozen cakes.

I found this dog hooked up at the sign for 'Cane Parking'

I decided to stop for pizza for supper at the nearby pizzeria

Here were some of the choices
spinach & sausage (back left)
prosciutto (front left)
tomato & zucchini (front right)
eggplant (behind the prosciutto)
potatoes (behind the tomato & zucchini)
mushrooms & sausage (to the right of the potatoes)

My mushroom & sausage pizza
heated and folded in half to eat!

My First Week in Italy

When you are moving to Italy to live the first week is not like a vacation full of sight seeing, but certain things must be done in a certain amount of time or fines could occur or even worse, you might not be allowed to stay!


So, Monday morning after arriving the evening before, after breakfast of toast, peanut butter, jelly, and Italian coffee, I was taken to the Questura, the local police station.  This had to be done within 48 hours of my arrival or the family where I am staying could have been fined 300+ € for not reporting me staying with them.  So, copies of my passport, a hospitality letter from the owner of the house, and other documents were copied for the Questura.  They know where I am living.  This was step one.  Accomplished!

Then we began the paperwork for the Permesso di Sogiorno (the permit to reside in Italy).  We went one place which told us to go to another place.  At that place we were told we needed to call to make an appointment.  When the call was made, we were told that I needed to go to the Questura!  Really?  Weren't we just there?  About an hour later we were called back stating that she was indeed the one and could we meet her this afternoon?  Yes, we could!

We went for the appointment and she filled out the paperwork, and told us the things we needed to do next before applying for the Permesso di Sogiorno.  We went home, made copies of things, bought the special stamp required, and made sure I had enough cash for the Permesso di Sogiorno.  But we couldn't finish things that day.

Rode the subway into Rome to go to an English Bible study for ladies.  We stopped to go 'out to eat' at McDonalds before the study.  The church where the Bible study meets is near the Spanish Steps.  It was kind of funny realising I was not going out to sightsee, but to meet other ladies who had the desire to study God's word.  Even though I already knew this, it dawned on me, that Rome is just another 'big city' that have real people, with real needs.  I am one of those people who will continue to need to be spiritually feed, so I praise God for this weekly Bible study for my own growth.  It is about Moses.  How appropriate that the lesson was about him being called to a foreign land to do God's work later in life.  Wow! 

Tuesday was a more laid back day.  I had the same thing for breakfast.  I got to go to a store called Carrefore to pick up some things, like hair dryer, curling iron, and shower stuff.  It is similar to Walmart, but smaller.   I got home and found out the the plugs are for German plugs, not the normal Italian plugs.  Just a little different.  Both are 220, but Italian plugs are smaller and further apart.  Many adapters available!  I can use the adapters I brought with me for my few American things that I need to charge.  Those adapters are German also.  Most things I brought could easily adapt to 220.  But, not my Sonic vibrating alarm clock.  I have to have it plugged into one of my German adapters, then it is plugged into an Italian adapter, the it is plugged into a power strip that is plugged into a converter box, which is plugged into the wall!  Is it worth it?  Oh, I forgot to mention, there is just one electric plug in my room.  

Wednesday was a very filled day!
It started out with the same breakfast and then being taken to have my 4 passport made for the Permesso di Sogiorno.  I then asked if they would take a credit card.  Oh well, I knew I would have to stop to get money out since I had to have 4 pictures  I knew I needed cash for the Permesso di Sogiorno.  I had remembered when I was in the US I knew I had 2 special deals and was able to get 4 pictures taken for $19.  (I had needed them for my passport, visa, and international driver's permit.)  I knew things cost more in Italy, so I was not prepared for what the man told me.  He said Cinque e cinquanta.  I asked for the person to repeat because I thought I did not hear him right.  The one who brought me told me in English 5.50 €.  I had that much available!  What a nice surprise!

Then we went on to the Post Office.  We got a number for the window of the post office which deals with things like the Permesso di Sogiorno!  Then we waited for a few minutes until it was our turn.  The Post Office does so much more than just deal with the mail.  People pay their utilities there, many government forms are filled out there, and more!  The lady wanted to know if for my actual appointment would I prefer to go to the Questura in the Vatican City instead of the Questura in Ciampino?  No, the Questura in Ciampino would be just fine!  Appointment is set for a little of two weeks.

