The return..

OK, so I'm back! I hope that you have missed me; maybe not.....

So it's been 7 weeks since I arrived, and in a strange way, it feels like I have been here a lot longer! Of course, when I say that I feel like I have been here at lot longer, I don't mean that my language skills have improved so much that I feel like a local; oh no. However, I've tried to put myself in situations where I can at least practice a little. Since my last update, I joined a 'conversation exchange' . I've met quite a few people this way, mostly from the south of Italy funnily enough. Of course, their English is always better that my Italian! 

With regards to the earthquake yesterday, this following sentence is an insight into my slightly crazy mind. This was the first night that I had spent in the new flat, so when woken by your bed shaking erratically and the whole flat shuddering at 4am, a normal person living in Italy would surmise that it would most likely be the result of an earthquake. However, not sure if it is a combination of watching too many episodes of crime watch, or horror films as a child; but I awoke to the conclusion that either an intruder with a cheeky sense of humour had decided to break into my room and start shaking the bed, or the most likely event, would be that my room was haunted by poltergiest, and they were sending me a very firm warning that I was not welcome in the room. Tiredness can do strange things to the mind, well that is my excuse and I'm going to stick with it. As a precautionary measure, I may have to track down an old preist to perform an exorcism just in case. You can never be too careful...

For those that knew me back in London, you will be familiar with my constant Facebook updates regarding the metropolitan line, and I do look back with very unfond memories of my 1 hour and 45 minutes commute to Uxbridge (or Suxbridge as it is more fondly known). I'm sure that none of you miss those little rants that I used to have on a bi-weekly basis. However, now I really don't have anything to whinge about on my journey to school. Ok, there have been a few moments where I have nearly been 'mowed down' by a pensioner on a bike, or a small dog has tried to have a little chew at my ankles; but I can safely say that my commute is event free. However, I have realised that even though I have been here for 7 weeks, my walking pace is still that of a Londoner on speed compared to the rest of Bologna. To me, the walking pace is so slow, it is almost stationary, and if there are two or more people walking side by side; straddling the pavement; you have a challenge on your hands. There are skills to be had in navigating around other pedestrians here, without tripping over the ankle-biters on the leash, however I think I have finally perfected them. I'm not sure how transferable these skills are, maybe I should put these on my CV....

So, over the next few weeks I will be revising for this exam. Yes, I know I'm crazy, this exam was not compulsory, but the sado-masochist in me decided that I needed to add a bit of stress in my life now that me and the metropolitan life had parted company...

Anyway, enough from me for now!

xx

Chipped tooth...

Today the sun has finally decided to show it's face, although I think the forecast for next week is more rain. Since my last update, I have come to the realisation that it is actually warmer outside of my room than inside. In my room, I have a daily battle to bring back any form of sensation to my hands and nose, other than the first signs of frost bite. The one saving grace however, was that even if it was warner outside, at least it wasn't raining indoors! Well, until thursday morning that is. Thursday morning welcomed me with open arms on my way to the kitchen by water from the upstairs flat coming through the ceiling. Or should I say 'falling' through the ceiling? I think that conveys more accurately the ACTUAL amount of water that was coming through a lot more precision. Anyway, I managed to find one small bowl which would catch about 20% of the water at least….

For those of you who didn't or who were not able to see my Facebook update on friday, I celebrated the end of the week by cracking and chipping my front tooth after eating a bloody apple of all things. I was wondering why this particular apple was so crunchy. After I had finally hypothesised that this crunchiness could indeed be a part of my tooth, it was too late, I had swallowed it…crunch crunch.

I've completed my third week of studies now, and I'm ready for more of a challenge. There is one particular 'character' in the class who threw a bit of a strop last week, I think due to pure frustration, and also due to the fact that at the ripe old age of 70+ I don't think he has really matured that much in the past 50 years. Maybe that will be the case for most of us..cling onto your youth I say..

I've added a couple of photos to this post. The first one is of me sitting at my desk in the area I call 'The nerve centre' . This is where all of the learning is supposed to take place. Note, that I used the word 'supposed' …. 

The second photo is a photo of me sitting in my bedroom, about two inches to the right of the nerve centre. The photos are a little 'poser-ish' I know, but I was hardly going to post a photo of me in my PJ's was I? I also want to add that I'm aware that the lack of socks in these photos gives the false impression that it is in fact barmy in my room, and all this talk of it being freezing cold is all in fact a load of bo**ocks on my part. However in a pure act of vanity, I decided that my summer clothes would look a lot better in the photos than my H&M jumper (which now has holes in after just 2 weeks) and woolly socks. 

