January blues? And how to buy shoes

I haven't blogged since I returned, because I have been finding it difficult since I came back: the inevitable result of two weeks back home with Christmas films, snack items and the family.  But I am back into the teaching rhythm now, and this week's lessons mostly went well. I was focussing on pronunciation with one level, which was rewarding, and another group made some nice comments. I have some new students this term which has changed the dynamic in some classes.

The sailing boats

Coming back to the sun is one good thing, although even that was missing when I first arrived. The last two weekends have been warm and sunny and so I have taken to walking along the lungomare, the sea front, and then sitting for half an hour or more to soak up some vitamin D and warmth. I took my coat off last weekend (it was way too hot) but many of the Italians still feel the need for an added layer and they can spot that I am foreign and ask if I am not cold. Today I walked up to the end and I think I saw two cormorants fishing in the sea. There were some boats on the water, as last Saturday; I think they are people having sailing lessons.  At the end of the lungomare Etna rises above the city - she really does have some strange hold over people. You can't help but stare. There is always wisps of smoke at the top (last week grey, today white) and a bit of snow on the side.

See what I mean? You can't take your eyes off her

The sea is about 12 feet or more below the road so don't get the wrong idea, there are no nice beach walks. The most we have is some scrappy bit of grey sand and these enormous boulders - you look in the sea and there are more round rocks there too. There's also some weird, huge concrete blocks in two places. Ella, Jo and I sat on one the other day and listened to the waves.

The round rocks

The sun on the sea is dazzling, and one night last week it was the moonlight that looked beautiful on the water.

It is harder than I ever expected to live somewhere else, specially not speaking Italian well. I am determined to improve - which is not helped by the fact the promised lessons have not materialised - but I have got books and people willing to help and I have been practising as much as I can. Today a really nice girl, one of my students, helped me; we talked about how to buy clothes and then mooched around some shops and she made me speak to the shop assistant...she'd make a good teacher!

I want to meet more people my age. My housemates/fellow teachers are all lovely, but I am not into the same things. There is a conversation group that meets when I'm teaching plus there are people who want to meet for conversation exchanges so I will see what happens.

Sun on the water

It being Sicily, you expect romance, what with all the dark, good looking men. But by their own admission, Sicilians are not the best choice. Too many jealousy issues, affairs and men living with their mothers. My January blues involved affairs of the heart. I really liked someone, he really liked me, but for simple reasons it's a no-go. One second it was yes, the next, no. And it has been hard because we can't communicate well. So I'm afraid I let it send me into a gloom. But that's life, I guess, and it is not a stupid film where love wins the day. But I have had some invaluable support from people back home and for that I am very grateful.

Perhaps it's because it's an island, but most Catanese love Catania and have no interest in venturing outside it. It feels a bit claustrophobic. I have just finished watching Sue Perkins's trip up the Mekong River - what a wonderfully interesting and thought provoking series. She really challenged her own and the viewers' perceptions and learned so much from visiting such different places. Totally recommended viewing and a welcome reminder that there is life outside Sicily.

Finally, I am hoping today won't be my last blog - I have a bureau in my room where the lid falls open if you don't lock it. I was bending to clean (of all things) when it fell open and whacked me hard on the head. There's a small bump there and it's still sore even now.

Weekend

My god, have gone into shock over the cost of the course, as what I'd hoped was a year's cost was actually for a term. So I really hope the students feel happy with what they are getting. But they continue to turn up, so that is a good sign. And the occasional ones who don't, well I expect they have better things to do as it is quite a commitment to attend twice a week, in the evening after work. Last week one of my pre-intermediate groups were saying how they were at work all day so often felt tired by the time of the class (8-9.30pm). I understand how they feel as I used to struggle with my Welsh lessons which were at the same time, and I would often have to stifle my yawns - not because of the lesson but because it was late.

Yesterday Jo and I enjoyed an "aperitivo" with our Australian workmate, at a bar not far from the school. In many places you can get a cocktail and some food for a good price. It is usually a cold buffet where you help yourself, and although I played a bit of veggie Russian roulette - I wasn't sure which things were entirely meat free - it was very nice. The food is always fresh and tasty. The cocktails always seem strong so be warned if you ever visit, you do not need to go mad.  A little bit helps you speak Italian though, so Jo and I were attempting to speak to some of the Sicilians there. They drink some weird things: one looked like mouthwash and another tasted vile.  It was a nice evening and Deanna has given us a list of places we can go (as sadly she is leaving soon). There's a jazz bar that I have heard about, which sounds like a must, as luckily Jo is a jazz fan too. When we went to Taormina we saw a postcard of the bizarrely freakish monks' catacombs in Palermo, which I saw on a programme with that Italian guy, Francesco. We have to see those, if just for the horror factor. Palermo is a day trip away but perhaps we can go one day. There is also the Teatro Massimo in Catania that has opera and ballet: last week I made an attempt to see if I could see "Coppelia" but obviously the place was closed when I walked there and they didn't answer the phone later that night. But another time.