Next on the agenda was a trip to the grocery store for food.  It was a store that reminded me a lot like Aldi's.  The prices on fresh foods were amazing!  After I put all my groceries on the conveyor I was informed that they did not take credit, just cash!  On the conveyor was some chicken, beef, vegetables, toast, croissants (with chocolate inside), a couple of litres of extended shelf life milk, orange juice, and more.  I looked in my wallet and started counting.  I had just under 36 € with me.  What could put back in case I ran out of money?  As the guy started ringing up my items knowing he would have to stop by 36 €.  As he rang up the last item and hit the total, it was 35.60 €!  

After putting away our groceries, I put the last of my cash in my wallet, for we were heading into Rome to go look at schools for me.  We each bought a day pass so we could ride as much as we wanted.  It cost a couple more euros that we thought.  I now officially have just 13 cents!  I'll need to go to an ATM!  After looking at a couple schools, even being tested at one of them, we thought it best to think it through and talk them over before making a decision.  Both of them offered a discounted rate for religious workers!  Yay!  The schools have classes in the mornings from 9 AM to 1 PM.

Thursday -  One thing I wish I would have brought with me and could have were the wire hangers that I had from my Daddy's uniforms.  (I have plenty of them in storage.)  I bought 8 hangers for 3 € today. They are wood and 'nice', but I am so used to having MANY that are just wire and free!  I guess this will help me decide what really needs to be hung and what doesn't!  What I buy here I will be able to take to Verona with me, so I'm not opposed to buying more.  I'm just going to go to IKEA (I've passed it at least 4 times this week!) and check out the cost there.  My friend thought they would be cheaper there.

Went to Carrefore’s again.  I now have a Carrefore’s member card.  I bought only eggs this time, but took some pictures coming and going.

I began working on my newsletter that will need to be going out soon as well as making sure all my finances are being recorded correctly.

Friday morning we went to an electronics store to buy a cheap cell phone for me to have some safety in traveling out on my own.  After the Permesso di Sogiorno is granted there is still another card that I need to receive before I will be allow to buy a SIM card for a smart phone on my own.  While there we looked at house phones for my Vonage line.  We tried them out and decided on a set of phones that will work now as well as when I move on to my own place.  I had looked at phones before leaving the States and I was pleasantly surprised that I found a better phone with an earpiece that doesn't hurt my ear for less money that what I could find back home!

IKEA was right next to this electronics store.  We knew we didn't have a long time, but it made sense to stop for hangers.  They were definitely less expensive and I purchased a few.  One thing I noticed that most of the parking for these stores are below the stores.  I was informed that since real estate is in high demand, they use the space quite wisely!  However, there is always a chance of some ancient thing being found during excavation.  That was what happened when they were digging out for IKEA.  They found some very large pots and an ancient road.  A few of the pots are now on exhibit at IKEA behind glass as people come into the store.  The ancient road has been sealed off and people can drive above it and stop to look at it.

Saturday I stayed at home most of the day.  I had some cereal and orange juice I had bought.  We did go out to look at different cell phone plans for my little phone.  We found one interesting one for foreigners.  It is just 9 € a month for 200 texts and 200 minutes.  Since I don't have a lot of people to text or talk to that seemed like the best deal.

So school will begin at 9 AM ... I will need to leave home by 7 AM to be sure to make it on time.  It is a 10 minute walk to train station ... It is morning rush hour so be squished like sardines on the train to ride to Termini ... walk a five minute walk to the Metro (subway) ... again be squished to ride Metro to Piazza Bologna stop ... go up the steps and walk a few blocks to the school.  I will do a trial run one morning before school starts, just for timing during the morning rush.  The afternoon shouldn't be as crowded coming back home.  I will be able to buy a pass at the beginning of the month for a month of unlimited rides.  But until November I'll need either be buying a day pass for 8 €  or 4 tickets for 1.50 €  each.  It will depend if I plan to do any other riding each day.

