First Week of School

Some things we have noticed about our scuola nuova (new school) so far:

• We walk there.
• We have a lot of books and heavy backpacks, which dad and mom often end up helping to carry. ;-)

• The crossing guard is actually a policeman.

• Many kids arrive to school riding on motor-scooters!

• We say goodbye in the courtyard, pass through the school gates, and go up some stairs to enter the school.

• The school is a big city building with lots and lots of stairs inside too!

• The language is Italian, and people also “talk” with their hands.
• We wear uniforms, which are called grembiule (apron). It is kinda cool and kinda not. Mostly boys wear black and girls wear white.
• There are a lot of supplies that need to be a certain way: we have many textbooks that we have to cover with clear plastic to protect them; and many different notebooks (or 4-ring binders) for our work in each subject, with different kinds of lines, margins, paper sizes, and other things; we each have kits with colored pens, pencils, rulers and other items.

• We have traditional classrooms, and there are a few religious symbols on the walls. We also have a religion class once per week.
• We have one main teacher, but different teachers for some of the subjects.
• The school day ends at 1:00, and we go to school every other Saturday. (Boo!)
• There is homework. At least the English homework is easy. :-) 
• Everyone is really nice to us, and they are really curious about the Americans!