Today was my official day in Italy! I ended up going to bed before midnight after taking off my gel nail polish and buffing my nails. It was very relaxing. I am trying to keep my nails nice and long since I worked so hard this summer from not picking them. I am trying to turn my stress into making my nails stay pretty and it is working! I had a hard time falling asleep because of the heat and also not being in my own bed. I also realized I forgot my favorite stuffed animal at home. I really do miss Zulu, my zebra. Once I fell asleep I passed out.
I woke up at 9 am. the next morning and ate a quick breakfast from what I bought yesterday (yogurt and a apple) and I ran out the door for orientation. During orientation, the teachers and directors talked about the class and Lecce and the calendar for Lecce as well as a very brief overview of Bologna. In Lecce we have activities planned every two days or so, including weekly beach trips and dinners. Every Sunday we have an optional trip to explore different parts of the south. I will be taking advantage of this opportunity. They also had the group fill out forms for our promesso di soggiorno which is our residence permit for Italy. I still cannot believe I will be "living" here for 4 months. It still seems like a vacation. Then the teachers told us that we would have a placement test to divide the class into 3 sections. I am a little worried about the test because a lot of people are very advanced. However, I am here to learn the language and I cannot wait to see how much I improve.
On a side note, the teachers gave us our first Italian pastry called, pasticiotto. It was a sweet lemon creme pastry that was small and very tasty. Then after the long orientation we all walked to the cell phone store and I got a sim card with unlimited internet, unlimited phones calls and texts with WIND (the cell phone carrier that everyone has in my program) so I can text and call my friends in Italy and use the internet 24/7 to text my family and friends in the U.S. with the app called whatsapp. I can also use Skype, whatsapp, Facebook and Instagram. and the phone is working so I am all set!
After the phone, I went to the best Panini place in Lecce called Puccia! It was amazing. I had a panini on very thin bread with fresh eggplant, red peppers, tomato, lettuce, artichokes, green olives and beets. Then my friends and I found a gelatteria and had my first gelato. I had half pistachio and half bacio. I definitely loved the pistachio gelato but the bacio was a little heavy (but worth it). Once we finished the best gelato and panini ever I walked to the super market and realized the market was closed. In Europe the markets are closed from 1-5 p.m. for siesta so I walked back to my lodging and decided to workout. I put on my music and did a workout that Anthony gave me. I added more reps and jump rope but I ended up jumping rope for 6 minutes, 400 jumping jacks, 100 toe touches, 50 pushups, 50 floor jacks, 50 speed skaters and 100 mountain climbers. I did 2 sets and afterwards I was soaked, especially because the heat was grueling. I showered quickly after my awesome workout and changed before our tour in the old city in Lecce. We visited some beautiful piazzas and churches in the old city and I had my first tour in Italian. It was very difficult to keep thinking in another language for a long period of time but I took some pretty pictures of the churches and piazzas. After the tour I stopped at a small market for some fresh fruit and vegetables for dinner and a cold peach tea.
When I walked back to Oxford (the place I am staying) I made my dinner. Let me tell you, we walked a ton today! I loved it, my feet were sore but a good sore. Anyway for dinner I had some fresh pomodorri (tomatoes) a yellow apple (my favorite) and I made a mixture of greek yogurt, honey, peaches and banana. It was delicious! After dinner I am currently catching up on my emails and writing my blog while casually sitting with all my friends socializing. The day got better much later in the day. I can't wait for tomorrow because we are going to the beach! in south Italy! my dream come true. I can't wait to lay out on the beach and meet italians, and I am praying I don't see any nude people :/ like when I was in France with my mom. I am really excited for the journey I am taking, and I am trying to make the best of it. I also get to cook for myself and I have plenty of time to go to the market and workout. Plus the girls in the group are very nice and accepting. Anyway I am going to sign off for tonight and get some rest for my placement test tomorrow. I have very bad internet service so for now I have some pictures that I will post soon. Miss you!
con tanto amore,
Samantha
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