Anyway, I'm hoping that in my next post I will have found some friends to hang out with, this 'billy no mates' look just doesn't suit me. It's just not my colour….

xx

The Kids of Bologna....

Darwinism....

Well I think that I can safely say that I'm finally changing colour. Not from white to brown; oh no, more from white to green. This constant rain is turning me into a frog. Well, at least I can say that I am adapting to my surroundings, darwinism at it's finest. It's either 'sink or swim' and I've decided to have a bit of a paddle....

Since my last update you may be pleased to know that I now have three items of knitwear in my possession; yes three! I know this is hard to believe, and I promise you I'm not telling 'porkie pies' (lies), I'm simply stating facts. I'm in danger of turning into a serious collector.

Anyway, enough bleating on about the weather, who do I think I am with all this silly talk; English?I've just completed the second week of my classes, and I think I have made the slight progression from speaking Italian like a 1 year old, all the way up to 18 months; oh yes. We have had some students come and go. Two lovely Russian girls departed on Friday, I wish they could have stayed longer, and an American couple. So this week, there will only be four of us in the class. 

So Dear Reader, you may also be pleased to know that I've managed to land a little job at the school. Apparently all I need to do is to take the Italian English-language students to the bar every Wednesday night, help them with their english; and I get paid for the priviledge! I'm not sure if the school really knew what they were letting themselves in for when they asked me to take on this task, after all, I'll be teaching them the very creative form of the English language alla 'Cockney sparrow'. Anyway, I will have to practice being authoritarian. Unfortunately I left my whip and cane back in London as I wasn't sure if British Airways would charge me for the luggage excess. So I'll just have to use my iron fist to instill some discipline; move over Margaret Thatcher... 

I've also decided to start samba classes this week, hopefuly I'll be able to meet some like-minded people in addition to acquiring a nice set of snake-hips; move over Shakira....

I have to say that although I expected that setting into a new place wouldn't be easy, it has been a little harder than I expected. Not having internet at home, or a functioning mobile at the moment has not made things very easy. However, I'm a positive person, and I think that with time, and with a bit more sun, I will get to meet more people and get to know Bologna a bit better. It certainly makes you appreciate the difficulties of adapting to a new place when you have come alone, but I definitely believe that it gives strength to your character and makes you rich with experience. Arrivederci!! xxx

Some photos from Venice...

Ciao! In case you have wondered "where are all the bloody photos", here are some to tide you over from my very brief trip to Venice.....  xxxx

Ciao Everyone! Well it has been 12 days now since my arrival and the second week of my language course. In a strange way I feel like I have been here a lot longer that 12 days, although I think I'm still looking like a rabbit caught in headlights at times. I've certainly had a busy Easter weekend travelling around the North of Italy (Rob Pack you would have been proud!). On Friday, Adrian and I hopped on the train to Milan to visit family and  Saturday morning we jumped back on the train to Venice to meet a friend for drinks and dinner before getting back on the midnight train to Bologna! I think TrenItalia have made a mint out of me this weekend, they should be nothing less but grateful. I also came to realise that there are some interesting people to be found on the midnight train. For any of you who have experience the London night bus, you will know what I'm talking about. Anyway, I made it back in one piece on the Sunday morning, exhausted from our little jaunt,  100 Euros poorer, cultivating a nice little cold but happy all the same.

I finally made the big step of buying another jumper. For those that know my silly little idiosyncracies, you will appreciate that I only own one other piece of knitwear as I loathe spending my money on frumpy knitwear. I'd prefer to freeze my proverbials off than stand there all comfy and warm. Silly I know, but that's just me. However I had to bite the bullet as the cold and the rain in Bologna has finally beaten me. So Dear reader, you will be pleased to know that I'm sitting here writing to you in my lovely new sweater, all warm and cosy.....

Anyway, in terms of meeting people I met a lovely guy called Davide yesterday who showed me some of Bologna and introduced me to the Appertivo concept. A concept I could certainly get used to. Buy a drink and  eat some buffet food for free, that's dinner for me sorted. I also had the chance to taste some delectable gelato for desert, so I think I can safely say that I have aquired a new addiction.

Bye for now, I'm off to lunch, speak soon my friends  xxxxx

RSS links...

Hi guys, if you have RSS readers on your devices, here are the links. Of course, only if you want up-to-date updates of me talking about nothing, which I think is the whole point of blogging isn't it? Anyway, it's always good for those who suffer with insomnia......

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