First Day of Classes

September 1, 2010

Day 4

Today, (Wednesday) was much like the Wednesdays I used to have back home. By this I mean only that it was a half-day, ending at 12:30. We all made up our schedules today, circling the courses we want when we want them; the leeway was lovely. Immediately after our new schedules were photocopied we proceeded to go to a shortened version of each class.  I have 6 classes filled out of a possible 7. There are 9 periods, one for lunch and, on some days, another for a supplementary Italian class. The 9-period day is something I have always wanted, so I think it’s fantastic, I have always wanted to have a free period, and now of some days I’ll have two! *Happy dance*

However, my classes aren’t as simple as I thought they might be. I am torn between two different Latin courses (I adore Latin and it’s mandatory). The first is a class that treats Latin as any other language, giving it no preference for being an ancient tongue that died out thousands of years ago. In this class we would read the Latin books just as normal book s to be talked about instead of the usual method of assigning lines. The other is the AP Vergil course, which is exactly what it sounds like. The entire course is in preparation for the Advanced Placement Latin Exam. This is a very challenging course; just as much as the other, but more suited towards my interests (poetry), while the reading seems less interesting, but more suited to my level. I have had two years of high school Latin, so the choice is not an easy one. Now I’m trying out both workloads and taking a couple of weeks to decide for myself.

Speaking of workload, we didn’t know that we were trying out our first school day today, so few of us brought the necessary supplies. I brought only a small daypack, which is completely sufficient for a spare top, a few pencils, sunglasses, chapstick, a wallet, and two notebooks, the cargo with which it was previously burdened. It is, however, inadequate when faced with the challenge of supporting all my bulky new books. My current textbooks alone rack up an impressive 6.4 kg, add to that one binder, two journals and an array of papers and you get a small bag struggling hold itself together, nonetheless its contents.

However, I will be much more prepared for Monday. (School does not start until after the Festa di Santa Rosa, which I’ll write another post about).

I couldn’t write yesterday because directly after school I collapsed on my bed in exhaustion, my body and mind too confused to process the day. I awoke at 10, after dinner was served and spent a sleepless night trying to figure out what to do. Unpleasant to say the least. I expect a better night tonight though.

My mum and I went to visit her friend, who is harboring Grace Brown. We all ate pasta at her house. The pasta was thick and utterly delicious. The white wine with dinner was sweet and tasty. If only Grace and I could talk less awkwardly it would have been perfect. As it is attempting to talk to someone seems rude when your parents are chattering away in Italian.  Back at my house Grace and I watched my mum chop up chocolate and we went to my room to talk. Now, I must get to work on my homework. I’m typing my English now, while chatting with Grace.

She’s wonderful :)