Ho bisogno piu pazienza.

I need a bit more patience.

I'm learning a lot about myself and especially how I relate to others. I do consider myself to have an extraordinary amount of patience (I grew up with two older brothers, one of whom is Allen- and, at our age, we would still be wrestling if it didn't hurt so dang much:). I have patience when I am talking with people who don't speak english, namely Arturo and Laura (our Romanian housekeeper). I have patience with myself trying to learn the italian language, it's difficult sometimes, and intense when you know you must mentally and aurally prepare the first words out of your mouth in the morning, because they will not be in your native tongue nor to an American. I also have patience with children (I'm a teacher, this is an absolute). However, I do not have patience with the Chinese. None.

They are rude and they are everywhere in Perugia. This town is very much acclimated to and for the young people that come here to study the language, culture, employment opportunities, and many other things of Italy. Apparently, the population of China has a great fascination with Italy, and it is because of this that I must enhance my ability to control the urge to throw my pen in the face of the young man who will not allow me to think of the correct answer in my head before I speak it to my professor. This punk kid is gonna have to watch his back, 'cause I've got a few other things going on right now that may keep me from controlling the urge next week...

Now, as for my apartment: My roomies (Leanne & Maggie) and I have gone to the agency and expressed our displeasure with the arrangement we have. We will go tomorrow to the agency to see what solution they have for us, but in the meantime, we can't do anything about it, right? Except to go on living, of course. That's how I feel about it anyway. But the other girls have to talk about it and speculate and I'm about to blow steam out of my ears because there is not one thing we can change for these TWO days of the weekend, but that is all they can talk about. So, I need some more patience. I will write more when I know more:)

Now, onto il cioccolato! The Eurochocolate Festival has come to town for the next two weekends (google "Eurochocolate" for more details)! Today, I had a freshly prepared crepe filled with Nutella. I could cry, it was so delicious! (pic) Then I had caffe to wash it down (another pic). Then I watched these guys chip away at these huge blocks of chocolate like they were Michelangelo working on a new marble work of art. Geez, how fun! (Look for pics of chocolate)

Other pics will be of me and my roomies and Laura on Saturday morning at a caffe. I love these ladies and I'm going to spend Christmas with Laura (in the leopard print jacket) and her family in northern Romania! What an adventure this is turning out to be!

Last weekend, I went to Siena with a group from the community, and I ended up climbing a campanile (bell tower) over the city center. It was not a bad climb, and the view was great (check out those pics too)!

School is actually going very well: The greatest portion of what we are doing right now is much needed review of items I didn't get an excellent grasp on last summer. I have 20 hours of class each week broken up as follows: 12 hours of reading & writing grammar exercises, 2 hours of pronunciation & listening exercises, and 6 hours of verbal grammar exercises without any visual aid. Three different professors, but all of them very interested in my progress and diligent in their efforts. I'm enjoying it very much (except for my chinese classmates, remember?).

Okay, so, I think that's it for right now. I'm having an excellent time, and once the apartment situation is all sorted out, I am sure my shoulders will resume their natural position below my neck...

I love you all!

~Grace
p.s.
Arturo is still just as excellent as he was when we first met:)