NINA - Week 2: Getting Around

                                                                                                                                 October 7^th, 10 p.m.

Dear Claire,

How are you? Is the school going well?

Here everything was great but, on Monday afternoon, I had a brief argument with my host family. I came out of school and I ran home because I knew that the wedding of Juan Carlos  Borbon’s son,  Felipe, was going to be broadcasted at 3.00 o’clock. I was interested in seeing his bride, her   wedding dress  and if   they had invited  any celebs. When I got home, however, I saw seven men glued to the TV watching a football match. I absolutely hate football matches!! I immediately thought: it’s just like home; when there’s a match, my brother invites all of his classmates to watch it.  So, I come close to   Francesco and I reminded  him that I had told him a week before that I would have liked watching this wedding. Nevertheless, he said that he hadn’t noticed it written  on the calendar. I had forgotten to do it. But I didn’t want to give in so, like a tiger, I ran to the TV and turned it off. As soon as I did it,  they all furiously shouted at me to turn it on. So my host mom arrived and she   proposed going her friend’s house. I turned the TV on and followed her. Over  dinner I asked my host father if he was cross with me but,  surprisingly, he wasn’t.

During the second week at school I met some students from the other classes. On Thursday, after Philosophy class,  I went to the school  library to revise some notes. It is quite nice and cosy,  not crowded as the one in Barcelona. I took a seat in  opposite a boy called Tom who at once  understood that I was a new arrival  at  school so, we introduced each other. I spent a lot of time talking about my new experience in Italy:  because of that I didn’t do what I had planned. He was very fit and he told me that he had practiced  athletics up to a year before, but now because of his girlfriend, he is forced to spend all his free time with her. Romantic, I thought. On the following day I saw one of my classmates, Luisa, kissing Tom.  And it was clear to me why he was forced to give up   his passion: Luisa is the most moody, competitive and  jealous girl that I have ever met, but also the prettiest in the school. I hate her!!!! The first time we saw each other was at school and she told me arrogantly: “What are doing here? Go back to your country, we don’t want foreigners here !!!”. I would have liked to strangle her but, she was rescued by the English teacher. Apart from this episode,  I really like my classmates and I also like living here.

The following days went by very fast and my relationship with my host family has got really good. Last  Saturday they organized a sightseeing tour around Vicenza. Firstly they took me to the Olympic Theater. It was absolutely fantastic. The most interesting thing are the seven streets which represented the city of Thebes. The first performance was held during the Carnival of 1585. 

Then, we had lunch at a farm house where we ate typical food: wonderful!! I really liked    the stockfish.  During the way back, Francesco took a shortcut to show me the “Villa Rotunda” which, with the Basilica and the Olympic Theatre, are the most popular buildings by Palladio. The villa was built in 1570.  In 1591 it was bought by Capra family.

Finally, tired but happy,  we returned to the city centre for an aperitif. We parked our car not too far from the town centre. When Francesco got out,  a man dressed in black  approached  him, and pulled out a gun from under his coat. At first I thought it was one of his friend who was simply joking,  but then   I saw that he was   terrified and before the robber could say  a word, Francesco  gave his wallet  to him. The robber ran  away leaving us speechless. A few days later, we would have discovered that the robber  had been  arrested. I’ll never forget this experience, I have never been so afraid  for myself and for someone at the same time . 

Now I must go. It’s really late,

Goodnight Clare, I’ll write to  you tomorrow.

Giacomo Filippo Segato