School has started! It seems like almost all of my classes will be very enjoyable. I say almost because the first day in one of my classes was not very promising. It is my class on the age of the heroes. We will read the Iliad and the Odyssey and parts of the Aeneid. The only problem is that the professor does not speak English very clearly and to make it even worse is his complete lack of organization. If that isn't enough, he reads directly off of typed sheets of paper. Woof! I'm sure I'll be able to get through it though, I do have a lot of letters to write home! Hopefully it will be much better next time!
I am in an Italian language class with 2 French girls, 3 Americans and 2 Mexicans. The non-americans speak VERY fast and I find it very difficult to understand their Italian with their accents. I'm sure that too will get better over time. I am also still learning very fast. I feel like I have an edge on everybody just because I live with Italians so I have free tutors available all the time!
My creative writing class is going to be FABULOUS! I love my teacher already and we did some really cool writing exercises today. I have to laugh because this teacher's last name is Bolton, and my mentor back at Iowa has the same last name. How strange is that?! We are also going to take a field trip to a supposedly very inspirational point sometime during the course. The point is the highest you can reach to look over Florence. I'm sure it will be breathtaking and inspirational.
Intercultural communication also seems like it will be a very successful class. I think we will learn a lot but have fun doing so. The teacher seems like a blast and we had a great "getting to know each other" exercise today. It wasn't even that cheesy!
Last but definitely not least is my class on the quarters of Florence. When the Roman's founded Florence they built it into a square and then divided it into quarters. For this class we will have lecture for the first half and then for the second half we get to go see everything we just discussed! I have never been very interested in history before, but now that it is surrounding me everywhere it seems more engaging.
I might go to Siena tomorrow. I haven't really decided yet but I am enjoying lavishing in the fact that if I feel like going tomorrow I can! It's only E 6,30 each direction for the train and E 10 for a hostel. Perfect! I will let you know what happens!
Love to all!
A Presto
You should go to Slovenia sometime, it's an awesome country:)
ReplyDeleteEat something delicious for me!
Sooooo... this is pretty much all I could think about while I was reading this entry:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRa75_Hlr28&feature=related
There's been a pretty big movement in education to make history "come alive" (use artifacts, go on field trips, etc) for students. It turns out, if people can't relate it to their lives, they don't really care :P Sadly, we missed out on that when we were kids... but hopefully your class will make you feel a little better about the subject!
Bridget,
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to take time to read through all the information. I am going to go to the photo site now and enjoy traveling through Italy in the comfort of my home! :-)I am so happy you are enjoying everything, I had no doubt but what you would. It was great to visit by skype yesterday and hope that you have fun on your day trip today if you go. Love you & miss you- be careful and have lots of fun.
Love, mom