Around the World : Pizzica

Buongiorno!
    On Friday I had to wake up early for my first class at 9:30. It was very hard to get up so early after going to bed so late. But I rolled out of bed and went to the cafe to get another cappuccino. It is so nice to start off my day with a coffee. It wakes me up and I feel refreshed. However, I learned the other day that you should never order a cappuccino after 11:00 because Italians believe that having milk after the morning/afternoon will mess up your digestive system (interesting).
    Everyday we have class from 9:30-12:45 with a 20 minute break at 11:00. The class was very straight forward and easy to follow along, besides the fact that it is very hot in the rooms because there is no air conditioning. My teacher's name is Donatella and she is a young woman in her late 20s who is full of energy. We reviewed some grammar on verb conjugation and talked about a dance called the taratantata or pizzica. This dance is a popular Italian folk dance that is common in the Puglia region which is where Lecce is located. We watched some videos about the dance and had a nice discussion (in Italian). It is really easy to get a chance to talk a lot in class because there are only 7 people in my class. At the end of class Donatella assigned homework for us. We have a grammar packet for the weekend and we have to share any argomenti (topic) to the class.
    After class I ran to the panetteria to pick up fresh bread for lunch. I had half a sandwich with fresh tomatoes, red beets and balsamic vinegar with a banana for dessert. The bread was so fresh and delicious. I really enjoy the rolls with the lines on it. I believe this bread is called Mignon. Then I took a pisolino o siesta (nap) for 3 hours. I was exhausted. Even though the room was really hot, I slept very well.
    When I woke up, my friends and I finalized our plans for our mini break from august 30-september 3rd. We are going to Santorini, Greece! I am so excited because even though I have already been there before, it was one of my favorite stops on the Mediterranean cruise. I can't wait to spend more than 12 hours on the beautiful island. We are flying from Bari to Santorini airport directly on august 30 and leaving at 2 in the morning september 3rd to go to Venice. We are staying at a hostel in Santorini for 3 nights and in Venice we are going to stay at a hostel or tour the city for day before we take the train to Bologna. We must be at the Bologna office for our program by 15:00 on September 3rd. Our program has offered to take our big bags free of charge, directly to Bologna so I am only planning on bringing my backpack to Greece and buying some light clothing while I am there. (there linen clothing is beautiful) So far I am going with 5 girls and one guy (one girl is from Bucknell the rest are from Vassar) and we are all very excited. The hostel I am staying at in Santorini is in Fira (which is the main city of Santorini). I can't wait to relax by the beach, explore the island, go shopping, and see as many blue and white houses as I can in 4 days.
    My friends asked me to lead another exercise class later in the day so fourof my roommates in my apartment and I went out to our mini courtyard and worked out. We did a leg and abs workout with an exercise circuit of 13 different exercises for 1:15 min for 2 rotations. Everyone felt good and tired after the workout and we all sweated a lot.
    I showered and freshened up for our fun evening. The program director of Lecce (Nella) put together a mini concert and dinner in the courtyard of Oxford. It was beautiful. The food was absolutely amazing! Fresh eggplant, bread, and other things (but I am not sure what they are called). Then the musicians performed. The musicians danced the pizzica (the folk dance we learned about in class today) and we all joined in for many songs. Nella then offered dessert and more vino to everyone. I decided to stick to water tonight because I drank enough wine the other night at the wine tasting. The concert was magnificent. It was such an enjoyable evening that was only beginning. I discovered that in Italy people take a nap in the middle of the day so they can stay out later at night. I am starting to get used to this culture. I have no problems with taking naps but I am not a big night owl.
    Everyone in the group decided to go back to the piazza for the wine tasting again. I walked around and went window shopping with some of my roommates. Once the wine tasting closed at 1 am. we went to a bar called Zio Franco. The bar was very interesting, (you bought your drinks in this little hut and socialized and drank outside in public. I met a group of Americans taking Italian at the University in Lecce and I talked to them in English for a bit. Then I met some Italians outside the bar and practiced my Italian also. By the time I walked home with a large group of people from my program it was 2:30 am and we all got ready for bed and fell asleep. It was an uneventful evening in Lecce full of fun and excitement. I can't wait for tomorrow because Nella set up a cruise that goes all the way to the end of the heel of Italy and back to Lecce.
    I miss everyone! But I am enjoying my time here in Lecce.
Con tanto amore,
Samantha