Be relieved, oh Journal Readers: I will not inflict eight pages of single spaced, poorly worded entries upon you like last time, oh no.
This past week and weekend were far tamer than my weekend in Northern Italy. We resumed our Italian Language class, our culture class, and Kevin resumed his history class. My culinary class was scheduled this week, so we had that, and it was lovely. We made a beef dish and a really great barley pasta dish with potatoes, cabbage, garlic, and cheese. Oh, and pears that I am definitely making every week for the rest of my life, they were wonderful! They tasted like Apple Cider, and were cooked in wine.
Of note, my literature class was held for the first time this Thursday. It is going to be “really intensive” according to my instructor. A classic Italian book every week for ten weeks as well as two papers, a 30 min presentation and a final exam… that sounds about like my literature classes at home, but unfortunately, here I am also trying to learn a language, so we’ll see how easy it is to read everything he wants us to… I tried very desperately to get one of three very strategically selected weeks to present, but unfortunately, literally every person in my class that I do not like jumped on those three days… there are only 10 people in my class including me, and to not like three is an interesting concept that I have just now considered. Anyhow, I have the next to last week of class to present… the week the 10 page paper is due, and the week before finals, in fact, outside of the first presentation and the weekend that we might get married, that is the WORST date I could have imagined. I raised my hand every time, and even though I was in the front row and my professor looked right at me, he would call on someone else for my three days.
Oh, tangent: why do Italian professors prefer to go by their first names? I only call two or three of my professors by their first names, and only one to his face, and that is only outside of class. A new mystery…
After my literature class (which got out late on the first day: Thank you, Mediteranean Culture), Kevin, Kristin, Diane, and I went to Roma to get our Nulla Osta. We successfully made it to the U.S. Embassy in time to slide in the door as they were basically closing, and get it signed. This Wednesday we go back to get it legalized (because Italian bureaucracy is crazy and the offices aren’t open at the same time or on the same days), and Thursday, hopefully, we can file for our Atto Notorio here in Viterbo… maybe even without Kevin’s residenza… we shall see.
On Friday, we went to our Italian class, and then headed out to our Culture Professor’s house to do research. Professor Cryan is hard for me to follow in class because she is so excited to tell us everything she knows, but I really like spending time with her. Mary Jane is the only professor that we have who is from America. She used to live in Boston, but moved overseas to teach English after she graduated from college. I am sure that her library is the largest collection of English books in Lazio outside of Roma. Don’t quote me on that or anything, but really, it is a nice library in the downstairs of her house in the next town over. Anyway, we went to research the projects we have for her class, and we ate dinner with her.
Our professor is the person who has a contact that might be able to help us push Kevin’s residenza through. Well, no one answered the phone all week, so Mary Jane called her friend, and her husband answered and said that she was not feeling well, so we were a little disappointed. Mary Jane’s companion, Fulvio, also has a contact in the office we need. He gave us a name, so we might be back in business. If not, we are perfectly happy getting married in the U.S., and at least we can say we tried.
Our time at Mary Jane’s was really lovely. She made us a roast and potatoes, so it felt like home, and Fuvlio even insisted on taking us to his friend’s restaurant. Enotecca La Torre is a very nice upscale restaurant, and Fulvio very much wants us to have our wedding lunch there with the family. He treated us to a glass of prosecco… I must say it is the loveliest thing I have ever tasted in a white wine. Proesecco is like Champagne, only Italian, haha. Very very nice.
Saturday, we went to the market and bought more cushions for our chairs, so now we have a respectable set of chairs that you don’t sink into onto the wooden frame, for guests. We also bought a new cell charger for me, because I think I lost mine in Padova. It was five euro, and I had just bought a new card and had it installed onto my phone when I realized I couldn’t find my charger. We rented some films and watched them with subtitles, which was fun.
Sunday, we cleaned the house. I am starting more projects of cleaning because my parents, grandmother, and brother are coming. I don’t really like that they will have to see how we are having to live here, because it is basically our first home together, and we have no way to make it presentable. I mean, it is a respectable place, but let us just say that it is a good thing they will not see anyone else’s apartment (because we really got the ghetto furniture and haphazardly completed flooring, painting, etc.). Today, for instance, I scraped the grout off the tops of the tiles in the bathroom and kitchen where the craftsmen left it. The dining room and bedroom both need it done, and it sad that I have to do it. I also scrubbed the radiator in the kitchen with soapy water. I don’t think that has ever happened in this house, as it literally changed colors when I did it. The other radiators will follow, and we will hopefully get everything cleaned and done in time for their arrival.
This morning, I did not want to wake up. The wind around here has been furious, and in our apartment, blinds are outside the window, so they strike the window and wake me up at night. It has been interesting trying to sleep. Other reasons to stay in bed include Viterbo's non-existant snow that is swirly and stinging the faces of pedestrians, and the fact that I have not completed my Italian language homework, and it is due in 6 hours or so, haha.
I should wrap up before I write too much. Mom, don’t forget to water my plants!
A Presto!
Doreen