Life here is as exciting as ever.
Yesterday, I walked around the city with my mamma. she flaunted me all over town, showing me off as if i were the most priceless jem in the world. she took me into all of her friends shops, annoucing as we entered, "La Raggaza Americana (the american girl)". all of the women would ohh and ahh saying "Bellisimo" and "oh che bella" (a phrase meaing 'what beauty' that is used ALL of the time.) Emanuala would beam as if she were the proudest woman in the world.
Later that day we went to one of the nearby hill lakes for an early luch and a late dinner. The lake is bellisimo!! houses of earthy reds, pinks and yellows line the water. all of the shutters are bright blues, greens and reds. laundry hangs on lines from every window. very pictureque(sp?). It is quite a bit bigger than redfish, with three islands in the middle. we took a boat to the largest of the three where we began to search for a resturant. A long walkway parallels the water, twisting around the entire island. olive trees line the walkway and grape vines weave there way overhead, providing some much needed shade from the hot and humid weather. butterflies dance around bringing a dreamlike feeling to the world. women and men sun bath on the grassy patches of land. I had to laugh--dad, youd fit right in...all of the men are in speedos.
Lunch was wonderful. polenta, and fresh fish from the lake. the oddest thing i tried were this little fish, fried whole and eatten eyeballs, talls,scales, and all. these crunchy little treats were a bit unnerving for me--when i was younger, lyndsey and i would catch these little fish at redfish.
After lunch, i had my 1st cappuchino. i must say, i think ive been missing out. it was so good, and the caffine made me feel so much more energetic. my senses seemed to come alive.
After everyone was full of fish and cappuchino, we got on a little wooden boat to go on a tour of the lake. the other two islands were much smaller. castles topped both, bit securly in the middle of the lake. che bella!!
the funniest thing i saw on my lake excurtion came right before we ended our boat tour. a large boat came into veiw. at the wheel was an italian man dressed in only a black thong speedo and standing proud for all the world to see. i laughed and thought, im not in idaho anymore!!
Today was my 1st day of school. school is a 2 minute walk from my house. its very big. it is the only foreign language high school in brescia. it has two inner courtyards with classrooms lining the edges. i must admit, i am a bit overwhelmed. my class is on the second story of the second courtyard. i walked in and was immediatly bombarded by names. im afraid the only name i can remember is francesca, the girl who sits next to me. school is 6 days a week. it begins at 8 and goes until 1. it is different from idaho, because we do not choose our classes..everyone has the same schedule. i am taking german, french, italian, english, chemistary, physics, math, philosopy, and history of art. so far, it seems fun. although i cant understand what the teachers were saying, i think i will do well.
well, i should go, so for now, ciao!!
