Buon pomeriggio,
Well, hi. I’m sure I remember writing this thing some time ago. But unfortunately things have turned out to be pazze* and I haven’t had anytime to update. So the last time I left you was on Friday, giusto*? Well, today is Tuesday. So here is what I have been up to:
Saturday I woke up early to meet Eugenio. We went to his house and picked up his mom (who came in from Venafro) and took her to the jewelry store, which was nice. Then we ate lunch at his sister’s house (tiny macaroni shells with potatoes) and looked for an Internet company. I had finally gotten a hold of a cellphone from Eugenio’s mom, which made things a lot easier on me. Basically how it works in Italy is that you can get the Internet using your cellphone card to connect and you can pay for the service. We tried going to Wind (which is my cell phone company) but it was closed. So he brought me to Montesanto (where I live). Alessia and I were walking to the metro station where we were to meet Serena when a kid about 17, 18 ran up to a woman of about 50 years and tried to grab her necklace, causing her to fall. But he didn’t get it and she was alright – but Alessia was pretty shaken up. We then rode the funicolare* up to Vomero and then took the metro to Piazza Dante and then back to Montesanto (so I could see how the system works).
Then Eugenio came and picked me up and we went to Annarita’s house. I really missed her – I also go to see Rino, his friend, Cristina (Annarita’s sister) and Salvatore (Cri’s husband). We ended up driving around for awhile and went to Salerno and had pizza but I ate a calzone. This thing was bigger than my head! I managed to eat it. By this time I was pretty tired, after a long week and traveling and the time change (it was about 1am) but the others wanted to stay out, I ended up falling asleep while we were talking. We got back about 4am to Eugenio’s house.
On Sunday we went to Angela’s (Eugenio’s mom) house in Venafro, which is right about an hour by car. It’s such a beautiful area and they have such a wonderful house. We ate sooo much. I ate mozzarella cheese balls covered in cream, ham with ricotta rolled up inside, sautéed chicken, pasta al ragù, gateau (which is a potato, cheese, ham slice of heaven!) and then babá which is a Neapolitan donut type thing. Then we ended up going back to my place then I went out with Alessia and her friend, Michela.
So here we are to Monday! My first day! I woke up but was exhausted. It takes about a half hour, 35 minutes to get to my university from where I live by foot, so I woke up at 8 but got out by 8:30…and I had class at 9. So I rush and managed to get to building by 9 but the elevator is so busy and chaotic there that I ended up waiting for 10 minutes for it to arrive. I met my professor I will have just for the next 10 days, Guia.
We basically worked on my pronunciation, stress, fluency, comprehension and listening skills. That took four hours and it was exhausting. On my way back to home, I was walking with my iPod in my backpack and the headphone (I only had one in my ear) trailing out. Halfway home someone runs up, tries to pull off my backpack and decides instead to open it so everything falls to the ground. I talked to a couple of people about it and they said it was just some idiot being and idiot – he wasn’t trying to rob me (seeing as it was 3pm and in a crowded piazza). So now I walk with my laptop back instead of laptop. Live and learn.
I came home and some friends of Alessia came over, Carmen, Michela and two others (unfortunately I don’t remember their names). We had fun, sitting around talking and cooking eggplant and penne. I ate something called a bombeletta di cioccolato which was a wonderful concoction of donut and chocolate. Then Eugenio came over and we went looking for Wind with Alessia, but it was closed. So we did some grocery shopping, came back and I fried chicken nuggets and French fries while watching one of my favorite shows, Le iene (The Hyenas) and basically they are sort of Fox Fix It Line and they chase down people who have done bad things or they report about how backwards Italy is, it’s funny and I understand it. Ci piace!*
Then I woke up this morning and went to class. Guia and I talked about the article I read for homework then we fought with the computer for a listening exercises but it didn’t want to work. So I watched a couple of interviews with the writer of Gomorra, which is a book that puts the spotlight on the “mafia” in Naples. They put a hit out on him so he rarely does interviews, always put in a safehouse. By this time I was dozing off because they were talking so fast and it was dark and I was tired. Then I came home and Alessia and I cooked lunch and I did laundry.
This has been an experience let me tell you! First they don’t use dryers. They have a tiny washer that runs for about 2 hours, then you hang your clothes outside, which was a horrifying experience for me because I was so nervous to drop something. BUT. I did succeed in doing it, by myself. I did take pictures. When I have the Internet (which I desperately hope is for tonight), I’ll post some pictures. Sorry that I haven’t had any time/access to the Internet to update!
Ci vediamo in questi giorni,
Kevin
*crazy, right?, cable car, we like it!
(later on)
Hola,
Ok. So Eugenio couldn’t find a parking space and ended up just stopping and I got into his car. We went to the Wind store and the guy was really friendly. And to get the deal for my phone I needed a new number so he gave me a new SIM card and I bought another one for the Internet, which is unlimited access for 20 euros, split between me and Alessia, so ten euros. We came back and Alessia had skipped town to Salerno for the night so I was left to try and cook something. I ended up throwing some pasta, ham, lots of provolone and hot dog into a pot. It was alright, it was missing some panna* which made it sort of…blah. We ended up watching X-Factor (type of American Idol) and then going to sleep. I woke up and was getting ready for the day and I saw the clock and I was running behind. I got to L’Orientale and Guia and I watched some more of those interviews. Then we talked about the camorra and then she made me write and edited it. Then we talked some more. I went up to Serena’s office and I had access to the Internet! Hallelujah! But…it was like 6, 7am where you guys are so no one was online. Then I went to meet one of my other professors and he was ready to start teaching today…
Serena had to explain to him that classes didn’t start today. But he gave me the books anyway. Then Serena and I walked around Naples for awhile, I came back, grabbed a few groceries for dinner tonight, put away my laundry and mo* I’ll start my homework. I don’t have the Internet or a new number because I left the SIM cards in Eugenio’s car and I’m not going to see him tonight, he has things he needs to do.
Ok, I’m off to homework!
A un domani,
Kevin
*cream, *right now (in Neapolitan)
p.s.
STILL NO INTERNET. Humbug.
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