La Lingua Italiana e' bellissima!

One of my favorite things about being in Italy is learning a new language. I'm rapidly learning Italian because a) I'm taking a very intensive course for 3 weeks which lasts about 20 hours a week and b)I'm hardly around people that speak english. So it forces me to speak really fast. It is very gratifying to see progress in oneself whether it be being able introduce yourself or just simply being able to buy food completely in Italian.

Being an "international" student in a new country allows me to really connect with how my parents experienced coming to the United States. Both my dad and mom came to the States at about the same age as I am now. They of course had to deal with having limitations with a new language as well. Being here just over 3 weeks has made me come to grips with how badly Americans in American Universities treat international students. I mean there is a freakin Facebook Group at UF called "People Who Think Professors and TA's Should Speak English Fluently" that has over 2,000 people in it. If you are one of my friends who happen to read this and are in that group, I say "shame on you". Don't you think they are trying their best to learn the language? And trust me...those professors and t.a.'s are probably not fond of teaching students like you. Here in Italy the Italians have the biggest smile on their face when I even attempt to speak italian. When I mess up, they help me through it. Instead of biotchin about how International Students speak, maybe you should sign up to become an ELI partner with one of them and help them out with their English. If they are anything like me, they would love it. I for sure will make a point to do that when I go back to the states. Mad props to those who already do that (right Liz, Jess, and Andrew Lisi?...you guys rock my socks off).

One of my favorite questions other international students here ask me is "why in the world as an american would you come here to do graduate work?" My response: "Why not?! I'm in Rome for a year for cryin out loud". One of my friends in my Italian class is from Sri Lanka and said he had to choose from going to school here in Rome or in Mississippi State. I was like "Good Choice!". I love my Italian class. I'm the only American and only native English speaker. There are people from China, Argentina, Russia, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Spain, Germany, Indonesia, and even the Philippines in my class. We've all bonded really quick. My class today was given entirely in Italian and I actually understood stuff! I'm hoping by the end of the year I'll be able to consider myself fluent!