Ieri è stato dificile

Yesterday was hard! (at least I think that's how you say it in Italiano)

I started my second day of classes with a new teacher. I had thought that I had moved to level 1 1/2. It felt like no change! I had to quickly read a letter, talk about it with my neighbors, write a response to the letter, listen to a conversation and then play a game ABOUT the conversation! WOW.

I was a little overwhelmed. In fact, I felt close to crying. It's so frustrating to do something where you're failing miserably! PLUS, I got in trouble...TWICE! Once for talking (asking my neighbor to interpret what the teacher had just said) and once because my new Italian phone kept getting text messages for the previous owner of the number.

Well, by the end of the class I felt a little better. I started to understand the teacher more and left resolved to study the basics for many hours that night. There's nothing like a little failure to motivate you to buckle down and study harder!

BUT, before I went to study, sono andato al Palatine e Colosseo!

The outside of the Colosseo


Some more of the outside


Some arch... I'm sure it's important, but I don't know why ;-)


A closer shot of the mystery arch


Some words on the arch


I have a bunch of shots of this skyline. Molto bello!


Some statues.


Another closer shot of this group of buildings


A closer shot of this tower


I really like the statues on top of this building


See...Here it is closer.


Ok...This is Ryan (my roomie) and two girls from his class - Jimena and Anne


The Roman huts.


I think this is the Vatican?!?


Ah...Here is that building again!


And now, me in front of that building!


Ok... It wasn't ALL ruins. I do wish there had been more roses than the two little bushes we finally found.


Tramping through the Palentine!


This makes me think of that maze at the beginning of Labyrinth. Come on...You've seen that movie!


Ah...Some beautiful trees.


Some more manicured trees juxtaposed with the columns behind.


A nice view of the Colosseo


And me in front of the Colosseo


And all of us!


Inside the Colosseo


A closer shot of the pits. They used to cover this part with a wood and then a layer of waterproof canvas and sand. The word Arena comes from the Latin word for Sand. Imagine that! They also used to fill the arena with water and reenact sea battles.


One of the things that held up the bleachers


Just a cool shot in the Colosseo


A little deeper into the pit! Did you know that they used to have trap doors in the pit also?!? At least four major ones for the gladiators and the body removers, and then a bunch of other hidden doors!


Today was even better than yesterday. I understood 80% of what the Insegnata (Teacher) was saying and was able to better participate in the class. I have more homework for tomorrow, so I'm planning on leaving here and going to one of the great fountains or piazzas of the city to study!

Ciao!