Another quick update

Hello blog followers!

Just wanted to give you another quick update-- I have taken about 30 pictures so far and will have to post them later, when I have my laptop with me, so for now you'll have to settle for just words.

Today I had my first day of Italian class. I placed into the advanced level, and believe it or not, advanced at the Umbra Institute is (so far) ridiculously easy. Way easier than my intermediate class last semester. I think a lot of the students here who know any Italian-- which is very few to begin with-- are less confident in the language than other students studying Italian at the Universita' per Stranieri, where it's full immersion. So I think the Umbra Institute knows that and caters to our level of understanding, which is WONDERFUL because I am receiving credit for TWO classes that would have been ridiculously difficult at the University of Maryland, by taking what seems to be one easy class here.

The whole city of Perugia is like 24/7 Italian practice for me anyway, which is a learning experience in itself. Almost everyone on my program came in knowing zero Italian, so I'm the designated translator every time we go anywhere. I've helped us order food/drinks, asked basic questions, etc. and it's really so much fun to finally use what I've been studying for the past year and a half. It doesn't feel like work at all-- it's such a rewarding feeling knowing that I was able to get a message across to an Italian. Seeing the look of recognition in their eyes after I speak (which doesn't always happen) is so cool.

The city is absolutely beautiful-- I can't impress that upon you enough. Yesterday I diverted from the street where my apartment is for a second, to take a walk up a random side street and see where it led. Turned out it was just a few minutes' walk to this unbelievable panorama of the countryside and city. Picture multi-colored stucco houses dotting rolling hills as far as the eye can see, adobe-style roofs and church towers sandwhiched together on curvy little cobblestone streets. I'll post the pictures soon, I promise.

I finally got a cell phone but haven't used it yet-- it was free to receive the phone, but calls I make do cost a bit of money. For people who have Skype and know how to make phone calls from it, or for anyone who has an international phone plan, it costs nothing for me if someone calls me. But I'm going to call home now, just for a few minutes, since I still haven't done it yet!

I've been crazy busy and trying to settle in, so I apologize for the delay in communication. I promise to keep you posted, and pictures and more detailed updates will arrive soon.