Ciao! So this will be my last post till I arrive in Bologna. I am so excited to start a new adventure in the north of Italy. I am ready for a change and for a more normal living situation. I can't wait to unpack my suitcase, buy kitchen supplies, and have a routine. Right now, I feel like Lecce is a vacation, and I like it but I am ready for Bologna.
These past two days I have been very busy studying for my final exam and writing my oral presentation. I thought the final exam was very easy. There were many verb conjugations and vocab words I needed to know but the test was very fair. For the essay questions I wrote about one of my favorite books (La canzone ulitma da Nicholas Sparks) and about mediterranean cuisine. I can write about love stories and food for hours, so the writing section was a piece of cake. Also my oral presentation went well. I talked about La storia dell mie scarpe da tennis. Basically I talked about my time in Lecce, but from the perspective of my tennis shoes. It was very funny, because I talked about how my shoes loved certain cities, ate gelato, loved to exercise, and missed playing tennis. That is another thing I forgot to mention. Since leaving the United States, I have not picked up my racket or played tennis. This makes me very upset but the minute I get to Bologna I plan on going back on the tennis court again.
I can say that I have worked out about everyday since arriving in Lecce. I walk over two miles a day or more, and I have been leading exercise classes five times a week. I love planning the class, and figuring out what exercises we will do. It has definitely become a passion of mine during my stay in Lecce. These past two days I lead exercises classes that concentrated on core, but were full body workouts. One class was similar to pilates and the other class was very similar to a old school fitness training workout. By the way, old school fitness training is by far the best place to workout. I went to their classes everyday, and within three weeks I saw results. I was in better shape, my core and muscles were stronger and leaner, and I felt amazing. I also gained a second family. The class is so supportive and encouraging toward each other. I can't wait to return next winter. Check out their website here!
Also during these past two days, everyone has been cleaning out the food cabinets, and eating food they might not have in Bologna like pasticciotto, caffe con latte di mandorla, rustico, puccia and other leccese cuisine. On Tuesday I ate gelato (yogurt and fragola) and on Wednesday I ate la puccia. I love the puccia sandwiches. I filled mine up with tons of vegetables like carciofi, melanzone, funghi, pomodorri, insalata, pepperoni, and zucchini. The bread is thin, fresh, and cripsy and the fresh vegetables with the bread is delicious. By far my favorite sandwich I have tried in Italy. After my exam today I finished up my bag of friselle d'orzo and my eggs and I only have fruit and a breakfast bar left for tomorrow. Last night, the entire group took a break from studying and cooked for a pot luck dinner. It was amazing. I cooked farfalle pasta with mashed chick peas, pesto, zucchini and red pepper flakes. It was a hit. There was also fresh vegetables, formaggio numero due (everyones favorite cheese), olives, fresh bread, pigs in a blanket, risotto with sun dried tomatoes, pesto zucchini pasta, pasta with red sauce and ricotta, fresh tomatoes, rigatoni with pecorino, wheat pasta with melanzone and funghi and pasta with red sauce. Do you think we had enough food? Everyone was so full. Of course I ate my pasta, the tomatoes and fresh vegetables. It was an amazing way to end our stay at Lecce and be together as a group one last time.
Once we get to Bologna the group will be split up into two dorms. One of the dorms is co-ed and one is only girls. I am living in the only girl dorm, and even though it is only girls, I am okay with it. My dorm is supposedly cleaner, nicer and closer to the center of Bologna and the program office. The other dorm's only perk is that it is co-ed. I don't know how many roommates I will be living with but I am so excited. I already bought them a bag of taralli and I plan on buying them evil eye bracelets in Greece.
Speaking of Greece! I am so excited! I can't wait, but I still need to pack. Also I forgot to mention that my Italian has improved so much since I have been here. Last night, my friend Moorea and I went to the centro to meet up with some Italian guy friends. They were super nice, bought us drinks and we talked in Italian with them for over three hours. Instead of cramming my studying in last night I have been studying every night, so last night I studied by practicing my Italian with them. It was so much fun! Everyone has told me I am speaking italian better, and I even notice that I am thinking less and just saying what is on my mind. I can't wait to learn more Italian in Bologna.
But it will be nice to have a break from italian for four days, and just relax, go to beach and enjoy my time with my friends. Speaking of vacation, I need to go pack now. They are picking up our big bags in three hours. I go to go! Love everyone! Talk to you in a couple days :)
Con tanto amore,
Samantha
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