September 8, 2006 Orientation Redux

The natives are getting restless. Everyone has had it with sitting in a room being told not to drink too much or wear too little(American girls have all sorts of bad reputations). The final straw came when they told us that they were moving the Monday schedule to this afternoon, taking away all our plans to attempt the phone store and grocery again. I think my classmates, like me, are ready to get on with life here without the rest of the herd.

The good news is that I took my placement exam this morning, and the professoressa looked at my exam (which I was able to all most of the way through...whatI couldn't remember, I faked) and asked how long I'd been studying. When I told her "due semestre" her eyes popped out of her head (and I felt very proud of my past professoressas). They're going to try me in an advanced class, but I'm free to move around for the first 3 weeks and figure out where I'm most comfortable. Of course I want the most advanced class I can get, but living in Italy is already providing me with lots of real life lessons too.

My favorite thing of all this orienting nonsense is that we spent 45 minutes filling out applications for our resident permits today, which, they told us, may or may not come by the time we leave. :)

I also found out that when you all are visiting (and make your plans if you haven't yet! I feel like 3 months is *very* short!) that you are able to come to some of the school sponsored things. There are pizza making classes and day trips and cinema tours and brunches. For all my complaining about orientation, they really are treating us wonderfully. They are incredibly generous with the trips they provide (overnights to Venice, Rome, Pompeii) and the activities they have planned for us. They paint a very exciting semester ahead, and let's just get on with it! ;)

And I SWEAR this will get more interesting once today is over.