School and Basketball

School started on the 12^th… it was a really intense day. I go to a school that’s referred to as Siotto but I don’t remember the full name. My classes are Greek, Latin, Philosophy, Biology, Physics, Math, Chemistry, History, Italian, Physical education, and English. Obviously English is my favorite class. The only classes I understand alright are math, chemistry and English. Sadly math and chemistry are my least favorite subjects and even though I understand chemistry class I don’t understand chemistry because it’s really confusing and I’ve never taken it before. My first day of school was pretty major culture shock; I didn’t understand anything going on. In most European schools, including mine, the teachers switch classes not the students so I stay in the same class all day.  In a way this is kind of cool because it’s pretty hard to get lost. I like my classmates, they are very helpful. They help me learn Italian and pretty much anything else I don’t understand and I help them in English class, a little. Most of the students speak alright English. However, they speak Italian on purpose so we learn. I say we because I have a girl in my class named Alyssa who is from Salt Lake City, Utah.  She’s exchanging here with Rotary as well.  In the middle of the school day there’s a twenty minute brake. School begins at 8:30 and ends at 12:30 so there is no lunch break. During most classes, especially Greek and Latin, I practice my Italian. Today I learned body parts and class room objects.

Every day after school I go to basket ball practice. I am pretty sure I’m on the short team, but that’s cool because my team mates are really nice. Also I think I’ve lost a little weight because of all the running I’ve been doing. Basket ball is the same here but learning all the terminology is pretty difficult. Ball is palla and that’s like all I know so far. I’ve discovered through the girls on my team that Jersey Shore is a shame to America. They make fun of the show all the time. Every day my Italian improves as well as my ability to incorporate charades into seemingly normal conversations. I miss home but I’m having a lot of fun here!

Italia!

Italy is so beautiful! I have been eating Italian pizza and drinking Italian coffee and both are very good. The food here is really healthy I haven't seen any fast food resturaunts at all. However, I am still adjusting to the food its really different and so even though its good I haven't been eating very much. Cagliari is so beautiful. Two days ago I went to Poetto, a huge beach, and saw the mediteranian sea. I haven't swam in it yet but I will, tomorow I might go back to Poetto or another beach. Next, all the buildings here are very old and everything is made of stone, even the walls of my host families apartment. Also, my Italian is improving rapidly because, suprisingly, people here speak little english and they all talk to each other in Italian. Theres two dialects here, Italian and Sardo. I know like one word in Sardo which is lets go, ayo (i think). It's really difficult to hear and speak Italian all day then write englsih so this post might be kind of sketchy. My room is small but I like it, the only bad thing is it gets really hot at night and last night I didn't sleep well. I am very happy and can't wait to see more of Cagliari!