Una regazza italiano...

16.9.10

I have decided to begin my blog whilst I am waiting for my second train to set off, as it seems a 5 hour train journey might just be long enough for me to write my first entry!

It’s been a very long day so far (and it’s only 3.20pm!) and I have travelled through quite a few places. Set off this morning at around 6.15am and got to Leeds Bradford airport where I had to say “ciao” to Mum and Dad, I nearly cried, but managed to hold the tears back...think I was too worried about the following journey to let the tears hit just yet.

Slight delay on the flight due to us having to change aircraft last minute due to weight problems, but still managed to arrive at Roma Fumicino on time. Absolutely huge airport and had to pass about ten different baggage carousels until I reached mine...which turned out to be the final one.  I spent a good half an hour trying to find the train station, as staff blatantly did not understand my Italian (hmmm good sign!!) and finally managed to get myself onto the train heading to Roma Termini. By this stage I looked like “a little red tomato” as a kind Italian man pointed out and this was only the start to my journey!

By the time I got to Roma Termini I had missed the train I had planned to get, but to be honest I would never have caught it, as it took me another good half an hour to find where to buy the tickets once I was inside the station...it’s bloody massive and very, very busy! Decided to get a drink and some food, even a can of coke is over 2 Euros here; (in one place 2.80 for 200ml!) so I’m glad I am only passing through Rome! I decided to have a little wander outside, as I had 45 minutes to kill before my train. Managed 5 minutes outside in the heat with all my bags, but managed to take a couple of pics! Now I am just waiting for my second train to set off, which will take me to Fabriano, where I will get on my final train to Macerata...where my adventure will really begin...

Arriving in Macerata –17.9.10

Just before I got off the train, I think the nerves definitely kicked in, but as soon as I saw my “Erasmus buddy” Sara, I felt more at ease. She gave me a huge hug and welcomed me, and she had brought her friend with her who was also really nice, and so I immediately felt better.
The plan for the evening was a massive Italian meal, as Sara’s boyfriend is leaving to go to Spain on Monday, so the house soon filled with lots of Italians...it was a little daunting but everyone seemed really lovely and made a huge effort with me.

We all enjoyed lots of food, huge pizzas and fries (patati friti) and lots of good conversation (although a lot of it was in English last night, due to my fatigue, which I was extremely grateful for!)

I finally went to bed at around 2.30am completely shattered, and woke up this morning at 11.30am...somehow still tired!

I woke up feeling very strange today, and very, very nervous. Sara was awake and waiting for me in the kitchen, she had got my breakfast prepared (a croissant) and made me a cup of tea (black...I think my tea and dairy obsession may dwindle whilst I am abroad). We began chatting in Italian, but I had to pause so often and ask for so many words, but she reassured me I would get better quickly. We then decided to go through all the objects in the kitchen, and I wrote all of the vocab in my vocab book!

By this stage it was around 1.30 and Sara had to go and pick up a big pizza for her boyfriend, and so she decided we would have pizza for lunch which was very tasty, but to be honest I was still full from the night before and didn’t really need more food! (I am blatantly going to come back looking like a house!!!)

After this, we decided to have a wonder round, and go and pick up some numbers for available flats. Sara must have rang about 20 different landlords, but none would take me due to me only staying here for 5 months. Luckily I had added myself to a group on facebook before my arrival, and a girl contacted me from Poland, who wanted to share a room with me. So I am going to be sharing a room for the very first time, and living with two Italian girls and a polish girl!

I had a bit of a panic, due to the fact 90% of the houses do not have internet here, as the buildings are old and internet is very expensive, but luckily my house will be getting internet next week, so I can breathe a sigh of relief! Sara had to leave at 4pm, and won’t be back until Sunday so I have the keys to her house. This meant, that unfortunately, my emotions got the better of me and I cried uncontrollably when I was finally alone...I then decided to ring my mum and she managed to snap me out of it. I decided to go and explore, and typically me, I got lost and ended up walking round for an hour! I finally managed to get back, after asking three different people (as I had not really understood the first two!). I was so shattered and hot, that a shower felt like heaven! I have now just cooked dinner (pasta and pasta sauce with mushrooms!) and am going to look at all the ingredients to learn some vocab!

Arriverdeci!

18.9.10

Well, I somehow managed to stay in bed until midday today. I definitely woke up at 9, and obviously decided to crawl back into slumber! It’s another cloudy, but very warm day here; the kind of weather that leaves you constantly thirsty and sticky (but at least it’s not raining yet!). Plans for today: revise for the four hour test I have on Monday, to determine where my Italian is at (let’s face it: blatantly going to be placed with the “beginners”!) and then I am going to have another explore of the town, and hopefully not get lost this time!

3.00pm

I got bored of revision, so decided to venture out, managed to get half way down the road when I realised A) All the shops shut for lunch, until around 4pm, and B) it was raining and I didn’t have my umbrella! So I have come back to the house for a cappuccino and more revision (yay!). I also recorded myself saying all the new vocab I had learnt yesterday, so I could listen to it on my MP3, I’m really hoping it will help me learn.

5.40p.m

Second time lucky...no rain but really hot and sticky! Found a different supermarket, more choice but still very expensive, not sure how I’m going to cope in Madrid if it is more expensive than here... Had another little wander (didn’t get lost this time), I feel like I am getting to know the streets here now. The main street was packed full of adolescents this afternoon, I’m guessing that’s the “hang-out” spot, I felt really old walking past all the school kids, but they probably thought I looked their age ha! Not much to do now, I’m back at Sara’s house, but home alone again tonight, as she is not back ‘til 1pm tomorrow. I’m definitely regretting only having 2 films on my laptop as it is only 5.50pm...ah well! On a final note, I have been attacked by some human-biting creature/s and reacted to the bites...those of you who were in Serbia with me will understand why this is so upsetting for me...hello swollen leg/arm/hand SOB!

Until tomorrow, buonanotte.