Pre-Departure Promises

First, I'll explain why I've created this blog in the first place.  I'll be studying abroad in Siena, Italy through an AHA international program from September 27th through December 15th.  I've created this blog mostly for myself.  I want to keep track of my travels and adventures.  I want to be able to look back at them fondly once I've returned.  However, I also want my parents and friends to be able to see what I'm doing without having to make daily phone calls from abroad.

So clearly I'm not in Italy.  It's July 21st and I don't leave until September 20th.  However, I've been getting more and more excited about Italy and have spent most of today (to be fair I woke up at 1pm) feverishly researching Siena and Italy in general.

Stumbling across Morgan's blog about studying in Marcerata, Italy both inspired me and sent me into a panic. (Visit her blog at http://wrldtrvlr-italia.blogspot.com/)  As such, I've promised myself I'll spend some time reviewing my Italian this summer before I depart to Italy in the fall.  I have taken two complete years of Italian at the University of Oregon, so I'm not concerned that I'll be thrust into the culture with no basic skills.  However, starting my 200 level class this year after neglecting to use any Italian for three months was difficult to say the least.  I'm determined to hold on to as much of what I've learned as I can.

I've decided that effective immediately:
~I will try to watch at least one Italian film a week (or as many as Netflix allows... May end up being more like every other week).
~I will also read Italian newspapers online as often as possible (i.e. when I remember to).
~Try to associate the Italian words with nouns that I see and use on a daily basis (for example, I'm sitting on "il mio letto" (my bed) as I write this post.)

 Cinema Paradiso: this week's film.

I'll post with updates about the program as I get them.  So far, I've only been given my pre-pre-departure orientation packet, which  is entirely vague.


A presto!
Maddie