First, I have never been as close to someone as I am to my host sister Benni. I cant imagine not living with her! She is definitely my best friend here and basically in the last 3 months, we have spent every moment we were not in school or sleeping, together. But I have also realized that her speaking perfect English might now be such a great thing after all since it doesn't force me to speak Italian. I'm afraid its getting in the way of me learning Italian as fast as I should be! I have the basics down, and I can say lots of offensive things (this is what teenagers have most fun teaching me) but I cant say anything really interesting yet...
I've managed to keep my school week busy. I would have school days of regular school for the first 3 months, but in the last 2 weeks i have started doing half the week in an Italian class for foreigners which I think is more helpful then sitting in a classroom not understanding anything! I have been receiving extra help in math, and my Italian teacher in school has given me some small projects to do, but other then that there is not too many expectations for me. I think their expectations will increase second semester though. After school for the first 3 months I would have private Italian lessons 3 times a week, and the days that I didn't have a lesson I would go to the gym. I also joined choir, so I have that every Tuesday!
On Saturdays I usually have dinner with friends in the center (of Perugia) and either stay there for the night or go to a birthday party. 18th birthday parties are a huge deal here, and they are soo much better then parties in Chicago!! We also go to the cinema a lot, and ice skating!!!
We will be spending Christmas in Perugia and then the day after we leave to go to their house in the mountains for 2 weeks!!
Happy Holidays Everyone!!
:)
