Six Months

It’s hard for me to believe, but a few days ago I passed the 6 month mark of my time in Italy. This experience has really seemed to fly by, especially recently, and I take it as a sign of how much I’m enjoying myself. But then I also think back to the day I first arrived in Italy and realize that it feels like a lifetime ago. Obviously, one of the biggest changes from 6 months ago is my understanding of the language. Now, I’m fully confident that I can hold a conversation, I understand almost all of what the teachers say in class, and my reading/writing skills are improving every day. Recently, I’ve been trying to read at least one Italian news article a day and I am pondering the idea of trying to read a full book in Italian (most likely something more simple, or a book that I’ve already read and would like to read again).

Another big difference between now and September is my overall comfort with living in a foreign country. A big part of this is probably due to the language, but I also think that there is more to it. After six months, I feel like I have a better cultural understanding and awareness of how people live here. With my friends and teammates, I feel less and less like an exchange student and more like just any other "Italian" teenager.

In school, all is well. Some of the things we are studying include Dante, Petrarca, Plato, Roman art, basic Economics, forces on an inclined plane, and theories of socialization. The work has become more manageable and I'm really starting to enjoy learning for the sake of learning. Without the pressure of grades and preparing for standardized tests, I have discovered an interest in just expanding my knowledge base. I have noticed this especially in classes such as Art History, Philosophy, and Psychology/Sociology because they are topics that I have never studied and find useful. I like the idea of being able to appreciate art on a different level and finding new ways to think about/see the world.

After a good month and a half of straight school, it will be nice to take a break and go on our class trip to Rome! We leave Monday morning and get back late Wednesday night, so it promises to be a full and exciting 3 days!