Last night we were laughing about how none of us can say anything now, in English, without an accompanying hand gesture. We can't stop even if we want to, and I had to sit on my hands at one point just to stop illustrating every word visually. Clearly we all understand English so there was no need to gesture behind our shoulder for something in the past (a standard sign), or perform meaningless hand signals to indicate the shape of an object. I just can't stop now. It happened after the CELTA course too, because you become used to explaining things by gestures as well as words. God knows what our families will think when we return at Xmas and say, in a loud, clear, slow voice, "Please can you pass me the sprouts?" with accompanying hand gesture for round green vegetables. Also Deanna and I are both speaking with a bit more of an Italian stress on the ends of words (in English). Can't help it. Apparently someone asked her what language they spoke in Australia, and also, if it was November here, what month was it there?

I had a nice experience today. I have been wanting to set up a language conversation exchange and went online where you can find other people wanting to do the same. Well, although I had lots of replies and also emailed people, when it came to it I was not feeling confident about meeting people. So instead I thought about asking a student, because I already know them. I asked one of my students who is very keen to improve his English and also he is talkative and funny and near my age. He is quite lively in class. So today we met for lunch in Catania. He always tries hard to say things in English and although he does not think that he speaks well, I think his English is improving all the time. He began helping me to practise Italian by insisting I say things in Italian to him - this is what I need or I just chicken out. It was slow-going because it takes me a while to think, but he has helped already by teaching me useful words like ragazzini (teenagers) and telefonino (mobile phone. That one made me laugh). Also he was very nice and said some nice things about my teaching, so that was kind. He wants me to meet his girlfriend who also speaks English as he thinks she will be able to help with the Italian grammar. Neither of us thought to bring any paper, so he wrote on the napkins. Anyway, I had a nice time and we had a laugh about things, and when we were coming back he was showing me different places to go. So maybe this could be one way to meet other people outside work. Fingers crossed.

More food

We are continuing to drop in to the cafe when we can and last week we tried something Jo spotted behind the counter - crema di caffe - a light, airy and very sickly concoction that seemed to be all air and caffeine. After a few spoonfuls of this smooth and sweet delight, it was almost enough. But I finished mine and spent the afternoon on a caffeine high. This might explain why I have trouble going to sleep.

The temperature has gone cooler at last and we have had rain and thunder, and maybe even some rumblings from Etna? Who knows. It could have been my imagination. I don't really have the right clothes but attempts to get some have been fruitless as well. Like the UK, it seems unless I want to spend a fortune, clothes are just as rubbish.

I still haven't settled into a food routine, and while it is tempting to eat out at the cafe (I think most people seem to eat their lunch there, it is always so busy) I also want to save money. At the weekend in another place, everyone seemed to be having breakfast which I thought was fun. However, the local supermarkets are not cheap, especially for (I can't remember the word. This is what happens.) Stuff for the bathroom, anyway. It is all expensive. I need snacky things I can eat quickly and today I found some nice wrapped focaccia slices that stay moist - the bread here seems to dry up or go solid very fast which is not nice. I also found something I have been looking for, for ages - since my trip to Como in 2007 in fact - but more of that another time.

I am a bit frustrated that I have not got on with learning Italian. It is having the time to sit and look at what I learned in Babilonia, and also finding someone to practise with. I tried to arrange a meeting with someone from the conversation site but I have not met anyone yet. I have started to talk a little with our Italian flatmate, who is not around often, but I sometimes see her preparing food at unusual late hours. She is only young and we managed to have a short chat and a laugh, so that is good. I am also trying to speak to the secretaries in work, who are very encouraging and like to help. Valeria taught me the word for to sneeze today (as everyone is sneezing) and then proudly said in front of the others, tell them what I taught you today! But sadly, the word had gone completely out of my head about 45 seconds after she told me.

The week is just full of work which is how I suppose all working lives are - Monday to Friday is full of planning and then teaching and even though I have the mornings and afternoons up to about 3pm, I feel I should be looking at lessons the whole time - I am not yet able to relax even when I am repeating a lesson, more or less, to a second group. I am sure it will happen with time. But at the moment it feels fairly stressful and also I am not even sure how much I enjoy it - I do not enjoy worrying about it before, during and after, to the extent I cannot switch off when I come home. I have been listening to my meditation tracks and hoping that helps. I also think sometimes it is a bit boring if you are sitting doing nothing in the class while the students are doing their exercises. But perhaps I ought to be doing something like monitoring and encouraging them. Unfortunately my room is not big enough for me to move around much to see what they are doing. Everyone seems okay though mostly. Sometimes I find it hard to explain things clearly and soon realise when they did not understand. People do not say if they do not understand so I have to find ways of checking. On the whole the students are keen and hard working and it is most rewarding when they have a nice time and enjoy what they are doing. This happens occasionally. I would love it to happen more!

I am speaking English with more of an Italian accent on the end of words. I can't help it. It is just natural. I heard another teacher doing it too.