Sunday - another full day.

I went to church at the church that had been planted many years ago by other missionary friends from Bari.  The people I am with are working on another area, but since there isn't a church yet, they go on Sunday morning's to this church.  There were about 30 people there.  It was all in Italian.  I took my camera so I could take some pictures, but my battery died on the way to church and I had forgotten to put my back up battery in my purse!  How frustrating.

Many greeted me.  (A kiss on each cheek and a hardy 'Ciao!')  One gave me his phone number stating he would be willing to help me with my Italian if I would like additional help.  One man said he was trying to learn English and was excited I was trying to learn Italian.  I enjoyed the worship time (words on the screen and some tunes I knew).  I could follow along with the reading of scripture, but after that all I could understand were a few words or phrases here in there in the sermon and during prayers.  It was not interpreted for me because I needed to be paying attention to the Italian and not English.  I was warned that communion would not be grape juice, but wine.  :)  I was glad for the warning.

After church we went to a home of my friend's sister for lunch and birthday celebrations for two family members.  I should have thought about Playing for Pizza before going.

When we arrived at the home, I assisted in changing the coffee table into a table to seat 10 (it could have even expanded to seat 14!!)  It is motorized to get up to normal table height!  Really cool!  (They REALLY like to use their space wisely!)  We put on a table cloth and others set it with a napkin, plate, glass, fork and knife for all.  Two containers with water were placed on the table as well as two bread baskets.

I went into the kitchen to help and with her in broken English and my broken Italian we communicated well enough while she was finishing up the pasta.  Then she started serving up the pasta (which was spaghetti length wide noodles with a tomato type of a sauce with a bit of sausage in the sauce) into bowls.  Her husband and I placed them on the table on the plates.

We all sat down and there were two bottles of wine on the table, too.  A red wine and a sparkling rosse.  Everyone took a little of one and then had a little of the other one later. A prayer was said (in Italian) and everyone started in on their pasta.  It was very good.  A sauce was asked for. It is a 'hot oil'.  It had been heated with hot peppers and then cooled.  Basically a hot sauce.  I tried it and was good, but only needed a few drops for the plate of pasta.  As I finished my pasta I thought, that was a nice meal, as the pasta plates were cleared away.  As the platter of chicken and the platter of potatoes were brought into the room I remembered how in Playing for Pizza there were different courses to the meal!  So I had about a fourth of a chicken and some browned potatoes.  A huge salad was brought in next.

As the plates were cleared I commented that I had known, but had forgotten how an Italian meal was!  I was informed, 'remember, it's a birthday, there is more!'  So, out came a huge bowl of grapes (all grapes here have seeds) and some apples.  Another bottle of wine was brought out (a sparkling Moscato) to have with the birthday cakes.  Then came the birthday cakes.  One was a chocolate chip and cream filled cake and the other was a lemon cream filled cake.  They were both yellow with a 'fuzzy' looking icing.  It was explained there is a special little flower that looks like that and the cakes are made to look like the flower.  Very good cakes.  After all of that I felt ready for a nice nap, but I was at someone else's home!  I helped clear the table and helped put it back to it's coffee table size.

There are two girls, a nine year old and a two year old.  Both girls are bi-lingual.  The two year old knows to talk Italian to her dad and his side of the family, but switches to English for her mom.  Her sister and I hear both from her!!  Sometimes she mixes one sentence with both, too!  :D  Fun to try to understand her!  Oh, but when she speaks Italian, she even uses the expressions and the gestures perfectly!

A few of us started to watch Madagascar 2 in Italian.  It would helped me if it would have had Italian captions on. I think I would have understood it better.

Later back at my apartment I needed to do some laundry.  I was helped with first load.  There were several different things (I think four or five) to put in the washer before washing clothes.  There are also many different settings.  But then I needed to get my clothes ready to dry.  I hung them out on the balcony on a drying rack.  I was told to allow about 12 hours for them to dry.  So they were out over night and mostly dry by morning.

Many experiences in this first week.  Welcome to my new way of life!  I know I will have many more experiences to share!