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La palestra
Here is the gym that we had our P.E. class in today. Our gym is a drug-free zone, their gym is a watch-free zone. Title: "The last day of school and water fights!"
So today, as many of you loyal readers may know, was the last day of school here in Rovigo, Italy. Let me tell you that what happens after the school day ends is a lot more different that what happens in Eaton, Co.
Well the day itself is somewhat normal I guess... in the first class, English, we just spent some time looking at some YouTube videos of the lyrics of some famous English songs (We Will Rock You, Circle of Life, etc.). Then we went to "la palestra" (the gym) for the P.E. class. This is a completely different experience than in the United States. We all got changed and then when we were in the gym, we had to wait for, oh, 15 minutes until our class could play because there was another class that was hoggin all of the floor. So finally they left, and I was about to start sucking at soccer again when the teacher called me over and rambled to me in semi-comprehensible Italian that I couldn't wear my watch while playing because it was "dangerous" (what? like I'm going to use it as
Water fights!
Just a general picture of some guys prowling and hunting with their water-weapons a wrist-version of brass knuckles...). So as I took off my watch and gave it to her, I felt like I was naked... you know, that feeling you get when you look at your wrist to see the time and... it's not there!??!? That happened to me quite a few times that class period. Anyways, me and my naked wrist got involved in a nice game of floor hockey (which is a lot more fun than soccer and ice hockey (soccer because I suck at soccer, and ice hockey... just because). I was actually decent at that and was not worried about me sucking a lot while I played, so I enjoyed myself. By the way, the gym itself is very different in shape, size, and seating. The gym is in an entirely separate building than the rest of the school... check out the picture!
After gym, and once my wrist was no longer naked, we went to the drawing room, where Prof. Miante "taught" the final class of the school year... art history (he said something about how sad it was that Americans don't know much about European art history. Well, sorry dude....). Near the end of the
Paolo getting a shave
Ok not really, but here is a picture of him after he got soaked and had shaving cream sprayed on him. Very nice... class, he went around collect water bottles from the other kids in the class, because he wanted to hold back the tradition that follows the last ringing of the bell. What is that? Well, I'll tell you.
When the bell rang, everyone ran outside where a massive water-fight had started! Kids with huge bottles of water, buckets of water, water balloons, water guns--all started to throw and shoot water at each other! Not only was there water, but also shaving cream and shampoo as well 😊. It was an absolute blast watching everyone get "bagnato" (wet) and trying to dodge it myself! I was actually pretty safe being someone only my class knew pretty well, so most people wouldn't mess with me, but then again there were some people--like Federico--who would sneak up to me and pour water down my back every now and then... refreshing I must say! But this tradition truly was a sight to see- water, empty bottles, shaving cream, shampoo, and soaked people everywhere you looked, all having an absolute blast to the beginning of the whole summer ahead of them. With a digital camera, I took a large risk with every photo I took
I miei amici
Here is a picture of many of my class-mate friends here in Rovigo (there are more of them not pictured though!) of this, but I felt like it's something I shouldn't miss!
Eventually, Paolo and I were brought home and we had our lunch and time to do whatever (like watch House) until Paolo and I went downtown to a store called "Buone Vibrazioni"--a groovy music shop named after the Beach Boys' song, "Good Vibrations". Here, we spent literally an hour and a half looking at musical instruments (Paolo wants to buy a new bass--the instrument that he plays--at some point soon). I got really bored after a while and started talking to one of his other friends about running and the difference between good and crummy music. Once we left, we came home and soon I was walking out the door again, this time with Elena and Claudia.
Since today was the last day of school, Claudia's class was having a get-together with the students and parents at... guess where..... a pizzeria. So, for the third time in 3 days, I had pizza. I do admit, I knew a couple of days ago that there'd be pizza, but when I had said in a previous post that I'd bet you i'd have pizza in the next 3 days,
Buone Vibrazioni
The music store that we were looking at instruments in for a large part of the afternoon I had totally forgotten about this pizza.
Elena and Nico warned me over and over that I am crazy and that it is suicidal going to eat pizza with 20-some 12 year olds, but it actually wasn't all that bad. They were all very curious about me and they constantly were talking to me in pretty good English about anything and everything... from songs to books to tv shows and movies... constantly asking me about things that they were curious that we had in America. We went outside after the pizza and before the dessert and everyone was running around like they were hyper and having a great time, except for the one kid that was with me talking about how he doesn't know what they're doing and that they're all stupid for acting that way. That kid, in my opinion, was more annoying that any of the other kids... combined. Because when he wasn't talking about how stupid they were, he was telling me the plots of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings (yawn). I actually really enjoyed being around the young-uns... it was a great opportunity to listen to and attempt to speak some Italian, plus
Random Rovigo Picture
Another random picture from within the downtown area of Rovigo
it was fascinating watching all of their interactions.
Anyways, afterwards, we came home and it was already late and now I'm here, typing this blog, and not remembering what I'm saying as I'm typing it. As I typed by blog entry I couldn't quite remember what all I have said before. It is nearly 1 in the morning here and I am dead tired. I can barely remember what I've said before.
So, I guess, buonanotte!
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