Settling in

Buon Giorno, Tutti!

Today is our third day of class, so I thought I'd share with you a little about normal life here in Siena (especially since, beginning Sunday (Domenico) and going through Wednesday (Mercoledi), nothing will feel normal around here due to the Palio).

In the mornings, we awake to a very nice, fresh, cool morning (mid-60's), where strolling through the city is comfortable. I met Lauren and Grace this morning on our stroll to the school, and they mentioned, "Why can't it always be like THIS?" In fact, it is hotter in Siena than usual right now, which, just like in Texas, when the weather is hot, tempers flare and patience is tried. (Dina, my homestay mom, just told me today that I needed to have more patience with things - what can I say? I'm a Leo - everything should go the way I want it, right?) But, as in the north U.S., people don't have air conditioning here, and complaining about the heat really feels ridiculous (as if the person I'm standing next to/complaining to is standing in some other individually-cooled zone). At least it's not as hot as it was in 2002 - in June, the temperature soared to 40 degrees centigrade (around 102-105) in Rome, and caused the death of many French people. Talk about feeling ridiculous - I, in a small skirt and tank top, complaining about the heat to a full-habited nun who is waiting for the same bus? I often find myself echoing the same words she told me - You know, I'm standing here, too. Really, when the sun doesn't touch your skin, it's never too uncomfortable (as opposed to the heat-carrying humidity of Texas) - it's something the kids quickly learned - if you're going to be outside standing around, be in the shade!

Classes start on usual days at 9 AM, and the kids learn about grammar, vocabulary, conversation, and culture, all integrated. The school diligently works to stay on top of the most recent research about learning language and immersion - it's cool to sit in on classes and see what they incorporate into just a 30-minute lesson. There is a break around 10:30 or 11 for 30 minutes for a snack-stroll, then classes resume for another 1.5 hours. We're all released at 1:30 for the day. But that's not the end of our day.

I don't want the kids to ever feel that I monopolize their time, and that they don't have any "free time", but I do want them to know what the city here has to offer - amazing art, history, opportunities! Yesterday, we went to the Pinacoteca to view the city's collection of religious art by artists from this city. Then, around 5 PM, one of the teachers at the school gave a lecture about the Palio, the Contrade, and Siena. (I'll share more with you about this during the event next week) Home for dinner, then out for a stroll in the evenings - a standard plan every evening! Again, once the sun is down (even as early as 6 PM), the city is very pleasant. In fact, that's the time you see the locals.

At 7 AM - 9 AM, before the tourists arrive, the locals sit out, chatting in the streets, and enjoying the beautiful morning. When it's hot, they're hiding in their homes. Then, from 6 - 9 PM, there is la passegiata every evening, where the locals come out from their homes to the comfortable evening to chat and enjoy each other's company. Tourists are enchanted by Siena, but it's really most charming when you're there overnight, to enjoy the true spirit of the locals.

Today, we're going to visit the Palazzo Pubblico, and the kids will have a chance to climb the Torre del Mangia (right on the Campo) to get one of the two awesome views of the city itself. Lots of pictures to follow! The frescoes in the palace are very famous, and depict allegories, scenes from history, and recollections of authors and artists. With the weather as hot as it is, I'm choosing for us to visit indoors spots, and hope that we'll get slightly cooler weather next week to do our "gire" around town. The kiddos are becoming familiar with those important saints of the city (Catherine - in the black and white with the lily - and Bernardino - the guy with the IHS symbol), and they're going to get a brief lecture about the history of the city today before we enter the palace.

Don't worry - they get a day or two every week (Thursday afternoons and Sundays, usually) for themselves. I do have to do laundry eventually! But seeing as we haven't reached those days, yet, I'll just have to keep you in suspense until then . . .

L :)