1st full day of school!

Hey guys! i hope everything is going well, the emails are great, please keep them coming. I left for school at 7:40 today becuase it takes me like 10 minutes to walk, and i had to stop in the secretary's office to get my student badge. and everyday before school all the students have to scan their badge into these machines. It takes about 30 seconds, but there are over 600 students and only 2 machines in this really small lobby by one of the 2 sets of stairs. It's absolute crazyness, all the kids cram in there, becuase they don't want to be late for class. So, seeing as i got to school like 15 minutes before school started, i didn't think it would be crazy in there, and it took me almsot 5 minutes to work my way through the crowd to get to the steps. Then i had to go to the secretary, who spoke only italian, and was speaking very fast. i asked her to slow down, and she pointed through some door, so i went through there. But then she came in like 2 minutes later and started to yell at me. She was saying something along the lines of tardi, tardi-which means later. so i left and went back up to the classroom. For the first hour of the day we had spanish, which was fairly easy since this is the class' first year of spanish, so it's very basic. But over half the girls in my class were late becuase of the badge thing, so our class trickled in one by one. The spanish teacher was really nice, she was like 'It's and honor to have you in my class' and whatnot, so i liked her. but she had a huge lisp, and says some of the spanish alphabet differently, so she kept calling on me to recite the alphabet, and she would constantly correct me because i wasn't saying it the way she says it. But Senora Spears is from Panama, so i don't really know who to believe. English was great, i love the teacher. He's our teacher for english conversation, and we have another one for english grammar. But he's british, and very fun. For Chemistry we went to another room downstairs (our class is on the 2nd or 3rd floor, i can't remember) and it was this tiny lab type thing. We sat in rows of 3, and there was a huge basin with sinks down the middle of the class. The teacher is this tiny mousey lady with grayish hair, and she didn't speak any english. Ilionara translated for me a bit, but i got lost after like the first 20 minutes. The first 10 minutes of our 2 hour class i followed, but after that i just copied Ilionara's notes and studied italian. we did some weird experiemnt, so i got to participate, but we didn't get to finish it becuase class was over. Then we had french, which the girls are on their 3rd year of, and which i have never taken, so i was really lost. We have 2 teachers that teach french together, and they were very nice. They call me the american girl. Since i don't speak french they didn't call on me, which was nice. and i took all the note off the board, and the scarier of the 2 teachers said good job american girl, good job. but it was in french, and i don't really know how to spell it, so the english is good enough. almost all of my teachers wear jeans, which is new for me. During the break i went back to the secretary's office with some girls, and she said it wasn't ready. then a girl bought me a twix from the vending machine, and it was soo good. Ilionara gave me her extra cell phone today, and i just went and bought minutes. They are fairly cheap here. And they don't have phone plans. Like even the family goes to get these rexharger cards one time a month. So that is different as well. No family plans in italy. Letizia and i just got back from getting me some school supplies, and we're going to eat dinner soon. Grandma made another appearence today, shes a trip. i was practicing my italian on her. and yesterday at the birthday party one of lucia's friends kept attempting to compliment me in english, but she didn't speak english very well, so it was all twisted. but she was the cutest thing, and she helped me on my italian. Next week school is from 8:05 to 2 i think. but this week it was only until 1. Tomorrow i have gym for 2 hours, then italian lit (rough!!), spanish and religion. but i am leaving for religion so i can study italian. So i technically only have two classes tomorrow since i am completely lost in italian lit. and that teacher doesn't like me very much i don't think. I showed the girls pictures that i brought with me today and they kept asking if i was a cheerleader. I had never realized how hard it would be to explain rockettes, because they don't know what a marching band or football team is. but the one girl is in love with lebron, and i had a picture of all of my friends and i at a cavs game, and she freaked out. That was the same girl who cried yesterday. I just watched gossip girl while daniela and the girls were at the eyedoctor, and it was so good! hopefully this one youtube person keeps putting them up so i can watch some american tv! I'm really tired again today, so i think I'm going right to bed after dinner. I had a sprite yesterday at the pool, and it comes in these really tall thin cans. quie different than our short fat ones. AND i have a new favorite flavor of gelato, mint. i had one with a scoop of mint and a scoop of chocolate today and it was amazing. i still find it hard to believe that 2 small scoops of gelato is only 1 euro. Thanks for the advice on the bide, Chrisi. I'll keep that in mind when it happens. and yes, i am REALLY okay. i am sleeping well, but the constant italian is wearing me out. and i feel at home with the family, i can't wait to go see their other house in Piacenza. Sorry i can't be there E. but i do send my best wishes, and i will be there next year!! Papa-- the eye-talians are treating me wonderfully, maybe you should build a house out here?? Sorry i left you JB, but atleast now you have quiet for the ride. But that also means that there is no one for our to harmonize with during Hanging By A Moment. and Moxie is paying off, because now my feet are broken in for all of this walking! and no, i didn't know 10 things was a favorite of yours as well aunt chrisi. (sorry for anyone reading this who isn't chrisi, papa, e or JB.. it might be boring/ confusing) and yes aunt katie, i was informed that bay won and i did a little victory dance for my team?!? and go osu, i'm trying to follow them online as much as i can. tell the boys i say hey, and i showed pictures to the girls in my class and they were like ohh the 3 little blonde boys (ian, declan and nevan) are sooo cute. they ohhed and ahhed over them. RB- i don't have to dress nice for school, mostly everyone is in jeans and a t shirt. They don't look down at me becuase i'm american, but i did get my first political preference question today. and they all pretty much stare at me (the kids not in my class) and the girls in my class speak like itanglish with me. (italian-english?!) and i don't think they have a dress code, becuase i've seen all sorts of outfits. But we're about to eat, so Ciao! Jessica