Skype and Karaoke

      Today was another busy day in Lecce. I woke up thirty minutes before class and changed into my comfy gypsy pants and had a quick breakfast. Then I walked the fifty steps up the stairs to class. During the first part of class, everyone gathered in the air conditioned computer room and we watched a youtube video of a song. We first watched the video without music and then with music. The song is called Non vivo piú senza te by Biagio Antonacci. If you are interested in hearing the song click here. After listening to the song, the teachers told us to sing. Thank god they gave us a lyric sheet and no one had to hear my voice. For those of you who know me, you know that singing is not my forte. We then split into our separate classes and talked about the meaning behind the lyrics as well as the feelings and emotions that were presented in the song. Donatella, my teacher, then told us tonight we are going to have a competition between the three classes on a performance to this song. The words and music would be provided for us, but we would have to sing in microphones. It was the battle of the classes karaoke style!
          Of course we also reviewed grammar, congiuntivo presente, passato, imperfetto and trapassato as well as the periodo ipotetiche. It was a very frustrating grammar class to say the least. It is another thing to learn grammar in a language you are fluent in, but to learn italian grammar, while the professor is talking only in italian is very difficult. Thank god for my Harper Collins Italian Dictionaries (Standard and Pocket size, thanks Aunt Dianne!) By the end of class all I wanted to do was to have a break from speaking and hearing italian.
       After class I went to the fruttivendola with a friend and I bought my last round of peaches, apples, and red peppers. My friend Ari also purchased a bunch of vegetables so I could make her stir fry. I also went to the ATM for the first time in Italy. I was so afraid the machine was going to eat my card, but everything was fine. Then, I walked back to my apartment and made a salad with tunafish and a friselle d'rozo and I had one of my red peppers. The food is so fresh here. I hope the food is as fresh in Bologna.
       In the afternoon I caught up on my blog and my magazine readings on the internet. At 16:00 on the dot, my mom called me on Skype! Yes I know, my mom was able to figure out how to use Skype all by herself. I am so proud. It was only the second time I skyped my family since being in Italy, and the first time I would not count because it was during my cousins wedding. It was so nice to talk to my mom and see her beautiful face. I told her all of my stories and she updated me on all my family and friends. I even got to see my part bunny part dog Chaos! and talk to my dad. Everyone should be happy to know that Chaos is still getting fed carrots. The time flew by so fast while I was skyping my mom, and it was almost 18:00 when I said goodbye. I blew my mom a kiss through the computer screen, told her I loved her, and she pressed the red button with the upside phone. Our Skype call was officially over.
       I had no time to think about how much I missed home, because immediately after my call I lead another exercise class. Grandpa please don't do these exercises at home. I named this class the ultimate arm and core workout because all the exercises use your arms and core. Everyone loved the class and afterwards we stretched out our body. Immediately after working out I started cooking the stir fry for my friend Ari and I. Even though tonight the program was providing free pizza, Ari and I wanted more vegetables and less pizza. I made a delicious stir fry using red peppers, onions, hot peppers, zucchini, garlic and a lettuce green that was a cross between argugla and spinach (it is not kale, and we asked the fruttivendola what the green was but we did not understand him). Anyway the arugula like lettuce with the other vegetables were a delicious combination and Ari and I were very happy with the outcome.
        Before the karaoke and pizza started I jumped in the shower and changed into my comfy gypsy pants looking more like an Italian woman. Then it was karaoke and dinner time. I ate my vegetables and had half of a piece of eggplant pizza. I also had some aperitivi like tomatoes, and some Terrill (like a bread stick but in snack form, that are flavored). Of course there was free vino, and many people had a couple glasses before the performances. Then it was time for the competition. Our team performed second and I thought we did an amazing job. Two people danced while the rest of us sang. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it. Unfortunately we got second place, but I thought we should of won.
       It was then time for dessert. There was gelato ice cream cake, mostaccioli cookies and pesche nel vino. Of course I ate the peaches soaked in red wine. It was like drinking the fruit at the bottom of a sangria glass. After dessert, we danced and sung to Italian and English songs. We sang Lucky by Brittany Spears, Bohemia Rhapsody, Don't Stop Believe by Journey, I will survive, Laura non c'é by Nek, Nessuno mi puó giudicare by Caterina Caselli, Nel blu dipinto di blu by Domenico Modugno, and many more songs. It was a fun filled monday night and to top it off, there was a firework performance from the festa that we saw in the middle of the courtyard. The party lasted for almost four hours and by the time I finished my homework and got ready for bed it was one in the morning. On a side note my roommates and I also had a mini photo shoot wearing our gypsy pants. But after pretending to be a model I hit the pillow and crashed.
Con tanto amore,
Samantha

Model Photos in Gypsy Pants