Cold, Wet Shoes

So, I'm sorry I don't update very often. I don't get internet in my room, so it's just a hassle. I check email and all that jazz every other day. I was planning on doing it yesterday but ended up going to a pizzeria with Jamie, the newest arrival to the student teaching force, and some friends we met through friends. It turned into a long, interesting night. The Navy people can drink! And they expect Jamie and me to be able to keep up with them! I was very happy and giggly and my cheeks were red. Some silly pictures resulted, but they're all on Jamie's camera so I'll have to get those from her.

And I still woke up in time to get to school (and without a hangover), although unfortunately the same can't be said for Jamie. Not that she had a hangover! But when I went by her room to get her to go wait for the bus, well, I was her wake-up call...It's ok though. Her mentor teacher is cool, thankfully!

I have a cold today because it rains a ton here. My socks and shoes got soaked on the short walk from my room to the bus stop, then from the bus stop to school and so now I have a cold. And the day I'm set to go to Rome too! If I'm not feeling better tomorrow, I'll just on Saturday instead.

That's really all I have to share for now. I mean...I go to school everyday. I'm still just an observer and I monitor middle school lunch. That's as interesting as it gets for now, apart from the crazy night last night.

As for middle school lunch, even though I wasn't happy about it before, I lay down the law. And I like it. The middle schoolers are quickly learning not to mess with Ms. Brenner. And like I said, some of them are just the sweetest! And then there are the ones like the ones I busted yesterday. Dialogue was as follows:
"Devin, stop pushing and shoving! You know you're not supposed to do that....."
"Yeah, Devin! Stop shoving!" Devin's friend [said as he shoves Devin]
"Hey! I said DON'T shove!"
"Hey how do you know my name?" I gave him a funny look.
"Because I'm your teacher!"
"You are? For what?" Which is a ridiculous question because he had seen me earlier that day!
"For Spanish one. Now behave and don't make me come back here!"

That isn't the best example of how I lay down the law, but it's an example of some of the stupidity I have to put up with.

So yeah, everything is related to teaching, as it should be during my student teaching. Hopefully I'll get some really good stories to relay from Rome!

Arrivederci!

First Week

So today marks my second Monday in Naples, Italy. The second week at Naples American HS in the naval base's support site, Gricignano. I live in Capodichino, which is 12 minutes north of downtown Naples, the Piazza Garibaldi, to be exact. Gricignano is 30 minutes north of Capo and 10 degrees cooler. I live in the BEQ, the Bachelor's Quarters and apparently I have the best view of Naples.

This is the view from directly outside of my room on the 4th floor of the BEQ.

And lo and behold, there in the dark is Mt. Vesuvius...
So this is the view at dawn. As sad as it is, I'm up before the sun is...

While the BEQ is amazing because I have this beautiful view and rent and utilities are free, internet is costly and I can't afford it so I'm stuck in the Liberty, the Capo equivalent of a student union, for my internet fixes. That, or the library. At the Liberty, I'm surrounded by other student teachers (the other two on campus) and sailors. Some of them sexy :-) (I know you're dying to know, Jen!) But it's them or be surrounded by students. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, some of my students are really cute. One girl sat next to me at a computer and turned to me, "Hi Ms. Brenner!" So cute! And I thought I'd hate middle schoolers...My HS is actually MS/HS so I teach 7-12 graders.

That's it for now because it's basically time to go get ready for bed. Such is my life...bed at 9:30, wake up at 5.

I'll update tomorrow or the day after and tell you guys some stories about my weekend.

Oh, and this upcoming week, the other student teachers and I are planning on going to Rome since it's a 3-day weekend. I'll definitely keep you posted on how that goes.