Homestays - what to expect?

The day we head to Siena, we'll be taking an extended road trip. While you'll want to be comfortable, we still have to drag our bags through Sorrento to meet the bus, which makes this a good time to address public dress versus how you dress in private.
Italian men and women put great pride in their appearance in public. Really - they don't leave the house if they're not presentable. Head to toe. Hair done, clothes in good condition, attractive shoes. And, opposed to rumor, their hygiene is taken care of, too. For as important it is for them to be attractive, it's important that others around them put in the same effort. Along with the traditional greeting of the two kisses, the unspoken part is the full-scope of the person you're with - shoe check, clothes check, hair check. Believe me - you want to look appropriate when you're out in public. And, for the sake of the homestay, outside of your room is considered "public" - at the kitchen table, hanging around the patio, etc. Being in class is considered "public", too. And with me. If you don't brush your hair before leaving the house, if you're in jogging shorts or tank tops, if you're strolling around publicly in pajama pants, EVER, I probably won't recognize your presence.
With that said, we'll arrive at the Siena train station just before dinner, and your homestay families will meet you the minute you walk off the bus. When you make an amazing impression for them, you'll pile into cars and drive to their homes, to settle in, enjoy your first meal together, and get moved into your new room.
Homestays usually have two twin beds in each room, along with some form of dresser/armoire/closet where you can store your clothes. Expect to share a room with someone else from our group ONLY, and plan to also share a bathroom. When you sit down to dinner, you may learn that you have other roommates, as well, who may know English, but are also students at Dante Alighieri, learning Italian just like you. Get to know them, so that you can introduce them to our SPI group (and me) on Monday.
Dinner at a homestay usually consists of three courses (in some form or another) - the primo (pasta or salad), the secondo (meat dish)...sometimes with contorni (vegetables), and the dessert (usually fruit). If you don't eat all that's been served to you, your homestay mom will assume you're sick, so please be sure to space out your eating throughout the day so that you can eat your dinner well! During dinner, you'll be informed as to what time you'll have breakfast the next morning. Set your alarms to make sure you'll be ready for that. Breakfast will consist of some sort of pastry and a drink (milk, juice).
After your first dinner, consider taking a walk (passagiata) around the neighborhood in which you live - is there a gelateria nearby? A grocery store? A fountain? What geographical spots will help you find your way home if you get lost? Perhaps even ask if there are nearby bus stops (if you'll be taking a bus to school).
Then, get a good night's sleep before our first day of class!!!
Next blog: Monday, June 23 - Dante Aligheri!!!